Ubuntu 23.10 Launch: A Guide to Upgrading Your System

The latest iteration of Ubuntu, version 23.10, has officially arrived, offering a host of exciting new features and improvements. This article will serve as your comprehensive guide to upgrading from your current release to Ubuntu 23.10, allowing you to take advantage of the latest developments, including an updated Gnome Shell interface, a newer kernel, enhanced drivers, and more.

Seamless Upgrade Process Using the GUI

Upgrading to Ubuntu 23.10 using the graphical user interface (GUI) is the most straightforward approach. Start by ensuring your current Ubuntu release is up to date. Simply click on the “Activities” button on your desktop and type “Software Updater” to locate the application.

Once you launch the Software Updater, it will automatically check for any available software upgrades for your current system. If any updates are pending, the updater will prompt you to install them.

Upon successfully installing all updates, the Ubuntu Update Manager will notify you of the availability of a new version and will ask if you want to proceed with the upgrade. Click “OK” to initiate the upgrade process.

Next, a prompt will ask you for your password. Once entered, Ubuntu will display the release notes for version 23.10. It’s beneficial to review these notes to understand the exciting new features before clicking “Start Upgrade” in the upgrade confirmation window.

As you click the “Start Upgrade” button, Ubuntu will begin the process of preparing your system for the upgrade, involving tasks like updating software channels, downloading new packages, and installing them—this may take up to 20 minutes, depending on your internet speed.

At the conclusion of the upgrade, your system will clean up by uninstalling outdated packages, a task that should take only a few minutes. Once this is complete, a prompt will appear, requesting you to reboot your system.

After you reboot, log in to your account, and voilà—you’re now operating on Ubuntu 23.10!

Terminal Upgrade: A Command-Line Approach

For those who prefer the command line, upgrading to Ubuntu 23.10 via the terminal is a viable and effective option. First, you’ll need to adjust your release prompt from “lts” to “normal.” This is particularly important if you are upgrading from a Long-Term Support (LTS) version. Open a terminal and execute the following command:

sudo sed -i 's/Prompt=lts/Prompt=normal/g' /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades

Next, ensure that your current version is fully up-to-date by running these commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

After confirming everything is updated, initiate the upgrade process with the command:

sudo do-release-upgrade

Should you encounter any issues, you can force the upgrade with:

sudo do-release-upgrade -d

Upon completion of the upgrade, reboot your Ubuntu system by executing:

sudo systemctl reboot

Server Upgrade

If you’re managing Ubuntu on a server, the upgrade process remains similar. Start by changing the release prompt:

sudo sed -i 's/Prompt=lts/Prompt=normal/g' /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades

Update your system before the upgrade using:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

To run the upgrade command in server mode, utilize:

sudo do-release-upgrade --mode=server

To force an upgrade if necessary:

sudo do-release-upgrade -d --mode=server

During the upgrade, you’ll receive a caution about performing the upgrade over SSH, which can typically be ignored if necessary.

After the upgrade finishes, reboot your server with:

sudo systemctl reboot

Conclusion

Following these steps, whether using the GUI or terminal, allows for a seamless upgrade to Ubuntu 23.10. Embrace the latest enhancements and enjoy your newly updated system!

Stay tuned for more tech guides and tips! If you want to keep your tech knowledge updated, consider subscribing to our newsletter for daily insights.