SAP BO 4.2 SP05: Windows Server OS Upgrade From 2008 R2 Enterprise to Windows Server 2016.

[kbenson]

Hi,

We currently have our BusinessObjects BI server components (4.2 SP05) installed on an on-premise physical Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise. We are planning to upgrade the operating system from Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise to Windows Server 2016.

I would like to confirm if this OS upgrade can be performed without reinstalling the BusinessObjects application. Additionally, any guidance on the steps required to perform this upgrade would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Kristen

[Joe_Peters · Accepted solution]

Hi.

You can't upgrade directly from 2008 to 2016; you would need to upgrade to 2012 first and then from there to 2016.

With that said, doing an in-place OS upgrade of a BO server is not recommended.  See this note and this one.  The recommended solution is to build a new server, then do a fresh install of the OS and the BO software.  

With that said, BI4.2 is now out of support, you should consider BI4.3 if you can.

[kbenson · Accepted solution]

That’s very helpful, thank you so much!

[kbenson · Accepted solution]

If we decide to build a new server and perform a fresh installation of the OS and BO 4.3 software, is it possible to migrate all content (including Webi Reports, Universes, Connections, Users, Permissions, Schedules, and Configurations) from BO 4.2 to 4.3? If so, could you please provide guidance on this process?

Thank you!

[Joe_Peters · Accepted solution]

Sure, you would use Promotion Management to migrate the content from the old environment to the new one.

[kbenson · Accepted solution]

With our plan of building new server and the BO 4.3 platform, we would like to install SQL Server 2022 in place of SQL Anywhere. Is it possible to migrate all the repository content, including the CMS and audit databases, from SQL Anywhere to SQL Server 2022?

[Joe_Peters · Accepted solution]

Yes, that is possible. See this kb article for info: https://me.sap.com/notes/0001899321