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Update Debian 9 to Debian 11

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  Update Debian 9 to Debian 11 Thanos Katsiolis <kls.thanos@gmail.com> - 2021-11-16 18:50 +0100
    Re: Update Debian 9 to Debian 11 Dan Ritter <dsr@randomstring.org> - 2021-11-16 19:10 +0100
    Re: Update Debian 9 to Debian 11 Charles Curley <charlescurley@charlescurley.com> - 2021-11-16 20:30 +0100
    Re: Update Debian 9 to Debian 11 Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2021-11-16 21:20 +0100
      Re: Update Debian 9 to Debian 11 rhkramer@gmail.com - 2021-11-16 22:00 +0100
    Re: Update Debian 9 to Debian 11 "Andrew M.A. Cater" <amacater@einval.com> - 2021-11-16 22:20 +0100
    Re: Update Debian 9 to Debian 11 David Christensen <dpchrist@holgerdanske.com> - 2021-11-17 03:20 +0100

#242212 — Update Debian 9 to Debian 11

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Hello,

I am a new user of Debian, and I have access to a PC that currently runs
Debian 9.13.
I want to update to a more recent version, since that is what is generally
suggested, and for compatibility reasons too. Before I do the update, I
have some questions.


   1. Which version should I prefere, Debian 10 or 11 (I am asking because
   Debian 11 are very recent)?
   2. Does dual boot affect the update somehow?
   3. What should I consider (if anything) during the update?

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#242214

Thanos Katsiolis wrote: 
> I am a new user of Debian, and I have access to a PC that currently runs
> Debian 9.13.
> I want to update to a more recent version, since that is what is generally
> suggested, and for compatibility reasons too. Before I do the update, I
> have some questions.
> 
> 
>    1. Which version should I prefere, Debian 10 or 11 (I am asking because
>    Debian 11 are very recent)?
>    2. Does dual boot affect the update somehow?
>    3. What should I consider (if anything) during the update?

You must update to 10 before updating to 11.

There is no general reason why you should not update to 11.

It is more usual for an upgrade to another operating system to
cut off access to Debian, than the other way around. It does not
happen often, and is always fixable.

Debian has good documentation on upgrades in the installation
manual. 

-dsr-

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#242215

On Tue, 16 Nov 2021 19:39:56 +0200
Thanos Katsiolis <kls.thanos@gmail.com> wrote:

> I am a new user of Debian, and I have access to a PC that currently
> runs Debian 9.13.
> I want to update to a more recent version, since that is what is
> generally suggested, and for compatibility reasons too. Before I do
> the update, I have some questions.

Since you are new to Debian, be aware that "upgrade" means installing
newer software over/in addition to the existing installation. The
alternative is a fresh installation. "Update" is ambiguous in this
context.

Either way you get to do a bit of configuration as you go. How
much depends on how much of the present configuration you want to keep
vs. start over.

>    1. Which version should I prefere, Debian 10 or 11 (I am asking
> because Debian 11 are very recent)?

I recommend 11. I've been running it here (fresh installations) with no
major issues. And it will be that much longer before you have to go
through this again.

>    2. Does dual boot affect the update somehow?

If you do a fresh installation, yes, a bit. Just be careful which
partitions you play with during the installation so you don't
accidentally clobber the other OS(es).

>    3. What should I consider (if anything) during the update?

If you do an upgrade, you'll be confronted with configuration files,
and have to decide between the new version from the package and the one
already installed. Either way, the other is preserved and you can go
back to it. I usually install the package version, and then edit any
local changes in from the preserved earlier version.

If you do a fresh installation, be sure to back everything up,
especially /etc (configuration files) and /home (user data), and
probably other places.

-- 
Does anybody read signatures any more?

https://charlescurley.com
https://charlescurley.com/blog/

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#242216

On Tue 16 Nov 2021 at 19:39:56 +0200, Thanos Katsiolis wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> I am a new user of Debian, and I have access to a PC that currently runs
> Debian 9.13.
> I want to update to a more recent version, since that is what is generally
> suggested, and for compatibility reasons too. Before I do the update, I
> have some questions.
> 
> 
>    1. Which version should I prefere, Debian 10 or 11 (I am asking because
>    Debian 11 are very recent)?

Without any doubt - Debian 11.

>    2. Does dual boot affect the update somehow?

Not at all.

>    3. What should I consider (if anything) during the update?

To broad a questiom. Upgrade to Debian 10. Then go to Debian 11. Enjoy
the ride.

-- 
Brian.

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#242217

On Tuesday, November 16, 2021 03:17:39 PM Brian wrote:
> On Tue 16 Nov 2021 at 19:39:56 +0200, Thanos Katsiolis wrote:
> >    3. What should I consider (if anything) during the update?
> 
> To broad a questiom. Upgrade to Debian 10. Then go to Debian 11. Enjoy
> the ride.

