Ubuntu 22.04 vs 24.04 LTS for VPS: Should You Upgrade?

Ubuntu LTS: The Two-Year Rhythm

Canonical releases a new Long-Term Support version of Ubuntu every two years, in April. Each LTS version receives 5 years of standard security updates, plus an additional 5 years of Extended Security Maintenance (ESM) through Ubuntu Pro — totaling 10 years of coverage.

Right now, two LTS versions matter for VPS operators:

• Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) — released April 2022, standard support until April 2027, ESM until April 2032
• Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat) — released April 2024, standard support until April 2029, ESM until April 2034

Both are fully supported in 2026. Neither is end-of-life. The question isn't whether 22.04 is broken — it works fine and continues to receive security patches. The question is whether the improvements in 24.04 justify the effort of upgrading existing servers, and which version to choose for new deployments.

This guide breaks down the practical differences so you can make an informed decision for your VPS deployment.

Kernel: 6.8 vs 5.15

The kernel is the most impactful difference between the two versions. Ubuntu 24.04 ships with Linux 6.8, while 22.04 shipped with 5.15 (upgradable to 6.5 via HWE kernels).

Three major kernel versions separate these releases, and the improvements compound:

Memory management (MGLRU)

Kernel 6.8 includes the mature Multi-Gen LRU page reclamation algorithm. Under memory pressure, 6.8 makes smarter decisions about which pages to evict from RAM, reducing swap thrashing and improving application responsiveness. This matters most for VPS instances running near their RAM limit — a common scenario on smaller plans where you're optimizing cost. Benchmarks show MGLRU reduces memory-pressure-induced latency spikes by 30-50% compared to the classic LRU algorithm in kernel 5.15.

I/O performance

Improved io_uring performance means faster asynchronous I/O, directly benefiting database servers and applications with heavy disk operations. The improvements include better batching, reduced syscall overhead, and enhanced zero-copy operations. PostgreSQL and MySQL both benefit from these improvements when running on kernel 6.8.

Container and cgroup improvements

Better cgroup v2 support means improved container resource management for Docker and Kubernetes workloads. Memory accounting is more accurate, CPU scheduling is fairer across containers, and I/O throttling is more granular. If you run containerized applications, kernel 6.8 gives you better isolation and resource control.

Networking

TCP performance refinements include improved congestion control, better socket handling, and enhanced BPF capabilities for network filtering. For web servers handling many concurrent connections, these improvements translate to slightly better throughput and lower tail latency.

For most web and application server workloads, the kernel upgrade translates to 5-15% better performance under contention scenarios (high CPU load, memory pressure, heavy I/O). Under normal operation with headroom, the difference is less noticeable but still present.

On MassiveGRID VPS, the underlying hypervisor handles hardware abstraction, but kernel-level improvements in memory management and scheduling still directly benefit your applications running inside the VM.

Software Version Comparison

This is where the difference hits your daily workflow. Software versions included in the default repositories differ significantly:

The PHP difference is particularly significant for web hosting. PHP 8.3 is measurably faster than 8.1 — benchmarks consistently show 15-25% improvement in request throughput for frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, and WordPress. If you're running PHP applications, this single change can reduce response times and allow you to serve more traffic on the same hardware. That translates directly to cost savings on your VPS plan.

PostgreSQL 16 vs 14 is another major jump. Version 16 includes improved query parallelism, better logical replication (you can now replicate from standby servers), enhanced JSON path querying, and performance improvements for large datasets. If you're running PostgreSQL-heavy workloads, the newer version offers tangible improvements in query speed and operational flexibility.

Python 3.12 brings the "per-interpreter GIL" groundwork that paves the way for true multi-threaded Python, along with immediate benefits like 10-15% faster execution, vastly improved error messages with more precise tracebacks, and support for type statements for cleaner type alias definitions.

Note that many of these packages can be installed at newer versions on 22.04 using third-party repositories (Ondrej's PHP PPA, PostgreSQL's official repo, NodeSource for Node.js). However, maintaining these external repos adds complexity, potential for conflicts during system updates, and one more thing to track for security patches.

