Upgrade the ContinuousDataReplicator

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The procedure on this page describes the steps involved in upgrading the ContinuousDataReplicator in a non-clustered environment. This procedure provides steps for upgrading the ContinuousDataReplicator only.

If multiple components are installed on a computer, then ensure that all applicable components are selected for upgrade. In such a situation, the upgrade sequence may vary. Refer to the appropriate procedures for upgrade requirements and steps specific to the component.

Verify that the computer in which you wish to upgrade the software satisfies the minimum requirements specified in System Requirements - ContinuousDataReplicator.

Upgrade Strategy
The following upgrade strategy is recommended for the ContinuousDataReplication agent software.
  • Fan-In - Multiple sources to single destination. In this scenario, upgrade the destination computer first and then proceed to upgrade the source computers. This will ensure that replication from each source is resumed as soon as it is upgraded.
  • Fan-Out - Single source to multiple destinations. In this scenario, upgrade the source computer first and then proceed to upgrade the destination computers. This will ensure that replication from the source is resumed on the destination computer as soon as it is upgraded.
  • One-to-One - One source to one destination. In this scenario, upgrade can be done in any order between the source and the destination computers.

Supported Upgrade Paths

The following table provides a list of supported upgrade paths for the current software version. If the version currently installed on your computer is not listed here, contact your software provider for more information.

Installed Version

Upgrade to Version 8.0.0

Information
     
6.1.0 Supported Perform a direct upgrade to Version 8.0.0.
     
7.0.0 Supported Perform a direct upgrade to Version 8.0.0.

Upgrade Requirements
Review the following before upgrading the software:

General

  • Review the Upgrade Strategy before upgrading the software.
  • Verify that no jobs are in progress or scheduled to occur while the software is being upgraded on the client. If jobs are scheduled, either perform the upgrade at another time or disable all jobs in the client using the Activity Control tab from the Client Computer Properties dialog box in the CommCell Console.

    Once the upgrade is completed, you can enable the jobs from this dialog box.

  • Verify that the CommServe computer is accessible and all services on the CommServe and the MediaAgent in which you wish to perform the upgrade are running.
  • Verify that the SQL Server instance used by the CommServe is running on the CommServe computer.
  • Verify that all applications (CommCell Console, Service Control Manager) are closed.
  • Close all applications and disable any programs that run automatically, including antivirus, screen savers and system utilities. Some programs, including antivirus software, may be running as a service. Stop and disable all non-essential services before you begin. You can re-enable them after the upgrade.
  • The files and folders associated with CommCell components should not be opened by other applications (for example, Windows Explorer, FTP, etc.) on this computer or from other computers during the upgrade.
  • Verify that you have the software installation disc that is appropriate to the destination computer’s operating system.

    Make sure that you have the latest software installation disc before you start to install the software. If you are not sure, contact your software provider.

Agent Specific

  • If you are using CDR in MediaAgent Replication solution setup (previously known as Remote Office solution), then create the nSuspendSDR registry key and set the value to 1, to stop the replication activities before upgrade.

  • If encryption is enabled on existing CDR replication sets but not at the Client level, then enable encryption on the Client before proceeding with the upgrade.
  • A reboot will be required after install/upgrade to initialize the QSnap driver, before you can use this Agent.
  • Replication needs to be aborted before upgrading the source or destination clients.
This agent must be upgraded to the current version as soon as the CommServe is upgraded.

Before You Begin
  • Ensure that you are logged on to the computer as a local Administrator or as a member of the local Administrators group on that computer.

Upgrade Procedure
1. In this screen, you choose the language you want to use during installation. Click the down arrow, select the desired language from the pull-down list, and click Next to continue.  
2. Select the option to install software.

NOTES

  
3. Select the option to install software on this computer.

NOTES

  • The options that appear on this screen depend on the computer in which the software is being installed.
  
4. Read the Welcome screen.

Click Next to continue, if no other applications are running.
5. Read the virus scanning software warning.

Click OK to continue, if virus scanning software is disabled.
6. Read the license agreement, then select I accept the terms in the license agreement.

Click Next to continue.

7. Enter the username and password information for an external domain user account or a CommCell user account. This authorizes the installation of an agent on the CommCell.

NOTES

  • This window is only displayed when the Require Authentication for Agent Installation option is selected in the CommCell Properties. Users must belong to a User Group with Administrative Management capabilities to enable this feature. For more information, see Authentication for Agent Installs.

Click Next to continue.
8. Click Next to continue with the upgrade.

NOTES

  • New components from this version can only be installed after upgrading the existing components.
  • The older version number depends on the version in the computer and may look different from the example shown.
9. Click Yes to continue. This will not save any files (such as command line scripts) or folders from the <software installation path> folder.

NOTES

  • The upgrade process deletes and replaces this folder with newer files.

    To preserve files or folders within the <software installation path> folder, move them to another location before clicking Yes.

  • Clicking No will exit the upgrade program.
10. Select Download Pack(s) and Install to download and install the latest service packs and post packs from the software provider.

NOTES

  • Internet connectivity is required to download updates.
  • This step is applicable when installing on the first instance.
  • Updates are downloaded to the following directory: 
    <software installation>/Base/Temp/DownloadedPacks    .
    They are launched silently and installed automatically for the first instance.

Click Next to continue.
11. Verify the summary and Click Next to continue.

NOTES

  • The Summary on your screen will reflect the components installed on the computer, and may look different from the example shown.

The upgrade program now starts the upgrade process. This step may take several minutes to complete.
12. If you are installing/upgrading the software on the physical node in a clustered environment, use this option to install/upgrade the software on the remaining physical nodes of the cluster.
  • To install/upgrade the software on the remaining nodes of the cluster, click Yes.
  • To complete the install/upgrade for this node only, click No.

See Install/Upgrade Remaining Cluster Nodes for step-by-step instructions.

13. Setup reminds you that the computer must be restarted, after the installation completes, before you can use this Agent.

Click OK to continue.

14. Select from the following:
  • If the Reboot Now button is displayed, a reboot is required before you can use the software. You can click this button to restart the computer now, or choose to perform the restart at another time. If the Reboot Now button is not displayed, it will not be necessary to restart the computer.
  • Click Finish to exit the program.

NOTES

  • The Setup Complete message displayed on your screen will reflect the components you installed/upgraded, and may look different from the example shown.
  • If you install an Agent with the CommCell Console open, you need to refresh the CommCell Console (F5) to see the new Agents.

This procedure is now complete.

Post-Upgrade Considerations

General

  • Install post-release updates or Service Packs that may have been released after the release of the software. If you are installing a Service Pack, verify and ensure that it is the same version as the one installed in the CommServe Server. Alternatively, you can enable Automatic Updates for quick and easy installation of updates in the CommCell component.
  • If Activity Control was disabled on the client prior to the upgrade, enable it after the upgrade using the Activity Control tab from the Client Computer Properties dialog box in the CommCell Console.

Agent Specific

  • CDR services should be recycled both on the source and on the destination computers, before restarting replication after the upgrade.
  • The default snap engine is set to QSnap after the upgrade. If you choose to use VSS on a Windows 2003 client, you need to manually change the snap engine type to VSS. (See Specify a Snap Engine.)
  • If encryption was enabled on CDR before the upgrade and the encryption schema is not picked up by the replication job after the upgrade, then reset the encryption schema on the Client and save the option.

  • Following an upgrade of ContinuousDataReplicator to the current release, you will need to re-add the nUseVSSSoftwareProvider registry key on the destination computer even if this registry key was added to the previous release.