Version updates for Jira - installation method: .tar vs .bin?

[Jennifer Dozar]

My main department instance was installed by someone else, using the .tar file, prior to my starting my job.  Is there a recommendation way of upgrading the Jira version when the recommended way it was installed is not the way it was installed?   I know the easiest and best way is to run the .bin.  I have set up a test environment with the .bin. Super easy! upgrading, super easy! I have managed to update the test one, via the .bin with no issues!   But production, not so much. 

Any suggestion on possible removal of this .tar version, install with .bin and have few issues or data losses?

I am upgrading due to the recent vulnerability.  Production is running 7.8.1. Would it gradual step  be better than going from 7.8 to 8.3 or 7.13.5?   There wasn't really any guidence. and if upgrade processes recently have taught me anything, double check for compatibility between versions!

[Alexis Robert · Accepted solution]

Hi @Jennifer Dozar , 

I personnaly prefer using the .tar package to install/upgrade Jira, but this is purely a personnal preference :)

For the target versions, it's much easier to upgrade to 7.13.5 as it's the same major version (Jira 7) whereas version 8.3. is a new major version (Jira 8).

If you want to upgrade using the installer, you'll have to do a clean install - it means backup your actual prod (using XML backup), shut it down, and start the installer with a new instance and import your prod data using the XML backup.

You can probably test this on your test server.

Let me know if you have any questions,

--Alexis

[Jennifer Dozar]

If I did something similar to production, (where the tar install was) would the database still work, like with the test? Or would that have to be rebuilt? I wouldn't think so, but just checking!

[Jennifer Dozar]

Just FYI, I just untarred, then fussed with the settings (jira home and the db connector) and it seems to be working.  I have an error, but it's an error i've had for like 6 months!  so seems to be working otherwise :) I have only gone to 7.13.5, which is fine for our situation.  I have advised any future installations to be done via .bin for simple process reasons!