Anant
5 April 2020
Upgrading from Drupal 8 to Drupal 9 involves a process of migrating your existing Drupal 8 site to the new version. Drupal 9 is built on the same codebase as Drupal 8, but it removes deprecated code and external dependencies to provide a cleaner and more efficient platform. Here's a general overview of the steps involved in upgrading from Drupal 8 to Drupal 9:
- Review System Requirements: Ensure that your hosting environment and server meet the requirements for Drupal 9. Check the PHP and database version compatibility, as well as other server requirements.
- Update Contributed Modules and Themes: Make sure that all your contributed modules and themes are up to date and compatible with Drupal 9. Some modules may require updates or have equivalent replacements in Drupal 9.
- Update Core and Modules: Before upgrading to Drupal 9, make sure your Drupal 8 site is running the latest version of Drupal 8. This includes applying all available updates for both core and contributed modules.
- Use Upgrade Status Module: The "Upgrade Status" module is a tool that helps you identify compatibility issues with Drupal 9. It will provide you with a detailed report on the status of your contributed modules and themes.
- Replace Deprecated Code: One of the key differences between Drupal 8 and 9 is the removal of deprecated code. Review your custom code and contributed modules to identify and replace any deprecated functions or methods with their Drupal 9 equivalents.
- Update Custom Code: If you have custom modules, themes, or other code, review and update it to be compatible with Drupal 9. Utilize the documentation provided by Drupal to make necessary changes.
- Database Updates: Drupal 9 uses the same database schema as Drupal 8, so there are no major schema changes. However, you should still back up your database before performing the upgrade.
- Perform Test Upgrades: Set up a staging environment and perform test upgrades from Drupal 8 to Drupal 9. This helps you identify any issues or conflicts that might arise during the actual upgrade process.
- Upgrade Process: Once you've tested the upgrade thoroughly and resolved any issues, you can proceed with the actual upgrade on your live site. Follow the upgrade instructions provided by Drupal, which often involve using the "Update.php" script.
- Post-Upgrade Testing: After the upgrade, thoroughly test your site's functionality to ensure that everything is working as expected. Test various aspects such as content creation, user authentication, forms, and any custom functionality.
- Address Issues: If any issues arise after the upgrade, use the error logs and debugging tools to diagnose and resolve them. This might involve making additional code adjustments or seeking support from the Drupal community.
- Regular Maintenance: Keep up with regular maintenance and updates for your Drupal 9 site to ensure security, stability, and compatibility with future releases.