Upgrade a Centos 7 VM to Almalinux 8
Is there a document that describes how to upgrade Centos 7 to AlmaLinux 8?
11 Replies
eruzanski
Linode Staff
I couldn't find a specific Linode docs piece for this particular upgrade, but here are some helpful resources from a handful of different places:
Linode Documentation:
Online Tutorials:
YouTube Walk-through:
One of the problems encountered in the Almalinux migration was that the leapp upgrade script expects to find entries in Grub to boot from and edit. However, Linodes appear to boot from a default set of kernels that are specified under the "Configuration" tab. You have to select your VM to boot from Grub2.
However, your VM might not have any entries there. You have to populate the grub file with this command: grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg before starting the Almalinux upgrade. Also, once the leapp upgrade script completes, it will reboot by itself, then end up at the "grub" prompt. At that stage, you need to set your VM to boot from the list of kernels supplied by Linode, and once it's booted, run the grub2-mkconfig command again. This will put the Almalinux kernel into grub. After that, you can set your VM to boot from Grub again and it should pick up the latest kernel.
However, there is one trick to let Grub see the kernels. Edit the /etc/default/grub file. The first line says "GRUB_ENABLE_BLSCFG=true". Comment out this line and run grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub2.cfg again and then reboot.
hphillips
Linode Staff
I was able to preform the upgrade by doing the following from a fresh installation of CentOS 7: (Your Milage May Vary)
Made sure that my instance was configured to use the GRUB2 kernel option in my instance's configuration profile.
Ran
sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfgRan
sudo yum updateRebooted to ensure I was running the latest distribution kernel
Ran
sudo yum install yum-utilsto install the package-cleanup utilityRan
package-cleanup --oldkernels --count=1to ensure there was only the latest kernelRan
yum install -y http://repo.almalinux.org/elevate/elevate-release-latest-el7.noarch.rpmRan
rpm -qi elevate-releaseto verify that Elevate was successfully installed.Installed the Leapp utility and data for AlamaLinux 8:
sudo yum install -y leapp-upgrade leapp-data-almalinux.Ran the utility:
sudo leapp upgradeGot an error about installation being inhibited by missing answers, ran
leapp answer --section remove_pam_pkcs11_module_check.confirm=TrueRan the utility again:
sudo leapp upgradeRebooted and watched the installation happen on the LISH Console
Switched the configuration profile to boot from the latest 64 bit kernel
Rebooted
Edited the
/etc/default/grubfile to remove the "GRUB_ENABLE_BLSCFG=true" line which leeap seemed to have added.Reran
grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub2.cfgSwitch the configuration profile for the Linode to boot using GRUB2
Rebooted
For additional background details, please see:
after upgrade from centos 7 to alma 8 , its showing NetworkManager faild in start lish login screen
systemctl status NetworkManager.service
● NetworkManager.service - Network Manager
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/NetworkManager.service; enabled; ven>
Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Thu 2024-06-06 21:06:45 IST; 1min 4>
Docs: man:NetworkManager(8)
Process: 724 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/NetworkManager --no-daemon (code=exited, sta>
Main PID: 724 (code=exited, status=127)
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in NetworkManager[724]: /usr/sbin/NetworkMa>
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: NetworkManager.service: Main>
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: NetworkManager.service: Fail>
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: Failed to start Network Mana>
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: NetworkManager.service: Serv>
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: NetworkManager.service: Sche>
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: Stopped Network Manager.
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: NetworkManager.service: Star>
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: NetworkManager.service: Fail>
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: Failed to start Network Mana
systemctl status NetworkManager.service
● NetworkManager.service - Network Manager
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/NetworkManager.service; enabled; ven>
Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Thu 2024-06-06 21:06:45 IST; 1min 4>
Docs: man:NetworkManager(8)
Process: 724 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/NetworkManager --no-daemon (code=exited, sta>
Main PID: 724 (code=exited, status=127)
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in NetworkManager[724]: /usr/sbin/NetworkMa>
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: NetworkManager.service: Main>
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: NetworkManager.service: Fail>
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: Failed to start Network Mana>
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: NetworkManager.service: Serv>
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: NetworkManager.service: Sche>
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: Stopped Network Manager.
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: NetworkManager.service: Star>
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: NetworkManager.service: Fail>
Jun 06 21:06:45 vauu.expertwebworld.in systemd[1]: Failed to start Network Mana
@hphillips could you please help into this
even when i run
root@vauu [~]# sudo /usr/sbin/NetworkManager --no-daemon --log-level=DEBUG
/usr/sbin/NetworkManager: error while loading shared libraries: libbrotlidec.soy
linode team is failed to solve the NetworkManager issue
How can one do it now that the Linode Cents 7 Mirror is 404ing?
hdiep
Linode Staff
@focusonforcek2, I recommend reviewing over our Linode's CentOS 7 mirror is no longer available Community post on how you can retrieve CentOS repositories.