At this point, you should’ve planned the upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013, gone through the system requirements for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013, reviewed the upgrade guide, the hot topic for upgrading to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 and the known upgrade issues and are ready to begin the upgrade process itself. Let's take a closer look at the database upgrade process for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013!
Database Upgrade - The Basics!
The database upgrade does take place in Microsoft Dynamics GP Utilities. The Upgrade Manual outlines the step-by-step process for the upgrade. Here are the basics...
1. Setup your test environment to test out the upgrade first.
2. Review the Upgrade Manual and Upgrade Hot Topic for the latest Known Issues and Pre-Upgrade Scripts.
3. Backup your existing DYNAMICS database and all company databases.
4. Verify you are on the correct patch to upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013. The minimum version for Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 is 10.00.1779 and minimum version for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 is 11.00.1860.
5. Obtain all the code and installs for your integrating products.
6. Download the latest DVD for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013.
7. Install Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 and install all features/products you currently use.
8. If a newer patch has released, install the latest patch currently available for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013. Refer to the Service Pack/Hotfix Download Page for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013. The patch just needs to be installed prior to launching Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 Utilities.
9. Launch Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 Utilities and click Next through the wizard to first upgrade your DYNAMICS database and then select to upgrade all company databases.
10. When the Additional Tasks Window appears, the database upgrade is complete and successful. If the Upgrade Company Window returns your company with a Red X, troubleshooting must take place. Stay Tuned for the Troubleshooting Blog on April 16!
Database Upgrade Tables
1. DU000010
The DU000010 table in the DYNAMICS database is the ‘Utilities Update Files’ table. This table contains a list of all tables that must be upgraded. Microsoft Dynamics GP Utilities uses these records and the versions on each record to know what tables get upgraded when you’re going from one version or build of Microsoft Dynamics GP to another.
2. DB_Upgrade
The DB_Upgrade table is also held in the DYNAMICS database and is the first table looked at when you launch Microsoft Dynamics GP Utilities. This is the main version table reviewed during the version check process discussed in the previous blog. Once the upgrade begins, Utilities will change the db_verMajor, db_verMinor and db_verBuild to the new version that you’re upgrading to. Not all products have the same version/build number. The db_status column in the DB_Upgrade table will also change as the upgrade of the database processes. It begins at zero and increases along with each database upgrade step. A db_status of 23 is at the table conversion process for that database. When Utilities has finished the database upgrade process and the entire process is successful, the db_status is set back to zero. The db_verOldMajor, db_verOldMinor and db_verOldBuild values are also set to match those of the db_verMajor, db_verMinor and db_verBuild for each product when the database upgrade process is complete and successful.
3. DU000020
The DU000020 table is another table that holds the versions of each feature/product installed for each database. The versions in the DU000020 will remain at the previous release until all tables in the database are upgraded successfully. When a user launching into Microsoft Dynamics GP following the upgrade, the version in the DU000020 is checked similar to how Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Utilities checks the version in the DB_Upgrade table.
4. duLCK
The duLCK table is used by Utilities to put a lock on a database while it is being upgraded. This prevents users from logging into the company database during the upgrade process. Once Utilities has finished the upgrade of the database, it will remove the record thus releasing the lock on the database. If Utilities is shut down or closed improperly, for example if the machine reboots or through Task Manager, this record may still remain in the duLCK table and when you re-launch Utilities, there will be a lock icon next to the database, so you won’t be able to select it in order to upgrade until you close Utilities and delete the record(s) in the duLCK table.
5. DU000030
Lastly, is the DU000030 table or ‘Utilities Fail List’ table. When Utilities starts upgrading the tables within the database, it looks at the DU000010 table, as mentioned previously, to see what tables get upgraded. For every table upgraded, a record is inserted into the DU000030 table with a Status for the upgrade. The ‘Status’ column shows which tables failed the upgrade and which tables were successful. Some common statuses that are seen in this table are:
0 - The conversion ran to completion without error
2 - The table being converted or deleted was not found
15 - The table was already converted since the table’s structure matches the destination table definition.
25 - The path to the table could not be determined
70 - Script Error. An error occurred while running a script
135 - An error occurred and the table was renamed back to its original name and it contains the original data
**Stay Tuned for the Upgrade Troubleshooting Blog due out on April 16!!! We will talk more about what to do when tables fail!
Server VS. Client - Where Should you Upgrade?
You can launch Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 Utilities for the upgrade from the server or any workstation. You are not required to install Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 at the SQL Server. The upgrade can be launched from a client if you choose to keep the SQL Server clean of all application installs. The only difference may be just a slight slow down as we talk back and forth between the SQL Server and the workstation. This does not add much overhead however.
Upgrading all companies at once or one at a time?
Upgrading all companies at the same time or one at a time doesn’t make much of a difference as far as Utilities is concerned, it will upgrade the databases in the same manner regardless. If you choose to upgrade all company databases at the same time, which is the default setting in the ‘Update these companies?’ window, Utilities will run through all company database’s upgrade process, one after the other, and won’t stop until either all company databases are upgraded successfully or an error occurs on one of the company databases.
If you choose to upgrade one company database at a time, Utilities will upgrade that company database and then once it completes successfully, it will go back to the ‘Additional Tasks’ window in Microsoft Dynamics GP Utilities and you would need to close Utilities and re-launch it in order to upgrade the remaining company databases. If the company database has an upgrade error, that will show just like if you selected all companies to upgrade at the same time. Usually, only upgrading one company database at a time is used more during troubleshooting of a specific upgrade error in the company database, but again, there isn’t any repercussions of doing the upgrade in this manner, other than you must close and re-launch Utilities for each company database upgrade if choosing one company at a time.
Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 Utilities is Not Responding - What Should I do?
A common question we get asked is about Microsoft Dynamics GP Utilities turning to a "white screen" and losing focus during the upgrade of the databases and/or showing ‘Not Responding’. This is actually normal and when this is encountered with Utilities the recommendation is to just let the upgrade run. If you feel the upgrade is locked up, please enable a SQL Server Profile Trace to verify there is no database activity. You will more than likely continue to see activity since the upgrade is more than likely still running.
VIDEO!! VIDEO!!! Check out the walk through demo video of the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 upgrade!!
Continue to check back with our Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 Upgrade Blog Series Schedule to learn more about the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 Upgrade!
Happy Upgrading!!!