Supported migration paths | HCL Digital Experience

Migration is supported between equivalent offerings. Starting with CF17, additional migration options are supported for HCL Portal server and Web Content Manager offerings.

The following table summarizes supported migration paths:
Note for new HCL customers: New users follow the proven stable path, which is to install HCL Digital Experience Version 8.5 and CF13, and add HCL Digital Experience Version 9.0 and CF17 to it to upgrade. Also, new users can also install directly to IBM® WebSphere® Application Server Version 9.0 out-of-the-box. New customers need to be on HCL Digital ExperienceVersion 9.0 and CF17 before installing Version 9.5.
Note for V8.5 customers: The new HCL Digital Experience is built on top of Version 8.5. HCL Digital Experience Version 9.0 adds IBM® WebSphere® Application Server Version 9.0 support. As such, existing customers on Version 8.5 need to migrate first to HCL Digital Experience 8.5 and update the version by installing CF13. To go to Version 8.5 to Version 9.0, current users simply add Version 9.0 and migrate their profile from IBM® WebSphere® Application Server 8.5 to Version 9.0.
Note for V9 customers: You cannot migrate directly to HCL Digital Experience Version 9.0 without installing HCL Digital Experience 8.5 base and update it with CF13. At this point, customers can go from Version 9.0 to the latest HCL Digital Experience by updating current version to CF17, and then install HCL Digital Experience Version 9.5. Afterwards, you can keep your profile at the current level or migrate your profile to IBM® WebSphere® Application Server Version 9.0.2
Table 1. Offerings and supported migration paths
Offering WebSphere® Portal Express® Version 8.5 WebSphere® Portal Version 8.5 (Server) WebSphere® Portal Version 8.5 (Enable, Extend) Web Content Manager Version 8.5 WebSphere® Portal Version 9.0 (Enable, Extend, Server)
HCL Portal Express Version 7.x Supported Not Supported Not Supported Supported Not Supported
HCL Portal Server Version 7.x (Server) Not Supported Supported Supported Not Supported Not Supported
HCL Portal Server Version 7.x (Enable, Extend) Not Supported Supported Supported Supported Not Supported
Web Content Manager Version 7.x Not Supported Not Supported Not Supported Supported Not Supported
WebSphere® Portal Express® Version 8.0 on WebSphere® Application Server Version 8.0 Supported Not Supported Not Supported Supported Not Supported
WebSphere® Portal Server Version 8.0 (Server) on WebSphere® Application Server Version 8.0 Not Supported Supported Supported Not Supported Not Supported
WebSphere® Portal Server Version 8.0 (Enable, Extend) on WebSphere® Application Server Version 8.0 Not Supported Supported Supported Supported Not Supported
Web Content Manager Version 8.0 on WebSphere® Application Server Version 8.0 Not Supported Not Supported Not Supported Supported Not Supported
WebSphere® Portal Server Version 8.0 (Server) on WebSphere® Application Server Version 8.5.0 Not Supported Supported Supported Not Supported Not Supported
WebSphere® Portal Server Version 8.0 (Enable, Extend) on WebSphere® Application Server Version 8.5.0 Not Supported Supported Supported Supported Not Supported
Web Content Manager Version 8.0 on WebSphere® Application Server Version 8.5.0 Not Supported Not Supported Supported Supported Not Supported
You can also migrate from a Server install to the Enable or Extend versions of HCL Portal.
Note for Version 6.1 customers: If you are currently on Version 6.1, you must perform a two-step migration from Version 6.1 to Version 8.0, and then from Version 8.0 to 8.5. Go to the HCL Knowledge Base document, Migrating from HCL Portal 6.1 to Portal 8.0, for guidance on the two-step migration process. Then proceed to the Digital Experience Help Center Migration Overview to migrate from HCL DX Portal and Web Content Manager Version 8 to 8.5.
Important Fix Pack Requirements: Migration is supported from the two most recent fix packs for HCL Portal Version 7.0.0.2 and Version 8.0.0.1. However, you must apply the latest cumulative fix to your source environment. Your target environment must also have the latest cumulative fix and the most recent fix pack applied.
If you are not sure which earlier version is installed, run the following command on the earlier portal server:
When you migrate to Version 8.5, HCL Portal automatically migrates the following applications and configuration data:
  • Security configuration
  • Access control
  • Portal behavior
  • Portlet applications
  • Customized portal resources, such as themes and skins, pages, and portlets
  • Personalized content
  • Virtual portals
Note: You cannot upgrade the source portal with a fix pack after migration if you intend to remigrate the JCR. For example, if your source portal is Version 7.0.0.1 and you migrate it to Version 8.5, you cannot then upgrade the source portal to Version 7.0.0.2 and remigrate the JCR. This path is not supported.