Migrating your Jira Server instance to Jira Cloud can be a bit of a challenge, that’s why Atlassian has created the Jira Cloud Migration Assistant app.
The Jira Cloud Migration Assistant enables you to migrate your projects, users, and groups from Jira Server to Cloud. It also gives you visibility into the process so you can filter for any projects you don’t want migrated and prioritize everything that does need to be migrated.
To learn more about how to execute and optimize your Jira Cloud migration, we welcome you to join us for our next webinar, Migrating to Atlassian Cloud – Best Practices For Moving your Jira Enterprise to the Cloud Wednesday, May 20 at 10am PST.
At the webinar, you’ll learn:
- Whether or not a Jira Cloud migration is right for you
- How to optimize your infrastructure administration
- Best practices for managing your Jira Cloud security
- And much more!
In the meantime, this post will bring you up to speed on Jira Cloud Migration Assistant: how it differs from Jira Site Import, potential issues you may run into, and how to use it properly.
How Jira Cloud Migration Assistant Differs From Jira Site Import
In the past, if you were planning a full migration of your Jira server sites, you’d be required to overwrite or merge the sites together in a Jira Site Import to migrate. Now with Jira Cloud Migration Assistant, you don’t have to. Here are the other main differences to note:chang
- No Deleting/Overwriting – It migrates your data but it does not delete or overwrite anything from an existing server or cloud site.
- Doesn’t Support Jira Service Desk – It can migrate your Jira Core or Software projects with most fields supported, but it can’t migrate Jira Service Desk (yet) or some custom fields. Find updates to this here.
- Users/Groups are Copied – Every time you migrate using Jira Cloud Migration Assistant, it copies all of your users and groups to your cloud site to ensure issues and fields are migrated correctly. Duplicates are not migrated.
Just to be sure, check what data Jira Cloud Migration Assistant can migrate before using it.
Red Flags with Jira Cloud Migration Assistant
Jira Cloud Migration Assistant is not optimal for all migrations. It’s best suited for out-of-the box server installations requiring little customization and for those whom Atlassian has recommended using it. Here are a few other red flags you’ll want to avoid.
- Jira Software or Jira Core Server < 7.6.0 – If you’re running a Jira Software or Jira Core Server version prior to 7.6.0, we recommend you upgrade to the latest version of Jira supported to reduce the chance of migration errors.
- Complex installation of Jira Server – As stated previously, if you require numerous custom scripts and apps, we recommend you avoid the migration assistant as it will not be capable of mapping those elements over. Furthermore, Cloud apps differ from Server apps. You will need assistance mapping your Server app functionality over to the relevant Cloud app.
- Jira Data Center Users – If you are using Jira Data Center, your best option is to migrate via Jira Site Import we discussed previously. However, if you install a Jira Server license evaluation key you will then be able to use the Jira Cloud Migration Assistant.
- Jira Software or Jira Core Server < 7.6.0 – If you’re running a Jira Software or Jira Core Server version prior to 7.6.0, we recommend you upgrade to the latest version of Jira supported to reduce the chance of migration errors.
- Complex installation of Jira Server – As stated previously, if you require numerous custom scripts and apps, we recommend you avoid the migration assistant as it will not be capable of mapping those elements over. Furthermore, Cloud apps differ from Server apps. You will need assistance mapping your Server app functionality over to the corresponding Cloud app.
- Jira Data Center Users – If you are using Jira Data Center, your best option is to migrate via the Jira Site Import we discussed previously. However, if you install a Jira Server license evaluation key you will then be able to use the Jira Cloud Migration Assistant.
Jira Cloud Migration Assistant Instructions
The following is a brief walkthrough of each phase of your Jira migration using the assistant. If you need more detailed assistance, you can use the full Atlassian guide here, or contact us for an assisted Cloud migration.
Step 1: In Jira Server, go to Settings > Manage apps.
Step 2: Choose Find new apps and search for Jira Cloud Migration Assistant.
Step 3: Choose Install.
Step 4: Next, go to Settings > System > Import and Export > Migrate to cloud.
Step 5: This will bring up your Migrations dashboard. Select Create new migration.
Step 6: Connect to your Jira Cloud site
Step 7: Choose what you want to migrate.
Step 8: Select whether or not you want users to have access to Jira after migrating.
Step 9: Select which projects you’d like to migrate.
Step 10: Check for errors.
- If there is a green check then your migration passed the errors test.
- If you get a warning sign then you can continue, but you need to be aware of a potential issue.
- If a check comes back with a red error then you will need to resolve the error before you can run your migration.
Step 11. Review your migration.
Step 12. Manage and run your migrations.
Step 13. Review your migration details.
If your migration is incomplete or failed, you can download the error logs to gain insight into what went wrong and be able to correct the issue.
Welcome to Jira Cloud. What’s Next?
If you’ve successfully completed your migration, congratulations!
Before you go about your daily routine however, it’s important that you set yourself up for success by observing the proper onboarding procedures which include standardized processes and implementing your security program.
Again, if you’re not sure where to start when it comes to optimizing your new Jira Cloud instance, we welcome you to come join us for our upcoming webinar where we will cover those very issues and answer any questions you have. Spots are limited so reserve your seat today.
If you feel that it would be best to have an expert team guide your migration and optimize your infrastructure, Coyote Creek can help. Please reach out and we’ll set up a time to chat about what we can do to support you and your team.