Data Center FAQ

Owned by Micky Caritte
Jul 09, 2019
10 min read

What is a "Data Center approved app"?

Atlassian has established new app development and testing criteria for Marketplace apps used in Data Center environments. These include elements of how apps handle cache operations, support required databases, implement locking and availability in clustered environments, manage event handlers, and much more.

Effective September 3, 2018, a “Data Center approved app” must undergo a rigorous technical review process, established and maintained by Atlassian, to verify its ability to perform at a standard suited for Data Center environments.

I thought the Atlassian Marketplace already offered Data Center apps. What’s new?

Prior to September 3, 2018, the Atlassian Marketplace offered a “Data Center compatible” designation that could be applied to Data Center listings. However, this designation did not require any testing or validation to prove that they adhere to the same scalability and availability standards as their corresponding Data Center host products.

Based on feedback received from existing Data Center customers and internal customer-facing teams, Atlassian and our Marketplace vendors have teamed up to ensure better performance, reliability, and scalability of Marketplace apps used in Data Center environments.

In coordination with this announcement, Atlassian has retired this legacy designation and the “Data Center” tag on Marketplace listings.

What is the criteria for being labeled a "Data Center approved app?"

Atlassian Marketplace vendors must build and test their apps to meet the new approval standards, and submit all test results to Atlassian for review prior to earning the designation of “Data Center approved app.”

There are two parts to our validation process which includes:

  1. Completing a 150+ question architectural review
  2. Completing a testing process to evaluate apps in an environment that simulates a large scale Data Center instance

If a vendor introduces a Data Center approved app after September 3, 2019, there are a few additional requirements:

  1. Three Months prior to the introduction of a Data Center approved app, vendors must add a notification in their app’s release notes informing customers that they intend to launch a Data Center approved version of this app and that customers who own a Data Center host product will be required to purchase a Data Center app license upon their next renewal.
  2. A month prior to the introduction of a Data Center approved app, vendors must contact their customers advising them of the launch of the Data Center approved app and provide them with the steps to renew or migrate their license.

Atlassian will then evaluate the readiness of an app and make the decision as to whether to designate the app as Data Center approved. Atlassian does not conduct the testing ourselves; all testing of apps is conducted by the app vendor.

For updates on the status of specific apps, please reach out to the Marketplace vendor. For more details on Data Center approved app criteria, please see Developing Apps for Atlassian Data Center Products.

Where can I view a complete list of current Data Center approved apps?

For a complete list of Data Center approved apps, please visit the Atlassian Marketplace.

Are Atlassian’s own apps Data Center approved?

Atlassian has Data Center approved apps for Portfolio for Jira, Team Calendars for Confluence, and Questions for Confluence. These are now offered on annual subscription licensing and must match the user tier of the host Data Center product.

We are offering a one (1) year discount for Portfolio for Jira, Team Calendars for Confluence, and Questions for Confluence Data Center app versions from September 3, 2018 to September 2, 2019.

For details, please see the Portfolio for Jira, Team Calendars for Confluence, and Questions for Confluence licensing FAQ pages.

Will all current “Data Center compatible” apps be offered as Data Center approved apps?

Atlassian and our Marketplace vendors have focused on releasing Data Center approved versions of the apps most commonly used by Data Center customers. While there’s no guarantee that each of the apps listed as “Data Center compatible” will undergo testing and validation, we are hopeful that our Marketplace vendors will adhere to the new testing criteria in order to have their apps approved. For updates on the status of a specific app, please reach out to the Marketplace vendor.

How can I tell if an app is Data Center approved?

“Data Center” will be a freestanding version of the app accessible via the drop-down menu on the app’s listing page in the Atlassian Marketplace.

What if my app doesn’t have a Data Center approved version?

If you are a Data Center customer that relies on an app that is not on the current list, we encourage you to reach out to the vendor directly to discover their plans to invest in a Data Center app. In the event that the vendor does not offer a Data Center approved app version, you can continue to run your Server app version in your Data Center environment until a Data Center version is introduced.

