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After the release is generated, backup .m2/repository/org/sakaiproject, whack original (to ensure someone new can populate their repo from scratch), download the release tag and build and deploy it to a fresh Tomcat and fresh MySQL database.
Update Jira
Release Visit the SAK project and release sakai-2.8.1 in the SAK project. Move all open Jiras to next (tentative) version.
Update release documentation
Ideally this work should already be completed. But in case it's not update the following pages:
1. Release page: http://source.sakaiproject.org/release/2.8.0/
2. Confluence release documentation: https://confluence.sakaiproject.org/display/DOC/Sakai+CLE+2.8+release+notesMake sure that external links to Confluence release pages are updated.