# Introducing SNAP Tracks!

**URL:** <https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890>\
**Category:** Announcements\
**Created:** [February 18, 2020, 7:43pm UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890 "2020-02-18T19:43:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aaron.ogle](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/forums.rocket.chat/aaron.ogle/32/15_2.png) [@aaron.ogle](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/aaron.ogle)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 7:43pm UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/1 "2020-02-18T19:43:13Z")

</div>

# Introducing snap tracks

A long requested feature from our snap users has been to have more control over their upgrades. Cases like where we release 2.0 and maybe it changes a behavior they want a bit more time to adjust for. Or more importantly they want to be there when the snap is updated in case something goes wrong.

Snap tracks are a simple way for you as a user to control which version of Rocket.Chat you are running.

By default if you perform:

```auto
snap install rocketchat-server

```

You are put into the “latest” track. This means you will always get the latest release no matter what.

We have now introduced the `2.x` track. Switching to this track means that you will only receive updates related to our 2.x releases. So when we release 3.0 to snaps your server will ignore it.

## Switching to a track

To switch to the 2.x track you need to run:

```auto
snap switch rocketchat-server --channel=2.x/stable

```

Much like the normal latest track you have stable / candidate / edge. We will likely continue to make use of candidate to release minor updates to before we move them over to stable.

If you do want to be in one of those other channels you can do:

```auto
snap switch rocketchat-server --channel=2.x/candidate

```

We’d still strongly recommend staying in the stable channel for production.

## Upgrading between tracks

When comes time to upgrade to another version you can choose when to make this update happen.

**First backup your data**

[https://rocket.chat/docs/installation/manual-installation/ubuntu/snaps/#how-do-i-backup-my-snap-data](https://rocket.chat/docs/installation/manual-installation/ubuntu/snaps/#how-do-i-backup-my-snap-data)

Then you can perform:

```auto
snap switch rocketchat-server --channel=3.x/stable

```

## Feedback

Now that we are beginning the use of tracks. We’d like to know from you. Is this useful? How would you like to be informed of new tracks being released?

We are investigating the possibility of maybe opening the track sooner if not with new releases? So maybe the release notes?

We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rstockm](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/forums.rocket.chat/rstockm/32/284_2.png) [@rstockm](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/rstockm)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2020, 10:07am UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/2 "2020-02-24T10:07:23Z")

</div>

> [@aaron.ogle](#):
>
> You are put into the “latest” track. This means you will always get the latest release no matter what.

As of now, there is a gap of maybe 4 weeks between a new release and its representation in snap. Does “latest - no matter what” mean this gap will be closed?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![goaround](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/forums.rocket.chat/goaround/32/1430_2.png) [@goaround](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/goaround)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2020, 4:03pm UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/3 "2020-02-24T16:03:49Z")

</div>

Great news! Looking foward to get new releases on SNAP earlier.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![goaround](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/forums.rocket.chat/goaround/32/1430_2.png) [@goaround](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/goaround)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/4 "2020-02-24T16:08:21Z")

</div>

lastest seems to mean latest 2.X version, at the moment 2.4.9 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aaron.ogle](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/forums.rocket.chat/aaron.ogle/32/15_2.png) [@aaron.ogle](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/aaron.ogle)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/5 "2020-02-25T22:54:27Z")

</div>

> [@rstockm](#):
>
> As of now, there is a gap of maybe 4 weeks between a new release and its representation in snap. Does “latest - no matter what” mean this gap will be closed?

Latest in this sense just means latest snap released.

Right now even though it feels like torture for some. It really is for the best interest of everyone that we take longer. In the time we delay, most of the time we get a couple of patch releases out. Leading to a more stable release when its automatically rolled out for all of the snap users. (which is a lot)

> [@goaround](#):
>
> lastest seems to mean latest 2.X version, at the moment 2.4.9

Indeed. We are going to introduce the 3.x track soon so people can begin to use 3.X as they wish.

We will keep posted!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aaron.ogle](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/forums.rocket.chat/aaron.ogle/32/15_2.png) [@aaron.ogle](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/aaron.ogle)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 12:22am UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/6 "2020-04-21T00:22:19Z")

</div>

We have now made 3.x the new default. So any new install will automatically track the 3.x track if they do not manually specify their track of choice. 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rstockm](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/forums.rocket.chat/rstockm/32/284_2.png) [@rstockm](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/rstockm)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 9:49am UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/7 "2020-04-23T09:49:20Z")

</div>

Thanks a lot - I switched the track to 3 and updated the server - works like a charm.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fadanner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@fadanner](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/fadanner)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2020, 10:18am UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/8 "2020-07-06T10:18:23Z")

</div>

Very nice that we have 3.x as default now. Are there any plans to get a more transparent way of releasing snaps? Now it is very hard to plan when which new version will be available. For example we are waiting over 1 month for the release of 3.3 now.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fadanner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@fadanner](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/fadanner)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 12:30pm UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/9 "2020-07-13T12:30:11Z")

</div>

@aaron.ogle: Is there any documentation on the release plan of the snap releases. According to [https://docs.rocket.chat/getting-support#supported-versions-of-rocket-chat](https://docs.rocket.chat/getting-support#supported-versions-of-rocket-chat) 3.3 is the only supported version by now. The latest snap version I can get on my server is version 3.2.2. This is really odd. Besides this, it would be cool to have a rough overview, when which version come to snap, or to know if there are any problems with the releases. The Asked this question in the community chat too, but didn’t get any answers.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rstockm](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/forums.rocket.chat/rstockm/32/284_2.png) [@rstockm](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/rstockm)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 11:30pm UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/10 "2020-07-15T23:30:28Z")

</div>

Yes, it’s getting strange - again.  
Official release is [3.4.2](https://github.com/RocketChat/Rocket.Chat/releases/tag/3.4.2) - so we skipped the 3.3 on snap all-together.

