Considerations prior upgrading NetWorker Server and Management Console

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Before updating the NetWorker server to release 8.x from any prior version consider the following:

  1. A NetWorker 7.5.x server cannot be directly updated to NetWorker 8.x. Update the NetWorker server and storage node software to version 8.x in the following order:
    1. Update the NetWorker 7.5.x server to version 7.6.x.
    2. Update all of the NetWorker storage nodes to version 8.x.
    3. Update the NetWorker server software to version 8.x.
  2. A conversion of the jobsdb database on the NetWorker server and a conversion of the NMC server database occur during the upgrade. Therefore, special considerations must be given if downgrading a NetWorker 8.x server. The sections “Downgrading a NetWorker Server” and “Downgrading the NMC server” in the NetWorker 8.x Installation Guide describe how to downgrade a NetWorker 8.x and NMC 8.x server to the NetWorker 7.6.x version.
  3. Uninstall the previous version of NetWorker before installing the NetWorker 8.x software.
  4. All storage nodes in the data zone must be updated to NetWorker 8.x before the NetWorker server is updated.
  5. The NetWorker software automatically generates and adds the required update enabler code to the NetWorker server configuration database. This enabler cannot be removed. The update enabler code expires 45 days after the NetWorker server update, unless capacity based licensing is used. Contact EMC Licensing within 45 days of upgrading the NetWorker server to permanently authorize the update enabler. The NetWorker 8.x Licensing Guide provides more information about how to authorize an update enabler and how to use the capacity based license model. Note: If the required update enabler expires or the auth code is not applied, the NetWorker software will not function at the new release level.
  6. A NetWorker 8.x server is not compatible with a NetWorker 7.6.x or earlier storage node. Update all NetWorker storage nodes to NetWorker 8.x before updating the NetWorker server. NetWorker 7.6.x or earlier storage nodes are disabled by a NetWorker 8.x server.
  7. A direct upgrade from a NMC 7.5.x server to 8.x is possible only if the NMC server is not also the NetWorker server. Update the NMC server to version 8.x before updating the NetWorker server.
  8. A NetWorker 8.x storage node is compatible with a NetWorker 7.6.x server.
  9. A NetWorker 8.x client is compatible with a NetWorker 7.5.x and 7.6.x server. NetWorker 7.5.x and 7.6.x clients are compatible with a NetWorker 8.x server.
  10. If the host operating system of a NetWorker server, storage node, or client will also be updated, update the operating system first, then update the NetWorker software.
  11. In NetWorker 8.x, synthetic full backup replaces consolidated backup. NetWorker 8.x and later does not support the Consolidate backup level. During an upgrade from a previous release of the NetWorker server software to a NetWorker 8.x server, the consolidate level name that was specified in the Level attribute of the Group resource is reset to NULL. To perform a synthetic full backup, in the Level attribute of the Group resource, select synth_full or incr_synth_full. The NetWorker 8.x Administration Guide provides detailed information on how to perform a synthetic full backup. Review the “Updating” chapter of the NetWorker 8.x Installation Guide to prepare the NetWorker server and NMC server software for updating to release 8.x and later.
  12. During an NMC server update from 7.6.x to version 8.x, the NMC server database is converted to the newer format. This conversion is automatically performed by a special migration utility (gstdbupgrade.sh) during the installation process. Before updating the NMC server to version 8.x consider the following:
    1. The conversion of large NMC databases might take more than one hour, although most conversions complete in under one hour.
    2. The current filesystem that contains the NMC database directory must have available space that equals double the size of the current database.
  13. The NMC server software is not supported on the following operating systems that were previously supported:
    1. HP-UX 11i v2, HP-UX 11iv3
    2. Windows 2003, 2003 SP1, 2003 R2
    3. AIX 5.2, AIX 5.3
    4. Solaris 9
  14. If the NMC server in the datazone is on one of these operating systems, the softwarecannot be updated to version 8.x. Install a new NMC server in the datazone on a supported operating system. The EMC NetWorker Protection Software Compatibility Guide on Powerlink provides more information on supported NMC server operating systems. To provide historical reports, keep the old NMC server at the previous NetWorker version.
  15. The NetWorker Managament Console Server You can install the Console server software package on an AIX, Linux, Solaris, or Microsoft Windows host. The minimum system requirements for a Console server host is 1 GHz with 512 MB of RAM. To monitor:
    1. 50 servers—Use a Console server with at least Dual 1 GHz processors and no less than 2 GB of RAM.
    2. 100 servers— Use a Console server with at least Dual 1 GHz processors and no less than 4 GB of RAM.
    3. 200 servers—Use a Console server with at least Dual 1 GHz processors and no less than 8 GB of RAM.