Security Improvements in 24.04

Beyond the newer kernel, Ubuntu 24.04 includes several security enhancements that raise the baseline security posture:

Updated AppArmor profiles

More comprehensive default profiles for system services, tighter confinement for containers, and better integration with snap and container runtimes. Services like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Docker benefit from more granular access controls out of the box.

Unprivileged user namespace restrictions

Ubuntu 24.04 adds kernel-level restrictions on unprivileged user namespaces, reducing the attack surface for container escape vulnerabilities. This is a meaningful hardening for any server running Docker containers, as unprivileged user namespaces have been involved in several high-profile container escape CVEs.

Updated cryptographic defaults

TLS 1.2 is the minimum by default (TLS 1.0 and 1.1 disabled system-wide). SSH defaults are stricter, with weaker key exchange algorithms and ciphers removed from the default configuration. This means you get better crypto security without manual hardening.

Binary hardening

More system binaries compiled with stack protectors, full RELRO, position-independent executables (PIE), and other hardening flags. This raises the bar for exploitation of any vulnerabilities found in system software.

Netplan improvements

Netplan, Ubuntu's network configuration abstraction layer, has been significantly improved in 24.04 with better WireGuard support, improved NetworkManager integration, and more predictable behavior for complex network setups including bonding and VLANs.

For security-conscious deployments — which should be all production servers — the cumulative security improvements in 24.04 are substantial. Running 22.04 with all security patches applied is still secure, but 24.04 starts from a higher baseline with more protections enabled by default.

What Might Break During Upgrade

This is the section most upgrade guides skip, and it's the most important for existing production servers. Here's what commonly causes issues:

PHP version jump (8.1 to 8.3)

If you're using PHP from the system repos, the upgrade bumps from 8.1 to 8.3. Key breaking changes to test for:

• Dynamic class properties are deprecated (triggers warnings in older frameworks and custom code)
• Several internal functions have stricter type checking — passing null where a string was expected now throws warnings
• json_validate() is a new function — if your code defines a function with the same name, you'll get a fatal error
• Some PECL extensions may need recompilation against PHP 8.3 headers
• Composer dependencies may need version bumps for 8.3 compatibility

Python 3.10 to 3.12

Most Python code migrates cleanly, but some deprecated modules have been removed:

• distutils is fully removed (use setuptools instead)
• Some deprecated asyncio APIs are gone
• Virtual environments created with 3.10 may need rebuilding for 3.12
• imp module is removed (use importlib)

Configuration file conflicts

The upgrade process may prompt about modified configuration files. Pay special attention to:

• /etc/ssh/sshd_config — SSH defaults change; merging incorrectly can lock you out of your server entirely
• /etc/nginx/* — module loading paths may change
• /etc/mysql/ — configuration format tweaks and deprecated options
• Systemd unit files — some service names, paths, or parameters change between versions
• /etc/apt/sources.list — Ubuntu 24.04 moves to the new deb822 format in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu.sources

Snap refresh behavior

Snap packages on 24.04 have changed refresh behavior. If you rely on specific snap versions or have pinned snap channels, verify the update policy after upgrading.

New Deployments: Always Choose 24.04

For new VPS deployments, there is no reason to choose 22.04 in 2026. Ubuntu 24.04 gives you:

• Newer software out of the box, reducing the need for PPAs and third-party repos
• 3 additional years of standard support (2029 vs 2027) and 2 additional years of ESM (2034 vs 2032)
• Better kernel with improved performance under memory pressure and heavy I/O
• Stronger default security posture with more hardening enabled out of the box
• No upgrade risk — you start clean with a known-good configuration

The only exception: if your application explicitly requires an older software version that's unavailable on 24.04 and cannot be containerized with Docker. This is extremely rare in practice.

MassiveGRID offers Ubuntu 24.04 LTS as a pre-installed image on all VPS and Dedicated VPS plans. Deployment takes under 60 seconds, and you get a clean, up-to-date system ready for configuration.

