Upgrade to version 8.1 on Windows

You can upgrade with either the GUI installer or the msiexec utility on the command line as described in "Install on Windows via the command line".

Splunk does not provide a means of downgrading to previous versions.

After you upgrade Splunk Enterprise, if you need to downgrade, you must uninstall the upgraded version and then reinstall the previous version of Splunk Enterprise that you were using. Do not attempt to install over an upgraded installation with an installer from a previous version, as this can result in a corrupt instance and data loss.

Before you upgrade

Before you upgrade, see About upgrading to 8.1: READ THIS FIRST for information on changes in the new version that can impact you if you upgrade from an existing version.

Splunk Enterprise does not provide a means of downgrading to previous versions. If you need to revert to an older Splunk release, uninstall the upgraded version and reinstall the version you want.

Changing Splunk Enterprise ports during an upgrade is not supported

Splunk Enterprise does not support changing the management or Splunk Web ports when you upgrade. If you need to change these ports, do so either before or after you upgrade.

Back your files up

Before you upgrade, back up all of your files, including Splunk Enterprise configurations, indexed data, and binaries.

• For information on backing up data, see Back up indexed data in the Managing Indexers and Clusters Manual.
• For information on backing up configurations, see Back up configuration information in the Admin Manual.

Keep copies of custom certificate authority certificates

When you upgrade on Windows, the installer overwrites any custom certificate authority (CA) certificates that you have created in %SPLUNK_HOME%\etc\auth. If you have custom CA files, back them up before you upgrade. After the upgrade, you can restore them into %SPLUNK_HOME%\etc\auth. After you have restored the certificates, restart Splunk Enterprise.

Upgrade Splunk Enterprise using the GUI installer

1. Go to the Splunk.com Free Trials and Downloads page (Login required.)
2. Select "Splunk Enterprise."
3. Select "Download now" to get the latest release, or click the link to "Previous Releases" to find a specific version.
4. Download the MSI file to the host.
5. Double-click the MSI file. The installer runs and attempts to detect the existing version of Splunk Enterprise installed on the machine. When it locates the prior installation, it displays a pane that asks you to accept the licensing agreement.
6. Accept the license agreement. The installer then installs the updated Splunk Enterprise. This method of upgrade retains all parameters from the existing installation. The installer restarts Splunk Enterprise services when the upgrade is complete, and places a log of the changes made to configuration files during the upgrade in %TEMP%.

Upgrade using the command line

1. Go to the Splunk.com Free Trials and Downloads page (Login required.)
2. Select "Splunk Enterprise."
3. Select "Download now" to get the latest release, or click the link to "Previous Releases" to find a specific version.
4. Download the MSI file to the host.
5. Install the software, as described in Install on Windows via the command line.
   
   • If Splunk runs as a user other than the Local System user, specify the credentials for the user in your command-line instruction with the LOGON_USERNAME and LOGON_PASSWORD flags.
   • You can use the LAUNCHSPLUNK flag to specify whether Splunk Enterprise should start up automatically or not when the upgrade finishes, but you cannot change any other settings.
   • Do not change the network ports (SPLUNKD_PORT and WEB_PORT) at this time.
6. Depending on your specification, Splunk Enterprise might start automatically when you complete the installation.