Jira server upgrade from 7.3 to the latest version (8.3.1)

[Niveditha]

Hi,

We are upgrading JIRA server from 7.3 to 7.13.5 to avoid the security vulnerability released on July 10th 2019. 

we are thinking that, upgrade directly to the latest version (8.3.1) will include many features including openJDK bundled facilities.

Please suggest us what is the best way to proceed, directly upgrading to the latest version or to the 7.13.5 version. 

If there will be no issues in upgrading to the latest version, please let us know the procedure and any steps to follow to avoid any type of issues. And let us know the Jira service desk compatibility with this upgrade.

If you are not recommend this, keep us posted with the guide lines and impacts with the upgrade.

Thanks!

Regards,

Niveditha

[DPKJ · Accepted solution]

I have upgraded my instance from Jira 7 to 8 without any issue (Jira 8 is at least 30% faster).

There are some points you need to consider thought,

• DB version you are using must be compatible with new version of Jira (or update it before upgrade)
• Jira 8 will need more system memory
• You need to separately upgrade/install Service Desk after Jira upgrade from UPM (don't worry your old license will work)
• You must have active Jira license.
• Check all plugins compatibility that you are using, if require upgrade them before.
• Jira will rebuild whole index after upgrade from 7 to 8. So first startup will be slow. (There is a work around in upgrade guide involving putting some config in jira home)
• It is always better to upgrade first on Staging instance.

Also there is guide published by Atlassian follow it step by step (https://confluence.atlassian.com/adminjiraserver/upgrading-jira-applications-938846936.html)

[Niveditha]

Hi,

Thank you for the quick reply!

Can you please let us know the memory required for JIRA 8 version.

Thanks!

[DPKJ]

For Jira 8 Java min memory is set to 384 mb, and max is set to 2048 mb. For good performance and depending upon number of user and issue, you can increase these values.

[Niveditha]

Thank you! Clarify one more thing please

Database installer comes with the upgrade? We need to install it manually, before the upgrade?. Thanks.

Regards,

Niveditha

[DPKJ]

What do you mean by Database installer?

If you mean database,

• You need to install/upgrade database for Jira by yourself
• Database server doesn't come packaged with Jira

If you mean database connector (called JDBC Database connector),

• For some databases it come packaged with Jira (like Postgres, MsSQL)
• For other you need put it manually in lib folder of your installer (like for MySQL, Oracle)

[Niveditha]

Thank you so much for the response!

Couple of things i would like to clarify from you,

We upgraded our Jira test instance from 7.3 to 8.3.2 version. MYSQL also upgraded to 5.6 version but, after upgrading to the latest version I cannot see any user installed add-ons. Can we do any backup before doing the upgrade (instead of adding manually again)?

Am unable to upload the Jira service desk from UPM, do I need to run with the installer?

Regards,

Niveditha

[DPKJ]

@Niveditha

• User installed add-ons,
  • They are kept inside Jira Home directory, Have you changed it?
  • Some add-ons have different compatible version for Jira 7 and Jira 8, you will install them again after update.
• You can install service desk by searching inside UPM in Jira itself, you don't need to upload it.

[Niveditha]

Hi,

Thank you for the quick reply!

Search results are not showing Jira service desk in UPM. This issue has been in our instance from long time. what would be the reason, it could not give the search results?

Regards,

Niveditha

[DPKJ]

@Nivedithaplease try to do steps mentioned on this page - https://confluence.atlassian.com/jirakb/not-able-to-install-or-uninstall-jira-service-desk-addon-776830101.html?selectedPageVersions=6&selectedPageVersions=7