Find and read the release notes for both Debian 10 and Debian 11.  There are 
probably things you will have to do (or consider) in the transition from 9 to 
10 and probably other things to do (or consider) in the transition from 10 to 
11.

The release notes tell you about those.

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#242218

On Tue, Nov 16, 2021 at 07:39:56PM +0200, Thanos Katsiolis wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I am a new user of Debian, and I have access to a PC that currently runs
> Debian 9.13.
> I want to update to a more recent version, since that is what is generally
> suggested, and for compatibility reasons too. Before I do the update, I
> have some questions.
> 
> 
>    1. Which version should I prefere, Debian 10 or 11 (I am asking because
>    Debian 11 are very recent)?

You need to update to 10 first and then to 11 - skipping major versions is
not advised. There have been various messages on this list in recent
months describing how to do this.

>    2. Does dual boot affect the update somehow?

If it is already running as dual boot, it should not be problematic. 
It is good and useful to bring everything to the latest patch level and
with all upgrades in Windows installed before changing anything else.

Likewise, when upgrading Debian: 
Bring 9.13 up to date. Reboot. 
Install 10.10. Bring it up to date and deal with any issues. Reboot.
Remove any obsolate softwrare: deal with any issues. Reboot:
Install 11
Don't just run 3 x upgrade without rebooting to check.

>    3. What should I consider (if anything) during the update?

It may be worth checking before you start:

1. Is the machine currently booting using UEFI or MBR/Legacy boot?
2. Can the machine boot from USB if needed?
3. What network connectivity do you have for the upgrade - how are
you connecting?
4. What do you intend doing with the machine: it may be that you can
simplify what you need to upgrade by removing programs you know you
will no longer need before upgrading the whole thing. Problems don't often
occur but it's easier if you are updating a simpler machine with fewer 
services if that's possible.

The below is very obvious and I'm ashamed to assume you need to know but
nobody ever does it until it's too late :)

READ THE RELEASE NOTES / UPDATE INSTRUCTIONS
[For example: the format of the /etc/apt/sources.list changed slightly in
the change over from 10 to 11. It is documented but we've been asked about
it several times].

A downgrade from a later version to an earlier may be just possible but is
significantly difficult: if the upgrades fail, it may actually be easier
to reinstall than try to downgrade / go back in the process.

Yu may find it very useful to keep a log of the commands you have typed
and write a checklist of where you are when upgrading: if you have to guess 
exactly what steps you did/what commands you typed after doing these upgrades
and you have to rely only on your memory , it's a lot harder.

All the very best, as ever,

Andy Cater

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#242220

On 11/16/21 9:39 AM, Thanos Katsiolis wrote:
> Hello,

Hello.  :-)


> I am a new user of Debian, 


Welcome!


> and I have access to a PC


What make and model of PC?  What processor?   What memory?  What disk 
drives?


Are you free to wipe the disk drives and throw away the operating 
systems, configuration settings, data, etc.?


> that currently runs Debian 9.13.
> I want to update to a more recent version, since that is what is generally
> suggested, 


The computer I use every day has Debian 9.  The oldest supported version 
of Debian usually has the fewest bugs.


> and for compatibility reasons too. 


Compatible with what?


> Before I do the update, I have some questions.
> 
>     1. Which version should I prefere, Debian 10 or 11 (I am asking because
>     Debian 11 are very recent)?
>     2. Does dual boot affect the update somehow?
>     3. What should I consider (if anything) during the update?


The computer hobby is like the collector car hobby -- it is best to have 
more than one.  That way, you can drive one while you work on the other.


There is a saying, "data does not exist unless it exists in three 
places".  Do you have backups of your data?  Your OS configuration 
settings?  The partition table and partitions of your OS disk(s) (e.g. 
images)?  Do you have copies of your backups?  Off-site?


Dual-boot is non-trivial.  I suffered through that many years ago. 
Mobile racks, and several disks with one OS each, are far easier and far 
more reliable.


OS major version upgrades are non-trivial.  They leave behind cruft. 
And, if something is broken before the upgrade, upgrading is unlikely to 
fix it.  A fresh install onto a blank disk is the best way to get a good 
result.  I keep my OS configuration files in a version control system 
(CVS).  When I want a new OS, I make sure all the configuring files are 
checked in, power down, pull the system disk, insert a blank disk, power 
up, do a fresh install, check out the old configuration files to a side 
directory, and edit the new configuration files.  If everything works 
okay, I have fresh system without any old cruft or old problems.  If 
something goes wrong, I can revert to the old disk and/or try again.


When I want to wipe a disk, I pull all disks, insert the target disk, 
and boot a USB live stick.


David

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