Skip to main content
  1. Blog
  2. Article

Joshua Powers
on 6 May 2020


This article originally appeared on Joshua Powers’ blog

The Ubuntu Server Live Installer, introduced with the release of Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver), provides a live Ubuntu Server environment along with a streamlined server installation experience. Building on guided installs for LVM, RAID, encrypted disks and advanced networking configuration (VLANs and bonds) the installer can refresh itself to the latest version during the live session. The update feature provides users with access to new features and bug fixes without needing to wait for the official point releases throughout the cycle. Let’s now have a look at how it works in practice. 

After booting the live Ubuntu Server session on an Internet-connected server the installer will check and notify users if there is a newer version available. Users can either update the installer or skip the update.

After selecting to update the installer, the user is shown the progress of the download and update. The install will resume after the update is complete.

The Updatable Ubuntu Server Live Installer is now available in both Ubuntu 18.04.3 LTS and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. Users can download and try it here

Related posts


Pedro Lazzarotto
12 June 2026

A decade of Ubuntu on IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE

Partners Ubuntu tech blog

This year we celebrate a decade of Ubuntu Server support on the s390x architecture: marking a long-standing collaboration between Canonical and IBM that began at LinuxCon 2015. The first release happened on April 21, 2016, bringing Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus) to IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE platforms.  A first for Ubuntu on IBM That ...


ilvipero
22 June 2026

Ubuntu Summit 26.04: connected by open source

Ubuntu Ubuntu tech blog

What an incredible experience! Ubuntu Summit 26.04 has officially drawn to a close, but the energy from our global community is still buzzing – in the comments section, on social media, and in news reports. Whether you joined us in person or tuned in from across the globe, you helped make this edition our most ...


Hugo Huang
28 May 2026

Canonical announces optimized Ubuntu images for TPU virtual machines by Google Cloud

AI Ubuntu tech blog

Canonical and Google Cloud announced the availability of certified Ubuntu images for Google’s Cloud TPU Virtual Machines. ...