---
title: Add new servers
description: If either of the following are true, begin with the upgrade documentation for DS 7.5 instead:
component: pingds
version: 8.1
page_id: pingds:upgrade-guide:add-new-servers
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/8.1/upgrade-guide/add-new-servers.html
revdate: 2025-10-22T14:42:39Z
keywords: ["Compatibility", "LDAP", "Migration", "Replication", "Upgrade"]
section_ids:
  next_steps: Next steps
---

# Add new servers

|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| - | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | If either of the following are true, begin with the [upgrade documentation for DS 7.5](https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/7.5/upgrade-guide/preface.html) instead:- The deployment includes DS 6.5 or earlier servers.

- The deployment hasn't yet moved to the DS 7 security model based on deployment IDs. |

Otherwise, [Install the new servers](../install-guide/preface.html) and rebuild indexes as necessary:

1. [Install the new server](../install-guide/preface.html) with settings compatible with those of the existing servers.

   Learn about changes since the deployed release in [Incompatible changes](https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/release-notes/changes.html).

2. If existing servers use [change number indexing](../config-guide/changelog.html#ecl-configure-changenumber-indexer), configure the settings on the new servers to match the same settings on the existing servers.

3. Rebuild untrusted `mail` indexes for the change to the `mail` attribute schema definition to allow UTF-8 characters.

   The definitions for DS 7.3 and later allow UTF-8, whereas earlier versions allow only ASCII. The change does not affect the data, but does affect `mail` indexes.

   For details, refer to [Automate index rebuilds](../config-guide/idx-config.html#automate-index-rebuilds).

## Next steps

* [icon: check-square-o, set=fa]Perform [these steps](before-you-upgrade.html) before you add servers

* [icon: check-square-o, set=fa]Add new servers:

  * [icon: check-square-o, set=fa]Follow [these instructions](add-new-servers.html) unless upgrading from DS 7.4.0

  * [icon: square-o, set=fa]*Follow [these instructions](from-740.html) when upgrading from DS 7.4.0*

* [icon: square-o, set=fa]Perform [these steps](after-you-upgrade.html) after you finish adding servers