How to Migrate to Drupal 9

Drupal is a free open-source content management system (CMS) that allows you to create websites, blogs, and other web applications. It has become one of the most popular platforms for building custom sites.

The process of migrating from Drupal 8 to Drupal 9 is no small task. There are several changes and new features that you’ll want to consider before moving forward. In this article, you'll discover some of the major changes that you’ll encounter when migrating from Drupal 8 to Drupal 9.

As you migrate to Drupal 9, you’ll notice a significant change in the way things look and function. The biggest difference between Drupal 8 and Drupal 9 is the introduction of a completely redesigned user interface. This means that you'll need to rework your entire site from scratch.

What Does a Drupal Migration Mean?

A Drupal migration process involves taking an existing Drupal website or blog and converting it into a Drupal 9 installation. You can also perform a complete Drupal 9 install by starting with a blank slate.

When you migrate to Drupal 9 from Drupal 8, you need to update your Drupal 8 website to the latest version of both core and contributed modules and themes. If you have any custom code, such as custom content types, views, and fields, you will need to convert them to Drupal 9 compatible versions.

You may also need to upgrade your database schema to support Drupal 9's new data model. And finally, you should make sure that all your files are converted to Drupal 9 standards.

What Is Drupal 9?

Drupal 9 is the same as the Drupal 8.9 version but without the deprecated code available in the previous version. It's identical to the 8.9 version for editors, website builders, and developers and it is built with an API-first approach in mind. Drupal 9 improves structural tools and editorial workflows.

Key Drupal 9 benefits

Drupal 9 brings forward a continuous innovation cycle that delivers all the best features of Drupal 8, plus updated system requirements that improve security support.

Drupal 9 provides feature additions twice a year, so you'll be up-to-date with the latest technology innovations.

What is more, your developer team will most likely work very easily with Drupal 9, as the Drupal 8 experience is quite similar. Prepare your upgrade process and get a cleaned-up, consistent, API-based modern environment.

You might also like: Drupal 10 New Features and How to Prepare Your Migration.

Migrating to Drupal 9: What do I need to know?

Before you begin your Drupal 9 migration, there are three key areas where you'll need to take action:

Update Your Site Core

In order to successfully migrate to Drupal 9, your site must be updated to the latest version of Drupal 8 core. To ensure that your site works properly after the migration, you should use the same version of the core that you used during development.

Upgrade Modules and Plugins

When you migrate to Drupal 9 you'll need to upgrade all your modules and plugins to their respective Drupal 9 versions. For example, if you're using Views 7.x-3.0 then you'll need to upgrade to Views 8.x-2.1. Similarly, if you're using CCK 3.x-7.x then you'll need to move to CCK 4.x-4.6.

Convert Custom Code

If you've developed custom content types, views, or fields, you'll need to convert these items to Drupal 9 compatible versions so they work properly on your new site.

How does a Drupal migration affect your brand reputation and business value?

Upgrading to Drupal 9 comes with benefits like all system and software upgrades. To understand the business value added by such a migration, consider asking the following questions:

Are your current features and modules secure and relevant for your business scope? How would you rate them?
Do you clearly know the scope of a Drupal migration for you? How many resources like time and money do you plan to spend on this migration?
Does your developer team have the necessary skill set to plan and complete it successfully? How will your Drupal migration impact the content design and architecture on your site?

Tools & Modules For Completing Your Drupal Migration

Now that you've asked the right question, you might be ready to start your migration. If so, here are some tools and modules to help you in this process:

Core Migrate Module Suite: migrate your content and site configuration
Upgrade Rector: automate module updates for Drupal 8 sites of common deprecated code to the latest Drupal 9 compatible code
Drupal Module Upgrader: scan and convert outdated code on your site
Upgrade Status Module: provide information about contributed project availability

4 Steps to Prepare Your Drupal 8 site for Migrating to Drupal 9

Check out this to-do list before starting your migration to Drupal 9:

1. Check that your hosting environment meets the compatibility requirements of Drupal 9.

2. Update your contributed projects so that you resolve Drupal 9 compatibility issues gradually, keeping Drupal 8 compatibility at the same time.

3. Make sure to upgrade to the latest Drupal 8 version available (Drupal 8.8 and 8.9).

4. Edit your custom code by removing deprecated API use.

The transition from one version to another can be challenging, but the migration process is simple once you learn how it's done. If you find it overwhelming and want to opt for professional services, check out Optasy's services.

Our dedicated team of Drupal experts will support you in every step of your migration process and ensure that your website is up and running smoothly after the migration. Optasy offers assistance and custom migration to suit the specific needs of each business.

Photo credit: Unsplash.

We do Web development

Go to our Web development page!

Visit page!

