Date Tags Linux

In Debian it’s really easy to upgrade to a new version of the distribution:

  • replace old distro with new distro in /etc/apt/sources.list
  • run apt-get update
  • run apt-get dist-upgrade

This used to work fine for me in the past. Now I’m using Ubuntu and I have to use their update-manager if I don’t want bad things to happen… Why is that? Don’t ask me I have no clue :)

Problem with that update-manager is that it’s a X11 application, this is good for the lambda user who just want to hit the button “upgrade to feisty”, reboot and enjoy.

I wanted to see what happens in the background when you hit that famous button. So, the update-manager doesn’t really handle the upgrade itself. Have a look at the end of your ~/.update-manager/meta-release file:

Dist: feisty
Name: Feisty Fawn
Version: 7.04
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:00:00 +0200
Supported: 1
Description: This is the 7.04 release
Release-File: http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/feisty/Release
ReleaseNotes: http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/feisty/main/dist-upgrader-all/current/ReleaseAnnouncement
UpgradeTool: http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/feisty/main/dist-upgrader-all/current/feisty.tar.gz
UpgradeToolSignature: http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/feisty/main/dist-upgrader-all/current/feisty.tar.gz.gpg

Before the upgrade, the update-manager will download a software archive from ubuntu website (the UpgradeTool), extract it and run a command called “feisty”.. This app is written in Python, so it was really easy to figure out how perform the upgrade without their UI under X.. Just run feisty like this:

sudo ./feisty --frontend DistUpgradeViewText --mode desktop

This is very handy to upgrade my mac mini (without mouse nor keyboard) over the network :)