2. Open edX Cypress Release

This section describes how to install the Open edX Cypress release.

2.1. What’s Included in Cypress

The Open edX Cypress release contains several new features for learners, course teams, and developers. See the Open edX Release Notes for more details.

Note

There are several new features in the Cypress release that are available, but not enabled by default in new installations. For details, see the following topics.

2.2. What is the Cypress Git Tag?

The Git tag for the Cypress release is named-release/cypress. You use this tag to identify the version of Open edX code that is the Cypress release.

The following Open edX Git repositories have the Git tag named-release/cypress.

  • edx-platform
  • configuration
  • cs_comments_service
  • notifier
  • edx-certificates
  • xqueue
  • edx-documentation
  • edx-ora2
  • XBlock

2.3. Installing the Cypress Release

You can install the Open edX Cypress release using Devstack or Fullstack.

Review the prerequisites and instructions for each option, and then choose the option that best meets your needs. Ensure that you install the required software to run the edX Platform.

If you are upgrading from the Birch release, see Upgrading from Birch to Cypress.

For new installations, follow these steps.

  1. Download the Vagrant Box or Download the BitTorrent File.

    Caution

    The Vagrant boxes have a large file size (about 2.5GB). If you have a slow or unreliable Internet connection, use BitTorrent to download the Vagrant box you need.

  2. Set the OPENEDX_RELEASE Environment Variable.

  3. Install the Vagrant Box.

2.3.1. Download the Vagrant Box

If you have a fast and reliable Internet connection, you can download the Vagrant box directly or by running vagrant up when installing Devstack or Fullstack.

See the Open edX Named Releases Wiki page to access the latest Vagrant boxes.

See Vagrant’s documentation on boxes for more information.

2.3.2. Download the BitTorrent File

You can also download the BitTorrent file for the option you selected. BitTorrent is recommended if you have a slow or unreliable data connection. You then use the BitTorrent file to download the Vagrant box. If the Internet connection is temporarily lost while you are downloading the Vagrant box through BitTorrent, you can later continue the download without data loss or corruption.

See the Open edX Named Releases Wiki page to access the latest Vagrant boxes.

See BitTorrent for more information.

If you download the Vagrant box through BitTorrent, you must add the box to Vagrant before continuing with the installation process.

  • For Devstack installations, run the following command.

    $ vagrant box add /path-to-downloaded-box/name-of-vagrant-box --name
      cypress-devstack
    
  • For Fullstack installations, run the following command.

    $ vagrant box add /path-to-downloaded-box/name-of-vagrant-box --name
      cypress-fullstack
    

2.3.3. Set the OPENEDX_RELEASE Environment Variable

Before installing the Vagrant box, you must set the value of the OPENEDX_RELEASE environment variable to the Git tag for the Cypress release. Use the Linux export command.

export OPENEDX_RELEASE="named-release/cypress"

2.3.4. Install the Vagrant Box

When you have completed the previous steps, install the Cypress release by following the installation instructions for Devstack or Fullstack.

2.4. Upgrading from Birch to Cypress

You can upgrade an Open edX instance that is running the Birch release to the Cypress release, by using the migrate.sh script in the configuration repository, available here.

Note

The upgrade scripts provided are verified only for upgrading instances running the Birch release. If you are running any other version of the Open edX Platform, the upgrade scripts might not work.

Caution

Before upgrading your Open edX instance, back up all data and configuration files. Then verify that you can restore your Open edX instance from the backup files.

On the computer or virtual machine that is running the Birch release of Open edX, run the upgrade script for your type of installation:

  • For Devstack, run ./migrate.sh -c devstack.
  • For Fullstack, run ./migrate.sh -c fullstack.
  • You can also run ./migrate.sh -h to see which other options the script accepts.

The script creates a temporary directory in which it upgrades Open edX, then cleans up extra files and directories when it finishes running.

After upgrading Open edX to the Cypress release, start the LMS and Studio and verify that course content and data was migrated correctly.