Side-by-side server install

bobosola · Post by **bobosola** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:11 am

Hi, we're running Vault 3.5.1 client & server. The database (SQL Server 2005) is on a different machine from our Vault server, which resides on our company intranet machine. We are currently migrating applications on the intranet machine to a new box, and I wondered if I can install the Vault server application to the new machine and hook it up to the current database while the current Vault server is still live. The idea is that when the new machine is fully ready, we can simply swap the internal DNS to move seamlessly over with no down time. However I am worried that having two Vault server installs pointing to the same database may be a no-no? We will not actually be using the new installation until we do the DNS swap, but I wondered if it's safe to install it while the old server is still up and running?

Or must I take a little down time and do this sequentially, i.e. uninstall Vault from the old server leaving the DB in place, then install to the new machine and point to the existing DB?

Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Regds,
Bob Osola

Beth · Post by **Beth** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:42 am

Normally I would say don't do it, but that's because people would be tempted to use both at the same time or to have two different versions on the same database. If you upgrade, it's going to make changes to your database that the other can't read.

This isn't something we test, so I just tried that out with 4.0 quickly and it installed, but I have a few strange errors I can't explain and I'm not sure if it has to do with having another server already connected to that database or not. It only takes about 5 minutes to install the Vault server, so there wouldn't be much for down time during the switch if you decide to be on the safe side and perform the uninstall first.

bobosola · Post by **bobosola** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:48 am

Beth, thanks for the very prompt reply. If it's not a supported option, then I won't take any chances. Your test run with "a few strange errors" sounds like too much risk for me! I'll uninstall then install anew to be safe - the downtime is minimal anyway, as you rightly say.

Regds,
Bob Osola