How to upgrade Ubuntu to 20.04 and kernel to 5.9

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In this article, I will show you how to upgrade your Ubuntu 20.04. As a bonus, we will also update the kernel to the latest stable version 5.9.1 or 5.8.16, which contain the following improvements:

  • WireGuard Support
  • New processor cooling driver
  • USB4 support
  • Amazon Echo Support
  • Improved hardware support
  • VirtualBox Folder Sharing
  • F2FS data compression using LZO/LZ4

And here is a short list of what's new in Ubuntu 20.04:

  • Best and fastest GNOME 3.36 desktop with dark theme support
  • Improved support for 4K monitors and zoom
  • New themes and visual settings
  • Quick install, fast boot
  • Global do not disturb
  • Best Thunderbolt Support
  • Best support for nVidia graphics cards

To upgrade Ubuntu to the latest stable release 20.04 you will need 2 hours to follow these steps:

Preparation

  1. Update packages list
    sudo apt-get update
  2. Upgrade packages
    sudo apt-get upgrade
  3. Install update-manager-core package
    sudo apt-get install update-manager-core

Upgrade Ubuntu

  1. Upgrade distro
    sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
  2. Upgrade Ubuntu
    sudo do-release-upgrade

Upgrade kernel

  1. Change current directory to /tmp
    cd /tmp
  2. Download latest mainline kernel from 5.9.x branch
    wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.9.1/amd64/linux-headers-5.9.1-050901_5.9.1-050901.202010170731_all.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.9.1/amd64/linux-headers-5.9.1-050901-generic_5.9.1-050901.202010170731_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.9.1/amd64/linux-image-unsigned-5.9.1-050901-generic_5.9.1-050901.202010170731_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.9.1/amd64/linux-modules-5.9.1-050901-generic_5.9.1-050901.202010170731_amd64.deb
  3. or latest latest stable kernel from 5.8.x branch
    wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.8.16/amd64/linux-headers-5.8.16-050816_5.8.16-050816.202010170731_all.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.8.16/amd64/linux-headers-5.8.16-050816-generic_5.8.16-050816.202010170731_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.8.16/amd64/linux-image-unsigned-5.8.16-050816-generic_5.8.16-050816.202010170731_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.8.16/amd64/linux-modules-5.8.16-050816-generic_5.8.16-050816.202010170731_amd64.deb
  4. Install new kernel
    sudo dpkg -i *.deb
  5. Reboot the system
    sudo shutdown -r now

Finishing up

  1. Update packages list
    sudo apt-get update
  2. Upgrade packages
    sudo apt-get upgrade
  3. Reboot the system if needed
    sudo shutdown -r now
  4. Check the OS distro
    lsb_release -a
  5. Check kernel version
    uname -r

That's it, now you should be running on the latest best-looking Ubuntu 20.04 and most secure Linux Kernel.