# Upgrade a Redis Enterprise Software database
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"title": "Upgrade a Redis Enterprise Software database",
"description": "Upgrade a Redis Enterprise Software database.",
"categories": ["docs","operate","rs"],
"tableOfContents": {"sections":[{"id":"default-db-versions","title":"Default Redis database versions"},{"id":"upgrade-prerequisites","title":"Upgrade prerequisites"},{"id":"upgrade-database","title":"Upgrade database"}]}
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```
## Default Redis database versions {#default-db-versions}
When you upgrade an existing database, it uses the latest bundled Redis version unless you specify a different version with the `redis_version` option in the [REST API](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rs/references/rest-api/requests/bdbs) or [`rladmin upgrade db`](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rs/references/cli-utilities/rladmin/upgrade#upgrade-db).
Redis Enterprise Software v6.x includes two Redis database versions: 6.0 and 6.2.
As of version 7.2, Redis Enterprise Software includes three Redis database versions.
To view available Redis database versions:
- In the Cluster Manager UI, see **Redis database versions** on the **Cluster > Configuration** screen.
- Send a [`GET /nodes` REST API request](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rs/references/rest-api/requests/nodes) and see `supported_database_versions` in the response.
The default Redis database version differs between Redis Enterprise releases as follows:
| Redis
Software | Bundled Redis
DB versions | Default DB version
(upgraded/new databases) |
|-------|----------|-----|
| 7.22.x | 6.2, 7.2, 7.4 | 7.4 |
| 7.8.x | 6.2, 7.2, 7.4 | 7.4 |
| 7.4.x | 6.0, 6.2, 7.2 | 7.2 |
| 7.2.4 | 6.0, 6.2, 7.2 | 7.2 |
| 6.4.2 | 6.0, 6.2 | 6.2 |
| 6.2.x | 6.0, 6.2 | 6.0 |
The upgrade policy is only relevant for Redis Enterprise Software versions 6.2.4 through 6.2.18. For more information about upgrade policies, see the [6.2 version of this document](https://docs.redis.com/6.2/rs/installing-upgrading/upgrading/#redis-upgrade-policy).
## Upgrade prerequisites
Before upgrading a database:
- Review the relevant [release notes](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rs/release-notes) for any preparation instructions.
- Verify that both the [current database version and the target database version are supported](#db-versions-table) by the cluster's Redis Enterprise Software version.
To determine the current database version:
- Use the Cluster Manager UI to open the **Configuration** tab for the database and select  **About**.
- _(Optional)_ Use the [`rladmin status extra all`](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rs/references/cli-utilities/rladmin/status) command to display configuration details:
```sh
rladmin status extra all
```
When the database compatibility version is outdated, `OLD REDIS VERSION` appears in the command output.
- Verify the cluster is fully upgraded and operational.
Use the Cluster Manager UI to display the **Configuration** tab for the cluster. The tab displays the cluster version information and the Redis database compatibility version.
- For [Replica Of databases](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rs/databases/import-export/replica-of), upgrade the destination database before the source database.
- Check client compatibility with the database version.
If you run Redis Stack commands with Go-Redis versions 9 and later or Lettuce versions 6 and later, set the client’s protocol version to RESP2 before upgrading your database to Redis version 7.2 to prevent potential application issues due to RESP3 breaking changes. See [Client prerequisites for Redis 7.2 upgrade](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rs/references/compatibility/resp#client-prerequisites-for-redis-72-upgrade) for more details and examples.
- To avoid data loss during the upgrade, [back up your data](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rs/databases/import-export/schedule-backups).
You can [export the data](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rs/databases/import-export/export-data) to an external location, [enable replication](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rs/databases/durability-ha/replication), or [enable persistence](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rs/databases/configure/database-persistence).
When choosing how to back up data, keep the following in mind:
- To reduce downtime when replication is enabled, a failover is performed before restarting the primary (master) database.
- When persistence is enabled without replication, the database is unavailable during restart because the data is restored from the persistence file. AOF persistence restoration is slower than snapshot restoration.
## Upgrade database
To upgrade a database:
1. Complete all [prerequisites](#upgrade-prerequisites) before starting the upgrade.
1. _(Optional)_ Back up the database to minimize the risk of data loss.
1. Use [`rladmin`](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rs/references/cli-utilities/rladmin/upgrade) to upgrade the database. During the upgrade process, the database will restart without losing any data. Use the `preserve_roles` option to keep the database's current state, including primary shard placement, and prevent the cluster from becoming unbalanced.
- To upgrade a database and its modules:
``` shell
rladmin upgrade db preserve_roles
```
Example of a successful upgrade:
``` shell
rladmin> upgrade db demo
Monitoring d194c4a3-631c-4726-b799-331b399fc85c
active - SMUpgradeBDB init
active - SMUpgradeBDB wait_for_version
active - SMUpgradeBDB configure_shards
completed - SMUpgradeBDB
Done
```
- To upgrade the database to a version other than the default version, use the `redis_version` parameter:
```sh
rladmin upgrade db redis_version preserve_roles
```
- For module upgrade options, see [Upgrade modules](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rs/installing-upgrading/modules/upgrade-module).
1. Check the Redis database compatibility version for the database to confirm the upgrade.
To do so:
- Use the Cluster Manager UI to open the **Configuration** tab for the database and select  **About**.
- Use [`rladmin status databases extra all`](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rs/references/cli-utilities/rladmin/status#status-databases) to display a list of the databases in your cluster and their current Redis database compatibility version:
```sh
rladmin status databases extra all
```
Verify that the Redis version is set to the expected value.