Migration using Jira Cloud Migration Assistant (JCMA)

Contents: 1 What is not migrated 2 How to prepare for migration 2.1 Reinstall the app 2.2 Create a JCMA snapshot

Contents: 1 What is not migrated 2 How to prepare for migration 2.1 Reinstall the app 2.2 Create a JCMA snapshot

IMPORTANT

Starting with the release of BigPicture/ BigPicture Enterprise/ BigGantt/ BigTemplate for Data Center version 8.64 (estimated release date: Dec 1, 2025), we are initiating the transition of the Cloud migration process from the current Connect Path to the Forge Path.

From this release onward, we strongly recommend upgrading your Data Center application to version 8.64 or later before starting any migration.

Please note that two weeks after this release, the Connect Path will be deactivated, which means that Cloud Migration support for Data Center versions earlier than 8.64 will no longer be available.

The migration using JCMA is available for:

BigPicture version 8.11 and later
BigPicture Enterprise version 8.11 and later
BigGantt version 8.11 and later
BigTemplate version 8.17.1 and later

If you don't know how to check the current app version, visit the following page: How to check app release version.

IMPORTANT

When using JCMA for migration, BigPicture data from multiple instances CAN’T be merged. Only one BigPicture source can be selected, as each migration overwrites the previous state.

With the Atlassian JCMA tool, you can migrate selected projects or divide the migration process into a few stages. It is possible to:

Migrate Jira On-premise and the BigPicture/ BigPicture Enterprise/ BigTemplate /BigGantt plugins to Jira Cloud.
Migrate only Jira On-premise without the BigPicture/ BigPicture Enterprise/ BigGantt plugin to Jira Cloud.

Let's analyze the following example.

You use BigPicture installed on Jira Cloud. When you want to migrate Jira On-premise to Jira Cloud, there are two possible migration scenarios:

You can migrate Jira On-premise and BigPicture. After the migration, BigPicture from Jira On-premise will overwrite data in BigPicture on Jira Cloud. The state of BigPicture on Jira Cloud before the migration will be replaced with the state of migrated BigPicture from Jira On-premise.
You can migrate only Jira On-premise without BigPicture. After migration, BigPicture on Jira Cloud will remain unchanged.

After migration, the App data from Jira On-premise will overwrite the data on Jira Cloud.

Make sure JCMA is installed on your Jira. If you do not have JCMA installed:

Navigate to Jira Administration.
Go to ATLASSIAN MARKETPLACE in the left sidebar.
Select Find new Apps.
Search Jira Cloud Migration Assistant and install it.

To find out more about JCMA, read the Use Jira Cloud Migration Assistant to migrate (legacy) article.

If you have any doubts, contact our Support.

What is not migrated

What-if scenarios are not migrated.
JQL can be incomplete and may require manual changes. JQL is used in the Scope definition > Filters and quick filters.

How to prepare for migration

The steps below are necessary to migrate the plugins to Jira Cloud.

important Before you begin, ensure you have all the plugins (BigPicture/ BigPicture Enterprise/ BigGantt, BigTemplate) installed on your Jira Cloud.

Reinstall the app

Jira Data Center

When you migrate from Jira Data Center to Jira Cloud, you will be asked to reinstall BigPicture to prepare a JCMA dump.

The reinstallation ensures data consistency in the dump by deactivating BigPicture on other nodes (Jira instances in a Jira Data Center cluster) and preventing other nodes from making modifications to the database during database dump creation.

To reinstall BigPicture:

Uninstall the app.
Go to the BigPicture Marketplace page.
Download the JAR file for exactly the same version:

Install the app with the file.

Create a JCMA snapshot

Creating a JCMA snapshot will restart the App and may take a significant amount of time and resources, so the process is recommended during non-business hours. Do not interrupt the process or disable the App until the JCMA snapshot is complete.

Prepare a JCMA snapshot in BigPicture on Jira On-premise:
1. Navigate to BigPicture App Configuration > Advanced > Database dumps > New dump > JCMA dump.
2. Enter a unique Migration name, as you will later need to identify this snapshot in JCMA and complete the Description field.
  The provided Migration name can be edited later.
For BigPicture on Jira Cloud:
1. Navigate to Apps > BigPicture App Configuration > Advanced > Technical info > Others > Data migration.
2. Enable the Allow JCMA migration option.
On Jira On-premise:
1. Navigate to Jira Administration > System > Import and Export > Migrate to cloud > Assess your apps.
2. Assign the Needed in cloud status for each App.
3. Click Done.

Next: > Migration process