Upgrade Multi-Server Geo SCADA Expert with Clients

If you have a multi-server Geo SCADA Expert system that has clients, we recommend that you use Server Emulation during the upgrading process. Server emulation allows clients that are running older versions of Geo SCADA Expert to connect to a server that has been upgraded.

By using server emulation, you can minimize the amount of time that the clients are unable to access the system during upgrading.

To upgrade a multi-server Geo SCADA Expert system:

1. First, undertake the appropriate preparation (see Preparing to Upgrade Geo SCADA Expert).

   With correct preparation, you will:

   • Find out about any version-specific details relating to your current version and the new version of Geo SCADA Expert.
   • Ensure that there is sufficient disk space for Geo SCADA Expert to perform an automatic backup of your database. You can use this to restore your system should an unexpected issue occur.
   • Ensure that all of your servers are running the same build of Geo SCADA Expert 2020 or later software if you intend enabling the Database Emulation feature while you upgrade those servers.
   • Obtain the required upgrade files so that the upgrade can be completed as efficiently as possible.
2. Shutdown Geo SCADA Expert on your Standby Server.

   You need to shutdown the Standby server first because:

   • The installation process requires the Geo SCADA Expert server to be shutdown.
   • Upgrading the Standby servers before the Main server reduces the number of Changeovers required. As a result, the upgrade process is more efficient. This is especially important with some simple drivers, as there can be a loss of data during the Main-Standby Changeover. By reducing the number of Changeovers, you minimize the amount of potential data loss.

   When you upgrade a multi-server architecture, you will need to stop the Main server so that you can install the upgrade. When you stop the Main server, a Changeover occurs automatically, and one of the Standby servers switches to become Main.

   During the Changeover, the drivers on the new Main server will start-up and begin scanning their devices. On larger systems, it can take a certain amount of time for the drivers to start. This can result in there being a delay before Geo SCADA Expert can resume scanning the devices again.

   By upgrading all of the Standby servers before the Main server, you can apply the upgrades with just one Changeover taking place (or two Changeovers if you enable Database Emulation during the upgrade process). This minimizes the amount of time that the drivers are unable to scan their associated devices.

   If you upgraded a Main server before the Standby servers, multiple Changeovers may be required. This is because you would have to shutdown more than one Main servers (when you shutdown the first Main server, one of the Standby servers will switch to Main).

   For information on shutting down a server, see ‘Stop the Geo SCADA Expert Server’ in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Server Administration.
   

3. Install the Geo SCADA Expert upgrade on the Standby server. To do this, run the Setup.exe file which is part of the Geo SCADA Expert update. When you run Setup.exe, the installer will run and install the correct files for the server’s operating system.

   As part of the installation process, you might want to enable Database Emulation (see Database Emulation Configuration). This enables the database files to continue to be saved in the same database format as the database version that was running prior to the upgrade. This is intended as a temporary stage until checks have been completed to confirm that the upgrade is successful (see Types of Emulation Supported by Geo SCADA Expert).

   Ensure that you specify the same Database Emulation setting on every server that you are upgrading in your system.

   Some publishers may re-package Geo SCADA Expert to be part of another package. With these packages, you can use the installer for the package to install updates for Geo SCADA Expert and the other product together.

4. On the Standby server, install updates for any extensions. (Skip to step 5 if your system does not use extensions).

   To install an extension, run the installer application supplied with the extension upgrade.

   If you do not update all of the extensions, Geo SCADA Expert may not run correctly.
   

5. On the Standby server, install updates for any DDK drivers. (Skip to step 6 if your system does not use any DDK drivers).

   The Geo SCADA Expert update includes the latest version of drivers created by Schneider Electric. However, if your system has DDK drivers created by a third-party organization, you will need to install the appropriate updates. This is because DDK drivers are associated with a specific version of Geo SCADA Expert—when you upgrade Geo SCADA Expert , the DDK drivers need to match the new Geo SCADA Expert version.

   If you do not update all of the DDK drivers, Geo SCADA Expert may not run correctly.
   

6. On the Standby server, install updates for any third-party applications that are associated with a specific version of Geo SCADA Expert. (Skip to step 7 if your system does not use any third-party applications with Geo SCADA Expert).

   For information on any third-party applications that you use with Geo SCADA Expert, please contact the publisher of the application.
   

