Upgrading Lightsail Ubuntu 20 blueprint to Ubuntu 24 blueprint

Greeting

Hi Sean,

Thanks for bringing up this question—it’s a great one that highlights a common but often misunderstood challenge in AWS Lightsail. Let’s dive into the details and make sure your instances are fully aligned with AWS’s recommendations. 😊

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Clarifying the Issue

I understand how frustrating it must be to see these warnings after putting in the effort to upgrade your Lightsail instances to Ubuntu 24. Let’s dig deeper into why this might be happening. AWS Lightsail ties your instance to the original blueprint it was created with, and even though you’ve updated the OS, the instance metadata may still reflect the older Ubuntu 18 or 20 blueprint. This can trigger misleading warnings. Together, we’ll ensure your instance aligns with AWS’s recommendations and avoids unnecessary alerts.

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Why This Matters

When your instance’s blueprint metadata doesn’t match its operating system, it can lead to unnecessary warnings, potential compatibility issues, and confusion about the instance’s support status. Correcting this alignment by migrating to an updated blueprint ensures your environment is future-proof, properly supported, and compliant with AWS guidelines.

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Key Terms

• Blueprint: A predefined template in AWS Lightsail used to create instances with specific operating systems and software configurations.
• End of Standard Support: The point when an operating system stops receiving security updates or regular patches.
• Instance Metadata: Data describing an instance, including the blueprint used during creation.

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The Solution (Our Recipe)

Steps at a Glance:

1. Verify the current OS version on your instance.
2. Check the instance's blueprint metadata.
3. Take a backup of your instance.
4. Create a new instance with the Ubuntu 24.04 blueprint.
5. Migrate your data and configurations to the new instance.
6. Test the new instance to ensure smooth operation.
7. Update DNS or configurations to point to the new instance.

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Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Verify the current OS version on your instance.

   Confirm that your instance is running Ubuntu 24.04:

   lsb_release -a

   The output should show Ubuntu 24.04.

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2. Check the instance's blueprint metadata.

   Use the AWS CLI to check the blueprint associated with your instance:

   aws lightsail get-instance --instance-name <YourInstanceName>

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Look for the blueprintId field in the output. If it still shows Ubuntu 18 or 20, proceed to the next steps.

3. Take a backup of your instance.

   Before migrating, create a snapshot of your current instance to ensure you can roll back if needed. In the Lightsail console, select your instance and create a snapshot.

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4. Create a new instance with the Ubuntu 24.04 blueprint.

   In the Lightsail console, select the Ubuntu 24.04 blueprint and launch a new instance. Configure it with similar resources (e.g., memory, CPU) to your current instance.

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5. Migrate your data and configurations to the new instance.

   Use rsync to securely transfer your files:

   rsync -avz --progress --delete /path/to/source user_at_new-instance-ip:/path/to/destination

   Replace user_at_new-instance-ip with your SSH user and the new instance’s IP address.

   Reapply configurations, such as software installations and custom settings.

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6. Test the new instance to ensure smooth operation.

   Verify that all critical services and applications work correctly on the new instance. Take your time to ensure everything is functioning as expected before making it live.

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7. Update DNS or configurations to point to the new instance.

   After confirming the new instance is fully operational, update your DNS records or application configurations to direct traffic to the new instance.

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Closing Thoughts

By creating a new Lightsail instance using the Ubuntu 24.04 blueprint, you’ll resolve the warnings caused by outdated metadata and ensure your setup is aligned with AWS’s standards. Migrating also provides an opportunity to start fresh with clean configurations while minimizing downtime.

Useful Documentation Links:

• AWS Lightsail - Understanding Blueprints
• Migrating Instances in Lightsail
• Ubuntu Upgrade Guide

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Farewell

I hope this clears up your concerns, Sean! If you have any more questions or need guidance during the migration, feel free to reach out. Best of luck, and kudos for staying proactive with your upgrades! 😊🚀

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Cheers,

Aaron 😊