# Determining whether my VPS needs any upgrades (generally)
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [February 10, 2025, 7:24am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398 "2025-02-10T07:24:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Jonathan5](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jonathan5)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 7:24am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/1 "2025-02-10T07:24:50Z")
Continuing the discussion from [Upgrade failed spectacularily](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upgrade-failed-spectacularily/350773/31):
> [@Upgrade failed spectacularily](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upgrade-failed-spectacularily/350773/31):
>
> And you also need to at times perform an OS upgrade(or create a new server to refresh OS and move Discourse to it)
What is the best way to check whether my VPS needs any upgrades, before performing a Discourse update? Thanks.
---
### Author:  [@NateDhaliwal](https://meta.discourse.org/u/NateDhaliwal)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 7:28am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/2 "2025-02-10T07:28:36Z")
From the top of my head, I think you can upgrade it when your OS version is out of date, or when Docker is out of date?
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### Author:  [@Heliosurge](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Heliosurge)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 7:48am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/3 "2025-02-10T07:48:13Z")
If you’re running Ubuntu LTS (typically the recommended Distro for Discourse). Each free version edition from my understanding has a 5 year support cycle.
[Source](https://ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle)
So from my understanding from the list if you’re running 18.04 or 20.04 you should look into upgrading the OS. If 18.04 is definite and with 20.04 support ending in April should consider doing it as well
The other component would be to look into Docker Version compatibility. This part I honestly am not sure of. Though at a guess I think Ubuntu 22.04 LTS **might** support the latest Docker Discourse requires but would need someone with stronger knowledge to weigh in. However maybe a search on Meta here might also have this info.
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### Author:  [@Heliosurge](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Heliosurge)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 7:54am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/4 "2025-02-10T07:54:44Z")
Discourse 3.4 is looking for Docker 24.0.7 min
It looks like from Google search that Ubuntu 22.04 LTS supports it.
It is of course also supported in latest Ubuntu 24 LTS.. It looks like it is also supported on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS but imho one should consider upgrading as this LTS support is ending in April 2025; however in theory **should** be safe, if you need more time before upgrading the OS
> **[Install Docker Engine on Ubuntu](https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/ubuntu/)**
>
> Jumpstart your client-side server applications with Docker Engine on Ubuntu. This guide details prerequisites and multiple methods to install Docker Engine on Ubuntu.
Do you know what version your OS is? I am presuming you are running an Ubuntu LTS.
---
### Author:  [@Jonathan5](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jonathan5)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 10:04am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/5 "2025-02-10T10:04:35Z")
> [@Heliosurge](#):
>
> Discourse 3.4 is looking for Docker 24.0.7 min
My docker version (`20.10.21`) is **earlier** than that and my Discourse version is `3.4.0.beta4-dev`. Discourse is telling me to upgrade now to `3.4.0.beta4` – “A critical update is available. Please update!”
Two questions:
1. Are the requirements stated in release notes anywhere? I’ve always skimmed the announcements posts but haven’t noticed Docker or Ubuntu requirements stated.
2. I guess I should update to Ubuntu 24.04 and whatever Docker version comes with that, before upgrading Discourse again. Does that sound right?
Thanks.
---
### Author:  [@Jonathan5](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jonathan5)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 10:07am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/6 "2025-02-10T10:07:27Z")
> [@NateDhaliwal](#):
>
> I think you can upgrade it when your OS version is out of date, or when Docker is out of date
Do you mean “can’t”? I guess so.
Do you mean the upgrade script would end gracefully if the requirements aren’t met, without messing up my forum?
---
### Author:  [@Jonathan5](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jonathan5)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 10:10am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/7 "2025-02-10T10:10:51Z")
> [@Heliosurge](#):
>
> Discourse 3.4 is looking for Docker 24.0.7 min
I’ve just noticed at [discourse\_docker/launcher at main · discourse/discourse\_docker · GitHub](https://github.com/discourse/discourse_docker/blob/main/launcher#L86:)
```plaintext
docker_min_version='20.10.0'
docker_rec_version='24.0.7'
```
So maybe I’m all right for now. I hope that you were wrong about 24.0.7 – but maybe I’m looking in the wrong place myself. Could you please check and confirm? I would be grateful. Thanks.
---
### Author:  [@Heliosurge](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Heliosurge)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 10:33am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/8 "2025-02-10T10:33:16Z")
> [@Jonathan5](#):
>
> My docker version (`20.10.21`) is **earlier** than that and my Discourse version is `3.4.0.beta4-dev`. Discourse is telling me to upgrade now to `3.4.0.beta4` – “A critical update is available. Please update!”
