Steps to a succesful server migration

Steps to a succesful server migration

We are actively migrating clients over to our new server as part of our ongoing commitment of improving our platform. The migration involves multiple steps:

Upgrade process, step by step

(Time to upgrade - approx. 3 hours once started)
  1. Location selects a date and time for the migration
  2. Location appoints a contact person that will be present during the migration, and provides SOVA a working email and phone number for this individual so we can remain in contact and provide updates during the migration
  3. All users must complete tours and tasks and logout of SOVA Mobile and SOVA Web at the planned downtime
  4. Location ceases performing security activities at the selected time and reverts to manual processes
  5. Contact person at the location receives an email once migration begins
  6. SOVA engineers begin data migration
  7. SOVA engineers test select application areas using newly migrated data on the new server to ensure proper functioning
  8. Once our engineers have confirmed that the data migration was successful, SOVA provides Contact an updated URL for accessing the web portal. Users at the locations can now login to the web portal and resume activities
  9. SOVA provides Contact with mobile URL to upgrade app to new version. Link is also sent to the Gmail account that we have on file for the location's mobile devices as the link needs to be accessed via the mobile devices
  10. Contact opens Gmail on each of the location's mobile devices, finds the email sent in step 9 above, and clicks the link. Please note, all mobile devices at the location need to be using the same Google account that was setup during the SOVA onboarding process. Today is a good time to verify that you can send and receive emails via Gmail in your devices! Please verify this beforehand and make any changes necessary to the Google account in your mobile devices
  11. After clicking link, Contact accepts being a "tester" for the upgraded app
  12. The existing SOVA app present on the locations mobile devices will be automatically updated by Google in 1-2 hours. If not, see "Additional Steps" below
  13. To speed this process, Contact can visit the Google Play website, click the section for "Apps" in the left-side menu, then choose "My apps." You will see a list of all of the downloaded apps. Scroll down to find "SOVA Guard Tracker" and see if there is an "UPDATE" button showing. If so, click this button to complete the update. If you do not see the "UPDATE" button after several hours, see "Additional Steps" below
  14. Once app is updated, you may be required to re-enter the unique activation ID for your location. If so, email us from your registered email and we will supply you with your credentials. You may also be required to request activation after entering your activation ID. If so, complete the form shown in the mobile device and email us once complete so that we can approve your device manually on our side

Verify that the upgrade is complete

  1. Verification that the mobile app has been updated can be found by logging into SOVA Mobile and accessing the user context menu (looks like three vertical dots at the top of the main user screen). Scrolling down to the bottom of the user menu you will see an "About" menu. Select that, and you should see version 2.2.4 after the upgrade is complete. If you see app version 2.19, you are still using the old app, which will not function following the update.

Additional Steps

If you see a different version after completing the steps above, or from any step if you get stuck, follow these additional steps:
  1. Remove the SOVA app from your device
  2. Reinstall the OLD app by searching for "SOVA Guard Tracker" in the Google Play store. This will be the same app as you currently have on your mobile device (version 2.19), but completing these steps will rebuild the app and database on your device which can help clear out data errors in the device itself
  3. Launch the app to ensure it installed successfully
  4. Do not enter your activation ID at this step.
  5. Resume from point 10 above, and continue through the remaining steps
NOTE: make sure you do not enter the activation ID once you launch the app using the "Additional Steps" above, otherwise you will be right back on the old server!
You're DONE! Enjoy the new features available to you. If you have any issues during the migration, we will be available via email or phone call to help resolve any issues you are having. Sometimes, images do not transfer correctly for equipment users, visitors, etc. Please rest assured that your images are safely in the old server and can be migrated manually after the fact.

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