Migrating JIRA to Another Server

[kanchana wijerathna]

When we are migrating JIRA instance to a new server, do we need to run tthe JIRA setup wizard with empty database ? https://confluence.atlassian.com/display/JIRA/Running+the+Setup+Wizard

i am planing to use the old database which is seperate instance

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

If you plan to reuse the current database, then you

• setup the new JIRA and make sure it runs while connected to an empty database (no need to put any data in it, just get as far as "admin can log in and create a project")
• Shut down both JIRAs
• Backup the database, just in case
• Copy the home directory of the old JIRA into the home directory of the new one
• Start the new JIRA
• It should connect to the old database and use it normally. 
• I'd recommend a re-index too

There is usually other stuff to worry about, especially if you have customised anything in the core installation like property files, and if you're moving the home directory

[kanchana wijerathna]

Can't we use the existing database without creating xml backups ?

[Sateesh Chandra]

• Take a xml backup of the JIRA instance
• setup the new JIRA with all the data from the filesystem, add-ons of the same version and custom config files or templates you want to keep.
• Make sure you have the same dbconfig.xml in the JIRA home directory and the database driver file if needed.
• In the starting steps, you will see an option to import from existing xml and then use the xml backup file which will populate the database accordingly.