Migration · AMP

Upgrading to Liferay DXP 7.4: Migration Blueprint

Ankita Varani · Published Jun 24, 2026 · 12 min read · View full version

Quick answer

Upgrade legacy Liferay instances by auditing custom OSGi modules, running database schema upgrades in isolated staging containers, refactoring legacy hooks to Client Extensions, and verifying templates against Lexicon styling guidelines.

How Do You Perform a Liferay Codebase Security Audit before upgrading?

Direct Answer: Audit custom Java modules for deprecated APIs, servlet mappings, and third-party dependencies, refactoring code to align with DXP 7.4 API classes.

Identify custom modules and hooks before upgrading. Legacy JSP overrides and database integrations will break under 7.4. Re-engineer custom logic to utilize low-code Objects and client extensions.

For additional optimization strategies, visit our detailed Liferay DXP developer blog listing. For configuration specifications, consult the official Liferay Documentation portal.

Use scanning plugins inside your Liferay Workspace to highlight compatibility issues and speed up build corrections.

How Do You Run the Liferay Database Upgrade Tool?

Direct Answer: Configure the database upgrade tool properties. Point it to your database replica, run database checks, and monitor log files for structural errors.

Configure Liferay's upgrade tool in mock docker containers. Execute database upgrades locally, resolving database constraint issues and indexing bottlenecks before touching staging files.

For additional optimization strategies, visit our detailed Liferay DXP developer blog listing. For configuration specifications, consult the official Liferay Documentation portal.

Backup database schemas before running upgrades. Check status tables after completion to verify all core modules migrated successfully.

What Staging and Cutover Rules Are Best for Production Upgrades?

Direct Answer: Set up staging mirror environments, perform full testing runs, and follow step-by-step rollbacks during final production cutovers.

Test the upgraded database in a sandbox. Verify WCAG accessibility, single sign-on parameters, and integrations before initiating final dns cutover, eliminating portal downtime.

For additional optimization strategies, visit our detailed Liferay DXP developer blog listing. For configuration specifications, consult the official Liferay Documentation portal.

Verifying layout displays and authentication states on staging minimizes production downtime, ensuring a seamless user transition.

Frequently asked questions

Can we upgrade directly from Liferay 6.2 to DXP 7.4?

No. You must upgrade database tables to Liferay DXP 7.0/7.2 first, then run the final DXP 7.4 upgrade tool.

How long does database upgrade execution take?

Depending on database records and indices optimization, schema migration takes between 2 and 12 hours.

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