How To Upgrade To Ubuntu Version 11.04

Ubuntu Linux is the single most popular desktop distribution of Linux. And now Canonical has released Version 11.04. It's a long-term-support version in that Canonical is promising support for the next three years, making it well worth the upgrade. Here's how to do it.

First, start up your Ubuntu 10.10 Linux box. Log in and, from the desktop, go to System >> Administration >> Update Manager.

The Update Manager screen loads. Click the Upgrade Button to kick off the upgrade process.

The Release notes will display. Read them over and click the upgrade button you see in the lower right.

This downloads the release upgrade tool.

After the release upgrade tool has finished downloading, enter the administrator password and click OK.

Now the system will start preparing for the upgrade process. You'll see a series of screens.

Then you'll get a list of details about the upgrade. Read them over. Hit Start Upgrade.

This will download the new software. As always, the amount of time it takes will vary depending on your Internet connection speed.

Installation and setup will take several minutes, too.

After the software is installed, clean up of the old system will begin.

Next, the system will ask you if you wish to remove software it considers obsolete. This is almost always a good idea. If you have no objections, hit Remove.

To complete the upgrade process, restart your machine one more time.

When the computer comes back up just log back in. Now you can start enjoying Ubuntu 11.04.

Based in Brewer, ME, Joey Kelley is a senior contributor at BYTE. Follow him @sandpvrr, or email him at [email protected].