Thread:Project:Support desk/Easy way to upgrade from version 1.8 to 2.1?

I have a mediawiki which is well established and it is version 1.8.

Is there an easy upgrade path/method?

I'd like to install on a new VM if that is possible, as the old one is running an out of date older version of Linux. I intend to create a new VM with a new OS. That way I don't have to worry about updating all the various support packages for the old system to support the new version of mediawiki.