Upgrade to Adobe Experience Manager 6.5 in 4 Steps.
Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) 6.5 is a significant leap forward, bringing a host of new features and improvements. If you’re planning to upgrade your AEM instance, follow this detailed guide to ensure a smooth transition. We’ve compiled a step-by-step process based on successful upgrades for numerous enterprise clients. Let’s dive in!
Upgrade Overview
Upgrading to AEM 6.5 involves four key steps:
- Pre-Upgrade Preparation
- In-Place Upgrade
- Code Base Upgrade
- Post-Upgrade Checks
- Pre-Upgrade Preparation
Before you start the upgrade, ensure that your system is fully prepared. Here’s what you need to do:
System Requirements
- Verify that your system meets the requirements for AEM 6.5. Consult Adobe’s Upgrading Code and Customizations and Pre-Upgrade Maintenance Tasks for detailed information.
Pre-Upgrade Tasks
- Backup Your Instance: Always start by backing up your current AEM instance.
- Check Disk Space: Ensure you have enough disk space—ideally 1.5 times the size of your repository.
- Package and Backup: Create a backup of your /etc node structure.
- Verify QuickStart Properties: Ensure that quickstart.properties exists in /crx-quickstart/conf. If not, start AEM using the QuickStart jar to generate this file.
- Set Executable Permissions: Make sure all scripts in /crx-quickstart/bin and /crx-quickstart/monitoring have executable permissions.
Running Pre-Upgrade Tasks
- Install Adobe’s Pre-Upgrade Package: Download and install the pre-upgrade tasks package from Adobe’s package share.
- Execute Pre-Upgrade Tasks: Access the JMX Console at https://aemserver:aemport/system/console/jmx, go to preupgradetasks, and run MBean – runAllPreUpgradeTasks().
Migration Requirements
- Java Version: The migration tool requires Java 7 or higher. For AEM 6.3 and above, use Oracle JRE 8 or IBM JRE 7 & 8.
- AEM Instance: If upgrading from a version older than 5.6, first upgrade to AEM 6.0 following Adobe’s documentation.
- Review Technical Requirements: Check Adobe’s Technical Requirements page.
- Performing the In-Place Upgrade
Preparing the QuickStart Jar
- Stop the Current Instance: Ensure your AEM instance is not running.
- Download and Replace: Download the AEM 6.5 QuickStart jar and replace the old one outside the /crx-quickstart directory.
- Unpack the Jar: Run the command: java -Xmx4096m -jar aem-quickstart.jar -unpack
This step is crucial and should not be skipped.
Content Repository Migration
- Migration Tool: If upgrading from AEM versions older than 6.3, use the crx2oak tool provided in the QuickStart package. For MongoMK environments, repository migration is not needed.
Determine the Migration Command
- Run Migration: Use the following command to start the migration: java -Xmx4096m -jar aem-quickstart.jar -v -x crx2oak -xargs — –load-profile <> <>
Replace <> with the appropriate profile and flags from Adobe’s documentation.
Handling Migration Issues
- Checkpoints: If you encounter issues related to checkpoints, use the skip-checkpoints flag.
- Datastore Configurations: Specify the datastore configuration with flags such as –src-s3config for S3 or –src-datastore for File datastores.
- Code Base Upgrade
After completing the in-place upgrade, you need to update your code base. Follow these steps:
- Start AEM: Use the new 6.5 QuickStart jar to start your instance.
- Update Code Base: Follow Adobe’s Upgrade Code and Customizations guide.
- Maven Updates: Update Maven and reflect new changes in your POM/Parent POM.
- Check Deprecated APIs: Identify and replace deprecated APIs.
- Convert Services: Transition services to Declarative Services and use Service Users.
- Post-Upgrade Checks and Troubleshooting
Once the upgrade is complete, it’s time to ensure everything is functioning correctly:
- Perform Post-Upgrade Checks: Refer to Adobe’s Post Upgrade Checks and Troubleshooting guide.
- Monitor Logs: Keep an eye on error and upgrade logs for any issues.
Conclusion
Upgrading to AEM 6.5 can be a complex process, but with careful preparation and following these steps, you can achieve a smooth transition. If you encounter any issues or have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. Share this guide with your colleagues and stay updated with the latest practices for managing AEM.
Happy upgrading!