Recommended Stories

Drupal Tips

How to Migrate Your Drupal Website to Another Host in 5 Steps

Website owners may need to migrate their web host at some point during their business journey due to the emergence of more lucrative hosting options, such as VPS, shared, or dedicated hosting. This is why many website managers choose to perform host migration. This article offers guidance on managing hosting server migration, one of the most widely-used DevOps services. It does so by breaking down five crucial steps that can lead to a successful migration. What are the factors to consider when moving a Drupal website to a new hosting server? Deciding to change web hosts can be a challenging decision. However, there are several indications that your website may need hosting updates, which can be identified if you know where to look. Although it may be difficult to admit, taking this step will improve your website's performance. Here's a guide on how to identify these indicators on your Drupal website. There is a recurring problem with downtime. Website downtime can harm your reputation as a service provider. The quality of your hosting equipment and security features can impact your site's availability and protection against cyber-attacks. Your host is hard to reach. Efficient communication between a website owner and their web host is crucial. In the event of a server crash or error, prompt contact with the host is necessary for troubleshooting and restoring the site's functionality. Having an unreliable host can negatively impact website functionality and customer retention. Therefore, having a dependable customer service team available is essential for providing optimal user experiences and promoting business success. Your current hosting fees are high. Running a website can require a significant investment in web hosting. It's a recurring expense that you should choose carefully. The most expensive option may not be necessary. Consider the features and server space that your host provides and compare them to your site's needs. Don't overspend on hosting that doesn't fit your requirements. You can always upgrade to a more expensive plan later. The level of security provided may not meet your requirements. Investing in a secure web host can be advantageous for your website as it prioritizes security measures. Investing in a secure hosting server can prevent data loss, compromised user data, and damage to your credibility with your audience. Consider specific features and plugins, such as Secure Sockets Layer certificates, malware scanning, and server firewalls, when selecting a web host. Instructions for migrating to a different hosting provider The process of migrating a Drupal site to a new host involves contacting the current host, backing up the database, connecting to a new server, and uploading files. It is common for issues to arise during this process, such as corrupted backups. To avoid potential issues, consider hiring a professional agency like Optasy to complete the migration process for you. This may help save resources and ensure a smooth transition. Before migrating to a new web hosting server, it's important to follow essential steps. Let's examine some of them. 1. Turn Drupal caching off. To prevent possible disruptions, the initial action is to access the Drupal admin dashboard and follow these steps. To disable caching, navigate to Configuration, Performance, and Caching, then select "No Caching." To disable "Aggregate CSS files" and "Aggregate JavaScript files" in "bandwidth optimization" and ensure all caches are cleared, click "Clear all caches." 2. It is recommended to create a backup of your Drupal files. To connect to your remote server, enter the connection details and select "QuickConnect" to establish a connection with the server hosting your website. To back up your Drupal files, simply download the content from your main site's folder onto your local device. 3. Export your Drupal database. Access the phpMyAdmin tool located in the Database section of your server's control panel. To export your Drupal site database, select "Check all" and then choose the "Export method" and "SQL" options. 4. Transfer the Drupal database to the new hosting provider. To create a new MySQL database on the target server, click on "Import" located at the top of the database. Afterward, select "Choose File" and click "Go." This will successfully restore your site on the new hosting from the backup. 5. Turn on Drupal caching. Go to Configuration - Performance - Enable Drupal caching. And that's it! Your host migration process is completed. Conclusion Building and managing a Drupal website involves various complexities, with hosting being a particularly challenging aspect. A wide range of hosting options are available, which can make it a daunting task to determine the most suitable one for your website requirements. Optasy's team of Drupal experts can provide assistance and guidance on server migration and hosting server management. Photo credit: Unsplash.... Read more

