Updating Armbian from Jammy to Noble

Armbian is a powerful Linux-based operating system optimized for ARM devices. In this article, I’ll explain how to safely upgrade your system from Jammy (based on Ubuntu 22.04) to Noble (based on Ubuntu 24.04).

Important
Before starting, ensure you have backed up your data to avoid losing any information in case of unforeseen issues.

1. Preparing the System

Before upgrading to a new version, ensure your current system is fully updated.

Open a terminal and run:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt dist-upgrade -y

These commands will update all installed packages to their latest versions.

2. Updating Repositories to Noble

Main Repositories

In Armbian, repositories are defined in the /etc/apt/sources.list file. Edit this file:

sudo vi /etc/apt/sources.list

Locate lines starting with deb http:// and containing jammy. Replace jammy with noble. For example:

Before:

deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ jammy main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ jammy-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ jammy-security main restricted universe multiverse

After:

deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ noble main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ noble-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ noble-security main restricted universe multiverse

Save and exit the file.

Armbian Repositories

Armbian uses its own repositories, typically found in the /etc/apt/sources.list.d/armbian.list file. Edit this file:

sudo vi /etc/apt/sources.list.d/armbian.list

As in the previous step, replace all occurrences of jammy with noble.

Other .list Files

Sometimes, additional repository files are present in the /etc/apt/sources.list.d directory. These files might be added for custom software or third-party repositories.

To ensure a smooth upgrade:

List all .list files in the directory:
```
ls /etc/apt/sources.list.d/*.list
```
Edit each file and update jammy to noble where applicable:
```
sudo vi /etc/apt/sources.list.d/filename.list
```

Repeat this for all files in the directory. If you are unsure about a specific repository, consult its documentation to confirm compatibility with Noble.

3. Upgrading the System

After updating all repository files, run the following commands to upgrade the system:

sudo apt update
sudo apt dist-upgrade -y

This will install the new package versions and replace outdated ones.

4. Cleaning Up

After the upgrade, remove unused packages to free up space and avoid potential conflicts:

sudo apt autoremove -y

5. Reboot

Now, reboot your device:

sudo reboot

After restarting, ensure your system is running Noble. To check, use the command:

lsb_release -a

You should see a line showing Release: 24.04.

Conclusion

Upgrading Armbian to a new version may seem challenging, but following these instructions will help you complete the process safely and efficiently. Remember to check and update all repository files in /etc/apt/sources.list.d to avoid missing any critical updates.

Keeping your system up to date not only enhances performance but also improves security.

If you encounter any issues, visit the Armbian Community Forum for help and advice.

Good luck! 🎉