How to backup before a release upgrade from Ubuntu 18.04.5 LTS server?

[Liam Proven]

OK, look, let me try to cut through the complexity.

2 things.

• 18.04 just got given several more years of support. If it's still
doing what you need, it might be OK.

(To be honest, I wish I hadn't updated my main laptop from 16.04,
which was still 100% fine.)

• This is the easiest way to back up a whole computer:

You need an external backup drive at *least* big enough to hold the
entire disk of the machine to be backed up. This is true anyway,
whatever you use. Ideally it should be entirely empty or contain
nothing you wish to keep.

You also need a bootable USB key with the latest Ubuntu Desktop you're
happy with. Same as the machine to be backed up is good. So,
18.04-$LATEST.

[1] Shut down the server. Attach the bootable USB key & the external drive.

[2] Boot off the key.

[3] Pick "try" to get to the desktop.

[4] Run the GParted app included on every bootable USB key.

Make sure you can see and tell the difference between internal and
external disks.

E.g. /dev/sda = internal, /dev/sdb = bootable USB, /dev/sdc = external

WRITE THIS DOWN. IT IS *EXTREMELY* IMPORTANT.

[5] Switch to the external drive in the drop-down selector at top right.

[6] Remove all partitions on the EXTERNAL drive. Select each one,
right-click and pick Delete. Then click Apply in the toolbar.

[7] Now switch to the INTERNAL drive.

Select each partition in turn. Right-click and pick Copy.

Switch to the external drive. Pick some empty space. Click Paste.

Do this for all partitions. (You can omit and recreate swap if you
like; there is nothing in there to keep.)

[8] Click Apply.

Go have lunch. This could take an hour or 2.

When it's done, you have backed up your server.

If you have problems with the update, repeat the process in reverse,
and follow any one of dozens of tutorial online about "how to
reinstall grub".


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