Connect Jira to MySQL with SQL Connector for Jira Cloud/Data Center

Are you looking for Jira MySQL integration? With the SQL Connector for Jira from Alpha Serve, it's never been easier. This app lets you automate the Jira data extraction process, making your Jira MySQL setup straightforward and hassle-free.

In this article, we'll guide you through a 5-step process to get both tools connected, show you some of the advanced features of the SQL Connector for Jira, and explain how connecting Jira to MySQL database can help improve your business operations. Let's dive in!

Jira, a leading issue-tracking and project-management software, is invaluable for managing your business projects. It organizes all your project data in one place, making it a dependable source of information. With its ability to adapt to agile workflows, teams can effortlessly plan, track, release, report, and automate project tasks.

Often, businesses need a robust solution to manage and store this significant amount of data generated in Jira. This is where MySQL, an open-source relational database, comes into play. Using the SQL (Structured Query Language) programming language, MySQL structures data in an efficient and organized way. With its client-server model, it enables multiple clients to retrieve data from the server simultaneously.

The use of MySQL brings several benefits to businesses:

• User-friendly operation that doesn't require specialized knowledge for basic maintenance.
• Portability that allows hosting on various platforms, from servers to personal computers.
• Efficient query processing due to its structured approach to data storage.
• Flexibility to cater to user-specific queries through multiple data views.
• Extensive support and compatibility, thanks to its use of the standardized SQL language.
• The capacity to handle large data volumes effectively.

Now, how does one get Jira's data into MySQL? This is where the concept of data replication becomes crucial. Specifically, in the context of Jira and MySQL, data replication refers to the process of regularly exporting your Jira data into your MySQL database.

Some of the critical data replication benefits include the following:

• It backs up your data, enhancing system resilience and minimizing the risk of data loss.
• It ensures business continuity, even in the face of unexpected disruptions.
• It offers quick access to data due to its presence in multiple locations.
• It enables real-time analytics by synchronizing data from various sources.
• It improves server performance by distributing the load.
• It enhances disaster recovery capabilities through data redundancy.

Before we show you the Jira MySQL configuration guide, let’s learn why you should connect them. Let’s get started.

By exporting Jira data to a MySQL database, you create a centralized hub for Jira data access. This unification provides all stakeholders with a single, cohesive platform to work on. It simplifies data access by eliminating the need for users to navigate through multiple tools, thereby reducing the chances of data duplication, fragmentation, and potential conflicts throughout the workflow process.

Moreover, this strategy optimizes your operations and minimizes time spent on maintenance, thereby contributing to overall business efficiency.

When Jira data is exported to a MySQL database, you unlock the powerful reporting capabilities inherent to MySQL. It allows for sophisticated queries, enabling complex and in-depth analyses of your Jira data. Additionally, its compatibility with numerous business intelligence tools means you can create dynamic, real-time dashboards and customized reports, providing a more granular view of your data.

Ultimately, integrating Jira with MySQL offers advanced reporting possibilities that can lead to greater insights and more informed decision-making for your business.

Jira MySQL integration plays a crucial role in ensuring the integrity of your Jira data. This connection aids in preserving the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of Jira data throughout its lifecycle. By exporting data to MySQL, a reliable and well-structured database management system, you bolster data protection mechanisms and mitigate risks of data corruption or loss.

As a result, your Jira data remains reliable and correct, fostering trust in your data-driven decisions and strategies. This integration thus underscores the importance of data integrity in enhancing the overall efficiency and reliability of your business operations.

Connecting Jira with MySQL paves the way for multisource data integration. This process allows Jira data to interact and merge with data from various other sources within your MySQL database, creating a richer, more diverse data ecosystem. This integration is valuable for generating holistic reports or conducting multifaceted analytics that go beyond Jira's standalone capabilities.

In essence, by integrating Jira with MySQL, you amplify the potential of your Jira data, positioning it as a critical piece within a larger, interconnected data landscape.

To set up data replication, you must first connect Jira to MySQL. You can use Jira’s integration option, but it is limited in many ways.

To overcome this, you must use the SQL Connector for Jira, an enterprise-grade app by Alpha Serve. This tool empowers organizations to establish a direct database connection. After the connection is configured, it facilitates the automation of Jira data exportation and guarantees secure access.

As data replication relies heavily on constant data updates from different sources, you can use SQL Connector for Jira to do the heavy lifting. The connector supports other SQL databases, including PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, H2, and Oracle Database, without SSL, SSH, or intermediary tools.

Now, let’s look at the 5-step guide on how to set up data replication from Jira to MySQL.

Important! Ensure that you have Jira Administrator rights to install the application. If you're not an admin, you can request the installation of the app by navigating to the SQL Connector for Jira product page, clicking on Try It Free and then clicking on Request this app link. Your Jira admin will receive a notification to start the installation.

The SQL Connector for Jira is available for free for up to 10 users on Jira Cloud. Beyond this, the app is offered as a subscription service, with pricing based on the number of users and the platform (Cloud or Data Center). Both versions include a 30-day free trial. For more detailed information about pricing and to use a convenient cost calculator, please visit the pricing page.

1. Navigate to the Jira Cloud Apps section and select Explore more apps.

2. In the search bar, type "SQL Connector for Jira Alpha Serve" and hit enter.
3. Select SQL Connector for Jira from the search results.

