Ubuntu is one of the most popular Linux distros. It is widely used on both servers and workstations.

Every two years, Canonical releases a Long-Term Support (LTS) version of Ubuntu. LTS releases of Ubuntu are more stable and normally get updates for up to five years. Ubuntu Pro takes your Ubuntu experience to a whole new level.

Here's how you can upgrade to Ubuntu Pro for free, with no hidden costs whatsoever.

Benefits of the Ubuntu Pro Subscription

Ubuntu Pro brings enhanced security benefits and extended security support to your machines. Some of the benefits that Ubuntu Pro offers include:

• Live-patching: Kernel live patching is the process of applying critical updates and security fixes to your Linux kernel. The Livepatching service comes as part of Ubuntu Pro and allows you to install kernel updates without the need for rebooting your servers. If you run services that require minimal downtime then this is something for you.
• Extended support: Enjoy extended security and maintenance updates for up to 10 years. Normally, LTS versions of Ubuntu get up to five years of support, but Ubuntu Pro doubles that to ten years. In addition, a lot of packages also get extended security updates to keep your system secure. There are more than 23,000 packages that are a part of this. Some prominent packages include Docker, Node.js, Drupal, Vagrant, etc.
• Compliance and hardening: Regardless of the security framework or standard that you are using in your organization, Ubuntu Pro helps you to be compliant. This is especially important for highly regulated organizations and for running high-security services.

You can enjoy all these benefits and more by upgrading to Ubuntu Pro for free on up to five machines. Without further ado, here's how to upgrade to Ubuntu Pro in three simple steps.

Step 1: Update Your System

You need to make sure that your system is up-to-date and that you are running the latest version of the Ubuntu Pro client. Update your system using the following command:

        sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
    

Check which version of the Ubuntu Pro client you are using. It should be more recent than 27.11.2.

        pro --version
    

If you have an older Pro client, use APT to install a supported client using the following command:

        sudo apt install ubuntu-advantage-tools=27.11.2~$(lsb_release -rs).1
    

Note that Ubuntu Pro is only supported on LTS releases of Ubuntu, so make sure you are running an LTS release on your machine.

Step 2: Create an Ubuntu One Account

You need to have an Ubuntu One account to access your Ubuntu Pro subscription. If you don’t have an Ubuntu One account, sign up for free by heading over to login.ubuntu.com.

Provide your email address, enter a secure password and then agree to the terms and conditions. Finally, click the Create Account button to create your account.

The Ubuntu One account is your gateway to Ubuntu-related services and sites.

Step 3: Activate Ubuntu Pro on Your Machine

Once you log in to Ubuntu One, you can retrieve your token by clicking on the Your Subscriptions tab.

You can use the Ubuntu Pro token on up to five Ubuntu devices of your choice for free. It could be a server, an IoT device, or a Raspberry Pi.

Attach your Ubuntu Pro token to a PC or server running an LTS version of Ubuntu using the following command:

        sudo pro attach your_ubuntu_one_token
    

Remember to replace the text "your_ubuntu_one_token" in the above-stated command with your subscription token.

You'll need superuser privileges to run the command.

As you can see from the output, you get the extended support infrastructure and live-patch services enabled by default. If you want to enable some other services you can do that using the pro enable command followed by the service name.

For example, to activate Ubuntu Security Guide (USG), you can simply run the following command:

        sudo pro enable usg
    

You Should Always Prefer LTS Releases of Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a stable and robust OS widely used on both servers and workstations. With Ubuntu Pro, you enjoy more security and better compliance on an already great system. If you care for stability and security then you should give Ubuntu Pro a try.

As highlighted earlier, Ubuntu Pro is only supported on LTS releases of Ubuntu. LTS releases offer better security and stability, and are supported for a minimum of five years.