How to update MySQL 5.5 to 5.6 or higher on Confluence 5.10?
Asked by Mara Broeker:

I want to update our running Confluence Server Version 5.10 to 6.x. I saw that i need to update MySQL first because MySQL 5.5 will not work with Confluence 6.x.

I am completly new to updating these systems. Is there any How-To/Step-by-step guide about upgrading the MySQL version? I saw a lot about new installations but i think this is not what i am searching for.

Thank you so much!

Regards,

Mara


Answers:
author: Igor M.
body: Hello,

If you have a small enough instance to take an XML backup of the entire site, then safest method with least amount of downtime or potential for failure would be to install a new DB version running MySQL 5.6, then configure it to match [Database Setup For MySQL](https://confluence.atlassian.com/doc/database-setup-for-mysql-128747.html) configuration guide. Then proceed with installing new Confluence 5.10 using new DB. Once you are past DB setup part of installer, you will be prompted to restore data, that is where you can restore your xml backup.

If your instance is too large for XML backup, then you can attempt data in place upgrade, but MySQL recommends DB dump and restore on newer version too, as described in [MySQL Upgrade Strategies](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.6/en/upgrading-strategies.html)
> MySQL recommends a mysqldump upgrade when upgrading from a previous release. For example, use this method when upgrading from 5.5 to 5.6.

This method will also involve DB dump and restore, as no xml backup is used, you can then connect your Confluence instance to new DB by modifying [Confluence's database connection parameters](https://confluence.atlassian.com/confkb/how-to-find-confluence-s-database-connection-parameters-779172320.html) to point Confluence to new DB.

Parameters from "my" file described in [Database Setup For MySQL](https://confluence.atlassian.com/doc/database-setup-for-mysql-128747.html) guide must be present regardless of which method you use, xml restore on new site or database dump and restore on newer version.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Regards,

Igor

comments: author: Mara Broeker
body: Hi Igor,

Thanks a lot! The information is very helpful. I really appreciate your quick answer.

Do i need the installer to go through these instructions or can i do it manually?

Regards,

Mara Br?ker


author: Igor M.
body: Hey, glad I could be of help,

What installer are you referring to? If you are referring to Confluence or MySQL executable installer file, you would still need to manually set parameters in accordance to best practice guide for Confluence running on MySQL.

If I misunderstood your question, please let me know.


author: Mara Broeker
body: Hi,

thanks again for your reply it helped me a lot!

Regards and have a nice day!

Mara


author: Igor M.
body: [@Mara Broeker](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/1151642) I'm happy it was useful.

Could you mark my answer as accepted solution so other that come across this question may use it.


author: Jasmin Cua
body: Hi [@Igor M_](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/1169056),

Do the steps you mentioned here apply to upgrading MySQL 5.5.58 to version MySQL 5.6.34-79.1 for Confluence 6.1.2? I just found out that our mySQL version is not recommended for our Confluence site, so we are planning to upgrade the MySQL version but not Confluence itself.

Thank you,

Jasmin


author: Igor M.
body: Hello, it's the same procedure, we leave for DBAs to decide how to upgrade their Database, as long as it's

* In line with DB vendor best practices and procedures
* Adequate backups were made prior to upgrade
* DB has the right best practice settings required for Confluence, like character encoding

Hope this helps

Igor


Tags: confluence-server

server