mdlister asked a question.
Migrating from Windows Server 2012 to 2019
Good Afternoon, I've been asked to migrate our snow service from 2012 to 2019. Is there a server migration process for this? Can i just install a new SLM and point it to the SQL Database? Then deactivate the licence key on the old box and register it on the new server?
Never done an os upgrade on Snow before so i'm curious how others have already taken on this work?
Worth also mentioning that we currently have Snow running in Azure on VM's
Many Thanks
Mike
Hi Mike, It's not quite a straight forward process so if you have a Snow Partner I would contact them to assist you. If not you'll need to go to Snow Professional services. It all comes down to matching versions of the SLM / INV apps on the new server to the old to ensure DB versions then match your new installs.
Also happy to take a PM off you as an independent Snow Technical Partner.
Thanks Joseph,
I have all the installation media and ftp links to be able to match the software installation currently on the old server. It's deactivating the moving the licence key I wasn't sure about if its possible. When I migrated to Azure originally I timed it with a version jump to v9 I think which required a new key and activation so I then used the new server and worked a treat. We have a company we have used in the past to assist with implementing but I was hoping to be able to do it myself but I didn't see any documentation regarding a migration between hosts.
It is more the minor revision versions of the products you need to match as the FTP location only contain certain major versions.
On the license key you'll be able to use the current keys but you'll need to contact support to have the activation flag reset so you can reactivate the product.
The reason no documentation exists is this process should be done only by certified engineers or you may hit support issues if you have problems as support will ask who did the migration.
I totally agree with Joseph here, not only because I am a Snow partner 😊
While during Snow Inventory setup it is possible to use an existing database, this is not possible when installing SLM. This means that you have to go through the process of creating a new (empty) database and then reconnecting to the old database. When doing this, databases should be on the exact same SLM version.
If you were currently on SLM 9.6.3 then you will have to install 9.5.1 (newest version available on ftp), upgrade the new installation to 9.6.3, then throw away the empty database and reconnect the old one.
As SLM 9 comes with about 130 database jobs, the major effort will be to delete and recreate the jobs (or one job that will create all others) and check all the user settings and permissions (you will have to delete and recreate the "LicenseManagerUser" during setup if I remember correctly). Ther will be some permissions required for msdb and i believe masterdb also.
So, yes, as Joseph wrote... "It is not quite a straight forward process"
And I assume "this is not supported" 😇