diff --git a/.github/workflows/bk-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/bk-ci.yml
index 10cfad1fc2e..c36f4cb500c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/bk-ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/bk-ci.yml
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
-          java-version: 11
+          java-version: 17
 
       - name: Validate pull request
         if: steps.check_changes.outputs.docs_only != 'true'
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
-          java-version: 11
+          java-version: 17
 
       - name: Tune Java DNS TTL settings
         run: |
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
-          java-version: 11
+          java-version: 17
 
       - name: Tune Java DNS TTL settings
         run: |
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
-          java-version: 8
+          java-version: 17
 
       - name: Pick ubuntu mirror for the docker image build
         run: |
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
-          java-version: 11
+          java-version: 17
 
       - name: mvn package
         run: mvn -B -nsu clean package -DskipTests
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
-          java-version: 11
+          java-version: 17
 
       - name: mvn package
         run: mvn -B -nsu clean package -DskipTests
@@ -461,10 +461,6 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         include:
-          - step_name: Compatibility Check Java8
-            jdk_version: 8
-          - step_name: Compatibility Check Java11
-            jdk_version: 11
           - step_name: Compatibility Check Java17
             jdk_version: 17
           - step_name: Compatibility Check Java21
diff --git a/.github/workflows/bk-streamstorage-python.yml b/.github/workflows/bk-streamstorage-python.yml
index 71dbe610452..d53b730b07c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/bk-streamstorage-python.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/bk-streamstorage-python.yml
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
-          java-version: 11
+          java-version: 17
       - name: Build
         run: mvn -q -T 1C -B -nsu clean install -DskipTests -Dcheckstyle.skip -Dspotbugs.skip -Drat.skip -Dmaven.javadoc.skip
       - name: Pick ubuntu mirror for the docker image build
diff --git a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
index e838fccc36e..76443f9e740 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ jobs:
       uses: actions/setup-java@v4
       with:
         distribution: 'temurin'
-        java-version: 11
+        java-version: 17
 
     - name: Validate pull request
       if: steps.check_changes.outputs.docs_only != 'true'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/website-deploy.yaml b/.github/workflows/website-deploy.yaml
index 868b1db0c7b..253ff26647a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/website-deploy.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/website-deploy.yaml
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
-          java-version: 11
+          java-version: 17
 
 
       - name: Setup NodeJS
diff --git a/.github/workflows/website-pr-validation.yml b/.github/workflows/website-pr-validation.yml
index 9d38cb59f28..5ffa667582c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/website-pr-validation.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/website-pr-validation.yml
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
-          java-version: 11
+          java-version: 17
 
 
       - name: Setup NodeJS
diff --git a/circe-checksum/pom.xml b/circe-checksum/pom.xml
index 376619c6358..fa85a44477c 100644
--- a/circe-checksum/pom.xml
+++ b/circe-checksum/pom.xml
@@ -68,6 +68,10 @@
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
+        <configuration>
+          <!-- keep Java 8 compatibility for circe-checksum -->
+          <release>8</release>
+        </configuration>
       </plugin>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>com.github.maven-nar</groupId>
@@ -116,6 +120,36 @@
           </execution>
         </executions>
       </plugin>
+      <plugin>
+        <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+        <artifactId>maven-enforcer-plugin</artifactId>
+        <version>${maven-enforcer-plugin.version}</version>
+        <executions>
+          <execution>
+            <id>enforce-bytecode-version</id>
+            <goals>
+              <goal>enforce</goal>
+            </goals>
+            <configuration>
+              <rules>
+                <enforceBytecodeVersion>
+                  <maxJdkVersion>8</maxJdkVersion>
+                  <ignoredScopes>
+                    <ignoreScope>test</ignoreScope>
+                  </ignoredScopes>
+                </enforceBytecodeVersion>
+              </rules>
+            </configuration>
+          </execution>
+        </executions>
+        <dependencies>
+          <dependency>
+            <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
+            <artifactId>extra-enforcer-rules</artifactId>
+            <version>${extra-enforcer-rules.version}</version>
+          </dependency>
+        </dependencies>
+      </plugin>
     </plugins>
   </build>
 
