Upgrading
Notice
BMC Software is alerting users of BMC Server Automation for Windows Patching that they need to upgrade the BMC Server Automation application server and Windows target servers to the latest versions to ensure the continued functioning of Windows Patching within the product.
Ivanti has announced the end-of-life for an underlying Shavlik SDK version that BMC Server Automation uses to get updates for Windows patches. The original end-of-life support for Shavlik 9.1 was December 31, 2018. The end-of-life support is now extended to September 30, 2019, which provides users with additional time to upgrade BMC Server Automation application server and the BMC Server Automation RSCD Agents running on Windows target servers.
BMC Server Automation provides a centralized upgrade UI for upgrading all BMC Server Automation components. Prior to version 8.6, each component was upgraded using individual component installers and upgrade procedures.
BMC recommends using the centralized UI in the unified product installer, but also provides the individual component installers for operating systems that are not supported by the unified product installer. For a centralized upgrade of multiple product components, you can also choose to run the unified product installer in unattended (silent) mode.
This topic includes the following sections:
Note the following BDSSA upgrade requirement:
Note
If your BMC Server Automation environment includes BMC BladeLogic Decision Support for Server Automation, upgrade BMC BladeLogic Decision Support for Server Automation before upgrading BMC Server Automation. For more information, see the following topic in the Decision Support for Server Automation online technical documentation:
UpgradingUpgrading to version 8.6
The latest upgrade version for 8.6 is Version 8.6.01.002: Patch 2 for Service Pack 1. The fixes included in this patch are listed in 8901Known and corrected issues.
To upgrade to 8.6, see one of the following topics, based on your Application Server platform:
Platform | Upgrade method | How to |
---|---|---|
Microsoft Windows, 64-bit or Linux, 64-bit | Unified product installer | Upgrading to version 8.6 SP1 for Microsoft Windows and Linux (includes video) Upgrading silently using the unified product installer (unattended) |
Solaris | Component level upgrade | Walkthrough: Upgrading using the configurator and individual component installers |
To apply the patch to a specific component, follow the instructions in Installing individual components for the specific component you are upgrading. For an example walkthrough of the process, see:
- Walkthrough: Installing individual components for Linux and Oracle environments
- Walkthrough: Installing individual components for Microsoft Windows and SQL Server environments
High-level steps for the upgrade
Note
For BMC Server Automation version 8.6 SP1 and later, the task of running SQL Update scripts, which was necessary in the past for any upgrade to a BMC Server Automation patch or service pack, is no longer required during an upgrade. The database upgrade is now handled internally by the unified product installer, which was introduced in version 8.6.
Click one of the tabs to view the high-level steps for the upgrade:
Item | Description |
---|---|
Complete preparatory tasks for upgrade | Review the tasks to complete prior to upgrade in Preparing for a Windows upgrade using the unified product installer. |
Review requirements for Windows | Review the key requirements for running the unified product installer on Windows. |
Review limitations | Note the limitations when using the unified product installer for product upgrade. |
Test the upgrade in a duplicate environment | Prior to upgrading your production system, the best practice is to first test the upgrade using a copy of the production database in another environment. The steps in Testing the upgrade in a duplicated environment topic cover the high-level steps that you must perform; the specifics will likely vary, depending on the database in use, the operating systems involved, and the particular environment details. |
Upgrade the environment | See: Upgrading to version 8.6 SP1 for Microsoft Windows and Linux |
(Optional) Get assistance through the AMIGO Upgrade Program | To assist you in your upgrade, you might be interested in joining the AMIGO Upgrade Program, described in Knowledge Article ID: 000011572. |
Item | Description |
---|---|
Complete preparatory tasks for upgrade | Complete the tasks prior to upgrade outlined in Preparing for a Linux or UNIX upgrade using the unified product installer. |
Review requirements for Linux | Review the key requirements for running the unified product installer on Linux. |
Review limitations | Note the limitations when using the unified product installer for product upgrade. |
Test the upgrade in a duplicate environment | Prior to upgrading your production system, the best practice is to first test the upgrade using a copy of the production database in another environment. The steps in Testing the upgrade in a duplicated environment topic cover the high-level steps that you must perform; the specifics will likely vary, depending on the database in use, the operating systems involved, and the particular environment details. |
Upgrade the environment | See: Upgrading to version 8.6 SP1 for Microsoft Windows and Linux |
(Optional) Get assistance through the AMIGO Upgrade Program | To assist you in your upgrade, you might be interested in joining the AMIGO Upgrade Program, described in Knowledge Article ID: 000011572. |
Item | Description |
---|---|
Complete preparatory tasks for upgrade | Review the tasks to complete prior to upgrade: Preparing to upgrade individual components on Microsoft Windows or Preparing to upgrade individual components on UNIX and Linux |
Review requirements for upgrading individual components | Review the basic requirements for upgrading using the individual component installers. There are additional requirements for the individual installers, which are listed on each individual installer upgrade topic. |
Test the upgrade in a duplicate environment | Prior to upgrading your production system, the best practice is to first test the upgrade using a copy of the production database in another environment. The steps in Testing the upgrade in a duplicated environment topic cover the high-level steps that you must perform; the specifics will likely vary, depending on the database in use, the operating systems involved, and the particular environment details. |
Upgrade the environment | See Walkthrough: Upgrading using the configurator and individual component installers |
(Optional) Get assistance through the AMIGO Upgrade Program | To assist you in your upgrade, you might be interested in joining the AMIGO Upgrade Program, described in Knowledge Article ID: 000011572. |
Additional upgrade information
Which upgrade method should I use?
Artifacts installed when you upgrade with the unified product installer
When you upgrade your BMC Server Automation environment using the unified product installer, the installer automatically installs sample content and also enables the quick start page, which is automatically displayed when you log in to the console.
Comments