Upgradaing jira 7.1.1 version to new version of Enterprise or cloud

[Maha vishnu v]

Hello Community , 

In my organisation we are using older version of jira 7.1.1 with 2000 user licenses in on premise in windows  , 

We are in need to upgrade it to the newest version of jira 

Please propose for below queries 

how to start this activity ?

How to choose next compatible version ? 

What are all the things to be taken care ? 

What are the compatibility checklist has to be validated ?

proposals on jira migrated to Jira cloud :

What are advantages for moving in cloud ?

What are disadvantages ?

what are all the possibilities and cost differences ? 

Please guide us .

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist- · Accepted solution]

First, decide on a target.  Latest Jira Server is 8.6 (Enterprise, with long term support is 8.5).   Or you might be looking to Cloud instead.

For the server upgrade, see https://confluence.atlassian.com/adminjiraserver/upgrading-jira-applications-938846936.html

You'll need to do that anyway if you want to move to Cloud, as your version is too low to migrate.  You'll have to upgrade to 8.5 at least, and I'd recommend 8.6, then move to Cloud (which is, assuming it is just a simple migrate without apps, export some xml, import it)

Advantages to Cloud are that you don't have to think about running the services or server support.  Disadvantages might be latency, a changing UI (Atlassian update regularly and frequently), not running your own system limits your customisation options.  One that's neither pro nor con is that the App frameworks are very different and hence, so are the apps available for each type.  You'll need to weigh up what apps you want to use.

[Maha vishnu v]

Thanks @Nic Brough -Adaptavist-  , 

Points i would like to know ,

Since my version is low why we need multiple version upgrade of 8.5 and 8.6  then to cloud ?

Is there any way i can get support from Atlassian support team for this upgrade need? 

Cost effectiveness for maximum of 2000 user license which platform is better , on premise upgrade or  cloud upgrade ? 

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

From 7.1, in theory, you could go to 8.6 direct, but I would recommend 7.13 before 8.6.

Atlassian will give you standard support - each problem you have, you'll need to raise a support request and wait for a response.  If you want something a bit more dynamic, contact a partner - most of us help with or even completely do upgrades and migrations all the time.

I can't speak for your cost effectiveness.  A 2000 user server licence annually is a lot cheaper than an annual Cloud licence, but that is just the licence.  If you go for server, you need to add the costs of running it on your own hardware and having system administrators for that hardware.