BCX v3 to v4 Migration

Upgrade

Customers with active support and maintenance can complete the upgrade themselves. Alternatively, if you contract support, we can complete an in-place upgrade for you.

Prerequisites

Version 4 client only supports x64 bit machines and requires .NET 4.7.2 or later. This is standard in Windows 10 build 1803 or later. Previous versions of Windows will require this being included in the master image.

Other Considerations

If you are using custom client settings.xml, this will not be honored in the v4 client, you should set the desired features using BCX Manager, Client Policy, before you deploy the v4 Client MSI.

If running BCX Client on RDS servers, you may need will likely need create a custom client policy prior to upgrading the client to ensure the correct features/client behavior is enabled/disabled as required.

If you have any custom permissions on your ManagerV3 or Tools\BCXChangePassword folder share, these will need to be manually added to the new folders post upgrade.

If you have multiple BCX server instances in the same domain, you will need to create client policies to tell BCX Client which instance to talk to. By default, BCX Client will look for “bcxmaster” as it did in previous versions.

The legacy tool BCXMISExtractor is not currently part of version v4, however the legacy v3 tool can still be used with BCX MIS Compare.

Please contact support prior to upgrade to discuss any custom configuration prior to upgrade.

Client Upgrade

Deployment for the version 4 client is via a new MSI over the previous version 3 client. The Installation Assistant will attempt to unlink your current “Stations – Install BCX Client v3” policy and create a new policy in its place “BCX Stations – Install BCX Client v4 Base Installer” and link to your Stations OU.

Existing version 3 clients should upgrade automatically. This will be visible from Station Information.

The new client components will now be deployed to:

C:\Program Files\BCX

Settings, configurational data and logs are now stored under:

C:\ProgramData\BCX

Custom Client Settings

All custom configuration for BCX Client must now be completed via BCX Manager using Client Policies.

If you are using custom client settings.xml, this will not be honored in the v4 client, you should set the desired features using BCX Manager, Client Policy, before you deploy the v4 Client MSI.

Other Server Connectors and AV Information Client

These will update automatically as required. Some legacy connectors will continue to function without updates, such as those for customers running older versions of Exchange server. The Installation Assistant will automatically manage this for you.

In Place Upgrade

The upgrade process involves running the new Network Management Tools installer MSI on your BCX server, over the top of the existing installation. Your existing installation will be detected and upgraded.

BCX Client v3.0.1.4 or later is compatible with the v4 Server Service to ease migration. Legacy 3.0.1.4 or later clients will continue to function without down time, until the v4 upgrade automatically deploys to them.

Moving the BCX Network Management Tools to New Server

To ensure a smooth transition, Burconix can provide this service for you, please contact support for details.

Considerations

The DNS entry “bcxmaster” is used by the client to find your BCX Server. Any server name change will require you to update the DNS entry manually.

Any file shares you have on this server, such as packages$ or Apps will need to be manually migrated with permissions. Your package tasks commands and shortcuts will likely reference these by server name so may also need updating.

Check for other connectors installed locally on the old server such as BCX Exchange Connector/File Server Connector/AV Reporting.

Check Add Remove Programs to see if anything else installed on the BCX server that might need consideration.

Check and make a note of custom non/standard permissions on ManagerVx, and Tools\BCXChangePassword as these will need to manually set on the new server.

Technical Walkthrough

The following provides a walkthrough of the steps. We do however recommend Burconix complete server migrations for you both to minimize any downtime, and to ensure seamless future upgrades and support.

Run BCXDBBackup from your old server, and verify the backup files in C:\DBBackup

Copy the C:\DBBackup from the old server to the new one.

Install all pending windows updates on the new server, and reboot.

Run Installer on new server as a clean install.

Install SQL Express 2019, and include Studio Manager to make any manual package path changes easier.

Browse to Existing Packages Location

On the DNS pane, you can allow DNS resolution mismatch to continue, as it will be pointing at your old server while you get the new one setup.

On the Group Policy section, note you will likely NOT need to Link the "BCX Users - All Users" policy, however we would recommend you do link "BCX Stations – Install BCX Client Base Installer v4".

At end of the install, uncheck Launch BCX Manager, run BCX Database Restore Tool.

Before you run the restore, first open the newly installed settings.xml from C:\Program Files\BCX\Server\settings.xml

Note the new SQLDataSource configured by the installer in the new settings xml.

Next copy the latest settings.xml from C:\DBBackup over the top of C:\Program Files\BCX\Server\settings.xml, open in Notepad and update the SQLDataSource using notepad for the new server instance name if required.

Now using the BCX Database Backup and Restore Tools, Ensure Restart BCX is checked. Click Restore Backup, Select the Backup to restore from DB Backup.

Run BCX Update shortcut from Desktop post install both to install any updates and verify communication. Configure Proxy settings as required, settings.xml in ProgramData

Run BCX Manager from Desktop Shortcut

If upgrading from a previous version, update any shortcuts such as BCX Manager V3 to the new location. \\BCXSERVERNAME\ManagerV4$\BCXManagerLauncher.exe

Also check BCX Change Password Shortcut

Verify Other Shortcuts if Apps share was hosted Check for list using old server name using follow statement, then update using Shortcuts in BCX Manager. SELECT Name,Description,TargetPath,Arguments,WorkingDirectory,TargetPath64,Arguments64,WorkingDirectory64 FROM Shortcuts WHERE TargetPath LIKE '\\bcx%'

Verify Package Task paths by exporting as CSV. SQL Update UPDATE Packages Set PackagePath=replace(PackagePath, 'oldname', 'newname');

Open Group Policy Management

Verify Group Policy BCX Stations – Install BCX Client Base Installer Ensure no old client deployment group polices are still linked/remove any duplicates.

Update any custom permissions on ManagerV4 and Tools\BCXChangePassword shares. Migrate any BCXChangePassword settings.xml from old server.

Open DNS Management and check dns for bcxmaster

Restart a Station and Confirm Client Comms

Confirm AV Reporting Comms

Confirm Connector Comms Remove old connectors from File - Settings in Manager.

Start - BCX Database Backup to Run DB Backup of the upgraded database.

On Old server Stop and Disable BCX Services

BCX Server Service BCX...Connector SQL Server (BCXSQL)

Computer Management Remove old packages$ shares entry point and Apps if there. Remove ManagerV3 share and BCXChangePassword and Client Share

Shutdown if no longer needed.

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