Complete upgrade process for DCE 7.9.0

This upgrade requires more steps than previous versions.

The DCE software update files are available in the EcoStruxure IT Entitlements portal.
Log in and then click Software Updates. More information...

If the DCE update files are not available in EcoStruxure IT Entitlements, contact your local technical support to verify your support contract and get access to the update file(s) you need.

The DCE 7.9.0 release updates the server operating system to Rocky Linux 8.4. The upgrade from DCE 7.8.1 requires a fresh install of the software or a new VM.

DCE 7.9.0 does not support server appliances (AP9465, AP9470, and AP9475) manufactured before 2012. Data Center Expert 7.9.0 server hardware requirements

DCE servers using API, ACS, or third-party integrations

It is required that you contact support to discuss your upgrade options.

The new DCE 7.9.0 instance must maintain the same MAC address(es) as the previous 7.8.1 instance.
DCE uses a portion of the MAC address to uniquely identify sensors. If the DCE server MAC address changes:

The connection between DCE and EcoStruxure IT will be lost.
Data Center Operation/IT Advisor and the ACS data engine will report a new (and redundant) set of sensors.
You must contact support to update your licensing.

Upgrade DCE 7.8.1 to 7.9.0

Your DCE server must be at version 7.8.1 to upgrade to DCE 7.9.0.

This upgrade requires more steps than previous versions.

It is required that you contact support to verify you have a valid software support contract and discuss your upgrade options before you receive the Data Center Expert v.7.9.0 upgrade file.

DCE 7.9.0 does not support server appliances (AP9465, AP9470, and AP9475) manufactured before 2012. Data Center Expert 7.9.0 server hardware requirements

For DCE versions older than 7.8.1:

Download the upgrade.zip files for each DCE version up to 7.8.1. Use the standard upgrade process to install each upgrade in order until the DCE server is at version 7.8.1.
Note the MD5 or SHA1 checksum provided on the download page with each upgrade file.
Verify the Data Center Expert installer MD5 or SHA1 checksum on a Windows or Linux computer before you use it to perform a software upgrade. How to verify the checksum for the DCE update file. How to verify the checksum for the DCE update file

DO NOT run the installer if your calculated value does not match the published checksum for your DCE version and operating system.

1. Backup DCE 7.8.1

Several factors affect the time it takes to perform a backup:

- - Number of devices and sensors
  - Quantity of historic data, including alarms and surveillance
  - Use of compression
  - Network speed

The type of backup you select also affects how long a backup takes.

A Configuration backup is faster than a Full backup. A Configuration backup does not include sensor and surveillance history. If preserving sensor and surveillance history is mandatory, select Full backup.

You can purge some historic data to help reduce DCE’s footprint and shorten the time needed to
perform a backup. This is optional. The time it takes to purge data from the system varies depending
on system performance. How to delete old data

Contact support if you have difficulty backing up your DCE server.

See DCE backup and restore

IMPORTANT: To backup DCE 7.8.1, you must use SMBv1 or NFS.

Microsoft began disabling SMBv1 in Windows Updates. This can cause DCE 7.8.1 and older to be unable to back up to existing shares or mount new shares. More information about enabling SMBv1

Note: SMB v2 and v3 are supported in DCE 7.9.0 and newer.

How to create a Windows share

How to perform a backup in DCE

Troubleshooting DCE backups

2. Perform a fresh install of DCE 7.9.0

Physical server: Restore DCE using ISO format

A system restore will erase all data and restore the DCE hardware server to its factory default settings.
Make sure you have a copy of all installed license keys and network settings prior to restore.

Download the ISO file to create a bootable USB key.
How to create a bootable USB Key for DCE 7.9.0 (Windows or Linux machine)
Place the bootable USB key in the USB port of your DCE appliance.
Reboot DCE
When the appliance restarts the system restore process begins automatically. This process
takes approximately 10 minutes for the 1U DCE Basic, 15 minutes for 1U DCE Standard or 25
minutes for 2U DCE Enterprise.
When the restore is complete, you will be prompted to remove the USB key and press [enter] to
reboot the server.
Note: If the system boots into the existing DCE version, reboot the server and access the BIOS
settings. Adjust the boot sequence to boot from USB first.
Once DCE has restarted, configure the DCE network settings.

Configure DCE network settings

Connect the DCE server to your network and turn it on.
Connect a keyboard and monitor to the server.
Log in to the console using the credentials:
Username: apcsetup
Password: apcsetup
Update the password for the apcsetup account.
IMPORTANT: Make sure to keep a secure record of this password for future use.
Within 5 seconds, press [enter] to change settings.
Press M to modify the settings.
Set the default client/web administrator account credentials that will be used to log in to the DCE desktop client and web client.
Press [enter] for changing the apcsetup account password; this was set up in step 4.
If you want to change the apcinfo account password, type y [enter]; otherwise press [enter] to
accept the default value of no.
Note: The apcinfo account is used to display network settings only.
To enable SSH, press y [enter] or press n [enter] to disable.
Follow the prompts to specify the IP address, hostname, subnet mask, and DNS servers for the
DCE server.
After the server has restarted, type its IP Address or hostname into a browser to log in to the
DCE web client. Download the DCE desktop client and log in.

Virtual appliance: Download the DCE 7.9.0 OVA

Make sure the checksum matches the published checksum.

IMPORTANT
The new DCE 7.9.0 instance must maintain the same MAC address(es) as the previous 7.8.1 instance.

The MAC address for both the public and private network adapters must maintain the same MAC
addresses as the previous 7.8.1 instance.

DCE uses a portion of the MAC address to uniquely identify sensors. If the DCE server MAC address changes:

The connection between DCE and EcoStruxure IT will be lost.
Data Center Operation/IT Advisor and the ACS data engine will report a new (and redundant) set of sensors.
You must contact support to update your licensing.

Contact support if you have difficulty assigning the same MAC address to the new DCE 7.9.0 instance.

1. Back up DCE 7.8.1.
2. Take a snapshot of the DCE 7.8.1 VM (optional).
3. Shut down the DCE 7.8.1 VM.
4. Start the DCE 7.9.0 VM.
5. Deploy the 7.9.0 VM with the same network adapters, MAC address, IP address, CPU count, memory, disk drives and disk capacity as the DCE 7.8.1 VM.
  Note: This is a good time to add resources if needed.
  To increase storage for the VM, you must create additional hard disks. You cannot change the size of an existing hard disk, or remove a hard disk once it has been created. An error may occur on the primary interface, and the DCE VM will not start.

See these articles in the DCIM Support He, custom services, and dashboards.lp Center for guidance on how to deploy the DCE VM:

Deploying and configuring a DCE virtual appliance

DCE server equivalent configurations for VM

3. Restore DCE from backup

Restore your 7.8.1 backup on the new 7.9.0 system.
See DCE backup and restore
Log in and verify that DCE 7.9.0 is functional and data is present.
Verify any integrations that use DCE web services, for example, IT Advisor, custom services, and dashboards.
Back up DCE 7.9.0.

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