Why should I upgrade to the Data Center approved app version?

Apps in large-scale Data Center clustered environments experience a different type of load than those in Server environments. Data Center approved apps are tested and proven to perform in such environments.

Data Center apps follow the same annual subscription model as your Data Center host products and match your Data Center user tier. This means you no longer run into circumstances where you have to purchase a license tier higher than your host product.

Am I required to adopt Data Center approved apps?

If you are renewing an app with a license start date on or after September 3, 2019, you will be required to purchase a Data Center approved app license if there is a Data Center approved version available in the Marketplace. You will no longer be able to renew maintenance for Server versions of apps if a Data Center approved version is available.

We have developed an in-house app for our team to use. Will we be required to prove it meets the requirements established for Data Center approved apps?

No, only Marketplace vendors will be required to undergo the testing and approval process Atlassian has outlined for Data Center approved apps. You can continue to use your homegrown apps in a Data Center environment.

How are Data Center approved apps priced and licensed?

Just like Atlassian Data Center products, Data Center approved apps will follow an annual subscription licensing model and will match the user tiers of their corresponding Data Center host products. Data Center licenses expire and are not perpetual like our Server licenses.

To continue using Data Center approved apps after the original annual term, you must renew your Data Center app license. The renewal cost is the same as a new license purchase for the required user tier. However, this excludes the introductory discounts for Portfolio for Jira, Team Calendars for Confluence, and Questions for Confluence available from September 3, 2018 to September 2, 2019. For details, please see the Portfolio for Jira, Team Calendars for Confluence, and Questions for Confluence licensing FAQ pages.

Marketplace vendors will be able to adjust their pricing for Data Center approved apps and differentiate their Server and Data Center pricing. Atlassian does not influence the pricing of Marketplace apps, this is solely in the control of the Marketplace vendor.

Will I be able to continue using Server licenses for apps purchased prior to September 3, 2019?

Yes. Server app licenses with a license start date prior to September 3, 2019 will continue to work on both Server and Data Center Host Products. However, upon their next renewal, customers running on Data Center will be required to purchase a Data Center app license if a Data Center app exists.

I own the Atlassian Stack or have an ELA. Am I impacted by this announcement?

The Atlassian Stack and ELA pricing will not change with this announcement.

What happens to my apps when I migrate host products from Server to Data Center?

When you migrate to a Data Center host product, your Server app license(s) with a start date on or after September 3, 2019 will no longer be valid on a Data Center instance. You will be required to move to a Data Center app license(s) in this case. If your Server app license(s) has a start date before September 3, 2019, you will be able to continue using your Server app license until your next renewal. To learn more about how to migrate your Data Center apps, read question #20 below.

Will I be allowed to install non-Data Center approved apps in a Data Center environment?

It will still be possible to install Server apps in a Data Center environment if the license start date is before September 3, 2019 or there is not a Data Center approved app available, however, you will see a warning that the app may not be suitable for a Data Center environment.

Will I be able to evaluate Data Center approved apps just like other app versions?

Yes, separate evaluation licenses will be available for Data Center approved apps. You can find more details on each app listing in the Atlassian Marketplace.

Where can I learn more about Atlassian’s Data Center approved apps?

Please see our Portfolio for Jira Data Center, Questions for Confluence Data Center, and Team Calendars for Confluence Data Center FAQs for additional information, or feel free to Contact Usshould you have questions.

How do I migrate over to a Data Center approved license type?

Upon renewal, quotes will automatically be sent to you with a Server license as this was what you originally purchased. You will need to manually make this change on your quote(s)

  • Step 1 - Conduct an audit of your apps:


1

1.png1840×900 249 KB


  • Log in to your Data Center instance and head to Administration > Add-ons/Apps.
  • Make note of all of the apps in use that are Data Center approved and are enabled. This can be confirmed on https://marketplace.atlassian.com where an app has “Data Center” listed in the platform drop down.
  • These apps will continue to function until you install a Server App license with a start date on or after 03 Sep 2019.


