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[SST/DSP] Performing an Upgrade - Companion Guides

Ben Bauer
  • Updated

Note: This article only applies to the "on-prem" editions of the Stewardship Tier (formerly DSP). "Cloud" editions of the Stewardship Tier can be upgraded simply by coordinating a maintenance window with the Syniti CloudOps team.

 

When preparing to upgrade the Stewardship Tier (formerly DSP) application, it is important to consider the following items, especially if you are upgrading from a version that is a couple of years old (release dates).

Caution:

Syniti recommends using a clone procedure when upgrading the operating system (OS) of the application server or database server. Failing to comply with this recommendation may expose the system to a high risk of failure after the OS upgrade. The clone process avoids any possible downtime since you can continue using the current system until the new system is confirmed to be working fine.

If you have any queries about the upgrade process, select Ask a Question and submit a request on the Stewardship Tier support page.

 

Prepare a Rollback

Perform the following steps as close to the beginning of the Stewardship Tier (SST/DSP) upgrade window as possible.

  1. Make backups of all SQL Server databases.

    • Note: If database file sizes are prohibitively large, then you may exclude some of them from the backup list. These databases hold custom migration objects (as well as target and legacy system images) that will not be touched by the upgrade. You can run this query on the SQL Server to identify the databases that may be excluded from the backup list:

      USE DSPCommon SELECT DSR.[Database] FROM ttDataSourceRegistry DSR INNER JOIN ztDataSourceType DST ON DSR.MigrationDataSourceType = DST.DataSourceTypeID WHERE DST.DataSourceTypeName IN ('Migration Object Database', 'Migration Source Database', 'Target System Database') AND DSR.DataSourceID NOT IN (SELECT DataSourceID FROM CranSoft.dbo.WebApp)

  2. Copy the %Stewardship Tier Install Path%\BOA\DSP directory and paste it into a backup folder on the SST/DSP application server.

  3. Now, you may begin performing the upgrade by following the steps that start in the “Before Proceeding with the Upgrade” section of the upgrade manual. The latest upgrade manual can always be found in the Syniti Product Documentation Portal.

    • Note: The entire upgrade manual should be reviewed ahead of time, especially the “Overview” and “Upgrade Requirements” sections.

 

Prepare Benchmarks

If the speed of certain tasks performed by the Stewardship Tier (SST/DSP) is critical, then it is important to measure those speeds prior to upgrading, especially when SQL Server and/or Windows Server is being upgraded as well. This allows you to make a quick comparison after the upgrade is completed.

  • Note: A valuable benchmark should include both a duration and a record count (when possible).

  • Note: A benchmark should also be taken before upgrading SQL Server and/or Windows Server.

These are some examples of tasks performed by the Stewardship Tier (SST/DSP) that are often sensitive to speed changes:

  • Automate interfaces

  • Collect extracts

  • Data Quality (formerly dspMonitor) reports

  • Information Steward Accelerator reports

  • Integrate posts, including posts from Master Data Management (formerly dspConduct) and Mass Maintenance (formerly dspCompose)

  • Service pages

  • Transform processing

 

Resume an Upgrade

Follow these steps if the Stewardship Tier (SST/DSP) upgrade fails for any reason and you’d like to try resuming the upgrade at the point of failure, perhaps after making a change indicated by an error message.

  1. On the SST/DSP application server, search Windows for the CranSoft Package Manager.

  2. Right-click on the CranSoft Package Manager and select the ‘Run as administrator' option.

  3. Type the command Install-BoaSolutions and hit [enter] on the keyboard. The upgrade will pick up where it left off.

 

Execute a Rollback

Follow these steps if the Stewardship Tier (SST/DSP) upgrade fails for any reason and the allotted window of time for the upgrade is ending.

  1. Restore all SQL Server databases to a backup point taken just prior to the upgrade/install.

  2. Cut the %Stewardship Tier Install Path%\BOA\DSP directory and paste it into a backup folder.

    • Note: Don’t delete or overwrite this directory during the rollback.  There may be log files in here that need to be reviewed in order to investigate the upgrade error.

  3. Paste in a copy of the %Stewardship Tier Install Path%\BOA\DSP directory that was made prior to the upgrade/install.

  4. Finally, you can start the SST/DSP application again by following the steps in the “Start Syniti Solutions Services” and “Start Web Services” sections of the upgrade manual.

 

Execute a Multi-Tier Upgrade

Note: If you have only one SST/DSP application server, then you can ignore this section.

We recommend following these steps when upgrading a multi-tier Stewardship Tier (SST/DSP) system.

  1. Prepare a rollback for the Development SST/DSP system.

  2. Upgrade the Development SST/DSP system.

    • Document any issues encountered/resolved during this process.

  3. Test the functionality of the Development DSP system.

    • Again, document any issues encountered/resolved.

    • Note: Tests should cover all types of activities critical to the Production DSP system.

  4. If any changes were required in Development, implement them in QA now.

  5. Prepare a rollback for the QA SST/DSP system (if there is one).

  6. Upgrade the QA SST/DSP system.

    • Document any additional issues encountered/resolved during this process.

  7. Test the functionality of the QA SST/DSP system.

    • Again, document any additional issues encountered/resolved.

  8. If any changes were required in Development and/or QA, implement them in Production now.

  9. Prepare benchmarks for the functionality of the Production SST/DSP system.

  10. Prepare a rollback for the Production SST/DSP system.

  11. Upgrade the Production SST/DSP system.

    • Note: You may wish to open a ticket at support.syniti.com (at least a day before) to inform us of the window of time that you’ll be running this upgrade. Our agents will be able to maintain greater availability during that window of time to offer quick assistance.

  12. Test the functionality of the Production SST/DSP system.

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