This article explains how to migrate an Auvik Collector host from Debian 12 (Bookworm) to Debian 13 (Trixie).
Scope
This procedure applies to:
- Auvik Collector hosts currently running Debian 12
- Environments where the host operating system and the Auvik Collector package source both need to be updated to Debian 13
Prerequisites
Before beginning the migration:
- Ensure you have a recent backup or virtual machine snapshot
- Ensure you have console, remote management, or out-of-band access to the host
- Schedule a maintenance window, as this procedure requires a reboot and may cause temporary service interruption
- Confirm the system is in a healthy state before starting the upgrade
Important considerations
This procedure performs an in-place operating system upgrade. As with any major OS upgrade, there is some risk of package conflicts, service interruptions, or configuration issues.
Auvik recommends validating the upgrade in a test or non-production environment first whenever possible.
Steps:
Step 1: Update all currently installed packages
Before changing Debian repositories, update the existing Debian 12 system completely.
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y
Step 2: Update Debian APT sources from Bookworm to Trixie
Edit the Debian package source configuration so the system points to Debian 13 repositories.
sudo apt edit-sources
Update all applicable entries as follows:
- bookworm to trixie
- bookworm-security to trixie-security
- bookworm-updates to trixie-updates
Example
| Before | After |
Step 3: Perform a minimal package upgrade
Refresh package metadata and run an initial upgrade without adding new packages.
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade --without-new-pkgs
This step may take several minutes depending on system performance and package volume.
Step 4: Perform the full Debian 13 upgrade
Run the full system upgrade to complete the migration to Debian 13.
sudo apt full-upgrade --autoremove -y
This step upgrades the operating system and removes obsolete packages.
Step 5: Update the Auvik Collector package source
After the OS upgrade is complete, update the Auvik Collector package repository reference from Debian 12 to Debian 13.
sudo sed -i 's/bookworm/trixie/g' /etc/apt/sources.list.d/auvik-agent.list
Step 6: Enable and start the Auvik Collector service
Once the repository reference has been updated, enable and start the Collector service.
sudo systemctl enable --now auvik-agent
Step 7: Reboot the host
Reboot the system to complete the migration.
sudo reboot
Verification
After the host has rebooted, verify that the migration completed successfully.
Verify the operating system version
cat /etc/os-release
Confirm the output identifies the system as Debian 13 (Trixie).
Verify the Auvik Collector repository configuration
cat /etc/apt/sources.list.d/auvik-agent.list
Confirm that trixie is present and bookworm is no longer referenced.
Verify the Auvik Collector service status
sudo systemctl status auvik-agent
Confirm the service is active and running.
For example:
Troubleshooting
apt update fails after editing sources
Review the Debian sources file and confirm all release references were updated correctly, including security and updates repositories.
The Collector service does not start
Verify the Auvik Collector source list was updated successfully:
cat /etc/apt/sources.list.d/auvik-agent.list
Then run:
sudo systemctl enable --now auvik-agent
If the issue persists, review system and service logs for package or dependency-related errors.
The system still reports Debian 12 after reboot
Verify the Debian repository entries were changed correctly and confirm the full upgrade completed successfully.
Summary
To migrate an Auvik Collector host from Debian 12 to Debian 13:
- Fully update the Debian 12 host
- Change Debian package sources from bookworm to trixie
- Run a minimal upgrade
- Run a full upgrade
- Update the Auvik Collector package source
- Start the Collector service
- Reboot and verify system health