HowTo: Upgrade CentOS Linux 6.4/6.3/6.2/6.1/6.0 to v6.5
C
entOS Linux v6.5 has been released and available via repos for immediate update. The new version includes several hundred bug fixes for, and enhancements to the Linux kernel. How do I upgrade from CentOS Linux version 6.0 / 6.1 / 6.2 / 6.3 or 6.4 to the latest version 6.5?
You can only upgrade from minor release as CentOS does not support in-place upgrades between any major versions of CentOS Linux. However, a minor upgrade can be done easily and recommended for all users.
Back up any important data on the server/workstation
Make a backup – it cannot be stressed enough how important it is to make a backup of your system before you do this. You need to backup config files, user data stored in $HOME, pgsql/msyql/oracle and co databases, and web apps files. In short, backup all the data. Most of the actions listed in this post are written with the assumption that they will be executed by the root user running the bash or any other modern shell.
See your current CentOS release information
Type the following commands to see current version:
$ uname -mrs
$ cat /etc/redhat-release
Sample outputs:
CentOS release 6.4 (Final)
Show list of available updates
To list all packages with updates available with new release, enter:
# yum clean all
# yum check-update
OR
# yum clean all
# yum list updates
Sample outputs:
Loaded plugins: downloadonly, fastestmirror, security
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
* base: centos.mirrors.tds.net
* extras: lug.mtu.edu
* updates: yum.singlehop.com
Updated Packages
abrt.x86_64 2.0.8-21.el6.centos base
abrt-addon-ccpp.x86_64 2.0.8-21.el6.centos base
abrt-addon-kerneloops.x86_64 2.0.8-21.el6.centos base
abrt-addon-python.x86_64 2.0.8-21.el6.centos base
abrt-cli.x86_64 2.0.8-21.el6.centos base
….
..
…
sysvinit-tools.x86_64 2.87-5.dsf.el6 base
udev.x86_64 147-2.51.el6 base
util-linux-ng.x86_64 2.17.2-12.14.el6 base
xmlrpc-c.x86_64 1.16.24-1210.1840.el6 base
xmlrpc-c-client.x86_64 1.16.24-1210.1840.el6 base
xorg-x11-drv-ati-firmware.noarch 7.1.0-3.el6 base
Note: Upgrade speed depends upon various factors such as the current system load, upstream rpm fetch server bandwidth and your Internet connection speed.
CentOS Linux: Upgrading your current system
Type the following yum command to upgrade:
# yum clean all
Sample outputs:
Loaded plugins: downloadonly, fastestmirror, security
Cleaning repos: base extras updates
Cleaning up Everything
Cleaning up list of fastest mirrors
To update, enter:
# yum update
Sample outputs:
Loaded plugins: downloadonly, fastestmirror, security
Determining fastest mirrors
* base: mirrors.einstein.yu.edu
* extras: mirrors.loosefoot.com
* updates: yum.singlehop.com
base | 3.7 kB 00:00
base/primary_db | 4.4 MB 00:01
extras | 3.4 kB 00:00
extras/primary_db | 18 kB 00:00
updates | 3.4 kB 00:00
updates/primary_db | 26 kB 00:00
Setting up Update Process
Resolving Dependencies
–> Running transaction check
—> Package abrt.x86_64 0:2.0.8-16.el6.centos.1 will be updated
—> Package abrt.x86_64 0:2.0.8-21.el6.centos will be an update
—> Package abrt-addon-ccpp.x86_64 0:2.0.8-16.el6.centos.1 will be updated
—> Package abrt-addon-ccpp.x86_64 0:2.0.8-21.el6.centos will be an updateInstalling for dependencies:
….
..
…
lzo x86_64 2.03-3.1.el6 base 55 k
make x86_64 1:3.81-20.el6 base 389 k
p11-kit x86_64 0.18.5-2.el6 base 94 k
p11-kit-trust x86_64 0.18.5-2.el6 base 71 k
shared-mime-info x86_64 0.70-4.el6 base 209 k
snappy x86_64 1.1.0-1.el6 base 39 k
Transaction Summary
================================================================================
Install 7 Package(s)
Upgrade 128 Package(s)
Total download size: 122 M
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
(1/135): abrt-2.0.8-21.el6.centos.x86_64.rpm | 208 kB 00:00
(2/135): abrt-addon-ccpp-2.0.8-21.el6.centos.x86_64.rpm | 116 kB 00:00
(3/135): abrt-addon-kerneloops-2.0.8-21.el6.centos.x86_6 | 65 kB 00:00
(4/135): abrt-addon-python-2.0.8-21.el6.centos.x86_64.rp | 65 kB 00:00
(5/135): abrt-cli-2.0.8-21.el6.centos.x86_64.rpm | 54 kB 00:00
….
..
…
Updating : openssh-clients-5.3p1-94.el6.x86_64 107/263
Updating : openssh-server-5.3p1-94.el6.x86_64 108/263
warning: /etc/ssh/sshd_config created as /etc/ssh/sshd_config.rpmnew
Updating : parted-2.1-21.el6.x86_64 109/263
Updating : biosdevname-0.5.0-2.el6.x86_64 110/263
Updating : libdrm-2.4.45-2.el6.x86_64 111/263
…
..
…
Verifying : lvm2-2.02.98-9.el6_4.3.x86_64 262/263
Verifying : efibootmgr-0.5.4-10.el6.x86_64 263/263
Installed:
kernel.x86_64 0:2.6.32-431.el6
Dependency Installed:
lzo.x86_64 0:2.03-3.1.el6 make.x86_64 1:3.81-20.el6
p11-kit.x86_64 0:0.18.5-2.el6 p11-kit-trust.x86_64 0:0.18.5-2.el6
shared-mime-info.x86_64 0:0.70-4.el6 snappy.x86_64 0:1.1.0-1.el6
Updated:
abrt.x86_64 0:2.0.8-21.el6.centos
abrt-addon-ccpp.x86_64 0:2.0.8-21.el6.centos
….
..
systemtap-runtime.x86_64 0:2.3-3.el6
sysvinit-tools.x86_64 0:2.87-5.dsf.el6
udev.x86_64 0:147-2.51.el6
util-linux-ng.x86_64 0:2.17.2-12.14.el6
xmlrpc-c.x86_64 0:1.16.24-1210.1840.el6
xmlrpc-c-client.x86_64 0:1.16.24-1210.1840.el6
xorg-x11-drv-ati-firmware.noarch 0:7.1.0-3.el6
Complete!
(Command output truncated to fit on this page)
Reboot the Linux server using any one of the following method:
# reboot
OR
# shutdown -r now
Sample outputs:
Broadcast message from vivek@db1
(/dev/pts/0) at 2:20 …
The system is going down for reboot NOW!
[root@db1 vivek]# Connection to 173.xxx.yyy.zzz closed by remote host.
Connection to 173.xxx.yyy.zz closed.
Verification: After rebooting the box
Verify that everything is working fine and you have been upgraded to the latest CentOS Linux v6.5 release with the following commands:
# uname -a
# cat /etc/redhat-release
Sample outputs:
Fig.01: CentOS Linux 6.5 Final
Verify open ports and make sure your apps are running without any problems with the following commands:
# netstat -tulpn
# tail -f /var/log/messages
# tail -f /path/to/log/files
# ps aux | less
# ps aux | egrep httpd|mysql
# pgrep my_app
See yum(8) for more information.
