Upgrade path for Jira server 6.4

[Yay N' Stuff]

Hi All,

I am a sysadmin trying to help out with the upgrade of a standalone install of JIRA Server v6.4.1

My goal is to get this Jira instance out of its EOL status and up to date. The Jira server is running on Linux 64 bit with MySQL as its database.

I have a couple of questions that I would like to ask before I touch anything.

Firstly, does this upgrade need to be done in steps? Some initial reading suggests an update from 6.4 to 7.0 is needed as a first step. Is this correct? is there a webpage that documents the upgrade path required for the whole process?

Secondly, I want to clone the instance that is running and test the upgrade procedure on a clone first to make sure things are ok. I am fine with making another copy of jira_home and dumping its mysql database and setting up a new mysl database for the clone, however I have a licensing question about this. The server is currently on an opensource License with unlimited users. If I fire up a second instance for testing on a different subdomain, will the license need to be changed (eg: put the clone on an eval license while testing).

Thanks!

[Charlie Misonne · Accepted solution]

Atlassian created a Migration Hub when Jira 7 was introduced. You can find everything you need to know before upgrading there.

It does not specify the intermediate upgrade version but on the most recent upgrade documentation you will read you need to upgrade to 7.0.x before upgrading to a higher version. (under Determine your upgrade path)

About your license: every license comes with a developer license. On your my.atlassian.com you should see a view developer license next to your license.

[Yay N' Stuff]

Hi Charlie,

Thank you for your reply. I dont see a 'view developer license' next to the license entry titled 'JIRA Software (Server) Unlimited Users: Open Source License'

Could it be because of the license type that I am not seeing this? Am I still safe to use this on a second jira instance? The jira server ID is the same in both the production and the cloned environment.

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Yes.  Open Source licences don't get developer licences.

You could re-use the licence on your test server though.

[Yay N' Stuff]

I wont be in violation of the opensource license terms I hope? Should I be ok?  Should it be safer for me to generate an evaluation license and use that on the test server instead?

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

As I understand the terms, you're fine to do this.  Atlassian understand the need for testing of upgrades.