7. Upgrade the license on the Standby server (see Upgrading a License).
8. Configure the Standby server to emulate the older version of Geo SCADA Expert that is being used by the clients:
   1. Run the Server Configuration Tool and log on.
   2. Browse to System Configuration>Emulate Server Version
   3. Select the Present a Different Server Version to Clients check box.
   4. Use the Version combo box to choose the version of Geo SCADA Expert that the client PCs run (the older version of Geo SCADA Expert).
   5. In the tree-structure, right-click on the icon for the server, and then select the Apply Changes option from the context sensitive menu.

   This allows the clients to connect to the Standby server, even though they are running an older version of Geo SCADA Expert.

9. If the Virtual ViewX server is installed on the same machine, install the update to the Virtual ViewX server. To do this, run the Virtual ViewX Server.exe file that is part of the Virtual ViewX update. When you run the file, the installer will run and install the correct files for the server's operating system.
10. Restart Geo SCADA Expert on the Standby server (for information on restarting a server, see Start and Stop the System Server). Wait for the server to fully synchronize with the Main server and go into the Standby state.
11. Perform checks to ensure that the upgrade has been successful.

    If it has been successful, move on to step 12.

    If there appears to be an issue and you decide that you want to downgrade that server back to the previous version of Geo SCADA Expert software, ignore the rest of the steps in this procedure and do not upgrade any other servers. Instead, see Perform a Downgrade after Upgrading Geo SCADA Expert.

12. To continue with the upgrade, repeat steps 2-11 inclusive for each of the other servers in the architecture. You should start with any other Standby servers.

13. After completing the upgrades of all of the Standby servers, you should shutdown the Main server. This will cause a Changeover and one of the Standby servers will become the new Main server. As all of the Standby servers have been upgraded, they are able to synchronize with the new Main server (they all run the same version of Geo SCADA Expert).

    The server that was formerly the Main server has now stopped.

14. On the server that was formerly the Main server, install the Geo SCADA Expert update, specify the same Database Emulation setting as the other servers that have just been upgraded, update the extensions, DDK drivers, and third-party applications as required. Likewise, if the Virtual ViewX server is installed on the same machine, install the update to the Virtual ViewX server. (Use the same techniques as when you upgraded the Standby servers).
15. Restart the server that was formerly the Main server. It now runs as a Standby server and it synchronizes with the new Main server.
16. When each of the servers have been upgraded, you can upgrade each client in turn:
    • Upgrade Your Geo SCADA Expert Clients (Original WebX Excluded)
    • Upgrade Your Original WebX Clients.
17. When the clients have all been upgraded, you need to disable the server emulation feature on the servers. To do this, repeat step 8 on each server, only this time clear the Present a Different Server Version to Clients check box. When you have applied this change to each of the servers, the clients and servers will all use the same version of Geo SCADA Expert.

18. Confirm that the upgrade is successful, then archive the automatic database backup from each server before removing those backups from disk.

19. You can ignore this step if you did not enable Database Emulation on the servers that you upgraded.

    If you enabled Database Emulation on the servers that you upgraded, after confirming that the upgrade is successful and that all of your servers are running the same build of upgraded Geo SCADA Expert software, you can now disable that Database Emulation. You should do this in a specific order (so that just a single Changeover takes place):

    Ensure that users hold off from making any configuration changes to the database until the Database Emulation status is identical (that is, enabled or disabled) on each of the servers in your system. This is because the file format in which database files are stored differs between versions of the Geo SCADA Expert software. When Database Emulation is disabled, the database files will be stored in a slightly different file format, and the new features and functionality that are only available from the version of Geo SCADA Expert to which the servers have been upgraded will become available for use.

    1. Disable Database Emulation on one of the Standby Servers (see Disable Database Emulation after a Successful Upgrade). This will cause that server to shut down.

    2. Restart that server.

    3. Repeat steps i to ii on the other standby servers that you have just upgraded.

    4. After disabling Database Emulation on all of the Standby servers, you should shutdown the Main server. This will cause a Changeover and one of the Standby servers will become the new Main server. As all of the Standby servers have been upgraded, they are able to synchronize with the new Main server (they all run the same version of Geo SCADA Expert).

    5. On the server that was formerly the Main server, disable Database Emulation (see Disable Database Emulation after a Successful Upgrade).

    6. Restart the server that was formerly the Main server. It now runs as a Standby server and it synchronizes with the new Main server.
       All of the upgraded servers will now have access the new database items and properties that are only available from the version of Geo SCADA Expert to which those servers have been upgraded. The database files will be stored in a slightly different format in order to take account of the new features and functionality.