Advice needed: Upgrade strategy for multiple Wazuh environments (v4.3.6, v4.9.2, v4.11.2)

[Baran]

Hi everyone,

I currently manage three distinct Wazuh environments with the following versions:

v4.3.6
v4.9.2
v4.11.2

For the most part, the agent versions match the manager versions in each environment. I am planning to upgrade all of them to the latest stable version.

Given the significant gap between the versions (especially for v4.3.6), I am concerned about potential risks or breaking changes during the upgrade process.

My proposed plan: I am thinking of reproducing each environment using Docker in a lab setting to simulate the upgrade path individually before touching production.

My questions:
Are there specific "gotchas" or known issues I should look out for when jumping from v4.3.x to the latest version?

Is the Docker lab simulation a reliable way to catch config/compatibility issues for this type of migration?

Any insights or best practices would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[antonio...@wazuh.com]

Hi Baran,

Since version 4.3, many changes have been introduced. I recommend that you take a look at the list of updates from version 4.3 up to the current one, so you can see what changes have been made over time and which issues have been fixed, allowing you to plan the upgrades as smoothly as possible. For each version, there is a Known Issues section that explains what has been fixed or addressed.

Additionally, I recommend checking the Troubleshooting section, which explains the most common issues when performing a version upgrade and provides the steps to resolve them.

Regarding the Docker lab, I recommend using it only if you currently have your Wazuh environment deployed using Docker. If not, I suggest using Vagrant or a virtualization system such as VirtualBox, as this will allow you to simulate more accurately the issues you may encounter during the upgrade process.

Finally, I also recommend reviewing our Upgrade Guide, where we provide guidance on how to upgrade Wazuh and outline best practices for the upgrade process.