4. Click Try it free to activate a 30-day free trial license.
5. In the new window, click Start free trial.

6. You can access SQL Connector for Jira from the main navigation menu: Apps → SQL Connector for Jira.

1. Navigate to the Jira Administration tab and select the Manage apps section.
2. You will be redirected to the Find new apps section. Enter "SQL Connector for Jira Alpha Serve" in the search field.
3. From the search results, select SQL Connector for Jira.
4. Click Free trial for a 30-day free trial license, or Buy now to purchase the application.
5. Follow the standard client installation path and the application will be automatically installed on your Jira instance.

For both Jira Cloud and Jira Data Center, you can install the SQL Connector for Jira directly from the Atlassian Marketplace by visiting the application product page. Be sure to select the correct hosting option (Cloud or Data Center) and click Try it Free.

After successful installation of SQL Connector for Jira, the next step is to configure it. Configuration primarily involves granting permissions to specific Jira users or groups to work with the connector, i.e., the ability to create, edit, watch, and export connectors.

1. Go to Apps > SQL Connector for Jira > Administration from Jira's main menu.
2. Click the Edit icon to open the permissions window.
3. Select groups and/or users to grant them permissions to work with connector and click Save.

1. Access the SQL Connector for Jira settings through either the main menu or via Manage Apps in the Jira Administration tab.
2. Click on the Edit icon in the Permissions tab.
3. Add relevant users, groups, or project roles and click Save.

For a deeper dive into app configurations in Jira Data Center, refer to the Admin Guide.

To facilitate exporting specific tables (see list here), you must generate a Jira API token.
Here are the steps:
1. Navigate to the Manage Account in your Jira Cloud account.

2. Proceed to the Security tab and click on Create and manage API tokens.

3. Select the Create API token button.

4. A new dialog window will appear where you're prompted to enter a name for your API token. After inputting the name, select Create.

5. Crucial Step! Ensure you copy the newly generated API token. This is the only time it will be displayed, so it's vital you secure it.

6. Return to your Jira Cloud main page, navigate to Apps > SQL Connector for Jira.

7. Go to Tokens > Jira API token. Enter your copied token and click on Validate & Save.

In this step, we'll create a data source that specifies what Jira data should be exported to your MySQL database.

Let’s see the steps on how you can do it on Jira Cloud:
1. From the SQL Connector for Jira start page, click on the Create a Data Source button.

2. You will be directed to the Data Source creation page. Here, input the name and description for your data source. You can also set up the Share settings by selecting the groups and users with whom you want to share the connection (refer to Step 2).

3. Proceed to the Filter Issues section. Here, you have the option to choose "All" if you want to export all existing issues, or "Select by JQL" if you wish to utilize JQL to filter

4. Alternatively, select "Basic" if you want to use standard fields filters. You can select issue filters from the available list, such as "Projects", "Issue Types", "Statuses". Additionally, you can specify time intervals for when the issue was created or updated.

5. After defining your filters, click Apply.

6. Scroll down to the Select Fields section. Here, you will see tables and fields available for export. Use the search field to find and select fields for exporting. To add a field to your data source, click the checkbox next to it.

7. Lastly, in the Apply section, click Save to create the data source. You can preview the data source and the Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) for the selected tables and fields.

For Jira Data Center, the steps are almost identical. To see it, check this link out: User Guide - SQL Connector for Jira.

With the data source configured, it's time to export the Jira data to MySQL. Here are the steps to do so:

1. Navigate back to the SQL Connector for Jira start page and locate the data source you created in Step 4. Click the Export data button next to it.

2. For the first-time setup, the system will prompt you to establish a new connection. Configure the connection accordingly and click Save.

3. Now, click on the Export data button again. The system will begin the export process to MySQL.

The steps for data export are identical to Jira Cloud. For additional information or support, consult the comprehensive guide found here.

And with that, you've successfully set up data replication from Jira to MySQL! Be sure to check the exported data in MySQL and ensure everything has been transferred correctly.

SQL Connector for Jira has advanced features that let you do more than just connect Jira to MySQL. These advanced features allow you to have more control and customization. Let’s look at them below.

The SQL Connector for Jira supports data replication from a variety of data sources. More than just Jira data, it facilitates export from numerous popular Atlassian Marketplace apps.

This includes industry leaders like Advanced Roadmaps, Zephyr Scale, and Tempo Timesheets, among others. You can find the complete list of supported apps for Jira Cloud here, and for Data Center here.

It's worth noting that this list isn't static - Alpha Serve continually enhances its third-party app compatibility, thereby increasing the diversity of data you can handle.

Understanding the intricate relationships between different tables and fields is often complex and time-consuming.

However, with the SQL Connector for Jira, you can effortlessly comprehend such connections, courtesy of the tool's automatic ERD generation feature available for both Cloud and Data Center versions. These diagrams simplify the visualization of data relations, requiring no extra effort on your part.

Maintaining up-to-date data is crucial for informed decision-making. With the auto-export feature in the SQL Connector for Jira Cloud, you can ensure your data is always current.

The tool lets you set up a daily auto-refresh, meaning you no longer need to manually update the data. This function can be enabled from the right menu of the data source, making it a truly set-and-forget solution for your data management needs.

If you’re working with Jira and MySQL, trying the SQL Connector for Jira is necessary. It is an enterprise-ready app that requires no programming knowledge to set up or use. However, the biggest reason you should use it is that the SQL Connector lets you facilitate data replication organization-wide.

So, what’re you waiting for? Try the SQL Connector for Jira with its 30-day free trial (available for both Cloud and Data Center versions) to perform direct Jira MySQL connection, obtain consolidated data access to all stakeholders, and get automated Jira reporting.