1&1 cloud server: Is it save to do OS upgrade?

[mamo]

Hi,
I had problems with 3CX update, similar to the situation described in this thread.
With the information there, I was able to fix it and successfully update. Thus, I am now on SP6 (15.5.15502.6).
Next step would be OS upgrade,which 3CX is offering on the update page.

However, my system is running on 1&1 cloud server and @Justin D explicitly stated, that 1&1 has some limitation, that is preventing him from upgrading:

We are currently running on a cloud server with 1and1 and, unfortunately, it turns out that I will have to delete the instance and setup again with Debian 9 as 1and1 have disabled the option to upgrade the distribution directly...

I could not find any source, confirming or contradicting this statement or a reason, why this should be.
In later discussion, it seems like @Justin D just went with a fresh installation (maybe without even trying to upgrade?) and there seems to be no clear answer to the basic question: Does upgrade work, yes or no?

Also, when I go to the 3CX management console and click on the upgrade button, it will show a message, saying:

Important: OS Debian update scripts will only work if you installed 3CX using the 3CX ISO and is tested against the following cloud hosting providers: Google Cloud, Amazon, Azure and OVH.

1&1 is not listed as a tested provider, which is a shame. According to this news entry and this guide, 1&1 is officially supported and thus, I think it should be tested. Might just be that it actually is tested and was only forgotten to mention in this message, but who knows...

All the information listed above, makes me a bit anxious. Of course, I could just try and hope for the best, but as they always say: Better be safe than sorry. Thus, I am asking you: Is there some confirmation, that upgrade on 1&1 is indeed tested / will it be tested? Or worse: Is there confirmation, that it will certainly fail?

Of course, we are talking about 3CX ISO. I did use PBX Express for installation.

 

[cobaltit]

So in the better safe than sorry vein you would backup, delete your instance and then create a new one based on Debian 9 and then restore.

 

[N_G]

I would take the opportunity then to move to Google or Amazon quite frankly....

 

[cobaltit]

Or Amazon Light Sail!

https://www.3cx.com/blog/news/host-pbx-phone-system-amazon-lightsail/

 

[Justin D]

I backed up our 3CX, rebuilt the Virtual Cloud Server (so we kept the same IP address) with a base Debian 9 image (not the 1&1 image*).

The reason we stayed with 1&1 is the cost - we're on the basic one at £9.99pm which is working well for us, and keeps it all under one roof.

*1&1 support told me that there was no way to upgrade from Debian 8 to 9 directly in the VCS as the default image was built to prevent it to save people from accidentally upgrading and breaking any applications they are running on it, so rebuilding it with a base image and not the 1&1 image should, hopefully, allow the ability to upgrade in the future if needed.

It only took just under an hour to do, and that included rebuilding the server twice as I managed to select the wrong image the first time!

 

[mamo]

So in the better safe than sorry vein you would backup, delete your instance and then create a new one based on Debian 9 and then restore.

Of course, if there is no other way, I will have to do it this way. I just wanted to know in advance. There is a difference between 20 minutes downtime with no work for me and a complete new installation / restore that could potentially cause a whole day of downtime, especially if I get a new IP and have to wait for DNS to update...

Also, if I am forced to reinstall, I might as well consider moving to a different host.
Very annoying. It is not happenstance that I am on 1&1. I did specifically choose this host, because it was officially supported by 3CX.

Thanks for the advice in this regard @Nick Galea and @cobaltit. Amazon Light Sail might be a good idea.

*1&1 support told me that there was no way to upgrade from Debian 8 to 9 directly in the VCS as the default image was built to prevent it to save people from accidentally upgrading and breaking any applications

Hmm, does PBX Express use the image provided by 1&1? I was under the impression that it will use the ISO, provided by 3CX.

Anyway, thank you very much for the explanation! Now I understand, what you did and why.
It is good to know that rebuild did work without changing the IP. Also, using your own base image instead of the one provided by 1&1 sounds like a good idea. Maybe I will consider going the same route.

 

[Justin D]

I was the same about 1&1 when I went to upgrade.

I didn't use the ISO, I just used the commands given in the Debian installation guide to download and install 3CX.

I did set up the firewall rules for the VCS in the 1&1 control panel before I started the installation.