Ubuntu 16.04 and Virtualmin

Web Stuff 14.09.2016 4053

Ubuntu 16.04 is available since a couple of months however 16.04.1 LTS only a couple of weeks old and that is what we all have waited for.

With the first package release it is also possible to update from 14.04 to 16.04.1. Would we suggest to do it if Virtualmin is installed? No.

We have updated several systems and had not one going smooth like an update should go, but that is not the fault of Virtualmin or Ubuntu. There is just so many things that has been changed between the Ubuntu versions it is safer to install a new server with 16.04.1 from scratch and move your virtual servers later.

In this article we will explain:

How to install Ubuntu 16.04.1
How to install Virtualmin on your new server
How to move your virtual servers from your old to your new server

Let's start with the installation of a new web server based on Ubuntu 16.04.1 and Virtualmin

Choose your favourite cloud server provider, we can suggest Vultr as it is reliable, fast and has 15 different locations worldwide. Luckely our guide how to install Ubuntu 14.04 and Virtualmin still works fine. You also don't need apt-get anymore apt is the new way to go.

How to move your virtual servers

That is fairly easy thanks to the backup and restore feature within Virtualmin. You can follow this guide from virtualmin should you have a lot of virtual servers or do it via the gui.

Virtualmin - Backup and Restore - Backup Virtual Servers

From there select the one you want to move or all together. You can even backup straight to the new server via SSH or FTP and restore in your new server pretty much with a click.

When you backup all virtual server you should select one file as it is quicker to download and upload to the new server otherwise go one by one. Under the tab Features and Settings, make sure that Backup all features has been selected.

Restore Virtual Servers

It is time to login to your new server and go to

Virtualmin - Backup and Restore - Restore Backup

Select the backup you have from your old server and go ahead. Done.

Important: Ubuntu 16.04.1 ships with PHP 7 and MySQL 5.7, make sure your web software works fine before you move to the new server. MySQL 5.7 is quite different in terms of default values and time/date behaviour.

After the move enjoy super fast page loading thanks to PHP 7, with less memory usage and better performance overall.

Ubuntu 16.04 and Virtualmin