Import/Export between Jira instances

[Brian Watson]

I would like to find out how I can import project, issues, user stories into a Jira instance from another Jira instace. In other words, Jira A contains project info that needs to be imported into Jira B - and I need to retain the hirearchies and issue #'s from Jira A (if at all possible)

[Geoff · Accepted solution]

You can do this with the Project Import tool natively in JIRA.

Basically you take an XML dump of JIRA A and point the Project Import in JIRA B at it.
Select the project you want, work through a couple of screens to make sure everything is available (fields, users etc) and then import.

Both JIRA A & B need to be at the same version
Full instructions here: https://confluence.atlassian.com/display/JIRA/Restoring+a+Project+from+Backup

If JIRA A & B are the same version but have different field configurations etc, try out "Project Configurator": https://marketplace.atlassian.com/plugins/com.awnaba.projectconfigurator.projectconfigurator
or "Configuration Manager for JIRA" https://marketplace.atlassian.com/plugins/com.botronsoft.jira.configurationmanager
to get them synced up first.

If this is your first time trying this process, test it out in a separate environment first to get the process down before trying in production.

[Brian Watson]

Geoff,

Thanks for this. I just want to clarify one thing. This will work if I want only certain projects from Jira A to import to Jira B? Jira B already has a number of projects, so they should be undisturbed, correct?

Thanks for your help1

[Geoff]

Correct, existing projects will be undisturbed. Just make sure you read through the instructions.

You may need to do a couple of workarounds if you have projects in B with the same Name / Key as projects that you want to import from A (essentially modifying the XML dump).

[José Marañón [Awnaba Software S.L.]]

The new version 2.0 of Project Configurator for JIRA lets you export one project, or a group of them, and then import those projects into another instance. Both operations (import and export) are offered directly by this plugin, which will take care to manage required configuration changes and data & attachments export and import. Thus, the process described by @Geoff Jacobs [GLiNTECH] in his answer becomes very simplified.

The export process will exclude data belonging to projects which are not exported, so it will be more efficient than the standard JIRA backup.

(DIsclaimer: I lead the team behind Project Configurator)

[Remie Bolte]

@brian: Perhaps the Export Manager for JIRA add-on can help you with your migration. This will allow you to retrieve exports from instance A and upload them to instance B without having to connect to the remote servers.

[Geoff]

Looks interesting. Any plans to update so we can test it out on JIRA 6.1.x?

[Remie Bolte]

@geoff: we can defintely add support for JIRA 6.x. I will keep you posted on the availability of the updated add-on (hopefully somewhere beginning next week).