Set up a knowledge base with Confluence Server
1. Install Confluence
User: JIRA ADMINS
You'll need Confluence 5.10 and above and Jira Service Management 3.1 (formerly known as Jira Service Desk) and above to access knowledge base features. Get the latest versions of each for all the bells and whistles.
Steps
- Install the latest version of Confluence.
- Have the same user base in both Jira and Confluence by one of the following methods:
- Connect to Crowd or Jira for user management
- Connect to an internal Directory with authentication
- Connect to an directory
- Check that you're an administrator in both Jira and Confluence.
Good to know
- Read Use Jira applications and Confluence together to check version compatibility between products.
Having the same user base in both Jira and Confluence means you won't have to manually create and maintain customer accounts.
2. Get the right number of Confluence licenses
User: JIRA ADMINS
Your service project agents will need a Confluence license to create and edit knowledge base articles. However, service project customers won't need a Confluence license to view articles.
Good to know
- Read Confluence licensing and pricing to learn more.
3. Link Jira Service Management to Confluence
User: JIRA ADMINS
Linking two applications allows you to share information and access one application's functions and resources from within the other.
Steps
- Go to Jira Administration
> Applications > Application links. - Enter the URL of your Confluence site and select Create new link.
Check The servers have the same set of users, to configure using OAuth (with impersonation) authentication.
If you configure OAuth (without impersonation), knowledge base articles can't be accessed from Jira Service Management unless you allow anonymous access in Confluence.
- If you're not an admin on both servers you won't be able to set up a 2-way (reciprocal) application link. If you want to go ahead and create a 1-way link anyway, clear the I am an administrator on both instances checkbox.
- Use the wizard to finish configuring the link.
Good to know
- Read Linking to another application to learn how to set up a reciprocal link from Confluence.
- Read this troubleshooting article if you get into difficulty linking Jira to Confluence.
4. Learn about knowledge base settings and permissions
The permissions you set in Confluence determine whether (or not) your agents can create articles and if your customers can view them.
Read Knowledge base settings and permissions to decide what you need.
5. Link your project to a Confluence space
User: PROJECT ADMINS
When you link a Confluence space to your service desk project, agents can search for solutions and create new articles for common requests. Customers can then use the articles to self-service problems.
There are two ways to link your service desk to a Confluence Space:
Link to an existing space
- Go to Knowledge base
> Link existing space. - Select the space you want from the dropdown.
- Choose the link Define who can view knowledge base articles to set permissions.
You can also unlink or change spaces in Project settings 
> Knowledge base.
Link to a new space
- Check you have Confluence admin and Create space permissions.
- Go to Knowledge base .
- Select Create new space.
- Congratulations, you have created a new Confluence space.
Good to know
- Read Use Confluence as a knowledge base to learn how to set up a knowledge base blueprint.
6. Write and search for knowledge base articles
User: AGENTS
Once you've linked to a Confluence space, agents are ready to start writing and sharing knowledge with customers and teammates.
Read Write and search for knowledge base articles to learn how to do this.
Known issues
If you run into problems connecting a Confluence knowledge base and Jira Service Management, check out this page. It lists common integration-related issues and explains how to troubleshoot them.