Upgrading to Cognos Analytics 11.0.7

[cielo]

We are planning to upgrade CA 11.0.7 from CA r6. Please enlighten me what all are the validations need to take care before upgrading. Any known issues.Ty.

[adam_mc]

Is there any reason you are only going to upgrade to CA 11.0.7?
I previously updated successfully to 11.0.10 from 11.0.6 without any issues, I understand that you may not want to jump to 11.1.1, but my recommendation would be to go to the highest available version (CA 11.0.13) as there have been significant additions, improvements, and fixes in that version.

Just my thoughts.
Thanks,
Adam.

[cielo]

Thank you Adam for your response. Due to some User feedback we are planning for 11.0.7.What is the major difference between 11.0.7 and 11.0.13?.If I want to take backup previous version before upgrade Content DB backup is the only way or any alternative.

[adam_mc]

Going back after an upgrade can be difficult especially, as not only is the Content Store upgraded to the new version, but all the software is too.
You will not be able to take an upgraded Content Store back to a previous version.
Also, remember, you will need to upgrade any client tools as well - Framework Manager etc...

I would suggest at least the following - but, IBM probably has a more complete list:

1.  Backup server(s) - That way you have your complete current Cognos server install in case you choose to revert back.
2.  Have your DBA take a manual (database level) backup of the content store and then create a new empty database to potentially be used as the content store for the newly upgraded version.
3.  Perform a Full Content Store export from Cognos Administration.

I suggest you go to IBM's site and see all the differences between the CA 11.0.x versions, but by going to CA 11.0.13 you will get all the latest and greatest and I don't think you will have to do a Fix Pack install.

[cielo]

Thank you for the detailed explanation.

Suppose that I need a specific object from previous version.Is there a way I could retrieve specific object using any Cognos Import wizard? We have such option?
Please answer.

[adam_mc]

Not sure I'm understanding why you would need a single object?  Can you clarify?
Once you have upgraded, you can't go back to the old version unless you have saved everything and revert everything.

Once you are on the new version, you need to do an import of your old Full Content Store that you will have previously exported - That should have everything in it and it will be automatically upgraded to the new version when you perform the import.

If you have any errors during your Content Store Export, they should be resolved prior to doing any upgrade.
In that way everything should import successfully.

[cielo]

Suppose that after the export and validations  in a period of time one of my folder/object got corrupted and would like to bring them from  previous version ,in mean time other objects in latest version got modified and they should not be taken from previous version.
In this scenario, what would be the option.request you to clairify.Ty.

[adam_mc]

Again, I'm not sure why you would want to do this?
How do you manage your current environment today?  What would you do if something became corrupted in your CA 11.0.6 version today?
This doesn't seem to be an upgrade issue rather an everyday maintenance issue - However, you are handling this type of problem today will be how you should handle it on whichever version you upgrade to.

Setup regular daily backups of your Content Store database - That way there is always something to go back to, but do this on the upgraded version.

If you are saying that you might one day in the future go back to the Content Store as it was on the day you did your upgrade (again, I'm not sure why you wouldn't just try and resolve the corruption issue directly or restore from the latest backup), simply set aside a backup of the Content Store after you do your upgrade and do not replace/delete it.

Hope this helps.
Adam.

[cielo]

Intelligent answer!!! Agree with you.

[dougp]

Don't go backward.  If you upgrade, work around the issues until you can upgrade again.  Don't roll back unless you can do so within a couple days so you don't lose a lot of new content.


I have been testing 11.0.13.  I recommend it.  Here are the main issues I have with 11.0.7 that were resolved in 11.0.13:

Text box prompts with the multi-line property set to Yes don't work properly in the interactive viewer.
In the portal, navigating the fly-out menus through folders to reports, there is no way to select and copy the full path to a report.  This can be a problem when trying to see what the user is complaining about.
In the compatible viewer, on a tall prompt page that requires scrolling, if the page has been scrolled, clicking on the icon for a a date prompt with the select UI property set to Edit box causes the date picker control to appear below the visible portion of the page.
The Filter Condition dialog available from a data container (like a list or crosstab) only allows selecting values.  There is no option for starts with, contains, or ends with.  If you have created a "starts with" filter in the legacy Filter Condition dialog available in the source pane, you get a error message displaying a stack trace.  (This is the same behavior as 11.0.6.)

[cielo]

Thank you for the answer. Because of some restrictions, we are upgrading to 11.0.7 although there are noticeable improvements in the latest version, and I feel that the upgrade never ends. Once we have stabilized the current version, the updated version is available. The upgrade is always good for improved updates, but the upgrade involved a lot of time and validations. Please, any comments.

[Lynn]

Thank you for the answer. Because of some restrictions, we are upgrading to 11.0.7 although there are noticeable improvements in the latest version, and I feel that the upgrade never ends. Once we have stabilized the current version, the updated version is available. The upgrade is always good for improved updates, but the upgrade involved a lot of time and validations. Please, any comments.

Version 11.0.13 is a long term support release so no new functionality for two years (only bug fix packs). All new functionality is in 11.1.x releases which will follow the same rapid release schedule that we used to see for 11.0.x releases.

What restrictions are forcing you to go to 11.0.7? It seems like a silly decision to go through the upgrade effort for that when you could go directly to R13 and hold steady for awhile.

[jrmcknight]

As Lynn said, I would recommend getting to version 11.0.13 as quickly as you can since that is a "stability release." It means no new features, and fewer bug fixes and no rapid release cycles. The upgrade process does seem never-ending, but having a version that will be supported for a couple of years should help set your mind at ease.