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I have a NodeJS instance on Amazon LightSail. I want to upgrade the underlying Operating System to a newer major version, say Ubuntu 18 LTS to Ubuntu 20 LTS.

When I create a new instance from the snapshot, I do not get the option of choosing the version of the OS, so the new instance will have the same OS ad the original instance.

Is it possible, from a snapshot running a previous OS version, to create an instance with a newer OS version? If not, is there an easy way to upgrade the OS of an instance, short of creating a new instance, installing programs and transferring data?

miguelmorin
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    A newer version of the *same* operating system, or an entirely different OS? Typically there's an upgrade path for, say, Ubuntu 20.04 to 20.10, but you're in very different territory if you wanna go Ubuntu to Centos. Both will require work on your end, though. – ceejayoz Sep 09 '22 at 19:30
  • It's for a newer major version of the OS, say Ubuntu 18 LTS to Ubuntu 20 LTS. I updated the question. – miguelmorin Sep 12 '22 at 15:27

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No, what you've asked isn't possible. A snapshot is an image of a disk. You can't upgrade the OS while creating an instance from a snapshot.

If you want to upgrade your operating system create an instance from the snapshot then follow the instructions from the provider of the OS. Ubuntu, for example, makes it simple to upgrade. To upgrade from Ubuntu 18 to 20 you follow the documentation.

miguelmorin
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Tim
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  • Thank you Tim. I updated the question: it's for example Ubuntu 18 LTS to Ubuntu 20 LTS. – miguelmorin Sep 12 '22 at 15:32
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    Ok, I've updated my answer slightly. Short answer: snapshots are snapshots, upgrades are upgrades, they're separate. Create the instance then run the upgrade. – Tim Sep 12 '22 at 18:39