diff --git a/cpu-affinity/pom.xml b/cpu-affinity/pom.xml
index 5839c916cec..8b676a1d17d 100644
--- a/cpu-affinity/pom.xml
+++ b/cpu-affinity/pom.xml
@@ -53,6 +53,10 @@
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
+        <configuration>
+          <!-- keep Java 8 compatibility for cpu-affinity -->
+          <release>8</release>
+        </configuration>
       </plugin>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>com.github.maven-nar</groupId>
@@ -92,6 +96,36 @@
           </excludes>
         </configuration>
       </plugin>
+      <plugin>
+        <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+        <artifactId>maven-enforcer-plugin</artifactId>
+        <version>${maven-enforcer-plugin.version}</version>
+        <executions>
+          <execution>
+            <id>enforce-bytecode-version</id>
+            <goals>
+              <goal>enforce</goal>
+            </goals>
+            <configuration>
+              <rules>
+                <enforceBytecodeVersion>
+                  <maxJdkVersion>8</maxJdkVersion>
+                  <ignoredScopes>
+                    <ignoreScope>test</ignoreScope>
+                  </ignoredScopes>
+                </enforceBytecodeVersion>
+              </rules>
+            </configuration>
+          </execution>
+        </executions>
+        <dependencies>
+          <dependency>
+            <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
+            <artifactId>extra-enforcer-rules</artifactId>
+            <version>${extra-enforcer-rules.version}</version>
+          </dependency>
+        </dependencies>
+      </plugin>
     </plugins>
   </build>
 
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 2faeda6037f..6fcad27aab4 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -116,8 +116,8 @@
     <test.additional.args />
 
     <!-- dependencies -->
-    <arquillian-cube.version>1.18.2</arquillian-cube.version>
-    <arquillian-junit.version>1.8.0.Final</arquillian-junit.version>
+    <arquillian-cube.version>2.0.0.Final</arquillian-cube.version>
+    <arquillian-junit.version>1.9.4.Final</arquillian-junit.version>
     <bc-non-fips.version>1.78</bc-non-fips.version>
     <codahale.metrics.version>3.0.1</codahale.metrics.version>
     <commons-cli.version>1.9.0</commons-cli.version>
@@ -194,6 +194,8 @@
     <maven-checkstyle-plugin.version>3.3.1</maven-checkstyle-plugin.version>
     <maven-compiler-plugin.version>3.12.1</maven-compiler-plugin.version>
     <maven-surefire-plugin.version>3.2.5</maven-surefire-plugin.version>
+    <maven-enforcer-plugin.version>3.5.0</maven-enforcer-plugin.version>
+    <extra-enforcer-rules.version>1.8.0</extra-enforcer-rules.version>
     <dependency-check-maven.version>12.1.0</dependency-check-maven.version>
     <nar-maven-plugin.version>3.10.1</nar-maven-plugin.version>
     <os-maven-plugin.version>1.7.1</os-maven-plugin.version>
@@ -209,6 +211,19 @@
     <otel.semconv.version>1.29.0-alpha</otel.semconv.version>
     <UBUNTU_MIRROR>http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/</UBUNTU_MIRROR>
     <UBUNTU_SECURITY_MIRROR>http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/</UBUNTU_SECURITY_MIRROR>
+
+    <test.additional.args>
+      --add-opens java.base/jdk.internal.loader=ALL-UNNAMED
+      --add-opens java.base/java.lang=ALL-UNNAMED <!--Mockito-->
+      --add-opens java.base/java.io=ALL-UNNAMED <!--Bookkeeper NativeIO-->
+      --add-opens java.base/java.util=ALL-UNNAMED <!--System Lambda-->
+      --add-opens java.base/sun.net=ALL-UNNAMED <!--netty.DnsResolverUtil-->
+      --add-opens java.desktop/java.beans=ALL-UNNAMED <!--netty.DnsResolverUtil-->
+      --add-opens java.management/sun.management=ALL-UNNAMED <!--JvmDefaultGCMetricsLogger & MBeanStatsGenerator-->
+      --add-opens jdk.management/com.sun.management.internal=ALL-UNNAMED <!--MBeanStatsGenerator-->
+      --add-opens java.base/jdk.internal.platform=ALL-UNNAMED <!--LinuxInfoUtils-->
+    </test.additional.args>
+
   </properties>
 
