Can settings from ver OPNsense 21.7.8 be migrated to new version?

[seamus]

I installed OPNsense on my server in Jan 2018 - best I can recall. I upgraded fairly regularly until I got to ver 21.7.8. I stopped there because I was concerned about migrating to the "new" version, and because I began traveling extensively. My OPNsense firewall (OPNsense + SuperMicro Intel 4 core 1.8 GHz Atom CPU) has run 24x7 for many years now with virtually no maintenance or administration! The only time I even log into the FW is when I need to check the DHCP logs. My ISP is Google fiber - also very reliable. My family used the Internet continuously while I was on travel, and never had an incident. All this is background to say that I'm very pleased with this setup!

However, after 8+ years I have some concerns re my hardware. Late last year, I attempted installation of a newer version of OPNsense on a slightly newer server that has seen very little use - I planned to use it as a "cold backup" system. Unfortunately, my installation attempt was unsuccessful. 

I am now *seriously* considering the future. I definitely want to stick with OPNsense, but feel that I must upgrade my hardware. 8+ years ago I was "active", and enjoyed tinkering in such projects. Today, I'm looking for a solution that doesn't involve "starting over", and is less challenging for my aging brain  :P  All of that said, I have a few questions:

1. At one time (and perhaps still today) OPNsense allowed one to make a "configuration backup" to an XML file. I still have several of these backup files - several from 2022, the latest from June 2025. Can I apply these "backup configuration" files to a new version of OPNsense?

2. As I said earlier, I am motivated to upgrade my hardware. It's my understanding that if I bought a hardware server, OPNsense would come pre-installed. I wonder if I could send my "backup configuration" files to Decisio (?), and have them "pre-configure" my server?

3. As I read the specifications, it seems the DEC677 would meet my needs. My Google Fiber service is rated at 2 Gbps, and there are 3-4 fairly active users. We have a "streaming service" for movies, a "cellular extender box" and several (too many) computers laying about. Could someone "take a stab" at confirming the DEC677 would be sufficient?

That's all I can think of at present. Thanks in advance for your help!

Best Rgds,
~S

[tangofan]

I would doubt that Deciso will "preconfigure" a new device, unless it's done under a consulting agreement and I assume you're not willing to pay for that. But I might be wrong...

You have two problems:
1. You're about 10 major releases behind (assuming the 6 month release cycle has been going on since 2021) and
2. you also want to switch to a different hardware.

#2 means they even with a config file from the current version you may have to do some manual editing, because the network interfaces might have different names on your new hardware. That's the smaller problem by far.

#1 is the real problem: I seriously doubt that you can jump 10 releases ahead and expect everything to work, since nobody will ever test for that. It might work for a very simple setup, but I wouldn't bet on it. So you either upgrade manually through each release, carefully reading all the release notes for any breaking changes and/ or necessary manual steps, or alternatively just get a new device and start configuring it from scratch. For a simple setup, this might be the easier path.

Whatever you decide to do, in the future you should keep your router software more current. I don't see OPNsense (or any router/firewall software for that matter) as something you can leave unattended for months on end, let alone 5 years.