Switch your pilot Alloy Navigator Express to production

Updated in 2021.2

Once you are ready, switch your pilot Alloy Navigator Express database to production. This step will import all data from your production Alloy Navigator Express database to your pilot database again. During switchover, you can flip production databases. Flipping means that your old production database will be taken offline, renamed [DatabaseName]_SAVE, then the fully configured and synced pilot database will take the name of the original database, effectively replacing it.

The [DatabaseName]_SAVE copy represents a backup of your Alloy Navigator Express data. We recommend that you keep the Flip option enabled.

INFO: For details, see Pilot upgrade.

To switch your pilot Alloy Navigator Express database to production:

1. Run the Database Management wizard and click Next to continue.

2. On the Task page, select Upgrade Existing Database option and click Next. The Source Database page opens.

3. Specify the information to connect to your production (source) database.

   1. Enter the name or IP address of the SQL server where your production database resides.

      NOTE: If you are connecting to a named SQL Server instance, it must be specified in the form Servername\Instancename; for example: SQLSERV001\SQLEXPRESS. If the server uses a non-standard port, add the port number, separating it with a comma; for example, SQLSERV001\SQLEXPRESS,5618.

   2. Provide your credentials to log on to the SQL Server using an account with the sysadmin role on the SQL Server:

      • To use your Windows account, choose Windows Authentication.

      • To use your SQL Server account, choose Standard Authentication and type your account name and password.

   3. Choose the name of the production (source) database from the drop-down list.

   
   Click Next. The Upgrade Scenario page opens.

4. Select Pilot Upgrade and click Next. The Pilot Upgrade page opens.

5. Select the Switch to Production option and click Next. The Switchover Options page opens.

6. Keep the Switch and Flip option selected and click Next. The Target Database page opens.

7. Select the name of your pilot (target) database and specify where to create a backup copy of the target database.

   Click Next. The Backup Location page opens.

8. Browse for a folder on the SQL server for the backup file and specify its file name. This upgrade step will not affect your production database, however, a backup copy is required for the process.

   Click Next. The Database Account page opens..

9. Specify the Database Account.

   INFO: For details, see Database Account.

   Provide the credentials for the SQL Server account that already serves as the Database Account for the pilot database. Alternatively, click Create SQL Server Account and create a new SQL Server account for this task.

   Click Next. The Database Access Key page opens.

10. The Database Management tool generates a Database Access Key. By default, the key is exported into the [KeyName].reg file on your desktop. To change the default path or name, click the ellipsis button and specify a new location.

    INFO: For details, see Distributing the Database Access Key.

    Click Next.

11. If the Automatic Upgrade page appears, enable the Automatic Upgrade feature.

    • Click the ellipsis button to specify the location of the most recent Network Inventory installation file (AlloyDiscoverySetup23.2.x.exe).

      The Turn on the Automatic Upgrade check box that was unavailable appears selected automatically.

    INFO: For details, see Upgrade client components for technicians.

    TIP: You can skip this step now and enable this feature later using the Settings App.

    Click Next. The Ready to Proceed page opens.

12. Click Next to proceed, Click Back if you need to make any changes.

13. Once the final database upgrade step completes, the Summary page opens with the information about the upgraded production database. Now you need to activate it. To start the activation, click Finish. The License Management window opens up..

NEXT STEP: Activate the upgraded production database and start the production Automation Server. For activation instructions, see Activating the product.