How to migrate a single project to a new Jira-software server running later version?

Question

I want to split-off a project on an old Jira server (v6.4.5) and import it to a new server (v8.0.2). I tried using an xml backup file, with the intention of deleting all unwanted projects in the new server instance at some later time, but it says "The xml data you are trying to import is too old to be upgraded by this version of Jira."

It seems the only option left is to dump a csv file using some complex SQL command, which I guess has to be executed directly in the database interpreter psql (we are using PostgreSQL on both source and target servers).

It seems migration from many other tools is supported, but not from old Jira versions!

Is anyone aware of an easier way to do this?

BTW - both servers are (separate) stand-alone servers running in Linux.

Petr Vaníček · Answer

Upgrade process is usually as you wrote, but between your old and new versions there are two platform releases - so many changes under hood, API, ...etc. From my experience is good practise make upgrade once per quarter of year.

Second instance is like TEST environment.

Yes, you can install on this second one 6.4.14, that could be ok. I hope you will done it without any major issues. Let me know when you will have done it and what will be result.

Steve Brett · Answer

Thanks a lot Petr - that is very helpful.

I assume the upgrade process is just "import-then-export". I'm not sure why I would need a second instance of 6.4.5 - surely I could start by importing into 6.4.14? Or are you suggesting the extra/temp 6.4.5 instance as an opportunity to do the data pruning that I mentioned?

BTW - one thing I did not say is that my target server only has a 10-person starter licence, as it's for a very small group. So I may not have the ability to create multiple instances at different tool versions. I'll look into it.

Petr Vaníček · Answer

Hi,

yes, that's version is really too old. Meanwhile there has been several interim versions (where many thinges has been changed) over which you need to upgrade. So best will be install second (temporary) instance with same version 6.4.5 and by this instance to upgrade data set.

Reccomended way is this:

6.4.5 - > 6.4.14 -> 7.0 -> 7.1 -> 7.13 -> 8.0.2

After than you can use data without any compatibility problem. Maybe you can try to import it after upgrade at least 7.0 or 7.1.

Let me know if it's clear for you.