How to upgrade the 5.4.x AppAssure Core & apply the latest Updates (129085)

How to upgrade the 5.4.x AppAssure Core & apply the latest Updates

This article shows how to upgrade an AppAssure Core and apply the latest update patch without having to go through a core service restart and a repository check between the two applications.

The latest update patch can be downloaded directly from the AppAssure Support Portal using this link

The solution is to keep the core service disabled at all times.

NOTE: Upgrading the 5.4.2 Core build removes the core service and reinstalls it. Afterwards the upgrade attempts to start the core. Therefore, just disabling the core service is not enough.

You can achieve the goal of keeping the core service stopped at all times, by entering a command in an elevated powershell console. The result is that the core service will be forcebly disabled every 2 seconds for the duration of the execution on a continous loop. For the period where the core service does not exist during the the upgrade process, the operation will be just skipped.

For a safe upgrade, please perform the following operations:

• Make sure that no active jobs are present on the core.
• Suspend snapshots, replication (if present) and VM exports (if present). To do this from an elevated powershell console, please run:

import-module appassure*
suspend-snapshot -all
suspend-vmexport -all
suspend-replication -incoming -all
suspend-replication -outgoing -all

• Run the following powershell command in an elevated powershell console to keep the core service disabled for the duration of the update:
  
  for(;;){start-sleep 2; set-service appassurecore -startuptype disabled -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue; write-host "*" -NoNewline}
  
  Note: This command will run continously, showing a "*" for each iteration.
• Stop the core service. To do this from an elevated powershell console, please run:
  
  stop-service appassurecore
  
  Wait for the core service to stop gracefully.

1. Perform the upgrade by running the newer 5.4.2.xxx Core installer. (Please make sure that the installation file is unblocked in the General tab of the properties of the installer.)
2. Run the latest update installer. (Please make sure that the update installer file is unblocked in the General tab of the properties of the installer, although unlikely, it may be necessary to run it in compatribility mode)
   It does not matter if you leave checked the "restart service" check box as the core service is disabled.
3. Return to the PowerShell window and stop the PowerShell operation that keeps the Core service disabled by hitting CTRL-c.
4. Enable the Core service. To do this from an elevated PowerShell console, please run:
   
   sc.exe config appassurecore start= delayed-auto
   
   Note: There is a space between "=" and "delayed-auto"
5. Start the Core service.To do this from an elevated PowerShell console, please run:
   
   start-service appassurecore

The upgrade process is finished!

Same process can be applied for any upgrade that includes applying one or more patches.