How to update UMS on Headless Ubuntu

[Lammerts]

Some time ago i deployed a new Ubuntu 24.xx Headless Server for running UMS (only).
At that time the UMS version was 15.2.0. In the meantime UMS has released 15.4.0
How/what is the best way to update UMS in this situation?

[mik_s]

I don't know the best way on Linux, probably something like apt update. @boss should know
Downloading the latest version and installing it should update instead of a full install.

If you have check for updates enabled then it should tell you when there is an update and how to do it although I never use it as I use the test builds.

Screenshot 2026-03-05 100436.png (17.43 KiB) Viewed 177066 times

[boss]

This is the way I do it but it is on a Gentoo headless server. I see no reason why it would be any different on a headless ubuntu.
AS long as you are comfortable with command line commands.

**The install folder is /opt/ums/
Under that I have many different versions of UMS in their own folder.
When I want to add a new version, I copy the Linux Tarball to /opt/ums/
Then from the /opt/ums/ folder extract the Tarball
For 64-bit linux and UMS v 15.4.0 that would be:
tar -xvzf UMS-Linux-15.4.0-x86_64.tgz
That will create a folder (ums-15.4.0) under the folder /opt/ums/ with all the files in it.

EG (a few as an example):
ums-10.0.1
ums-12.0.1
ums-14.9.0
ums-15.3.0
ums-15.4.0

Then I create a soft link under /opt/ums/ to the version I want to run.
EG (for ums-15.4.0):
In the folder /opt/ums/
ln -s ums-15.4.0 ums
That way, any start up scripts you have, you just point it to /opt/ums/ums which will run the version you have linked.
If you want to run different versions, you just delete the link with the command: "rm ums"
And then create another link to whatever version you want to run.

**PS.. The configuration files are not in "/opt/ums/ums version".
When you add a new version or link to a different version, the configuration files remain intact and do not need to be setup again.
These configuration files are normally in /USERNAME/.config/UMS/

[Lammerts]

Is there a specific reason why you keep all the different versions?
At the end you use only the latest version ?

[mik_s]

I think that is a special case so @boss can test older versions easier.

I would not recommend others do this as the configuration and database will be shared and can cause problems switching between versions.
The database has had significant changes compared to earlier versions and going back can corrupt it.
There are also settings that have been added, moved to another conf, or renamed that will not work on older versions.

For most people the standard way will be best.
From what little I have used of Linux I know you can update apps using sudo apt update but this can be different on other flavours of Linux.
I do not know if UMS can be updated this way either.

Probably the best way is to just download the tar file and use the installer (if it has one on Linux) and it should ask if you want to update.

[boss]

"Is there a specific reason why you keep all the different versions?
At the end you use only the latest version ?"

Sometimes when I install a new version there are issues with that version.
When this happens, I can revert to an older version which works OK until a newer version with the issue resolved becomes available.
And
Sometimes I come across an issue which I was not aware of. I can test previous versions going backwards and ascertain at which version the issue started. That can help the devs in finding out which changes may have caused the issue.

What mik_s said about the database being not compatible between some versions is correct but I find this rarely happens.
If it does happen, I just delete the database and UMS recreates a new one on launch.

Gentoo linux does not have any install method so I have no option but to do it manually like I posted.
I've been using UMS on Gentoo linux for so long it is just second nature to me.