Raluca Olariu / Mar 23'2023

Drupal Tips

How SEO Helps Your Website Grow

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a powerful tool for helping your website grow and reach its full potential. SEO involves optimizing your website to make it easier for search engines like Google to find and rank it in their search results. By using SEO techniques such as keyword research, content optimization, link building, and more, you can increase the visibility of your website and attract more visitors. With the right SEO strategy in place, you can drive more traffic to your site and generate more leads and sales. In this article, we'll discuss how SEO can help your website grow and become successful. What is SEO? SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it is the process of optimizing a website to make it easier for search engines like Google to find and rank it in their search results. SEO involves a variety of techniques, such as keyword research, content optimization, link building, and more. By using these techniques, you can increase your website’s visibility and attract more visitors. SEO helps your website become more visible in the search engine results pages (SERPs), which can lead to more traffic, leads, and sales. Benefits of SEO for Website Growth Let's have a look at some of the top benefits of SEO for website growth: Increased visibility: SEO helps your website become more visible in the search query, which can lead to more traffic and leads. Improved user experience: SEO also helps enhance the user experience of your website by making it easier to navigate and providing relevant content. Increased brand awareness: SEO can help boost brand awareness by making your website more visible in the SERPs, which can lead to more people recognizing your brand. Higher conversion rates: SEO can also help increase your website's conversion rate by making it easier for visitors to find what they are looking for and take the desired action. More organic traffic: SEO can help you drive more organic traffic to your website, which is free and highly targeted. Keyword Research for SEO Keyword research is an important part of SEO, and it involves finding the right keywords to target for your website. Keyword research helps you identify the words and phrases that people are searching for when looking for products or services related to your business. By targeting these keywords, you can increase your website’s visibility in the SERPs and attract more organic traffic. When doing keyword research, you can use specialized software to make the job easier. Content Optimization for SEO Content optimization involves optimizing your website’s content to make it more relevant to search engines. Content optimization includes optimizing titles, meta descriptions, headings, images, and other elements of your website’s content. Many companies rely on a solid blog approach to boost their content optimization strategy and highlight their SEO efforts. Link-Building Strategies for SEO Link-building is another top SEO strategy, and it involves creating backlinks to your website from other websites. Backlinks are links from other websites that point to your website, and they can help improve your website’s visibility in the SERPs. There are a variety of link-building strategies you can use to build backlinks for your website. These include guest blogging, directory submissions, social media marketing, and more. Conclusion SEO is an important part of website growth, and it can help you increase your website’s visibility in the SERPs, attract more organic traffic, and boost your conversion rates. In the competitive digital world, brands that harness the power of SEO are on top of the game. If you, too, want to integrate SEO into your web development project and are looking for professional advice, don't hesitate to contact Optasy. Optasy is a web development company that provides complete web development and maintenance services that support business growth. Photo credit: Unsplash. ... Read more

Raluca Olariu / Feb 14'2023

Drupal Tips

Top Drupal Debugging Techniques

Debugging is an essential part of developing any website, and Drupal is no exception. Debugging in Drupal can be a complex process due to the complexity of the system and its many components. However, with the right techniques, it is possible to identify and resolve issues quickly. In this article, we will discuss some of the top debugging techniques for Drupal that can help you troubleshoot your website more efficiently. We will cover topics such as using the Devel module, using Xdebug, and other helpful tips and tricks. With these techniques in hand, you'll be able to recognize and repair any problems on your Drupal site quickly. Using the Devel Module for Debugging The Devel module is a powerful tool for debugging Drupal websites. It provides a suite of tools to help you quickly identify and resolve issues. The Devel module includes features such as the ability to view database queries, generate dummy content, and debug PHP code. It also has an API that allows developers to create custom debugging tools. Using the Devel module can be helpful when trying to identify the source of an issue. It can also be used to generate dummy content for testing purposes. Utilizing Xdebug for Troubleshooting Xdebug is a powerful debugging tool that can be used to troubleshoot issues on Drupal websites. It provides detailed information about the code execution, including stack traces and variable values. This can help developers quickly identify the source of an issue and resolve it more efficiently. Xdebug also has features such as breakpoints, which allow developers to pause the execution of code at certain points to inspect the application's state. This can be helpful when trying to identify and fix complex issues. Leveraging Drupal's Logging System Drupal's logging system is a powerful tool for debugging websites. It provides detailed information about the events that occur on the website, including errors and warnings. This can be helpful when trying to identify the source of an issue. The logging system also allows developers to set up custom log levels, which can be used to filter out unnecessary information and focus on specific types of events. This can help developers quickly identify and resolve issues. Using the Drupal Console for Debugging The Drupal Console is a command-line interface that can be used to debug Drupal websites. It provides commands for inspecting the database, generating dummy content, and running tests. This can be helpful when trying to identify and fix issues quickly. The Drupal Console also has an API that allows developers to create custom commands for debugging purposes. Have You Completed Your Drupal 10 Migration? The release of Drupal 10 marks a major milestone for the platform, and it is important to ensure that your website is up-to-date with the latest version. Migrating to Drupal 10 can be a complex process, but it is essential for ensuring that your website remains secure and performs optimally. When migrating to Drupal 10, it is important to test the website thoroughly and use debugging techniques to identify and resolve any issues. The Devel module, Xdebug, and Drupal's logging system can all be used to troubleshoot any problems that may arise during the migration process. Don't forget to ensure that all of the modules and themes used on the website are compatible with Drupal 10. It is recommended to use the Update Status module to check for any available updates and apply them before migrating to Drupal 10. Additionally, it is a good idea to create a backup of your website before beginning the migration process in case something goes wrong. By taking these steps, you can ensure that your website is properly migrated and running smoothly on Drupal 10. Conclusion Debugging in Drupal can be a complex process, but with the right techniques, it is possible to debug your website faster and easier. If you need more advice on your next web development project or on your Drupal 10 migration, our team of experts is here to help you. Contact us for more details. Photo credit: Unpslash.... Read more

Raluca Olariu / Jan 16'2023

How to Migrate to Drupal 9

What Does a Drupal Migration Mean?

What Is Drupal 9?

Key Drupal 9 benefits