migrate a Desktop Central server

Migration Steps for Build #80013 and Above

Steps to be Performed on the Existing Installation

1. Ensure that automatic update of IP Address of the Server has been enabled:
   1. Connect to the web console and click Admin --> Agent Settings
   2. Ensure that you have enabled "Automatically detect and save the IP Address change" option available beside the Server IP Address field and save.
2. Ensure that the new location of the patch store and the HTTP repository in software deployment are configured and accessible from the machine where the DesktopCentral Server has been moved to. For example, if the patch store location is configured as D:\Patches in the existing installation, ensure that the patch store location is configured and this path is available in the new server once migration is complete. If the patch-store location is not configured and the path is not accessible from the new server, the server will not start. Software Repository refers to the HTTP Repository location shown in Software Repository Settings.
3. Configure the New Server Details in "Admin>DC Server Migration" page
   1. Specify the details of the new server like Desktop Central Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN), Flat Name, Server IP Address, Secondary IP Address, Server HTTP Port, Server HTTPS Port, etc. and Save.
4. Stop the Desktop Central server
   1. Click start>Programs
   2. Point to ManageEngine Desktop Central and click Stop Desktop Central
   3. Go to the location <Installation-dir>\DesktopCentral_Server\pgsql\data\ and see if "postmaster.pid" is found in the folder. If it is found then it means that PGSQL has not stopped, in such case retry later and ensure that the file is not found in this folder before copying the directory
5. Copy the Desktop Central installation directory
   1. Double-click My Computer
   2. Double-click the installation drive where Desktop Central is installed. For example, C:
   3. Double-click Program Files
   4. Copy the directory named DesktopCentral_Server
   5. Paste it in the new computer where you are going to install the Desktop Central server
      
      Note : This step is mandatory, ensure that you copy the directory and paste it in the new server. If you try to execute the script in step 6 before copying the directory, the new server will not start.
6. Open a command prompt as Administrator and execute"server-migration.bat enable" available under <Installation_Dir>/bin directory.
   (example: C:\Program Files\DesktopCentral_Server\bin>server-migration.bat enable)
   
   
   Note : Executing this script will disable the Desktop Central Service and you will not be able to connect to the web console. The "MEDC Server Component - Apache" service will alone run to migrate the agents and distribution servers.

Steps to be Performed on the New Installation

1. Open Command Prompt and execute the "Migrate-DCServer.bat" from the bin folder (from the copied location)
   (example : C:\Program Files\DesktopCentral_Server\bin>Migrate-DCServer.bat )
   
   
2. Add TCP ports used by Desktop Central to the Firewall exception list. (List of ports used by Desktop Central)
   
   
   Note : If MySQL database is configured to run on a different computer, execute "mysql-privilege.bat <new_server_ip>" from mysql\ directory from the computer where the database is running.
   (example: C:\Program Files\DesktopCentral_Server\mysql>mysql-privilege.bat 192.168.xx.xxx )
   
   
   
3. Start the Desktop Central server
   
   1. Click start>Programs
   2. Point to ManageEngine Desktop Central and click Start Desktop Central

   The Desktop Central agents and the distribution servers, during their next contact, will pick up the details of the new server and start communicating with the new server subsequently. You will need to run the Desktop Central Servers at both the installations till all the agents start reporting to the new server.

FAQs

1. How do I know if the migration process is complete?
   
   To ensure that all the agents are migrated to the new server, Check the "Last contact time" column in SoM page. (If you are not seeing this column, choose to view from the Column Chooser). The last contact time must be after the server migration has been enabled.
   

2. When Should I stop the Old Server?
   
   Once all the agents starts reporting to the new server, you can stop and uninstall the Desktop Central server at the previous installation.

3. How do verify if the migration has been done correctly?
   
   To cross check whether the server migration has been done correctly, try accessing the web console at http://oldserver:port from a web browser. If the migration process has been successful, it will automatically be redirected to http://newserver:port.
   
