Upgrade Guide

This document explains how to upgrade to Resolve Actions Express release 2.4.x.

Supported Upgrade Paths

You can upgrade to the latest release of Resolve Actions Express from the following releases:

• Actions Express 2.1
• Actions Express 2.0
• Actions Express 1.9
• Actions Express 1.8

Pre-Upgrade Steps

System Checks

• Database Access Requirements - For environments without sysadmin access to the Actions Express database server, please review support article: Installing Actions Express with a non-sysadmin user
• Verify Windows service logon account. Open Services on the Actions Express server and check the logon account of the Actions Express Manager services. Note that if it isn't the LocalSystem account, then this account must be configured manually during post-upgrade steps (Windows Authenticated Database Access).
• Per Actions Express Instance (Multiple App servers used in the same environment referred to as Module Instance)
  • Stop Actions Express Manager Windows Service.
  • Stop all core components/integrations from Web Client or Terminate all running Actions Express processes manually. (i.e., Engine Server, Comm Server, etc.)
  • Backup Actions Express Installation folder, by default C:\Program Files\Resolve\ or C:\Program Files\Ayehu\.
  • Backup the Ayehu Master and Tenant database(s).

Required Network Ports

Before upgrading, check the following:

• Port 1433 is open between the server, engine, comm server, and the database server.
• If you are installing on a remote server, open port 1433 to the database server and port 11000 to the server.

Enable Dynamic Compression in IIS

note

This step is optional but recommended. It only applies if upgrading from Actions Express 1.8 or if you haven't enabled the feature during previous upgrades.

Enabling dynamic compression in IIS can bring performance benefits after upgrading to the latest release.

To enable it, go to Service Manager > Add roles and features. On the Server Roles screen, expand Web Server (IIS), then Performance and select Dynamic Content Compression.

See also: How To Enable IIS Dynamic Compression for Actions Express UI

note

You might need to temporarily disable your antivirus application if it blocks the installation wizard.

Upgrade Process

Take the following steps on each Actions Express instance that you run.

1. Run the Actions Express setup file as Administrator.
   If you plan to use Windows Authentication to connect to the Actions Express databases, ensure that the account has the appropriate database access.
2. On the welcome page, click Next.
   Your existing configuration is displayed, including installation path, installation type, and database name.
3. On the License Agreement screen, select I accept the terms in the license agreement and then click Next.
4. On the Destination Folder screen, select the installation path and then click Next.
   The installer suggests replacing the original Actions Express folder with a new Resolve folder.
   The legacy Actions Express files will be deleted except for log files.
5. On the Custom Setup screen, select the components that you want to install.
   The currently installed components are selected.
6. On the Create Resolve Database screen, do the following:
   1. Select I already have a Microsoft SQL Server....
      Your existing database details are prefilled.
   2. In Connect using, select the authentication method that you are using with your SQL Server and fill in the details.
   3. (For Server authentication only) Enter the password.
   4. Click Next to continue.
7. After the installer verifies the database settings, click Next one more time.
8. On the Prerequisite Check screen, review the list of prerequisites and ensure that all of them are showing Success.
   If a prerequisite is unresolved, keep the window open, resolve the prerequisite outside the installer, and finally, click Retry. Even if some of the prerequisites show a Warning status, you can click Continue and finish the installation on your own responsibility.
9. Click Install.
10. Click Finish.

Post Upgrade

• If you've selected the Windows Authentication method in the database configuration window during the installation:

Actions Express Manager Service

• For the Logon Account of the Actions Express Manager service, select an account that has DB_Owner privileges to and on the Master databases. To edit the Logon Account for both services, open the Service Management console on the server, right-click each service and select Properties, edit the account in the Log On tab, and restart the service.

Actions Express-NG-DAL-AP Application Pool

• Set the Identity of the Actions Express-NG-DAL-AP application pool to an account that has DB_Owner privilege on the and Master databases: open IIS > Application Pools and select Actions Express-NG-DAL-AP. Select Advanced Settings, click Identity and Select Custom.  For Multi-tenant installation also updated identity for the Actions Express-NG-DAL-AP-Master application pool as well

If Using Active Directory Account to Login

• If you are using Active Directory accounts to log in to the Actions Express Web Client refer to the guide Using AD Synchronization to Manage Login Users and Groups.

Activities whose Path Need to Restore as Needed within Each Tenant Database

• If any of the following activities are being used, restore the path as needed within each tenant database:
  • DB2 Statement
  • DB2 Query
  • Oracle Statement
  • Oracle Query
  • MySQL Statement
  • MySQL Query
  • All Exchange category activities
• Disable Tenant/Company bypass as described in guide Enable/Disable Actions Express Company Login Textbox

Proxy Settings

Previously, this information was set directly in the SQL database in the Modules table, in the Params column. If you have such pre-existing proxy settings, you will need to redo the settings after the upgrade using the new UI controls in the ServiceNow Integration Module. The database settings will not automatically propagate to the new configuration.

Azure AD Users Synchronization Activity Breaking Change

Due to Microsoft deprecating the Azure AD Graph API in favor of the Microsoft Graph API, the Azure AD Users Synchronization activity was upgraded to use the Microsoft Graph API.

To ensure the continued operation of the Azure AD Users Synchronization activity, you need to update the permissions settings of your Azure application.

Take these steps to update your Azure application:

1. In Azure, go to the application that you use with Actions Express SaaS.

2. Under API Permissions, ensure that you add the following new permissions while keeping the existing permissions:

   API/Permissions Name	Type
   Group.Read.All	Application
   Organization.Read.All	Application
   User.Export.All	Application
   User.Read.All	Application

Find more information in the official announcement by Microsoft.