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! |
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:
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) command man page for more information.
9 comment
thanks for the article! that should be “yum check-update”, rather than “yum check-updates”
Thanks for the heads up. I appreciate your post.
Thanks for the instructions. One small issue, CentOS 6.5 does not have /etc/redhat_release file. Use cat /etc/redhat-release instead. Everything else worked fine so far!
It was a typo on my part. The faq has been updated. I appreciate your post.
in Centos it is cat/system-release
I hope it helps.
Correction in my previous msg.
cat /etc/system-release
after upgrade, package php has change, What is the difference php on 6.3 and 6.5?
mysite is problems??
detail:
php-cli-5.3.3-14.el6_3.x86_64 => php-cli-5.3.3-27.el6_5.x86_64
What if my lab custer is running 6.3 and I just want to go to 6.4 but not 6.5 due to custom software support limitations? Is there a way to do that? Current i’m blocking exclude=centos-release*
Hi, create your own repositories that has the 6.4 rpms or use any repo centos. Then point your Centos .repo machine to it. Hope this helps.