Verify the system timezone when an XML backup is restored

When migrating JIRA to another server, if there are timezone inconsistencies between the two servers it can cause considerable problems with the new server that may not be discovered until problems have been introduced into the dataset. Please enhance JIRA to timestamp an XML backup and provide a warning during XML restore that the backup does not match the server time of the instance it is being imported into.

• Times stored in the database is based on the JIRA JVM user timezone

Workaround

In order to restore the times back to their last known working form, the below process can be used for the new server:

1. Generate an XML backup from the previous server, or obtain the last-known working one and copy it to the new JIRA server.
2. Schedule a downtime window.
3. Stop the new JIRA server.
4. Either:
   • Set the JVM timezone argument, e.g.: -Duser.timezone=GMT, as in Setting Timezone in JIRA.
   • Change the System Time of the server that the JVM is running on (the JVM will default to that time).
5. Start the new JIRA server.
6. Import the XML backup from the previous server.
7. Test JIRA.

If the server is unable to be rolled back, the below can be followed, however this is not the recommend method and may cause additional problems due to time inconsistencies.

1. Schedule a downtime window.
2. Export the XML backup.
3. Stop JIRA.
4. Either:
   • Set the JVM timezone argument, e.g.: -Duser.timezone=GMT, as in Setting Timezone in JIRA.
   • Change the System Time of the server that the JVM is running on (the JVM will default to that time).
5. Start JIRA.
6. Import the XML backup.
7. Test JIRA.