   <!-- dependency definitions -->
@@ -785,6 +800,16 @@
           </exclusion>
         </exclusions>
       </dependency>
+      <dependency>
+        <groupId>org.jboss.arquillian.core</groupId>
+        <artifactId>arquillian-core-spi</artifactId>
+        <version>${arquillian-junit.version}</version>
+      </dependency>
+      <dependency>
+        <groupId>org.jboss.arquillian.junit</groupId>
+        <artifactId>arquillian-junit-container</artifactId>
+        <version>${arquillian-junit.version}</version>
+      </dependency>
       <dependency>
         <groupId>javax.ws.rs</groupId>
         <artifactId>javax.ws.rs-api</artifactId>
@@ -934,6 +959,28 @@
     </extensions>
     <pluginManagement>
       <plugins>
+        <plugin>
+          <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+          <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
+          <version>${maven-compiler-plugin.version}</version>
+          <configuration>
+            <!-- Java 17 is the minimum required version for Bookkeeper -->
+            <release>17</release>
+            <encoding>UTF-8</encoding>
+            <showDeprecation>true</showDeprecation>
+            <showWarnings>true</showWarnings>
+            <annotationProcessorPaths>
+              <path>
+                <groupId>org.projectlombok</groupId>
+                <artifactId>lombok</artifactId>
+                <version>${lombok.version}</version>
+              </path>
+            </annotationProcessorPaths>
+            <compilerArgs>
+              <arg>-parameters</arg>
+            </compilerArgs>
+          </configuration>
+        </plugin>
         <plugin>
           <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
           <artifactId>maven-checkstyle-plugin</artifactId>
@@ -970,6 +1017,10 @@
           <version>${maven-surefire-plugin.version}</version>
           <configuration>
             <excludedGroups>flaky</excludedGroups>
+            <argLine> -XX:+ExitOnOutOfMemoryError
+              -Dio.netty.tryReflectionSetAccessible=true
+              ${test.additional.args}
+            </argLine>
           </configuration>
         </plugin>
         <plugin>
@@ -994,6 +1045,31 @@
       </plugins>
     </pluginManagement>
     <plugins>
+      <plugin>
+        <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+        <artifactId>maven-enforcer-plugin</artifactId>
+        <version>${maven-enforcer-plugin.version}</version>
+        <executions>
+          <execution>
+            <id>enforce-maven</id>
+            <goals>
+              <goal>enforce</goal>
+            </goals>
+            <configuration>
+              <rules>
+                <requireJavaVersion>
+                  <version>[17,18),[21,22)</version>
+                  <message>Java 17 or Java 21 is required to build Bookkeeper.</message>
+                </requireJavaVersion>
+                <requireMavenVersion>
+                  <version>3.6.1</version>
+                  <message>Maven 3.6.1 or newer is required to build Bookkeeper.</message>
+                </requireMavenVersion>
+              </rules>
+            </configuration>
+          </execution>
+        </executions>
+      </plugin>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>com.github.spotbugs</groupId>
         <artifactId>spotbugs-maven-plugin</artifactId>
@@ -1002,26 +1078,6 @@
           <excludeFilterFile>${session.executionRootDirectory}/buildtools/src/main/resources/bookkeeper/findbugsExclude.xml</excludeFilterFile>
         </configuration>
       </plugin>
-      <plugin>
-        <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
-        <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-        <version>${maven-compiler-plugin.version}</version>
-        <configuration>
-          <encoding>UTF-8</encoding>
-          <showDeprecation>true</showDeprecation>
-          <showWarnings>true</showWarnings>
-          <annotationProcessorPaths>
-            <path>
-              <groupId>org.projectlombok</groupId>
-              <artifactId>lombok</artifactId>
-              <version>${lombok.version}</version>
-            </path>
-          </annotationProcessorPaths>
-          <compilerArgs>
-            <arg>-parameters</arg>
-          </compilerArgs>
-        </configuration>
-      </plugin>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>maven-surefire-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/tests/backward-compat/current-server-old-clients/pom.xml b/tests/backward-compat/current-server-old-clients/pom.xml
index 4c3d5163cc5..ba30e7d1b8b 100644
--- a/tests/backward-compat/current-server-old-clients/pom.xml
+++ b/tests/backward-compat/current-server-old-clients/pom.xml
@@ -29,4 +29,21 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <name>Apache BookKeeper :: Tests :: Backward Compatibility :: Test old clients working on current server</name>
 
