Need some suggestions on Backing Up Jira Data

[Luis Laurenzo Dapat]

I'm currently preparing a backup plan for our Jira Server. My question is can the back up XML file of multiple projects of one jira server be loaded by another Jira  instance in another server?

To expound, the situation is that if our Jira instance suddenly stopped working (permanently) - I'm not sure if this has happened to anyone-- can we use the back up xml data from that instance and load all projects into another instance on a different server? 

In addition, to what extent does the back-up cover? I've read that "the XML backup includes all data in the database." Does this mean the following:

- workflow

- add on and their respective settings

- permissions

- users + groups

- issues

- filters

- dashboards

- custom fields

- others that I'm forgetting?

[Tinker Fadoua · Accepted solution]

@Luis Laurenzo Dapat 

Why don't you backup your data nightly? It is the safest way. You should be doing a DB backup every night. 

• How big is your instance?
• What DB are you using? 

Click here to read more about XML backups. 

I assume you are a Jira Server user.

Best,

Fadoua

[Luis Laurenzo Dapat]

Hi Fadoua,

Thanks for the suggestion. We are using Jira Server.

In terms of users, we have around 100 users. Our instance is using PostgreSql.

Thanks,

Luis

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist- · Accepted solution]

>In addition, to what extent does the back-up cover?

The XML is a full backup of everything in the database.  It is easier to list what the database does not contain:

• attachments
• customisations to properties and settings done as part of the application (an off-the-shelf install can have as few as one file changed, but most have a few more - most notable is when you have external custom directories for users).  Check the "system information" page for "modified files"
• application artifacts (index, logs, the physical xml files etc - most of these you won't care about if something goes wrong and you want to restore)

[Luis Laurenzo Dapat]

Hi Nic,

Thanks for clarifying the excluded ones specifically the customization and artifacts. I now have a much better idea on the scope of the backup.

Thanks,

Luis

[Joe Pitt · Accepted solution]

If you use the JIRA backup you can import it into a new instance of JIRA and it will recreate everything. Note: It will OVERWRITE all the data in the current database and must be used for a JIRA instance of the same release level or higher. 

[Luis Laurenzo Dapat]

Hi Joe,

Thanks for confirming and for the heads up about the overwrite.

Regards,

Luis