Network Management

Best practices for upgrading Orion

This article describes the best practices that would help avoid missteps and ensure minimal downtime when upgrading your Orion environment.

First published date

10/12/2018 8:24 PM

Last published date

5/27/2021 4:18 AM

Overview

This article describes the best practices that would help avoid missteps and ensure minimal downtime when upgrading your Orion environment.

Product section

Network Performance Monitor

Cause

N/A

Resolution

 
  1. Take a full backup of your Orion database. The Orion database holds all your production information except for reports created using Report Writer. 
    • Note: If you have an automated backup solution in place, verify that there is a current backup before completing an upgrade.
  2. Proceed on backing up the Reports folder. It holds all of the canned and customized Report Writer reports. 
    • By default, the Reports folder on a 32 bit OS can be found in C:\Program Files\Solarwinds\Orion.
    • By default, the Reports folder on a 64 bit OS can be found in C:\Program Files x86\Solarwinds\Orion.
      • Note: If you installed the Orion applications on a different drive, you need to back up the Reports folder from that installation directory. 
  3. Stop all Orion Services using the Orion Service Manager. Be sure to do so on the primary Orion server, all additional Web servers, and all additional polling engines. 
    • Note: If you stop services using the Windows Control Panel, stop all SolarWinds services except the SolarWinds Administration Service. 
  4. Run the installer for the product you wish to upgrade: first on the primary Orion server, then on any Additional Web servers, and last on any Additional Polling Engines.  
    • Notes:
      • You can use the Orion Installer to generate the correct upgrade path if you are upgrading from an older installation
      • The Configuration Wizard must be run after each installation. Please do not skip this step after an upgrade to avoid unnecessary downtime.
  5.  Verify that Orion is working as expected once the upgrades are complete.