The Docker requirement for Discourse 3.4, I pulled that from a topic with a failed command line upgrade topic. Where a Jay from the topic you quoted I believe mentioned there or another topic. Where he mentioned Docker needed to be upgraded based on the log provided. The log states Docker needed to be at the min version I mentioned.
> [@Jonathan5](#):
>
> Two questions:
>
> 1. Are the requirements stated in release notes anywhere? I’ve always skimmed the announcements posts but haven’t noticed Docker or Ubuntu requirements stated.
They likely are but I am not always great at reading over them fully if I am being honest. Will try a search here and see.
> [@Jonathan5](#):
>
> I guess I should update to Ubuntu 24.04 and whatever Docker version comes with that, before upgrading Discourse again. Does that sound right?
If your Ubuntu LTS is version 18.04 then definitely. If it is Ubuntu 20.04 LTS as mentioned. I believe you can manually upgrade it via the command line. From what I recall there is a topic on Upgrading Docker. The Docker Documentation I linked I believe should have instructions on how to upgrade. But would recommend seeing if there is a topic in case there might be recommended steps to follow first.
Keep in mind I am still learning a lot things as well with Discourse. Folks like Jay, Robert(Merrifield) are just a couple of the folks with far more experience and understanding on these types of topics.
The main step though is to make sure you make a backup. Imho make a server snapshot and a Discourse backup. Server backup with planned downtime announced can be good as you can load your snapshot to before the upgrade. I imagine even a Discourse backup likely works well.
---
### Author:  [@Heliosurge](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Heliosurge)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 10:48am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/9 "2025-02-10T10:48:14Z")
> [@Jonathan5](#):
>
> I’ve just noticed at [discourse\_docker/launcher at main · discourse/discourse\_docker · GitHub](https://github.com/discourse/discourse_docker/blob/main/launcher#L86:)
>
> ```plaintext
> docker_min_version='20.10.0'
> docker_rec_version='24.0.7'
>
> ```
>
> So maybe I’m all right for now. I hope that you were wrong about 24.0.7 – but maybe I’m looking in the wrong place myself. Could you please check and confirm? I would be grateful. Thanks
Not sure. As was only going by posts with shared logs
But here is a guide from #Documentation that maybe if help.
> [@Manually update Discourse and Docker image to latest](https://meta.discourse.org/t/manually-update-discourse-and-docker-image-to-latest/23325):
>
> bookmark This guide provides step-by-step instructions for manually updating Discourse, the Docker container, and the Ubuntu operating system on a self-hosted setup. person_raising_hand Required user level: System Administrator warning SSH access to the server. If you self-host Discourse, you occasionally need to run a manual update via the command line to get the latest security releases and newest libraries. These updates are not picked up in admin/upgrade, which is why you’ll occa…
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### Author:  [@Ed\_S](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Ed_S)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 1:11pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/10 "2025-02-10T13:11:36Z")
> [@Jonathan5](#):
>
> What is the best way to check whether my VPS needs any upgrades, before performing a Discourse update?
If I drew a flowchart to answer, the first question would be something like
Do all of the following apply? If so, proceed according to your experience. If not, be sure to be on the latest LTS, so long as it is at least a month old.
- I am an experienced sysadmin
- I have a recent backup in a safe place and I am very confident I can restore it
- I know how to perform a command line upgrade
- I know how to find and quote the relevant parts of the log when reporting a problem here on meta.
Check your current OS version by reading /etc/lsb-release
```plaintext
root# cat /etc/lsb-release
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=22.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=jammy
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS"
```
It should be recently updated, should be an LTS, should not be much more than 2 years old. The first two digits are the year number. But don’t trust an LTS that is less than a month old.
---
### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 5:07pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/11 "2025-02-10T17:07:45Z")
> [@Jonathan5](#):
>
> I guess I should update to Ubuntu 24.04 and whatever Docker version comes with that, before upgrading Discourse again. Does that sound right?
I would spin up a new VM and move to it as described at [Move a Discourse site to another VPS with rsync](https://meta.discourse.org/t/move-a-discourse-site-to-another-vps-with-rsync/43812). If you don’t mind a bunch of downtime and the possibility that it’ll wreck you system, you can try to do multiple dist-upgrades. If you do that, you should make a snapshot (which also incurs downtime) so that you can restore to it.
