Test Upgrading a Liferay DXP Backup Copy

This document has been updated and ported to Liferay Learn and is no longer maintained here.

Before upgrading your production Liferay instance, you should do a trial run (even multiple runs) to make sure that you upgrade successfully and efficiently. Here’s the process:

• Preparing a test server and database: This involves copying your current production installation to a test server and copying your production data backup to a test database. After you prune data from the test database (next step) you’ll test against it.

• Pruning the database: Free your database of duplicate and unused objects. By removing them you can reduce upgrade time and improve your server’s performance.

• Upgrading your test server and database: First you’ll optimize your database for the data upgrade. Taking time to do this can save upgrade time. Then you’ll do an upgrade test run (or several test runs) on a the pruned database copy. After going through the upgrade process, resolving any issues, and testing the upgraded server successfully, you can confidently upgrade your production database.

Tip: These steps and preparing a new Liferay DXP server can be done in parallel to save time.

Now prepare your test environment.

Preparing a Test Server and Database

Using a new separate server and database let’s you safely test upgrading.

Copy the Production Installation to a Test Server

Prepare a test server to use a copy of your production installation. Your test server must use the same Liferay version you’re using on production. Configure your server to use a new empty database for testing data upgrades.

Copy the Production Backup to the Test Database

Import data from your production database backup to the new empty database.

Important: Make sure to save the data import log—you’ll examine it in the next steps.

Next you’ll prune your database of unneeded data.