can I "just" apt-get dist-upgrade

[Preston Hagar]

On Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 2:10 PM, robert rottermann <robert at redcor.ch> wrote:
> hi there,
>
> I am new to ubuntu and inherited the support of an Ubuntu 6.06.1 LTS box.
>
> on that computer there was never an upgrade executed.
>
> now I am a bit afraid to just apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade.
>
> will that work after all these years?
> the computer is half a continent away, so I can not just walk over if the
> upgrade bombs. (and it would probably be the end of my new assignment ..).
>
> so what do you recommend?
>
> thanks for your time
>
> robert
>

I have found this suggestion:

Pvt_Ryan wrote: $> sudo sed -i 's/gutsy/hardy' /etc/apt/sources.list
$> sudo apt-get update
$> sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

if you do go this route, it's generally a good idea to split the
"dist-upgrade" up a slight bit (from experience)

Code: apt-get install apt dpkg libc6
first, *then* dist-upgrade.

Sometimes changes in apt between releases can cause trouble if new
packages take advantage of those changes. your dependancies could end
up weird.[/code]

http://www.linode.com/forums/archive/o_t/t_3232/upgrade_gutsy_to_hardy.html


when looking to upgrade from gutsy to hardy.  It went well for me, but
the server didn't run that much (just samba and worked as an nfs
server).

Honestly, not to be pessimistic, but I would be very concerned having
to do that major of an upgrade/update on a remote machine I couldn't
easily get my hands on.  I would recommend, as a precaution, backing
up all of your config files and trying to arrange/plan for some type
of remote hands just in case you need them.  I don't know of any way
to guarantee a smooth upgrade, but the idea above of updating apt,
dpkg, and libc before doing the full dist-upgrade does seem to make
sense.

Hope this helps.

Preston