Migrating Servers is one of the most common, and easy requests that we receive:

The first step in this process is to consider whether this new server will be hosting the site and the database, or just the site, or just the database.

Case 1: The new server will only host the site

Step 1: Identify adequate hardware  requirements:

Step 2: Stage the Server.

The next step is to stage the server with adequate prereqs and software requirements: 

Windows Server 2012/2016

 You will also need to download :

1. Install Amazon Corretto 8 (required for ElasticSearch)
2. The latest 2.4.X ElasicSearch

After Java and ElasticSearch are downloaded, we can help with their install as they require some specific configurations. 

Step 3: Copy the ThoughtFarmer installers.

You can either copy them from your current server if you still have them or download the latest version from on this page on our ThoughtFarmer Community

Step 4: Run ThoughtFarmer

You can now run ThoughtFarmer on the new server and input any data in the fields.  Once the site is up, you will need to delete the site, application pool, and services on the old server to avoid having two sites talking to the same database. You can contact the ThoughtFarmer support team to assist with this last step.

If this site is made available externally, your IT team will need to update the DNS entry to reflect the IP address, or the server name, of the new server to make sure the end users can access the site from their browsers. If it’s only available internally, your Network admins will need to update the internal DNS to also reflect the new IP address.

PLEASE NOTE

The database contains some variables that are paths on the application server. For example, the path of the image cache folder and the search logs folder. If the new server does not contain the drive name in those paths, this will cause runtime errors in the application.Please check these paths before the installers runs. The config settings names are:

1. elasticSearch.log.path
2. Resized.image.cache.path

The extensions folder must be copied over from the old server and pasted into the application’s root folder of the new server. The path should be similar to “C:\inetpub\ThoughtFarmer\{Name of the ThoughtFarmer instance}”
 

Case 2: The new server will host the site and the database:

Step 1: Identify hardware requirements.

In this case, the server will need more hardware requirements:

Step 2: Stage the Server

The next step is to stage the server with the adequate pre-reqs and software requirements:

Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2012/2016

In addition to that, you will need to download :

1. The latest Java JDK8
2. The latest 2.4.X ElasicSearch

After Java and ElasticSearch are downloaded, we can help with their install as they require some specific configurations. 

You will need to install SQL Server (2012/2014/2016). These are the four basic features to install:

• Database Engine Services
• Reporting Service - Native
• Management Tools - Basic
• Management Tools - Complete
   

Step 3: Backup

You will need to backup the database from the old server, copy the backup onto the new server and restore it onto a blank new database. You can then copy the ThoughtFarmer installers. You can either copy them from your current server if you still have them or download the latest version from on this page. 

Step 4: Run ThoughtFarmer

At this point, you can run the ThoughtFarmer installer on the new server but you will want to ensure to point to the new database server and the newly created database and input the data in the fields.

Step 5: Decommission

You can decommission the old server.

PLEASE NOTE

The database contains some variables that are paths on the application server. For example, the path of the image cache folder and the search logs folder. If the new server does not contain the drive name in those paths, this will cause runtime errors in the application. It’s always best to check these paths before the installers runs. The config settings names are:

1. 1. elasticSearch.log.path
   2. Resized.image.cache.path

The extensions folder will need to be copied over from the old server and pasted into the application’s root folder of the new server. The path should be similar to “C:\inetpub\ThoughtFarmer\{Name of the ThoughtFarmer instance}”
 

Case 3: The new Server will only host the database

Step 1: Identify Hardware Requirements

The number of users of the instance will determine the hardware required to be installed on this server: 

Step 2: Identify Software Requirements

1. Operating System: Windows Server 2012 or 2016 64 bit
2. SQL Server 2012, 2014, 2016 or 2017 (Workgroup, Standard, Enterprise). These are the 4 basic features that you will need to install:

Database Engine Services

Reporting Service - Native

Management Tools - Basic

Management Tools - Complete
 

Step 3: Backup

You will need to backup the database from the old server, copy the backup onto the new server, and restore it onto a blank new database. You can then copy the ThoughtFarmer installers. You can either copy them from your current server if you still have them, or download the latest version from on this page.

Step 4: Run ThoughtFarmer

At this point, you can run the ThoughtFarmer installer on the new server but you will want to ensure  to point to the new database server and the newly created database and input the data in the fields. 

Step 5: Decommission

After the above steps are complete, you can decommission the old server.