Howto: Upgrade From Debian Squeeze to Wheezy

This blog post will discuss how to upgrade from Debian squeeze to wheezy.

We’ll start by cleaning a few things up.

1. Clear out local repository of retrieved package files no longer needed.

server1:~# apt-get autoclean

2. Remove packages no longer needed.

server1:~# apt-get autoremove

3. Now search for packages that have been partially installed and fix them. Fix any packages in the output of the following cmd.

server1:~# dpkg --audit

4. Now make sure no packages are on hold.

server1:~# dpkg --get-selections | grep hold

If you receive no output from the two dpkg commands above it should be safe to start the upgrade.

Update your source list located at /etc/apt/sources.list. If you’re not on squeeze then substitute ‘squeeze’ with the version you’re on.

5. Use sed to edit your list of APT sources.

server1:~# sed -i 's/squeeze/wheezy/g' /etc/apt/sources.list

Your source list at /etc/apt/sources.list should now look something like the following:

6. Confirm new source list is pointing at wheezy repos.

server1:~# cat /etc/apt/sources.list
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ squeeze main contrib non-free
deb-src http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ squeeze main contrib non-free

deb http://security.debian.org/ squeeze/updates main contrib non-free
deb-src http://security.debian.org/ squeeze/updates main contrib non-free

# squeeze-updates, previously known as 'volatile'
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ squeeze-updates main contrib non-free
deb-src http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ squeeze-updates main contrib non-free
server1:~#

Note: Your URLs will likely differ from mine; especially if you don’t live in the US.

Now let’s resynchronize your package index files from the new sources that point to Wheezy.

7. Resynchronize package index files.

server1:~# apt-get update

Next install the newest versions of all packages currently installed on the system according to /etc/apt/sources.list.
Note: This is pretty much the point of no return!!

8. Install the newest versions of all packages currently installed.

server1:~# apt-get upgrade

Now actually upgrade your current Debian distribution. Apt-get dist-upgrade will perform the same as upgrade and intelligently handle changing dependencies with new versions of packages.

9. Upgrade your Debian distribution.

server1:~# apt-get dist-upgrade

10. Now reboot.

server1:~# init 6

After logging back into your Debian box let’s check for package issues like we did before.

11. Fix any packages this dpkg command outputs.

server1:~# dpkg --audit

You may need to do the upgrade dist-upgrade song-and-dance one final time.

12. Do a final upgrade.

server1:~# apt-get upgrade
server1:~# apt-get dist-upgrade

Finally check what Debian version you’re currently on.

13. Check your Debian version.

server1:~# cat /etc/debian_version
7.0
server1:~#

If the output of the above command is 7.0 you are now running Debian Wheezy!

Now go have a beer or three!