So Ubuntu has this model where they pretty much freeze package versions for an Ubuntu release after release, and then they only backport security updates from upstream. There's nothing new here, most distros do it this way. The idea is that this way they can polish the gazillions of package versions
Any sysadmins here to suggest an alternative server distro? We’ve been installing Ubuntu in most of our VMs at our company, and while I realize it’s a hassle to switch them all, I kinda want to at least have a discussion about it.
ditch ubuntu and switch to debian :)
We’ve had Debian on some machines, and while it’s stable, packages tend to be too old for some operations. Maybe Sid…
…there is backporting or containers. Or arch btw :D
Debian
I use Debian for my own server for over 3 years now and it’s been great so far.
Since you(r team) already have the Ubuntu experience, the obvious and senseful migration path is Debian. Stable plus docker/podman covers for most of what’s needed plus cover for the “bUt thIS paCKaGe iS 2 weEkS olD!!!1” crew.
Learning nix might be worth it on a server.
Fedora is the only other “server distro” that I know of but obviously you can install any distro and just omit the desktop environment from the install.