2 Debian/Ubuntu

Overview

This section provides instructions on upgrading from Zabbix 7.2.x to the latest version of Zabbix 7.4.x using official Zabbix packages for Debian/Ubuntu.

For instructions on upgrading between Zabbix 7.4.x minor versions (for example, from 7.4.1 to 7.4.3), see Upgrade between minor versions.

Upgrade procedure

1 Stop Zabbix processes

Stop Zabbix server to make sure that no new data is inserted into database:

systemctl stop zabbix-server

If upgrading Zabbix proxy, agent, or agent 2, stop these components too:

systemctl stop zabbix-proxy
       systemctl stop zabbix-agent
       systemctl stop zabbix-agent2

2 Back up Zabbix database

Back up your existing Zabbix database to safeguard against upgrade failures (for example, disk space issues, power loss, or unexpected problems).

3 Back up Zabbix configuration files, PHP files, and Zabbix binaries

Back up existing Zabbix configuration files, PHP files, and Zabbix binaries.

For configuration files, run:

mkdir /opt/zabbix-backup/
       cp /etc/zabbix/zabbix_server.conf /opt/zabbix-backup/
       cp /etc/apache2/conf-enabled/zabbix.conf /opt/zabbix-backup/

For PHP files and Zabbix binaries, run:

cp -R /usr/share/zabbix/ /opt/zabbix-backup/
       cp -R /usr/share/zabbix-* /opt/zabbix-backup/

4 Update repository configuration package

Before proceeding with the upgrade, uninstall your current Zabbix repository package:

rm -Rf /etc/apt/sources.list.d/zabbix.list

You may also need to manually remove any old Zabbix packages from your working directory (e.g., rm zabbix-release_latest+debian12_all.deb) before downloading the new one to prevent the package manager from reusing an outdated version during the upgrade process.

Then, install the latest repository configuration package to ensure compatibility with the newest packages and to include any recent security patches or bug fixes.

On Debian 12, run:

wget https://repo.zabbix.com/zabbix/7.4/release/debian/pool/main/z/zabbix-release/zabbix-release_latest+debian12_all.deb
       dpkg -i zabbix-release_latest+debian12_all.deb

On Ubuntu 24.04, run:

wget https://repo.zabbix.com/zabbix/7.4/release/ubuntu/pool/main/z/zabbix-release/zabbix-release_latest+ubuntu24.04_all.deb
       dpkg -i zabbix-release_latest+ubuntu24.04_all.deb

On Ubuntu 22.04, run:

wget https://repo.zabbix.com/zabbix/7.4/release/ubuntu/pool/main/z/zabbix-release/zabbix-release_latest+ubuntu22.04_all.deb
       dpkg -i zabbix-release_latest+ubuntu22.04_all.deb

You may see a prompt about the Zabbix repository configuration:

Configuration file '/etc/apt/sources.list.d/zabbix.list'
       ==> Deleted (by you or by a script) since installation.
       ==> Package distributor has shipped an updated version.
       What would you like to do about it ?  Your options are:
       Y or I  : install the package maintainer's version
       N or O  : keep your currently-installed version
       D       : show the differences between the versions
       Z       : start a shell to examine the situation
       The default action is to keep your current version.
       *** zabbix.list (Y/I/N/O/D/Z) [default=N] ?

Enter Y (or I) to install the package maintainer's version of the Zabbix repository configuration.

Then, update the repository information:

apt update

5 Upgrade Zabbix components

To upgrade Zabbix components, run:

apt install --only-upgrade zabbix-server-mysql zabbix-frontend-php zabbix-agent

• If using PostgreSQL, replace mysql with pgsql in the command.
• If upgrading proxy, replace server with proxy in the command.
• If upgrading Zabbix agent 2, replace zabbix-agent with zabbix-agent2 zabbix-agent2-plugin-* in the command.

You may see a prompt about the Zabbix server (or proxy) configuration:

Configuration file '/etc/zabbix/zabbix_server.conf'
       ==> Modified (by you or by a script) since installation.
       ==> Package distributor has shipped an updated version.
       What would you like to do about it ?  Your options are:
       Y or I  : install the package maintainer's version
       N or O  : keep your currently-installed version
       D       : show the differences between the versions
       Z       : start a shell to examine the situation
       The default action is to keep your current version.
       *** zabbix_server.conf (Y/I/N/O/D/Z) [default=N] ?

Enter the option that best fits your situation. For example, enter D to compare the current and new configuration, then decide if you want to install the package maintainer's version (Y or I).

Then, to upgrade Zabbix frontend with Apache and restart Apache, run:

apt install zabbix-apache-conf
       systemctl restart apache2

6 Review component configuration parameters

Review the relevant upgrade notes to check if any changes in the configuration parameters are necessary.

For new optional parameters, see the What's new page.

7 Start Zabbix processes

Start the upgraded Zabbix components:

systemctl start zabbix-server
       systemctl start zabbix-proxy
       systemctl start zabbix-agent
       systemctl start zabbix-agent2

8 Clear web browser cookies and cache

After the upgrade, you may need to clear web browser cookies and web browser cache for the Zabbix web interface to work properly.

Upgrade between minor versions

It is possible to upgrade between Zabbix 7.4.x minor versions (for example, from 7.4.1 to 7.4.3).

First, update the repository information:

apt update

Then, to upgrade all Zabbix components, run:

apt install --only-upgrade 'zabbix*'

• To upgrade Zabbix server only, replace 'zabbix*' with 'zabbix-server*' in the command.
• To upgrade Zabbix proxy only, replace 'zabbix*' with 'zabbix-proxy*' in the command.
• To upgrade Zabbix agent only, replace 'zabbix*' with 'zabbix-agent*' in the command.
• To upgrade Zabbix agent 2 only, replace 'zabbix*' with 'zabbix-agent2*' in the command.