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Downgrading Jenkins (Rollback)

1. Introduction

Downgrading Jenkins can be necessary due to compatibility issues, bugs in the latest release, or other factors affecting your CI/CD pipeline. In this lesson, we will go through the reasons for downgrading Jenkins, the steps involved, and best practices.

2. Why Downgrade Jenkins?

There are several reasons you might consider downgrading Jenkins:

  • Compatibility issues with plugins or tools.
  • New bugs introduced in the latest version.
  • Performance degradation after an update.
  • Changes in existing features that disrupt workflows.

3. Backing Up Jenkins

Before performing a rollback, it's crucial to back up your Jenkins instance to prevent data loss. Follow these steps:

Backup Steps

  1. Stop the Jenkins service:
    2. sudo systemctl stop jenkins
  2. Backup the JENKINS_HOME directory:
    3. sudo cp -R /var/lib/jenkins /var/lib/jenkins_backup
  3. Backup the configuration files (if necessary):
    4. sudo cp /etc/default/jenkins /etc/default/jenkins_backup

Note: Ensure you have enough storage space for backups.

4. Rollback Process

To downgrade Jenkins, follow these steps:

Downgrade Steps

  1. Download the desired Jenkins WAR file:
    2. wget https://updates.jenkins.io/download/war//jenkins.war
  2. Replace the current WAR file:
    3. sudo mv jenkins.war /usr/share/jenkins/jenkins.war
  3. Start the Jenkins service:
    4. sudo systemctl start jenkins

After starting Jenkins, verify the version:

java -jar /usr/share/jenkins/jenkins.war --version

5. Best Practices

Here are some best practices to follow when downgrading Jenkins:

  • Always back up your Jenkins instance before downgrading.
  • Review release notes for the version you are downgrading to.
  • Test the downgrade in a staging environment before applying it to production.
  • Monitor Jenkins closely after downgrading for any issues.

6. FAQ

Can I downgrade Jenkins without a backup?

It is highly discouraged to downgrade Jenkins without a backup. If something goes wrong, you may lose critical configuration and job data.

What if the downgrade doesn't resolve my issues?

If downgrading does not resolve your issues, consider checking plugin compatibility or consulting the Jenkins community for further assistance.

How do I find the appropriate version to downgrade to?

You can find older Jenkins versions at the Jenkins update center.