---
title: Before you upgrade
description: Fulfill these requirements before you upgrade IDM, especially before upgrading the software in a production environment. Also refer to the requirements listed in Before you install and the changes listed in Changed functionality.
component: pingidm
version: 8.1
page_id: pingidm:upgrade-guide:before-you-upgrade
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingidm/8.1/upgrade-guide/before-you-upgrade.html
keywords: ["Upgrade"]
---

# Before you upgrade

Fulfill these requirements before you upgrade IDM, especially before upgrading the software in a production environment. Also refer to the requirements listed in [Before you install](../release-notes/before-you-install.html) and the changes listed in [Changed functionality](../release-notes/changed-functionality.html).

Before you start, verify that you have a supported Java version installed:

**Supported Java Versions**

| Vendor                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | Versions |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- |
| OpenJDK, including OpenJDK-based distributions:- AdoptOpenJDK/Eclipse Temurin

- Amazon Corretto

- Azul Zulu

- Red Hat OpenJDK	Ping tests most extensively with AdoptOpenJDK/Eclipse Temurin. Ping recommends using the HotSpot JVM. | 21       |
| Oracle Java                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 21       |

If the server uses an older version that is no longer supported, install a newer Java version before you update, and follow the instructions in [Java requirements](../install-guide/verify-java.html).

Then, follow these steps:

1. Back up your existing deployment by archiving the `openidm` directory and creating a backup of the repository and all other applicable databases.

   |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
   | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
   |   | If you use workflow, you must manually dump the workflow database tables, and then import them *before* you start the new instance of IDM for the first time. The workflow database tables start with the prefix `ACT_`. For information on how to dump/import individual tables, refer to the documentation for your database. |

2. To save a record of the audit logs from your existing IDM installation, manually copy [the log files](../audit-guide/audit-log-topics.html#default-audit-topics) from the `/path/to/openidm/audit/` directory, before you start the upgrade.

3. Download and extract `IDM-8.1.0.zip` from the [Backstage download site](https://backstage.forgerock.com/downloads).