2

2.png780×523 78.5 KB


Step 2 - Remove server app licenses from existing quotes:

  • You are able to modify any existing quotes at my.atlassian.com under the “Orders” tab just locate your order(e.g. AT-XXX) and in the “Actions” section, click the pencil symbol to edit. You will be directed to the quote modification page where you could add or delete licenses.


3

3.png780×449 49.2 KB


Step 3 - Purchase new license

  • Once you have removed any renewal notices for Server apps, you are able to purchase the Data Center approved version of your required apps as you would any new app license.

Can I receive a refund for incorrectly purchasing a Server app with a license start date on or after September 3, 2019 if a Data Center approved app is available?

You can receive a refund in the following conditions:

  • You renewed or purchased a Server app with a start date on or after 03 Sep 2019 , we will provide a refund conditional on the purchase of a Data Center app.
  • If a Marketplace vendor introduces a Data Center approved app on or after 03 Sep 2019 and you have a Server app license.

We will refund out any unused portion of the Server app license for the purchase of a Data Center app license. Within the first 30 days of purchase, the customer can receive a full refund. After 30 days of purchase, the customer will receive a pro-rated refund based on the date from when they request the refund.

What happens if a Marketplace vendor introduces a Data Center approved app on or after September 3, 2019?

Prior to approval, the Marketplace vendor will have included a notification in their app’s release notes three months before informing customers that they plan to launch a Data Center approved version of the app. They will also have contacted you a month prior to the launch of the Data Center app providing you with the steps to renew or migrate to a Data Center license.

We will refund out any unused portion of the Server app license for the purchase of a Data Center app license. Within the first 30 days of purchase, the customer can receive a full refund. After 30 days of purchase, the customer will receive a pro-rated refund based on the date from when they request the refund.

What happens if my app stops working because I have the wrong license or a vendor introduced a Server app? How can I immediately get back up and running?

  • In some cases, you will be able to roll back to a previous version of the app artifact (the Server artifact) and use the old app license as it was sold to the vendor as a perpetual license.
  • You can remove the existing license, once this is done, UPM provides you with the ability to request a trial license for the app.
  • You can go to https://marketplace.atlassian.com and purchase the required Data Center app license.

If any of the following options don’t work, please contact us here.

I see a “You have unsubscribed from this app“ error message. What do I do?

If you are seeing this error message you are most likely running a Data Center approved app on an UPM version that does not support Data Center Approved app licenses. You should upgrade to UPM 3.0.1 or above. This is unlikely and you shouldn’t run into issues unless they are updating their apps to the Data Center version of the app(s). You can rollback to the previous version of the app if you need to as well.

Note: UPM 3.0.1 works on the following versions of our products:

  • Jira Server 7.1.0 - 7.13.3
  • Confluence Server 5.10.0 - 6.15.3
  • Bamboo Server 5.13.0 - 6.8.1
  • Bitbucket Server 4.4.0 - 5.16.3

I upgraded my app to the latest version and it still says it’s “Not DC approved“ even though there is one listed on the marketplace. What do I do?

You are most likely still running the Server artifact of the app. You should uninstall the existing Server app, and re-install the Data Center approved app listed on the marketplace.

What benefits have you seen from the Data Center approved apps program so far? What future benefits can I expect to see from the program?

Since we introduced the program in September 2018, we’ve been hard at work to ensure that the program delivers on the promise of app performance at scale, and we’ve been continuing to improve and evolve the program to meet your needs. We now have approved over 390 apps and 83% of the top 100 apps used by Server customers are available as Data Center approved versions. Additionally, customers running Data Center Approved apps have seen 18% less critical support cases this year when compared to those running non-Data Center approved apps. As we continue on the journey of building an enterprise-grade quality of apps, you will see us investing more in three major areas: app quality, app performance, and app security.