For snap being the “go to” way to run Rocketchat, it gets little attention - at least in terms of communication.

Maybe priorities are shifting towards the “enterprise” line instead 🤔

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![juliensl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/848f3c/32.png) [@juliensl](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/juliensl)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 3:39pm UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/11 "2020-07-17T15:39:44Z")

</div>

Hi everybody !

I am still on the latest/stable track.  
If i understand well, it is a depreciated track, I will no longer have update on this one, won’t I ?

If not, is there any things to do to migrate from version 2 for version 3 ? Except save the database and switch the track of course.

Thank you and have a good day,

Julien.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![agf1997](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@agf1997](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/agf1997)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/12 "2020-07-18T22:49:33Z")

</div>

I must be dense … I did

`snap switch rocketchat-server --channel=3.x/stable`  
`sudo snap refresh rocketchat-server`

it says  
`snap "rocketchat-server" has no updates available`

I’m currently on `3.2.2` commit id `a720d25f`

How can I get to `3.4.2`?

Thanks

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aaron.ogle](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/forums.rocket.chat/aaron.ogle/32/15_2.png) [@aaron.ogle](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/aaron.ogle)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 8:47am UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/13 "2020-07-19T08:47:13Z")

</div>

> [@rstockm](#):
>
> For snap being the “go to” way to run Rocketchat, it gets little attention - at least in terms of communication.

It’s one of the releases not automated and not maintained by the main release process. It used to be automated, but since snaps auto update if there is ever a problem the panic by people using the snap is 100x higher then a slow update. So it’s manual release and manual extra QA. It’s because of this that it’s a bit behind at the moment. The two people normally that do this have been extremely busy.

We are going to try and get 3.4 released in next couple of days.

Also will be trying to get the auto build turned back on. Maybe auto posting to candidate channel or edge channel for anyone that wants ASAP instead of worrying about getting QA’d builds.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aaron.ogle](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/forums.rocket.chat/aaron.ogle/32/15_2.png) [@aaron.ogle](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/aaron.ogle)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 2:48am UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/14 "2020-07-20T02:48:03Z")

</div>

3.4.2 should now be released on the 3.x/stable channel.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rstockm](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/forums.rocket.chat/rstockm/32/284_2.png) [@rstockm](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/rstockm)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 9:25am UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/15 "2020-07-20T09:25:32Z")

</div>

Looking good so far, thanks.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![minix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@minix](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/minix)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 4:00pm UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/16 "2020-07-22T16:00:48Z")

</div>

Great work aaron! now mine RC is at 3.4.2 All automatically! Just a question: why upgrade has initiated at 11 AM when is normal time is 2AM?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aaron.ogle](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/forums.rocket.chat/aaron.ogle/32/15_2.png) [@aaron.ogle](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/aaron.ogle)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 7:03am UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/17 "2020-07-23T07:03:49Z")

</div>

I’m not really sure why it would update sooner. You might be able to tweak the time it checks. If you did a snap refresh recently it might have some how adjusted the time. I’m not really sure how the snapd refresh stuff is working now days

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![akrabat](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/forums.rocket.chat/akrabat/32/1975_2.png) [@akrabat](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/akrabat)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 8:35am UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/18 "2020-07-24T08:35:58Z")

</div>

> [@aaron.ogle](#):
>
> You are put into the “latest” track. This means you will always get the latest release no matter what.

We’re on the latest track and still on 2.4.11. Is this information out of date?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aaron.ogle](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/forums.rocket.chat/aaron.ogle/32/15_2.png) [@aaron.ogle](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/aaron.ogle)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/19 "2020-07-28T19:02:13Z")

</div>

If you recently installed… could be architecture related?

Otherwise if you installed before that date, I don’t think it auto puts you in the 3.x track

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![goaround](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/forums.rocket.chat/goaround/32/1430_2.png) [@goaround](https://forums.rocket.chat/u/goaround)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 5:33pm UTC](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890/20 "2020-08-08T17:33:21Z")

</div>

When will 3.5 available?

All channels still show 3.4.2:

```
  3.x/stable: 3.4.2 2020-07-20 (1438) 280MB -
  3.x/candidate: 3.4.2 2020-07-20 (1438) 280MB -
  3.x/beta: ↑                              
  3.x/edge: ↑                              
  latest/stable: 2.4.11 2020-05-12 (1427) 267MB -
  latest/candidate: 2.4.11 2020-02-27 (1427) 267MB -
  latest/beta: 2.1.1 2019-10-21 (1414) 251MB -
  latest/edge: 2.4.11 2020-02-27 (1427) 267MB -
  2.x/stable: 2.4.11 2020-05-12 (1427) 267MB -
  2.x/candidate: 2.4.12 2020-05-12 (1436) 267MB -
  2.x/beta: ↑                              
  2.x/edge: ↑                              
installed: 3.4.2 (1438) 280MB -
```

[Next page](https://forums.rocket.chat/t/introducing-snap-tracks/5890.md?page=2)