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### Author:  [@Jonathan5](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jonathan5)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 6:13pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/12 "2025-02-10T18:13:40Z")
I think moving from 18.04 to 20.04 I just did it on the same server. Probably following something like [https://documentation.ubuntu.com/server/how-to/software/upgrade-your-release/](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/server/how-to/software/upgrade-your-release/). I’m not 100% sure. What’s your view on that?
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### Author:  [@Ed\_S](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Ed_S)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/13 "2025-02-10T19:04:22Z")
There’s a possible side-benefit to migrating rather than upgrading in place: you might be able to get a better value offering. In my case, switching from x86 to ARM got me a config with more storage for the same price, even with the same hosting service. There’s also the possibility of changing to a different hosting service, which I also did in another case, again getting a better deal.
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### Author:  [@Canapin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Canapin)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2025, 12:04am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/14 "2025-02-11T00:04:33Z")
> [@Ed\_S](#):
>
> In my case, switching from x86 to ARM got me a config with more storage for the same price
With Hetzner, ARM servers are slightly less expensive than x86 for the same specs (vCPU, RAM, storage).
Notably, they _seem_ to be faster (Discourse rebuild speed and page loading).
Sadly there’s no benchmarking for Discourse, but I recently did a build time comparison:
| Provider | Price | Disk | CPU | GB RAM | Build time | Data Centers |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hetzner CX22 (x86) | €3.95 | 40GB | 2 | 4 | 9m56s | DE, FI, SG, US (2) |
| Hetzner CAX11 (arm64) | €3.95 | 40GB | 2 | 4 | 5m45s | DE, FI |
Be aware that there’s no official ARM-compatible #mail-receiver image.
See:
> [@Does the mail-receiver work with arm?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/does-the-mail-receiver-work-with-arm/283908/10):
>
> It would certainly be possible to support mail-receiver on ARM systems. There’s nothing amd64-specific in there (or, at least, there wasn’t when I made it, and I can’t imagine any major changes would have been made to invalidate that assumption). It would just be a matter of the docker image maintainers making a build of the image for arm64, as they already do for amd64. Someone could also do an unofficial build and put it somewhere, along with instructions on the one-line change needed to th…
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### Author:  [@NateDhaliwal](https://meta.discourse.org/u/NateDhaliwal)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2025, 1:26am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/15 "2025-02-11T01:26:57Z")
> [@Canapin](#):
>
> 5m45s
5 minutes for a rebuild? Wow, it takes ~2-3 hours for me.
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### Author:  [@Jonathan5](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jonathan5)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2025, 8:25am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/16 "2025-02-11T08:25:25Z")
I’m on the lowest Digital Ocean droplet that has 2GB memory and I reckon it takes about 10 minutes.
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### Author:  [@merefield](https://meta.discourse.org/u/merefield)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2025, 8:32am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/17 "2025-02-11T08:32:35Z")
> [@Heliosurge](#):
>
> It looks like from Google search that Ubuntu 22.04 LTS supports it.
That’s not “Google Search”. It’s Gemini. I’d be wary of AI output that talks about specific version numbers and compatible versions as LLMs are not that great with handling such details. But if you can find any definitive source that would help.
This is what I get, different:
🤷♂️
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### Author:  [@Jagster](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jagster)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2025, 8:49am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/18 "2025-02-11T08:49:49Z")
Off topic but is has some benefits when living in EU 😂
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### Author:  [@Heliosurge](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Heliosurge)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2025, 1:35pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/19 "2025-02-11T13:35:49Z")
> [@merefield](#):
>
> That’s not “Google Search”. It’s Gemini. I’d be wary of AI output that talks about specific version numbers and compatible versions as LLMs are not that great with handling such details. But if you can find any definitive source that would help.
>
> This is what I get, different:
>
> 
Thanks good catch. Though the Docker Documentation link I also posted did confirm that Gemini output seems to have been correct. However thanks for the tip. Will definitely be careful of the AI output from now on
🍻😎👍✨
---
### Author:  [@Jonathan5](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jonathan5)
#### Post date: [March 10, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398/20 "2025-03-10T13:10:11Z")
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> If you don’t mind a bunch of downtime and the possibility that it’ll wreck you system, you can try to do multiple dist-upgrades. If you do that, you should make a snapshot (which also incurs downtime) so that you can restore to it.
I didn’t think I could follow the rsync topic, as there were too many questions and variations suggested. So I did this instead, and it all **seems** to work!
[Next page](https://meta.discourse.org/t/determining-whether-my-vps-needs-any-upgrades-generally/351398.md?page=2)