Upgrading Red Hat Enterprise Linux From Version 6.2 to 6.3

Posted on in Categories , last updated June 22, 2012

Red Hat Enterprise Linux v6.3 has been released and available via RHN for immediate update. How do I upgrade my RHEL from 6.2 to the latest 6.3 version?

You can only upgrade from minor release as Red Hat does not support in-place upgrades between any major versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. However, a minor upgrade can be done easily and recommended for all users.

Back up any important data on the server

Make a backup – it cannot be stressed enough how important it is to make a backup of your system before you do this. 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. Type the following commands to see current version:
$ uname -mrs
$ cat /etc/redhat-release

RHEL: Upgrading your current system

Type the following yum command:
# yum update -y
Sample outputs (see quick video demo):

(Video 01: Demo – upgrading RHEL with yum command)

Reboot the Linux server:
# reboot
OR
# shutdown -r now
Verify that everything is working fine:
# uname -a
# cat /etc/redhat_release
# netstat -tulpn
# tail -f /var/log/messages
# tail -f /path/to/log/file
# ps aux | less
# ps aux | egrep 'httpd|mysql'

Posted by: Vivek Gite

The author is the creator of nixCraft and a seasoned sysadmin and a trainer for the Linux operating system/Unix shell scripting. He has worked with global clients and in various industries, including IT, education, defense and space research, and the nonprofit sector. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+.

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10 comment

  3. Thank you. Recently I install Centos 6.2 on my system. When RHEL 6.3 out, I wonder if I need to reinstall Centos to upgrade. Your article answer my question.

  4. Why not use `yum -y upgrade`?

    It adds the `–obsoletes` call to `update`, thereby making it a cleaner run.

  6. If you want your system F*ed, then yeah, upgrade to 6.3. Stupid crap destroyed/overwrote config files for dozens of working software packages Apache/PHP being one the most frustrating.

    If you have a Broadcom wireless card, you can’t rebuild the drivers for the new kernal…

    Don’t do it!

  7. These are misleading instructions. You are telling people how to update to the latest packages, not to a certain release. The latest release level is 6.4. Following these instructions now would update to 6.4, not 6.3.

  8. FWIW, I recommend determining the running OS version by checking the kernel version:
    $ uname -r
    2.6.32-220.26.1.el6x86_64

    and then verifying it on the Red Hat Customer portal:
    https://access.redhat.com/articles/3078

    The /etc/redhat-release file can be edited by an account with sudo privileges. This is more sure.

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