Upgrading a Confluence instance from 2.7.2: Issues with plugins and content.

Question

Hi, all

We are trying to upgrade a client's system from Very ancient version of Confluence ( 2.7.2 )

On the system there are lots of plugins that had totally changed in the years.

As far as the database is huge, the question is if there is an automated way for data migration, compatible with an actual plugin version. The key points are tables and calendars.

Here is the list with the plugins:

Adaptavist Advanced Search    Plugin Version: 1.0.4
Adaptavist Content Formatting Macros    Plugin Version: 1.6.9
Adaptavist Rate Macro    Plugin Version: 2.0.2
Advanced Macros    Plugin Version: 1.3
Attachment Extractors    Plugin Version: 1.4
Basic Macros    Plugin Version: 1.3
Booking Plugin    Plugin Version: 1.4.0
Cache Plugin    Plugin Version: 3.2.1
Calendar Plugin    Plugin Version: 2.6.1
Chart Plugin    Plugin Version: 1.11
Clickr Theme    Plugin Version: 1.5
Code Macro    Plugin Version: 1.4
Compatibility Macros    Plugin Version: 1.3
Confluence Atlassian Plugin Repository    Plugin Version: 2.0.13
Confluence Attachments Plugin    Plugin Version: 2.10
Confluence Blogging RPC Plugin    Plugin Version: 1.2.4
Confluence Classic Theme    Plugin Version: 1.3
Confluence Contributors Plugin    Plugin Version: 1.1.3
Confluence Remote API    Plugin Version: 2.7.2
Confluence Usage Stats    Plugin Version: 0.8
Create Page Macro    Plugin Version: 1.2.1
Custom Space User Management Plugin    Plugin Version: 2.0.5
CustomWare Composition Plugin    Plugin Version: 2.3.5
CustomWare Visibility Plugin    Plugin Version: 1.8.0
Dashboard Macros    Plugin Version: 1.3
Dynamic Table Macros    Plugin Version: 1.2
Dynamic Task List 2 Plugin    Plugin Version: 2.2
Dynamic Task List Macros    Plugin Version: 1.8
Excel Plugin    Plugin Version: 3.6.0
Form Mail NG    Plugin Version: 1.2.2
French language pack    Plugin Version: 1.5
German language pack    Plugin Version: 1.1
Google Calendar Plugin    Plugin Version: 1.4
HTML Macros    Plugin Version: 1.3
IM Presence NG Plugin    Plugin Version: 2.3
Information Macros    Plugin Version: 1.0
JIRA Macros    Plugin Version: 2.4.1
Layout Macros    Plugin Version: 1.1
Left Navigation Theme    Plugin Version: 1.5.1
Linking Plugin    Plugin Version: 2.6.8
Live Search Macros    Plugin Version: 2.6
Macro usage stats    Plugin Version: 1.0.4
Mail Page Plugin    Plugin Version: 1.5
Navigation Plugin    Plugin Version: 1.11
Office Connector plugin    Plugin Version: 1.4.1
Page Information Tools    Plugin Version: 1.2.9
Page Tree    Plugin Version: 1.3
Pagetree Search    Plugin Version: 1.3.2
RSVP Plugin    Plugin Version: 1.6.3
Redirection Plugin    Plugin Version: 2.4.0
SQL Plugin    Plugin Version: 3.5.0
Scaffolding Plugin    Plugin Version: 2.7-dr9
Social Bookmarking Plugin    Plugin Version: 1.2.1
Survey Macros    Plugin Version: 1.1.8.6
Table Plugin    Plugin Version: 3.4.0
Table of Contents Plugin    Plugin Version: 2.4.11
Tabular Metadata    Plugin Version: 2.7
Task List Macros    Plugin Version: 3
TinyMCE Editor Plugin    Plugin Version: 2.11
Tracking Plugin    Plugin Version: 2.4.1
User Listener    Plugin Version: 2.3
WebDAV Plugin    Plugin Version: 1.2.3
Word Plugin    Plugin Version: 3.0.1

Ryan Goodwin · Answer

Hi Tihomir,

When you upgrade to the each confluence version, you should also upgrade the addons and validate the related wiki content/data is upgraded and functioning. This way you can step through the versions and if necessary pinpoint the version where an issue occurs and remedy it before upgrading to the next version of Confluence and compatible plugins.

Likely, a lot of the addons are still available or the functionality has been wrapped into the core confluence product. As David mentioned, ensure you upgrade in a test environment first so you can evaluate the upgrade process and work out any kinks.

A quick glance through your plugin list only highlights 1 addon from my experience:

Calendar Plugin Plugin Version: 2.6.1

Calendars is not compatible with Confluence 3.5 or newer. You MUST export all calendars in Confluence 3.4.9 if you wish to use them in Confluence 4.x - they may work to some extent in 3.5 but this is not a compatible version with the addon. Confluence 4.x and newer require a paid addon for calendaring - Team Calendars. You can import the .ics calendar exports from 3.4.9 into Team Calendars, but there is no direct migration path. If you upgrade past Confluence 3.4.9 you may not be able to recover the calendars.

Hope this helps.

Deividi Luvison · Answer

Hi Tihomar,

Replying to your question:

As far as the database is huge, the question is if there is an automated way for data migration, compatible with an actual plugin version. The key points are tables and calendars.

Sadly nope, the only thing you can do is to upgrade Confluence to it's bridge versions as per this page.

Another advice is to set up a Confluence Test Instance so you can avoid production downtimes during the process, since we are dealing with an ancient version there's no guarantee that everything will run smooth.

Regarding your plugins, my suggestions is that you also run the Compatibility checker prior each bridge version upgrade (I don't know for sure if that is available for version 2.7), since some plugins might be discontinued in Confluence latest versions, like calendars that turned into Team calendars in latest version (your customer will need to pay a license to use it).

Hope it helps,

Thanks and Regards,
David|Atlassian Support