+  <build>
+    <plugins>
+      <plugin>
+        <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+        <artifactId>maven-surefire-plugin</artifactId>
+        <version>${maven-surefire-plugin.version}</version>
+        <configuration>
+          <excludedGroups>flaky</excludedGroups>
+          <argLine> -XX:+ExitOnOutOfMemoryError
+            -Dio.netty.tryReflectionSetAccessible=true
+            ${test.additional.args}
+          </argLine>
+        </configuration>
+      </plugin>
+    </plugins>
+
+  </build>
 </project>
diff --git a/tests/backward-compat/pom.xml b/tests/backward-compat/pom.xml
index 024656982fe..7de067fbb0d 100644
--- a/tests/backward-compat/pom.xml
+++ b/tests/backward-compat/pom.xml
@@ -63,6 +63,28 @@
       <groupId>org.arquillian.cube</groupId>
       <artifactId>arquillian-cube-docker</artifactId>
     </dependency>
+
+    <dependency>
+      <groupId>org.jboss.arquillian.core</groupId>
+      <artifactId>arquillian-core-spi</artifactId>
+    </dependency>
+
+    <dependency>
+      <groupId>org.jboss.arquillian.test</groupId>
+      <artifactId>arquillian-test-spi</artifactId>
+      <version>${arquillian-junit.version}</version>
+    </dependency>
+
+    <dependency>
+      <groupId>org.jboss.arquillian.junit</groupId>
+      <artifactId>arquillian-junit-container</artifactId>
+    </dependency>
+
+    <dependency>
+      <groupId>org.yaml</groupId>
+      <artifactId>snakeyaml</artifactId>
+      <version>${snakeyaml.version}</version>
+    </dependency>
   </dependencies>
   <build>
     <plugins>
diff --git a/tests/integration-tests-base/pom.xml b/tests/integration-tests-base/pom.xml
index 402f05c1beb..bd77790b380 100644
--- a/tests/integration-tests-base/pom.xml
+++ b/tests/integration-tests-base/pom.xml
@@ -48,6 +48,23 @@
       <scope>test</scope>
     </dependency>
 
+    <dependency>
+      <groupId>org.jboss.arquillian.core</groupId>
+      <artifactId>arquillian-core-spi</artifactId>
+      <scope>test</scope>
+    </dependency>
+
+    <dependency>
+      <groupId>org.jboss.arquillian.junit</groupId>
+      <artifactId>arquillian-junit-container</artifactId>
+      <scope>test</scope>
+    </dependency>
+
+    <dependency>
+      <groupId>org.yaml</groupId>
+      <artifactId>snakeyaml</artifactId>
+      <version>${snakeyaml.version}</version>
+    </dependency>
   </dependencies>
 
   <build>
diff --git a/tests/integration/smoke/pom.xml b/tests/integration/smoke/pom.xml
index 3793b9cfb55..b612c17bd9c 100644
--- a/tests/integration/smoke/pom.xml
+++ b/tests/integration/smoke/pom.xml
@@ -83,6 +83,12 @@
       <groupId>org.arquillian.cube</groupId>
       <artifactId>arquillian-cube-docker</artifactId>
     </dependency>
+
+    <dependency>
+      <groupId>org.yaml</groupId>
+      <artifactId>snakeyaml</artifactId>
+      <version>${snakeyaml.version}</version>
+    </dependency>
   </dependencies>
 
   <build>