Keeping an Ubuntu server up to date is essential for security, stability, and performance. On an unmanaged server, installing and managing updates is the responsibility of the administrator.
Follow the steps below to safely install updates on an Ubuntu server.
- Log in to the server using SSH. If you are using Windows, you can connect via PuTTY using SSH credentials.
- Before applying any updates, ensure that a full backup of the server data is available. This allows recovery in case of unexpected issues during or after the upgrade.
- Fetch the latest package information from Ubuntu repositories by running the following command as root or using sudo:
apt update
Or
apt -get update
- Before upgrading, it is recommended to review which packages are eligible for updates:
apt list --upgradable
This step helps identify critical updates, such as kernel or service-related packages that may require a reboot or service restart.
- Upgrade installed packages
Install the available updates using:apt upgrade
or
apt -get upgrade
To perform the upgrade without user interaction:
apt-get -y upgrade
- Reboot the server if required
After updates are installed, reboot the server to ensure all changes, especially kernel updates, take effect:reboot
A reboot is typically required only if the kernel or core system components were updated.
Recommended update sequence (Ubuntu)
apt update
apt list –upgradable
apt upgrade
Final technical note: The apt list –upgradable step is not mandatory, but it is considered best practice for unmanaged and production Ubuntu servers.
Skipping this step will not break the upgrade process; however, reviewing updates beforehand helps avoid unexpected service impacts.
Regularly updating an unmanaged Ubuntu server is essential for maintaining security, stability, and optimal performance. Following a structured update process helps prevent unexpected issues and ensures the server runs smoothly.