Change OS without losing data
Linode
Linode Staff
Is there a way to change my Linode's OS without deleting the data?
1 Reply
tommydavidson
Linode Staff
The Short Answer
No - there is no way to directly change your OS without erasing.
The Long Answer
If you install one OS over the other without erasing the disk (assuming the installer for the new OS allows this - I've never actually tried), there would be conflicts and ambiguity between the 2 installed systems, resulting in a number of possible issues, not to mention compatibility issues with any currently installed packages when using the new OS.
That said, The best way to accomplish this is to spin up a second Linode, install the OS you would like to switch to, configure any needed services, and then transfer your data over using a tool like rsync, or SFTP. I have included our list of File Transfer Guides for your reference.