Upgrade Serv-U MFT and Gateway in Linux

How to upgrade the Serv-U MFT and Gateway applications installed in a Linux machine.
This is applicable from Serv-U version 12 to the latest version available.
Please see the supported operating system list on our Serv-U System Requirements page.
For upgrade procedures with Windows deployments, please refer to this article.
 

Before the upgrade, make sure to back up the Serv-U settings by following this article.
Download the Serv-U MFT and Gateway installer from your Customer Portal:
 

1. Open a browser and go to https://customerportal.solarwinds.com.
2. Log in using your Solarwinds Customer Account UserID and Password.
3. Navigate to Licenses > Manage Licenses.
4. Scroll down and look for Serv-U MFT or Serv-U Gateway entry and click on "Choose Download" button right beside it.
5. Under Product Downloads > Server Downloads > select the appropriate version of Serv-U application you want to download.
6. Click on the "Download" button.

Preparations for upgrade:

1. Do Snapshot your current Serv-U Server if applicable.
2. If your Serv-U has Database Users, backup the database first.
3. Login to your Serv-U Server using a Local Administrator account if possible. Not a Domain admin with admin privileges on the server.
4. Temporarily disable Anti-Virus, UAC, and Firewall in your Serv-U Server.
5. IMPORTANT: If you are upgrading to Serv-U FTP/MFT version 15.2.3 or newer, make sure you have a copy of the new license key from your Customer Portal account page. If your Customer Portal page does not show the new license key, DO NOT proceed with the upgrade, and please contact our Customer Service Support hotline at the numbers below to update your Serv-U license.

• Phone (Americas): +1-866-530-8040, option 1 or +1-512-682-9300
• Phone (EMEA): +353 21 5002900
• Phone (DACH): +49 30 390 634 50
• Phone (APAC): +61 2 8412 4900

• Please note that only the Serv-U FTP/MFT will have a new license key. The Serv-U Gateway will have the same license key.

Serv-U MFT Upgrade

1. Log in to the Serv-U server as root
2. Create a download folder. Run command: 

mkdir /usr/local/download

3. Go into that 'download' folder and copy the MFT install file there To go to the download folder. run command:

cd /usr/local/download

4. Unzip the file. Make sure to use the actual file name instead of v15.x.x. Run command: 

gunzip SU-MFT-Server-Linux-64bit-v15.x.x.tar.gz

5. UnTAR the file. Make sure to use the actual file name instead of v15.x.x. Run command:

tar -xvf SU-MFT-Server-Linux-64bit-v15.x.x.tar

6. Change the permission of the file to make it executable. Make sure to use the actual file name instead of v15.x.x. Run command:

chmod 777 SU-FTP-Server-Linux-64bit-v15.x.x

7. Stop the Serv-U MFT service. Run command: 

service Serv-U stop

8. Run the Serv-U MFT installer. Make sure to use the actual file name instead of v15.x.x. Run command: 

./SU-FTP-Server-Linux-64bit-v15.x.x

9. Follow the prompts and complete the install.

Serv-U Gateway Upgrade

1. Log in to the Serv-U server as root
2. Create a download folder. Run command: 

mkdir /usr/local/download

3. Go into that 'download' folder and copy the Gateway install file there To go to the download folder. run command:

cd /usr/local/download

4. Unzip the file. Make sure to use the actual file name instead of v15.x.x. Run command: 

gunzip SU-Gateway-Linux-64bit-v15.x.x.tar.gz

5. UnTAR the file. Make sure to use the actual file name instead of v15.x.x. Run command:

tar -xvf SU-Gateway-Linux-64bit-v15.x.x.tar

6. Change the permission of the file to make it executable. Make sure to use the actual file name instead of v15.x.x. Run command:

chmod 777 SU-Gateway-Linux-64bit-v15.x.x

7. Stop the Serv-U Gateway service. Run command: 

service Serv-U Gateway stop

8. Run the Serv-U Gateway installer. Make sure to use the actual file name instead of v15.x.x. Run command: 

./SU-Gateway-Linux-64bit-v15.x.x

9. Follow the prompts and complete the install.
10. Upgrade is complete. Check back inside the MFT management console to make sure that the MFT to Gateway connection is working.


Upgrade Tips:

1. If an Expired or Trial Maintenance banner shows after upgrading to Serv-U version 15.2.3 (or newer): 
   • Copy your Serv-U MFT license from the Customer Portal page.
   • Back in Serv-U, go to Management Console > Global > Server Details > License Information tab > scroll to the bottom left part of the page and click Enter License ID, and paste your MFT license there
   • If the HTTP or HTTPS is not loading to get into the Management Console, follow the instructions below.
     • Stop the Serv-U service
     • Make a backup of the Serv-UID.txt file located in /usr/local/Serv-U. If Serv-U is installed on another drive or folder, the Serv-UID.txt file will be located in the installation folder.
     • Edit the Serv-UID.txt file and clear out the old license key, then copy/paste the new license key from the Customer Portal. Save the changes.
     • Start the Serv-U service.
2. If you are not able to connect to Serv-U after the upgrade, bounce the listeners (disable/enable) 
   • Go to Domains > Domain Details > Listeners tab
   • Disable one of the listeners, SAVE, then re-enable the listener.
   • Check if the Serv-U application reverted to an expired or trial license.
     • To verify, look at the contents of the /usr/local/Serv-U/Serv-U-StartupLog.txt file
     • Look for an entry saying: LICENSE: Running beyond trial period. Serv-U will no longer accept connections.
     • If it shows a trial license, follow the instructions in Step 1 above.
3. There is no specific order on which to upgrade first (MFT or the Gateway) but it is highly suggested to upgrade the Gateway application first.
4. For deployments with SFTP connections enabled. If the default self-signed SSH private keys are used, make sure to backup the 'Serv-U-DefaultCertificate.crt' and 'Serv-U-DefaultCertificate.key' files found in the installation folder /usr/local/Serv-U. Installing Serv-U version 15.2.1 and above will have a new set of self-signed SSL certificate and SSH key that will overwrite the old files that came from Serv-U version 15.1.7.162 and lower. After the upgrade procedure, the old 'Serv-U-DefaultCertificate.crt' and 'Serv-U-DefaultCertificate.key' files should be copied back to the installation folder /usr/local/Serv-U so the same SSH key will still be used, and clients who connect through SFTP will not have to accept or trust the new SSH key that comes with version 15.2.0 or higher.