Successfully Upgrading Ubuntu 16.04 to 24.04 LTS: A Real-World Experience💡

We recently assisted a client in upgrading several production servers from Ubuntu 16.04 LTS directly to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS - spanning multiple major releases in one project. While Ubuntu officially recommends upgrading one LTS version at a time (16.04 → 18.04 → 20.04 → 22.04 → 24.04), careful planning made the transition smooth and reliable.

📌 The key to any major OS upgrade is preparation. Before touching the live systems, we took the following steps: ▪️ Created full system snapshots (essential for virtualised or cloud environments) to allow instant rollback if needed. ▪️ Performed complete backups of all data, configurations, and databases. ▪️ Updated the existing system fully with `sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y && sudo apt dist-upgrade -y`. ▪️ Reviewed and temporarily disabled any third-party repositories or PPAs that could interfere. ▪️ Ensured sufficient disk space and a stable internet connection.

Because 16.04 has long passed standard support, we first brought the systems up to a supported intermediate state where possible, then proceeded sequentially using the official do-release-upgrade tool. This command handles the heavy lifting - updating repositories, downloading new packages, removing obsolete ones, and migrating the kernel and core components.

At each stage, we monitored the process closely, addressed any package conflicts promptly, and verified service continuity (particularly for databases and web services). After the final reboot into 24.04 LTS, we ran post-upgrade checks:

lsb_release -a
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

The result? Servers now benefit from modern security patches, improved performance, and extended Long Term Support until 2029 (with options for further extension via Ubuntu Pro).

📌 Lessons learned: ▪️ Snapshots and backups are non-negotiable, they provide peace of mind. ▪️ Never rush a production upgrade; schedule it during a maintenance window. ▪️ Test critical applications thoroughly after each major hop. ▪️ For older releases like 16.04, switching to old-releases.ubuntu.com may be necessary if standard repositories are no longer available.

Major version upgrades remain one of the most efficient ways to keep infrastructure current without full reinstallation, provided they are executed with discipline and the right precautions.

If your organisation is still running older Ubuntu LTS versions and planning a migration to 24.04, feel free to share your experiences or challenges in the comments. Staying current with security and stability is essential in today’s IT landscape.