Upgrading your Ubuntu system and keeping your cloud infrastructure up to date is essential for optimal performance and security. This tutorial will guide you through both creating a cloud instance and upgrading Ubuntu from version 22.04 to 24.04.

Why Upgrade from Ubuntu 22.04 to Ubuntu 24.04?

Upgrading from Ubuntu 22.04 to 24.04 comes with many performance improvements, security enhancements, and new features. Here’s a summary of the key differences and why upgrading is beneficial:

Key Differences and Benefits Between Ubuntu 22.04 and Ubuntu 24.04:

1. Kernel Upgrades

  • Ubuntu 22.04: Uses Linux Kernel 5.15.
  • Ubuntu 24.04: Likely to ship with Linux Kernel 6.x, which improves support for newer hardware, power efficiency, and system performance.

2. GNOME Desktop Environment

  • Ubuntu 22.04: Uses GNOME 42.
  • Ubuntu 24.04: Includes GNOME 45, offering a smoother, faster, and more modern desktop experience.

3. Updated Software Packages

  • Ubuntu 24.04 provides newer versions of widely-used software packages, development tools, and system libraries. This ensures better performance, stability, and access to the latest features.

4. Security Enhancements

  • With enhanced AppArmor profiles, support for Secure Boot, and improved system encryption, Ubuntu 24.04 is more secure out of the box, making it ideal for enterprise and personal use.

5. Improved Power Efficiency and Performance

  • The latest power-saving optimizations benefit laptops and devices running on newer hardware, improving battery life and overall system responsiveness.

6. Extended Hardware Support

  • Ubuntu 24.04 offers better support for the latest hardware, including enhanced graphics drivers (Nvidia, AMD), and ARM architecture support.

Why Should You Upgrade?

  1. Access to New Features: Ubuntu 24.04 offers GNOME 45, better kernel support, and enhanced system security.
  2. Better Performance: Faster, more efficient operations due to an improved kernel and better resource management.
  3. Improved Security: Ubuntu 24.04 comes with the latest security patches and enhancements to protect your system.
  4. Long-Term Support: Ubuntu 24.04 is an LTS (Long-Term Support) release, meaning you’ll get updates and support for 5 years.

How to Create a Cloud Instance

Before upgrading, you’ll need to create a cloud instance to run Ubuntu. Here’s how to do that:

Step 1: Click on “Create”

  • From the dashboard, click on the Create button and select Instances.
Shape.host Resources dashboard with Create > Instance highlighted.

Step 2: Choose a Location

  • Select your preferred data center location (e.g., New York, London, Tokyo).
Shape.host instance form with the data center location selector highlighted.

Step 3: Choose an Instance Plan and OS

  • Pick a plan based on your needs (e.g., Standard, CPU-Optimized) and select your desired OS (e.g., Ubuntu, CentOS, Windows).
Shape.host instance form with the operating system image selector highlighted.

Step 4: Create the Instance

  • Fill in the required details (authentication, hostname) and click Create Instance.
Shape.host instance form with the Create Instance button highlighted.

Step 5: Find Your IP Address

  • Once the instance is created, go to the Resources section to find your instance and its public IP for remote access.
Shape.host Resources dashboard with the server IP address highlighted.

1. Update and Upgrade Current System

First, update the list of available packages and install any newer versions of currently installed packages.

apt-get update -y
apt-get upgrade -y
apt-get dist-upgrade -y
Terminal showing APT package management commands and output.
Terminal displaying service restart notices after package updates.

2. Remove Unnecessary Packages

After upgrading, remove any unnecessary packages and clean up residual files.

apt-get autoremove
apt-get clean
Terminal showing package installation trigger output.
Terminal showing the apt autoremove and clean commands.

3. Reboot Your System

It’s recommended to reboot your system to ensure all changes are applied.

reboot
Terminal showing apt commands or output during Reboot Your System.

4. Start the Distribution Upgrade

Now, you’re ready to upgrade to Ubuntu 24.04:

do-release-upgrade

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the upgrade.

Terminal displaying the Ubuntu distribution upgrade prompt.

5. Verify Sources and Updates

After the upgrade process, ensure all APT sources have been updated properly.

ls -la /etc/apt/sources.list.d/
apt update
apt upgrade
Terminal showing apt commands or output during Verify Sources and Updates.
Terminal showing APT package management commands and output.

6. Confirm the Upgrade

Finally, check your Ubuntu version to confirm that the upgrade was successful.

lsb_release -a

You should now be running Ubuntu 24.04 with all its latest features and improvements.

Terminal displaying Ubuntu 24.04 release information.

For an optimal cloud experience, Shape.Host offers Linux SSD VPS services, ensuring high performance, reliability, and scalability. With dedicated resources, fast SSD storage, and data centers around the globe, Shape.Host’s VPS solutions provide a robust infrastructure for your applications, development environments, and web hosting needs.