Zimbra Upgrade: Ubuntu 8 vs 10

[bhwong]

We are currently running Zimbra 6 on Ubuntu 8. Instead of upgrading Zimbra to version 7 directly on our existing Zimbra, we plan to create a new VM, install Zimbra 6 to migrate the data before upgrading it to Zimbra 7.

We wanted to install Ubuntu 10 in the new VM but is concern if Zimbra 6 has any issue running on Ubuntu 10. What are the advantages of running Zimbra on Ubuntu 10 vs 8 beside 2 extended year of Long Term Support from Ubuntu?

[Krishopper]

If you want to use Ubuntu 10.04 with Zimbra, make sure you are at Zimbra 6.0.8 minimum, before doing that. That was the earliest version of Zimbra which supported Ubuntu 10.04, so you should not encounter any problems.

[bhwong]

Since we are still on 6.07, is it better to do with option 1?

Option 1

* Upgrade our Zimbra 6.07 to 6.13
* Create a new Zimbra 6.13 VM with Ubuntu 10
* Restore full backup from old Zimbra 6.13 VM
* Upgrade new Zimbra 6.13 to 7

Option 2

* Create a new Zimbra 6.07 VM with Ubuntu 8
* Restore full backup from old Zimbra 6.07 VM
* Upgrade new Zimbra 6.07 to 7
* Upgrade new Zimbra 7's Ubuntu 8 to 10

[Krishopper]

Personally, I would do Option #1.

If you choose to do Option #2, you need to add another step at the end to upgrade Zimbra to the same version of 7, but using the Ubuntu 10 Zimbra download. The binaries for Zimbra are different for Ubuntu 8 and Ubuntu 10, so as soon as you switch versions you are going to make sure you run an upgrade, even if its to the same Zimbra version.