How to upgrade to Virtual Bugzilla Server 2.0

Virtual Bugzilla Server 2.0 is a completely rebuilt product. Briefly, upgrading from previous versions boils down to:

This how-to explains the upgrade process in detail. By default, we assume that you are upgrading from version 1.2. When actions are different for VBS 1.0 and 1.1, there are special notes.

  1. Install VBS 2.0 into a separate folder

    Do not overwrite old VBS!

  2. Start old and new Bugzilla servers

    Use VMWare Player or Workstation to open and start both old VBS and new VBS. When new VBS starts, write down its IP address, which is shown in Bugzilla URL.

  3. Login to the old VBS using 'bugzilla' account

    Use console, shown in the VMWare window, or a SSH client. The password is 'bugzilla', unless it has been changed.

  4. Make sure old VBS is not accessible

    If the old VBS is accessible while you are migrating data from it, someone may make changes which will be lost or will get in the way.

    The easiest way is to stop Apache web server.

  5. Verify that your current directory is /home/bugzilla

    Use pwd command.

  6. Create database dump

    Database dump contains all user data from Bugzilla. To create it, use mysqldump utility:

    VBS 1.2:mysqldump -uroot -pmysql --add-drop-table --disable-keys bugs >bugs.sql
    VBS 1.0, 1.1:mysqldump -uroot -pmysql --add-drop-table --disable-keys bugz220 >bugs.sql

    "mysql" is the default mysql root password and may have changed.

  7. Create backup of local Bugzilla configuration

    Use the following commands:

    cd bugzilla (on VBS 1.0 and 1.1: cd bugz220)
    tar cf ../bugzilla-data.tar --exclude=data/template localconfig data
    cd ..
  8. Create backup of your custom config files

    If you have customized Virtual Bugzilla Server somehow, create a tar archive with your custom configuration files. You will then unpack and apply them on the new server.

  9. Transfer backup files to the new VBS

    Use command: scp bugs.sql bugzilla-data.tar bugzilla@new.VBS.IP.address:

    When asked about authenticity, enter yes.
    When asked for password, enter bugzilla — the default password for bugzilla account on the new VBS.

  10. Login to the new VBS

    Use account bugzilla/bugzilla. You can login on console or use SSH client.

  11. Verify that backup files have been transferred

    ls -l bugs.sql bugzilla-data.tar

  12. Drop and create mysql database

    You need to drop and create again mysql database bugs:

    mysql –uroot –proot –e 'drop database bugs'
    mysql –uroot –proot –e 'create database bugs character set utf8'

    VBS 1.0 and 1.1: Use character set that has been used on your old mysql database. This is important if you have non-Latin characters in bugs.

  13. Import data into mysql database

    Command: mysql -uroot -proot bugs <bugs.sql

  14. Unpack bugzilla configuration files

    Command: tar xf bugzilla-data.tar

    It's probable that you will see warnings about time stamps — ignore them.

  15. (Optionally) Edit localconfig

    You probably need to change database access parameters in localconfig file: db_name, db_user and db_pass. You definitely need to change them if you upgrading from VBS 1.0 or 1.1.

    To quickly change database access parameters from bugz220 to bugs, you can use command sed -i 's/bugz220/bugs/' localconfig. Use joe localconfig to launch file editor and make arbitrary changes.

  16. (Optionally) Recode database

    If you are migrating from database not in UTF-8 charset, you need to re-code the database. Use this command:
    contrib/recode.pl --charset=original_database_charset

  17. Run checksetup.pl

    Run checksetup.pl, the Bugzilla's installation and upgrade uberscript.

    At some point, the script will ask you to confirm database conversion. Press ENTER to continue. Don't worry about the warning, you still have your old VBS as a backup.

    When checksetup.pl finishes, the screen should look like this:

  18. Change urlbase parameter

    At last, you need to change the urlbase parameter in data/params file.

    If your old VBS is still using numerical URL (with IP address), you can try to run this command: /vbs/update-bugzilla-urlbase.sh:

    Otherwise, edit data/params manually.

  19. Congratulations!

    This is it. If there were no errors during the upgrade, you should now be able to access new Bugzilla with your data.

A few things to do after the upgrade

If something went wrong

Copyright (C) ALM Works, 2007