Migrating Elvis 4 to Elvis 5

This article describes the steps for migrating an Elvis Server 4 environment to an Elvis Server 5 environment. This is done by installing Elvis Server 5 and migrating the Elvis 4 content and configuration settings to Elvis 5.

Before you start

Take note of the following:

• The lowest version of Elvis 4 that can be migrated from is Elvis 4.1. If you are running Elvis 4.0 or lower, please upgrade to 4.1 first and then complete the migration.
• The installation of a new Elvis 5 server is also considered to be part of the migration process.
• The lowest version of Elvis 5 which can be migrated to is Elvis 5.1.1.
• It is recommended to upgrade to the most recent version of Elvis 5 available.
• Migrating a multi-volume storage to Elvis 5 requires the Migration tool version 1.1.24 (available since Elvis 5.24) or higher.
• It is not possible to migrate without a certain amount of downtime. Beware that no write actions should be performed on the Elvis 4 system once the migration has started. Make the Elvis 4 system read-only or completely disable access.
• Creating a dump file can potentially take a long time (sometimes more than a day), mainly depending on the number of assets and statistics. Please allow sufficient time in your upgrade schedule for creating this file.

• It is not possible to do incremental migrations. In case of copying large amounts of files, we do however recommend to use rsync to prepare the copy step in advance.

• Make sure that the Migration Tool is installed.

Prioritizing data migration

Info: This feature requires the Migration Tool version 1.1.25 (shipped with Elvis 5.27) or higher.

Migrating Elvis 4 data to Elvis 5 can take a long time, depending on the available assets and indices. This also means that it can take a long time before the Elvis 5 system is ready for use.

To have a working Elvis 5 system available in the shortest amount of time, it is possible to prioritize data migration by specifying which data to migrate first. This will typically be the data needed for Production. All other data (typically archived data) will then be migrated at the end of the migration process.

As a result, parts of the Elvis 5 system will become available for use during the migration process; it is therefore not needed to wait for the full process to be completed before the system can be used.

Import order

The following overview shows which parts of Elvis 5 become available after specific import processes are completed.

Essentials for users. When the following processes are completed, users can log in:

1. Rules
2. Permissions
3. Saved Searches
4. Rendition Presets
5. Profiles
6. Perspectives
7. Auth keys (Share links)

Assets. When the following processes are completed, the system is available for use.

1. Folders
2. First priority assets
3. Rest of the assets
4. Versions
5. Relations

Note: Versions and Relations are added after all assets have been migrated.

Statistics. When the following processes are completed, statistics are available:

1. Usage
2. Search
3. Activity

Asset and Version files. When the following processes are completed, the full system is available.

Note: These processes run parallel with the above mentioned processes; the process of moving or copying assets will run as soon as the import is started at the same time the index is populated.

1. First priority asset files
2. Rest of asset files
3. Version files

Migration steps

Migrating Elvis 4 to Elvis 5 is split into the following scenarios:

Note: Some steps are explained in separate articles; when completing these steps, return to this article that you are reading now.

Rollback

• If the migration failed or got interrupted for some reason, perform a rollback by removing your Elvis 5 installation and (in case a single server was used) installing Elvis 4 followed by applying your backup.
• If the migration failed after a data import, the Elvis 4 files may have moved. In this case, use the Rollback feature of the Migration tool to move your files back to your Elvis 4 installation.

Document history

• 3 July 2018: Updated section 'Migration steps' by adding a link to Installing the Elvis Migration Tool.