I got a GitLab CE version 12.9.2 in a server A with almost 700 repositories, 150 users and a lot of groups (the projects are distributed in the groups).
This GitLab installation is using a remote Postgres database V 10.
We want GitLab to upgrade to the latest CE version 14.2 in a new server, let's call it server B. This one doesn't have remote Postgres database.
Reading the documentation, I can't just make a backup and restore due to the different versions. https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/raketasks/backup_restore.html
Neither can make a backup of the database and map server B to the database backup, because newer GitLab version require newer Postgres database.
I guess my only option is just to import the repos, users and groups 1 by 1, with probably errors assigning projects to groups or user to groups. We don't use runners or canvas or user stories. We just care for the projects, users and groups.
Do I have another option to make it easier to do the import?
The normal upgrade path is:
That way, you don't have to import repositories/users one by one, and you don't skip major versions during the upgrade process (safer).