JIRA Server - cannot upgrade to version within valid support period

[Maciej Puchalski]

Hello, I know Jira Server went into End of Life period.

However, I have a license which was valid to 2024-02-14.

I would like to update to latest possible version - which seems to be 9.12.4, released on 2024-02-12, see https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/download-archives

But - after install, when the server starts - it says I cannot update to this version, because I can update to a version prior to my license end date (2024-02-14).

What's more - the same happens when I try 19.2.3 and even 19.2.02 (released on 2024-01-10) !! With each try, I need to uninstall JIRA (as no downgrade instalation is possibe), then install and configure all anew - just to get another "license error" message.

First - I should be able to install the version 9.12.4, but in any case - guessing a working version by multiple install/uninstall tasks is truly frustrating.

I also have Confluence, but there I was able to install v.8.5.6 (of 2024-02-08) which is ok.

The question is : where to ask for proper availability of Jira Server versions ?

I wander also - who is eligible for latest non-DataCenter versions, e.g. Jira 9.12.8 published in May, when it was said all Server licenses ceased on Feb. Maybe they are just making security fixes to comply to some policy, but actually nobody can use it? Or are there some customers who were allowed longer support than others?

[Andy Heinzer · Accepted solution]

Hi @Maciej Puchalski 

Sorry to hear about the upgrade problems here.   There have been other users that have noticed that if you have tried to upgrade to a newer version than your license supports, there can be left over traces from that upgrade attempt that are being loaded during startup.  That aspect can cause this license check to fail.  Check out this other thread in https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Jira-questions/Re-Jira-Software-Server-9-12-2-complains-about-too-old-l/qaq-p/2647769/comment-id/933624#M933624

In it, Martin finds that the $JIRA_HOME contains 9.12.5 edition jar files that appear to causing this license check to fail, but I'm not sure if you tried to upgrade to that version or any other later version, but if you did it might be the same problem here.

[Maciej Puchalski]

Yes, that was the case! Thank you very much!!

[Hana Kučerová]

Hi @Maciej Puchalski ,

I believe you are correct in your assumptions. Even though your license is not valid now, the versions created before the end date of your license should still be available for you.

Also I don't think you can contact Atlassian support about this via issue anymore as server is not supported.

I have marked your question for Atlassian, hopefully they will help you.

[Joe Pitt]

First, This is an issue you should take up with Atlassian. This is a community forum, not Atlassian support.

Second, You say the license is valid to 2024-02-14. That is in the past. Why do you think you should able to install a new version?

[Maciej Puchalski]

First - I am just asking for help - if anyone knows a proper contact to Atlassian, where I can go with that problem. They still publish new versions of Jira Server (e.g. this month), so probably somebody takes care, but I cannot find how to contact them.

Second - as the message says "you can only upgrade to a version prior to" the license end date. I understand I cannot install the newest version. But now - I even cannot go back to the version I had working just yesterday - 9.12.0. Even when I restore the files from the backup to the Jira installation folder.

Still get the same message. Looks like a bug. Maybe it checks for service installation date and not the publish date?

Third - Beware! if somebody else had an idea to make a similar update, just DO NOT.

[Andy Heinzer]

@Joe Pitt please understand that for expired licenses, the only possible technical support Atlassian can provide is here in Community.  Expired licenses do not have the ability to create technical support cases.  As server licenses are now all expired, the only support for them is here.  Jira server should still be able to license that 9.12.4 version if the expiration date was the 14 Feb 2024, which most are at this point since that was the end of life for those license types.