Ubuntu Upgrade

Frequently asked questions about the Linux Ubuntu upgrade from 18.04 to 22.04 LTS. Please read our Ubuntu 22.04 guide for complete information after a successful upgrade to 22.04.

Note

The upgrade is for Linux managed desktops only. This does NOT apply to Windows, MacOS desktops or clusters.

How long will it take?

The upgrade can take between 1.5 and 2.5 hours. This depends on whether the internal drive is a spinning hard disk drive or SSD. New desktops we have been purchasing typically have SSD’s. This does not include backing up the workspace, see below.

What happens to my files in /workspace?

We will backup the files in /workspace before the upgrade process. After a successful upgrade, we will restore the files back to /workspace.

Some servers and desktops may contain additional storage, we will only backup files that are on the same disk as the OS. Other storage is usually a separate hard drive and will be preserved across the upgrade. In some circumstances, we may backup the data on the other storage device in the system depending on how big the data set is and if we feel the data may be at risk. In most cases, the data is safe and will not be over written during the upgrade process. We will reach out users of such systems if we feel the data is at risk during the upgrade process.

What happens to my files?

All managed desktops mount the NFS users home directory to /oden/<uid>. Those files will be preserved since they are remotely mounted. No need to backup those files in advance.

How do I know if my desktop is managed?

We manage roughly between 200 and 250 desktops and servers in the institute. Open a terminal and issue echo $HOME and if it returns /oden/<username>, it is managed by Sysnet.

Why upgrade?

Ubuntu 18.04.6 end of standard support is scheduled for April 2023. It is important we upgrade to the latest release 22.04 LTS for many reasons. We skipped 20.04 because of unforeseen circumstances.

Can I delay the upgrade?

We will work with you to schedule an upgrade so it does not impact your work. We encourage you to be prepared and be sure to save your work and close your current login sessions before we upgrade. There are no exceptions.

Is there a place I can test my code?

Yes. We can grant you access to a server to test your code and explore the new release if needed. Just email rt@oden.utexas.edu and we’ll grant you access to the server.