Upgrade Path for Existing 22.04 Servers

Ubuntu supports in-place upgrades between LTS versions using do-release-upgrade:

# Update current system first
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Install the update manager if not present
sudo apt install update-manager-core

# Run the upgrade
sudo do-release-upgrade

The process takes 20-60 minutes depending on the number of installed packages and your server's resources. During the upgrade, services will restart and there will be periods of downtime. SSH connections may drop and reconnect.

Before you upgrade:

1. Back up everything — full system backup, database dumps, configuration files, cron jobs. Test that your backups are restorable
2. Test in staging — if possible, clone your server and test the upgrade on the clone first to identify issues before they hit production
3. Review release notes — check Ubuntu's official 24.04 release notes for known issues and deprecated packages
4. Disable third-party repos — PPAs and external repositories can cause conflicts during upgrade. Disable them before upgrading, then re-enable compatible versions afterward
5. Plan a maintenance window — the upgrade requires a reboot and services will be down for 20-60 minutes
6. Have console access ready — if SSH breaks during upgrade, you need out-of-band console access to fix it
7. Document your current state — record running services, open ports, cron jobs, and custom configurations so you can verify nothing was lost

The Safe Migration Strategy

For production servers where downtime must be minimized and risk carefully managed, in-place upgrades are the riskier path. The safer approach is a parallel migration:

1. Deploy a new VPS — provision a fresh Ubuntu 24.04 VPS alongside your existing 22.04 server. Choose the same or larger resource allocation
2. Install and configure your application stack — replicate your software stack on the new server. Use this as an opportunity to clean up technical debt and modernize your setup
3. Migrate data — copy application files with rsync, import database backups, restore configuration files and SSL certificates
4. Test thoroughly — run your full test suite against the new server. Check every critical feature, API endpoint, and background process. Verify cron jobs trigger correctly
5. Switch DNS — update your domain's A record to point to the new server's IP. Set a low TTL (300 seconds) beforehand to speed up propagation
6. Keep the old server running — leave it active for 48-72 hours as a fallback. If something breaks on the new server, switch DNS back in minutes
7. Decommission — once confirmed stable, take a final backup of the old server's data and delete it

This parallel migration approach costs the price of running two VPS instances for a few days — a negligible amount compared to the risk of a failed in-place upgrade on a production server. On MassiveGRID, you can spin up a temporary VPS for just a few dollars and delete it when the migration is confirmed successful.

Support Timelines at a Glance

The critical date for 22.04 operators is April 2027. After that, standard security updates stop unless you're enrolled in Ubuntu Pro ESM. If your server is running 22.04 and you haven't planned the upgrade yet, start now — you have roughly 14 months of standard support remaining.

Ubuntu Pro ESM is free for up to 5 machines (personal use) and extends security patches to 2032. For production servers, enrolling in Ubuntu Pro buys you additional time, but it only covers security patches for the base OS packages — application-level software in third-party repos won't receive feature updates through ESM.

Decision Framework

Upgrade now if:

• Your application has been tested against PHP 8.3 / Python 3.12 / newer dependency versions
• You're approaching 22.04's standard support end date (April 2027) and want to avoid a last-minute rush
• You need features or performance improvements from kernel 6.8 (especially memory-constrained workloads)
• You're deploying containers and want improved cgroup v2 support and namespace restrictions
• You want the enhanced security defaults in 24.04 without manual hardening
• You're planning infrastructure changes anyway and can bundle the OS upgrade

Stay on 22.04 (for now) if:

• Your application depends on specific library versions that aren't compatible with 24.04 yet
• You're in a change freeze, compliance window, or audit period that prohibits major OS changes
• You're running fine, have no performance issues, and standard support doesn't expire for over a year
• You plan to skip 24.04 and go directly to 26.04 LTS (releasing April 2026) — though this requires the 22.04 to 24.04 hop first, as Ubuntu doesn't support skipping LTS versions

Use the parallel migration strategy if:

• Your server runs production workloads with real users who depend on uptime
• You can't afford extended downtime or the risk of a failed in-place upgrade
• You want to audit and clean up your server setup during the migration process
• You're on MassiveGRID and can spin up a second VPS for a few dollars to test the migration safely

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