Upgrade MongoDB from Version 5 to 7 on Windows Server

How to Upgrade MongoDB from Version 5 to 7 on Windows Server – A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction:

Upgrading MongoDB is essential for getting new features, performance improvements, and security updates. In this guide, we will upgrade MongoDB from version 5 to version 7 on a Windows Server. This process will cover upgrading from version 5 to 6, and then from 6 to 7, as MongoDB doesn't support direct upgrades from 5 to 7.

Pre-Upgrade Checklist

Before starting the upgrade, ensure the following steps are completed:

1. Review Release notes
   
   First always review the MongoDB release notes to see any breaking changes or deprecated features
   
   
2. Backup Your Data: Always create a backup of your MongoDB data using the mongodump command.

mongodump --out /path/to/backup

3. Check Feature Compatibility Version (FCV): MongoDB uses featureCompatibilityVersion to ensure compatibility with new releases.
   
   
   • For MongoDB 5.0, the FCV must be set to "5.0" before upgrading to version 6.
   • For MongoDB 6.0, the FCV must be set to "6.0" before upgrading to version 7.

To check the current featureCompatibilityVersion, run:

db.adminCommand({ getParameter: 1, featureCompatibilityVersion: 1 })

The output should include:

{ "featureCompatibilityVersion" : { "version" : "5.0" } }

If you need to set the FCV, use:

db.adminCommand({ setFeatureCompatibilityVersion: "5.0" })

4. Check Application and Driver Compatibility: Make sure your application and drivers are compatible with MongoDB 6 and 7.
   
   
5. Plan for Downtime: Prepare for downtime during the upgrade process.
   
   
6. Check Environment Variables: Ensure your environment variables for MongoDB (e.g., PATH) are properly set. If not, you will need to navigate directly to the MongoDB installation folder.

Step 1: Upgrade from MongoDB 5 to 6

1. Stop the MongoDB Service: Stop the MongoDB service via the Windows Services tool or using the command:

net stop MongoDB

2. Verify Feature Compatibility Version: Before upgrading, confirm the featureCompatibilityVersion is set to 5.0 by running:

db.adminCommand({ getParameter: 1, featureCompatibilityVersion: 1 })

If it’s not set, update it using:

db.adminCommand({ setFeatureCompatibilityVersion: "5.0" })

3. Download and Install MongoDB 6: Download MongoDB 6 from the official website and install it following the setup wizard.
   
   
4. Start the MongoDB Service: After installation, restart the MongoDB service using:

net start MongoDB

5. Verify the Upgrade: Open the MongoDB shell and verify the version:

mongo
db.version()

Step 2: Upgrade from MongoDB 6 to 7

1. Stop the MongoDB Service: Stop MongoDB using the same method as in Step 1.
   
   
2. Verify Feature Compatibility Version: Before upgrading, confirm the feature-compatibility version is set to 6.0 by running:

db.adminCommand({ getParameter: 1, featureCompatibilityVersion: 1 })

If necessary, update the FCV using:

db.adminCommand({ setFeatureCompatibilityVersion: "6.0" })

3. Download and Install MongoDB 7: Download and install MongoDB 7 from the official website.
   
   
4. Start the MongoDB Service: Restart the MongoDB service:

net start MongoDB

5. Verify the Upgrade: Open the MongoDB shell and check the version:

mongo
db.version()

Post-Upgrade Steps

1. Set Feature Compatibility Version to 7.0: Once MongoDB 7 is running, set the feature-compatibility version to 7.0:

db.adminCommand({ setFeatureCompatibilityVersion: "7.0" })

2. Monitor Performance: Regularly check MongoDB performance and logs to ensure everything is running smoothly.
   
   
3. Test Applications: Make sure your applications are functioning as expected with MongoDB 7.