Move DSS SAM to new server

Usage and Config BFI
1

(imported topic written by SystemAdmin)

When DSS SAM 1st came out, it was only supported on 32 bit Windows 2003. The newer versions are supported on on 64bit Windows 2008. We’d like to move to that platform. What would be the steps needed to backup our config, install on new server and restore the config. I am assuming we would not need to touch SQL server during this process.

Thanks!

John

2

(imported comment written by Dennis_D91)

Migrating DSS:SAM to a new server is not quite as straightforward as a fresh install because the installer does not support reusing an existing DB. You need to do a fresh install and then switch in the old database for the new one. For this to be successful you should be installing exactly the same version as you have now. If you want to upgrade to a new version, that should be done as a separate step either before attempting the migration, or after successfully migrating your current version.

  1. Confirm that you have the installer for the exact same version you currently running. If you cannot locate that installer, you should either upgrade to the latest version before attempting the migration, or contact BigFix Support for access to an older installer.

  2. Confirm that you are using at least version 1.1.2. Earlier versions have known incompatibilities with Windows Server 2008. Windows Server 2008 R2 will work as of 1.1.2, but will give a warning about the OS being unsupported for versions prior to 1.2.3.

  3. Make a backup of your current BFInventory database. (If SAM connected to SQL DB remotely, you still need to do that.) Instructions on how to do this are available here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930615.

  4. On your old server, in the Windows Service Control Manager, stop all the BigFix DSS Backend services.

  5. On your old server, in the Windows Task Scheduler, disable the BigFix DSS Cron task

  6. Delete your BFInventory database from the SQL Server.

  7. On your new server, Install the exact same version of SAM you have right now. It will create a new BFInventory database.

  8. Confirm that you can log in to SAM. You will be prompted to create a new administrator account. This account will only be used for confirming the system is up, and will be destroyed once the old DB is reinstated.

  9. In the Windows Service Control Manager, stop all the BigFix DSS Backend services.

  10. In the Windows Task Scheduler, disable the BigFix DSS Cron task

  11. Delete the BFInventory database created by the new install.

  12. Restore the BFInventory database you backed up earlier.

  13. In the Windows Service Control Manager, start all the BigFix DSS Backend services.

  14. In the Windows Task Scheduler, re-enable the BigFix DSS Cron task

  15. Confirm that you can log in to DSS:SAM using an account from before the migration. You should see all your old data.

  16. On your old server, uninstall DSS:SAM. This will not delete your BFInventory database.

If you need to change the account used for hosting DSS:SAM as part of the migration, before starting the migration you must ensure the new account has the same permissions as the old account for the following:

RunAsService on the new DSS server

SQL Server for DSS

SQL Server for BFEnterprise

BFInventory database

BFEnterprise database

UploadManager buffer directory of your BigFix server