Performing pilot upgrade

Introduced in 2021.2

Updated in 2023.1

Microsoft SQL Server only

Pilot upgrade is a stress-free upgrade scenario that allows you to test-drive and customize the new version in a pilot environment, while still using your existing system in production, and move to the new version when ready. Pilot upgrade is available to all our customers, no matter what version you currently use.

Pilot upgrade is a multi-step process:

1. Create a pilot database. This initial step migrates all the data from your productions database to the new pilot database. Then you use the pilot database to preview, test, and customize new functionality, while still using your existing system database in production.

2. Optionally, update your pilot database with the latest production data. The goal of updating pilot data is to make sure that the new configuration works fine on most recent production data. You can repeat this step several times.

3. Switch your fully configured and synced pilot database to production. The final switchover step migrates all data records from the production database to the pilot one last time and optionally retires the original production database, i.e., replaces it with the pilot database.

To perform pilot upgrade:

1. Create a pilot database:

   1. Run the Database Management wizard and choose Manage Existing Database on the Task page.

   2. On the Source Database page, specify your existing Alloy Navigator or Alloy Navigator Express database you want to upgrade.

   3. If the Upgrade Scenario page is available, choose Pilot Upgrade.

   4. On the Pilot Upgrade page, choose Create Pilot Database.

   5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the wizard.

      NOTE: This step imports all your data (i.e. the configuration information and data records) from the production database to a new pilot database of the latest version.

   6. Use the pilot database for configuring and initial testing while still using your existing system in production.

2. Optional: Update your pilot database with the most recent production data:

   1. Run the Database Management wizard and choose Manage Existing Database on the Task page.

   2. On the Source Database page, specify your existing Alloy Navigator or Alloy Navigator Express database you want to upgrade.

   3. If the Upgrade Scenario page is available, choose Pilot Upgrade.

   4. On the Pilot Upgrade page, choose Update Pilot Data.

   5. On the Target Database page, specify your pilot database you want to update.

   6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the wizard.

      NOTE: This step does not import any configuration information, only data records, so configuration changes made to your current production system after the pilot database creation will not be reflected. All data records (tickets, knowledge base articles, computers, etc.) in the pilot database will be replaced with the latest data from the production.

   7. Continue to use the pilot database for configuring and testing while still using your existing system in production.

3. Switch the pilot database to production:

   1. Run the Database Management wizard and choose Manage Existing Database on the Task page.

   2. On the Source Database page, specify your existing Alloy Navigator or Alloy Navigator Express database you want to upgrade.

   3. If the Upgrade Scenario page is available, choose Pilot Upgrade.

   4. On the Pilot Upgrade page, choose Switch to Production.

   5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the wizard.

      NOTE: This step does not import any configuration information, only data records. If you have made any configuration changes to your existing production system after the pilot database creation, they will not be reflected.

4. Congratulations! Your upgrade has been completed, and you can begin the production use of the new version.

Pilot testing

If you want to get the latest workflow that the new version includes but do not want to lose the workflow customizations you have acquired over time, pilot testing will help. It is the same as pilot upgrade, but without the actual upgrade.

Pilot testing is available when you have already upgraded your database to the new version (for example, using the production upgrade scenario). With the pilot testing, you can try the newest workflow in a pilot environment, integrate it into your existing business logic until it suits, and then move it to production.

To create a pilot database for pilot testing:

1. Run the Database Management wizard and choose Manage Existing Database on the Task page.

2. On the Source Database page, specify your existing Alloy Navigator database, Your database must be already upgraded to latest version.

3. On the Pilot Testing page, choose Create Pilot Database.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the wizard.

   NOTE: This step imports all your data (i.e. the configuration information and data records) from the production database to a new pilot database.

Now you can use this pilot database for customization and pilot testing while still using your existing system in production.

Then, optionally update your pilot data with the mist recent production data, and switch the pilot database to production when ready. The steps are the same as for the pilot upgrade.

Related Information:

Installation Guide: Upgrade to the Latest Version

Database Management