   
4. What if I have wrongly entered the Server details? How do I change it?
   
   After enabling server migration, if any changes are to be made about the new server details, then follow the steps below :
1. In the old server, edit server-migrate.conf file present in <Install_Dir>\DesktopCentral_Server\conf\ folder.
   
2. The file contains the new server details in Key=Value format; make the required changes and save.
3. Execute "server-migration.bat enable" from the bin folder

Migration Steps for Build Below #80013

You have to complete the following steps while moving your Desktop Central server installation from one computer to another:

1. Ensure that you have enabled automatic update of the Server IP Address.
2. Stop the Desktop Central server
3. Copy required directories
4. Execute required files
5. Ensure that the patch store and HTTP repository are configured and the path is accessible
6. Start the Desktop Central server
7. Update the IP address and DNS names depending on your network setup

To move your Desktop Central server installation from one computer to another, follow the steps given below:

1. Ensure that automatic update of IP Address of the Server has been enabled:
   
   1. Connect to the web console and click Admin --> Agent Settings
   2. Ensure that you have enabled "Automatically detect and save the IP Address change" option available beside the Server IP Address field and save.
      
      
2. Stop the Desktop Central server
   1. Click start>Programs
   2. Point to ManageEngine DesktopCentral and clickStop DesktopCentral
      
      
3. Copy the directory in which Desktop Central is stored
1. Double-click My Computer
2. Double-click the installation directory where Desktop Central is installed. For example, C:
3. Double-click Program Files
4. Copy the directory named Desktop Central_Server
5. Paste it in the new computer where you are going to install the Desktop Central server
   
   
4. Execute specific files. You will need to execute two batch files:
   1. Migrate-DC-Server.bat - This batch file should be executed from the computer to which the installation is being moved. This will create the necessary shortcuts in start menu and register the Desktop Central as a Windows Service.
   2. mysql-privilege.bat - This is required only, if you are running the database server separately. This will configure the database server to allow connections from the new computer to which the installation is being moved.
5. To execute Migrate-DC-Server.bat, follow the steps given below:
   1. In the new computer, click start>Run
   2. Enter cmd
   3. Click OK
   4. Open the Desktop Central_Server file
   5. Double-click on the bin file
   6. Locate and double-click on Migrate-DCServer.bat

      If the database is running in a different computer, follow the steps given below to allow connections from the computer to which you are moving the installation:

   Note: You must complete this task in the computer in which the database is running. Ensure that the mysql service is running when you execute the .bat file.

   1. Click start>Run
   2. Enter cmd
   3. Click OK
   4. Change the working directory to DesktopCentral_Server\mysql
   5. Execute the mysql-privilege.bat file

Note: The argument should either be the computer name or the IP address of the new computer to which the installation is being moved.

For example, you can use the following argument "mysql-privilege.bat new-dc-server"

6. Ensure that the new location of the patch store and the HTTP repository in software deployment are configured and accessible from the machine where the DesktopCentral Server has been moved to. For example, if the patch store location is configured as D:\Patches in the old server, ensure that the patch store location is configured and this path is available in the new server once migration is complete. If the patch-store location is not configured and the path is not accessible from the new server, the server will not start. Software Repository refers to the HTTP Repository location shown in Software Repository Settings.
   
   
7. Start the Desktop Central servers at both the locations (old and new installations)?br />
   
8. Update the IP address and DNS name of the Desktop Central server in the agents.
   
   
   1. Connect to the Web console of the old installation
   2. Click Admin --> Server Migration
   3. Specify the details of the computer to which the installation is being moved like the IP Address, DNS name (both the FQDN and flat names), etc. and save.
      
      The Desktop Central agents and the distribution servers, during their next contact, will pick up the details of the new server and start communicating with the new server subsequently. You will need to run the Desktop Central Servers at both the installations till all the agents start reporting to the new server.
      
      Once all the agents starts reporting to the new server, you can stop and uninstall the Desktop Central server at the previous installation.