Upgrade Ubuntu 6.06 LTS to Ubuntu 8.04 LTS

Install all 6.06 updates and reboot:

aptitude update
aptitude dist-upgrade
reboot

Install the update manager:

aptitude install update-manager-core python-apt python-gnupginterface python2.4-apt

Then initiate the upgrade. It is suggested to run this from a console, not via SSH:

do-release-upgrade

• I took the default answers most of the time.
• Whole process took a few hours to download and install stuff. Would have to periodically check progress and answer prompts, so it was not completely automated, and this made the upgrade slower.
• Then rebooted when prompted at the end.
• Booted the new kernel, and the system was now Ubuntu 8.04 LTS.
• Then did again:

aptitude update
aptitude upgrade

... this removed a few no longer needed packages left over from 6.06.

Tweaks for clean bootup

Then checked the boot messages, and removed some packages that were not starting correctly and were no longer needed, or tweaked their config files to remove errors. Your tweaks required may differ:

aptitude remove nstx
nano /etc/smartd.conf    

... and commented out the "DEVICESCAN" Line

• Redid the exim 4 configuration.

rm /var/log/exim4/paniclog

• Added 2 powertop bootup lines to end of /etc/rc.local to reduce power usage:

# Power savings, as per powertop suggestions:
echo 1 > /sys/module/snd_ac97_codec/parameters/power_save
echo 1500 > /proc/sys/vm/dirty_writeback_centisecs

Then did:

reboot

... and confirmed that the bootup was clean and everything required was starting correctly, and that was it!