I need to update my NetBox, and not sure which route to take.

I use NetBox to manage all my infrastructure data. It’s primarily an IPAM for me, but I also track racks and ports and some wiring. I store serial numbers and console urls and whatnot there too. It’s an important (to me) tool that runs on a docker host with daily backups.

I need to upgrade. I have seen shots of the new version, and boy does it look cool. Talked with another lemming about it yesterday and decided to figure out my pathway.


The choice.
Do I in-place upgrade (their way), or do I deploy a new one and migrate the data to it?

The challenge.
See … this is embarrassing. I’m a professional virtualization guy, that’s how I pay my bills. But I’m barely proficient with docker. So yes, I run NetBox on a docker system that I configured from scratch, but I lack real confidence in what I’m doing in that environment.


NetBox-docker Upgrade
https://github.com/netbox-community/netbox-docker/wiki/Updating

I am afraid that if I follow the directions for an in-place upgrade, I’m risking my data. Docker is just not my thing, and I feel I might screw it up.


NetBox Migrate Data
https://github.com/netbox-community/netbox/discussions/14104

But lift-and-shift some data to a new (upgraded) system?
I do that sort of thing quite a bit. I’m pretty darn comfortable with deploying migrated data to a pre-prod, testing it, and then cutting over.
That sounds like a normal day at work.


Just to note … NetBox is capable of much more than I use it for. Its designed to expose and update its data via API for other apps to use and modify. I only access it via the GUI to track my infra. I say this bit just because that simplifies questions about the upgrade, in that there are no external links to consider. It’s a stand-alone system, talks to nothing else.

So … yet another long-ass post about my lab.
I’d welcome any input, however tangentially related. Thanks!

  • dbtngOP
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    6 months ago

    Got it. Yes, I have much to read in general, and in particular I should pay attention to the first link I posted from the NetBox-docker github.

    My backups are of the docker host, which is a Linux Mint virtual machine on Proxmox. I believe I do have file-level restore options, but I wanted a restore I’d probly just stand up a copy of the host, grab what i need, and nuke the copy.

    I’m the weekend guy, this is mid-work-week for me right now. And I’ve got CCNA studying I should be after. I’ll probably pickup my NetBox docker-style clone/upgrade/test early next week.

    Thanks again, friend. That was all really solid and direct feedback. Quite helpful.