Move Projects from Jira Server/Data Center to Cloud

Owned by Rosen Marinkov
Last updated: Sept 19, 2023 by Stanley Neychev
4 min read

 

Update October 2022! A new approach for migrating projects from Jira Server/DC to the cloud in fewer steps. Use our newest companion apps for your journey: Cloud Migration Tool and Configuration Manager for Jira Cloud.

Please refer to the updated steps below to migrate to the cloud with the CMJ Cloud and Cloud Migration Tool apps, both released in October 2021.

 

On this page:

 

Move projects from Jira Server/DC to Cloud

With the trend toward Jira Cloud, administrators need a sophisticated way of moving active projects from Jira Server/DC to Cloud.

Learn how to move projects from Jira Server/Data Center instances to Jira Cloud sites using Configuration Manager for Jira (CMJ) in the Detailed process section below.

The described approach handles multiple scenarios, including:

  • moving one instance to Cloud,

  • merging multiple instances into Cloud,

  • or when the Cloud instance is already in use.

 

Use the Cloud Migration Tool app to move projects to Jira Cloud

To allow you to transfer your projects and issues from Jira Server or Data Center instances to a Jira Cloud site, we’ve developed an app called the Cloud Migration Tool. It’s a companion app for Configuration Manager for Jira Cloud and needs to be installed on the server/DC instance.

So, to start your migration to Jira Cloud, you need to install:

  • the Cloud Migration Tool on the Jira Server or Data Center instance, and

  • Configuration Manager for Jira Cloud app on the target Jira Cloud sitе.

Use case steps

This section will guide you through the use case’s steps:

  1. High-level process

  2. Prerequisites and use case elements

  3. Detailed process

High-level process

  • Setup: Create a product sandbox as recommended here.

  • Phase 1: Copy data from the target Jira Cloud site to the sandbox.

  • Phase 2: Move projects and issues from the Jira Server to the sandbox using Cloud Migration Tool.

  • Phase 3: Conduct user acceptance testing of the configuration changes on the sandbox.

  • Phase 4: Migrate projects and issues from the source Jira Server instance to the target Jira Cloud site using the Cloud Migration Tool.

To learn more, check the Detailed process below.

Prerequisites and use case elements

Jira Cloud and

Sandbox

Jira Server

Project migration with Cloud Migration Tool

Medium

  • Jira Cloud sites: one target Jira Cloud site and one cloud sandbox.

  • Jira Server/DC: а source Jira Server/DC instance.

  • Licenses: You need a paid license for Configuration Manager for Jira Cloud on the target Jira Cloud site.

  • Supported objects: Make sure the Cloud Migration Tool app supports the objects you want to move. For the objects supported by the Cloud Migration Tool, review the Supported Configuration Elements document.

  • Apps: Any apps used to configure objects in the source Jira instance must also be installed on the Jira Cloud site.

App compatibility

Make sure to have the same apps installed on Jira Server/Data Center and on Jira Cloud. Note that 3rd party apps’ server and cloud versions will work differently in most cases.

Please get in touch with the 3rd party app vendors regarding the migration procedure of the app data.

Detailed process

Review the diagram and detailed guide below to understand the use case better.

 

Setup

 

Phase 1: Copy data to sandbox

  1. Sandbox: Copy data from your production Jira Cloud site to the sandbox.
    Learn more about copying data to sandbox

    Phase 2: Move projects and issues to sandbox

  2. Jira Server/DC: Migrate the projects and issues from the Jira Server/DC instance to the sandbox with the Cloud Migration Tool following the process outlined here.

    Phase 3: User acceptance testing on sandbox

  3. Sandbox: Get stakeholders involved in user acceptance testing to confirm the proposed changes are operating as expected.

    Phase 4: Move projects and issues to Jira Cloud site

  4. Jira Server/DC: Migrate the projects and issues from the Jira Server instance to the target Jira Cloud site using the Cloud Migration Tool.

  5. (optional) Retire the sandbox.

Related links

Explore the other use cases for Configuration Manager for Jira Cloud: