Upgrading from GMS 7.2 to GMS 8.1

03/26/2020 1126 14077

DESCRIPTION:

While GMS administrators always want to stay on the latest service pack for their version of GMS, it is normally possible to upgrade to the next major version of GMS directly without applying all intermediate service packs.  Once you have upgraded to the target major version, it is still necessary to apply all current service packs and hotfixes in the order in which they were released.  

However, Special GMS 8.1 prerequisite instructions have been provided by development to apply 8.0 service packs 1 and a hotfix (which is now part of service pack 2) before upgrading to GMS 8.1.  This article will show GMS administrators how to upgrade a GMS 7.2 deployment all the way to the current version of GMS 8.1.

It should be noted that GMS 8.1 includes a major overhaul of the "Reporting Database", which is the database in which processed syslog information is stored.  8.1 revision 2 no longer uses infobright, but postgres, which is a more robust and more stable Relational Database.  

RESOLUTION:

Regardless of which 7.2 service packs have been applied, it is not necessary to upgrade to 7.2 Service pack 5 before upgrading to GMS 8.0. However, it is necessary to upgrade to GMS 8.0 SP2 before upgrading to GMS 8.1.  

The following steps are for a Software (Windows) deployment of GMS.  Below are the steps for the Virtual Appliance.

Software (Windows) deployments:

Step 1) Download the following files from mysonicwall.com:

GMS 8.0
GMS 8.0 SP1
GMS 8.0 SP2
GMS 8.1 Revision 2
GMS 8.1 Service Pack 1
GMS 8.1 Hotfix 173751 (or any service packs after Service Pack 1)

This is the same order in which the files will be applied.

Step 2) Install the GMS 8.0 executable file on the GMS windows server.  This will perform the upgrade process to 8.0.

Step 3) Login to the system interface (https://x.x.x.x/appliance, unless using a custom port), navigate to System | Settings, and upload the 8.0 Service Pack 1 file. 
After application, you may be prompted to restart your server, though it is possible the screen will simply turn blank white after executing the scripts.  It is safe to restart your GMS server at this point.  You must restart the server before moving to step 4. 
Restarting your GMS server does not affect your firewalls or VPN tunnels.

Step 4) Log back into the system interface, navigate back to System | Settings, and upload and apply the 8.0 Service Pack 2 file in the same manner as in Step 3. Restart the server before moving to step 5.

Step 5) Install the GMS 8.1 Revision 2 (8.1.8114) executable file on the GMS windows server.  This will perform the upgrade to GMS 8.1.  

NOTE:  The upgrade to the postgres reporting database must complete before moving forward.  Depending on the size of your reporting database, this may take hours to complete.  When you go to see your reports, you will see that database migration is still in progress.  Do NOT restart your GMS server during this time, or migration will start over from the beginning.

If this process has not completed in 24 hours, contact technical support for assistance.

Step 6) Log back into the system interface, navigate back to System | Settings, and upload and apply the 8.1 Service Pack 1 file in the same manner as in Steps 3 and 4. Restart the server before moving to step 7. 

Step 7) Under System | Settings, upload and apply hotfix 173751.  Restart your GMS server.

NOTE:  When 8.1 service pack 2 becomes available, it should include hotfix 173751.  Only application of Service pack 2 will be necessary at this point.  173751 does also include 174525, so additional installation of hotfix 174525 is not necessary. 
Repeat step 7 for any additionally available 8.1 Service packs as they release. Always keep up to date with the latest GMS service packs for your version.

Virtual Appliance deployments:

Step 1) Download the following files from mysonicwall.com:

GMS 8.0 Virtual Appliance Upgrade
GMS 8.0 SP1
GMS 8.0 SP2
GMS 8.1 Rv2 VA Upgrade (8.1.8114)  
GMS 8.1 Service Pack 1
GMS 8.1 Hotfix 173751 (or any service packs after Service Pack 1).

This is the same order in which the files will be applied.

Step 2) Login to the system interface (https://x.x.x.x/appliance) and navigate to System | Settings.  Upload and apply the 8.0 .sig file, and apply.  This will upgrade your virtual appliance.  Ensure the upgrade has occurred before moving forward.

Step 3) Log back in to the system interface and navigate back to System | Settings. Upload and apply the 8.0 Service Pack 1 file.  The Virtual Appliance should restart on its own. 
A restart of your GMS server does not affect your firewalls or VPN tunnels.

Step 4) Log back in to the system interface and navigate back to System | Settings. Upload and apply the 8.0 Service Pack 2 file.  The Virtual Appliance should restart on its own. 

Step 5) Log back in to the system interface and navigate back to System | Settings. Upload and apply the 8.1RV2 (8.1.8114) upgrade file. This will perform the upgrade to GMS 8.1.  

NOTE:  The upgrade to the postgres reporting database must complete before moving forward.  Depending on the size of your reporting database, this may take hours to complete.  When you go to see your reports, you will see that database migration is still in progress.  Do NOT restart your GMS server during this time, or migration will start over from the beginning.

If this process has not completed in 24 hours, contact technical support for assistance.

Step 6) Log back in to the system interface and navigate back to System | Settings. Upload the 8.1 Service Pack 1 file.  Apply.  This should restart your Virtual Appliance automatically.  If it does not, you can restart under System | Shutdown or from your virtual server manager (e.g. VSphere).  Restarting your GMS server does not affect your firewalls or VPN tunnels.

Step 7) Log back in to the system interface and navigate back to System | Settings. Upload and apply hotfix 173751.  This should Also restart your Virtual Appliance automatically.  If it does not, you can restart under System | Shutdown or from your virtual server manager (e.g. VSphere).

NOTE:  When 8.1 service pack 2 becomes available, it should include hotfix 173751.  Only application of Service pack 2 will be necessary at this point.  173751 does also include 174525, so additional installation of hotfix 174525 is not necessary. 

Repeat step 7 for any additionally available 8.1 Service packs as they release. Always keep up to date with the latest GMS service packs for your version.

To upgrade from GMS 8.1 to 8.2 please see Upgrade from GMS 8.1 to 8.2 (Analyzer 8.1 to 8.2)