First of all: Nintex published some whitepapers about this issue.
http://connect.nintex.com/files/folders/tutorials_and_how_tos_nw2010/entry20197.aspx
http://connect.nintex.com/files/folders/technical_and_white_papers_nw2010/entry17226.aspx
Based on this inputs I created a approch to move our content and Nintex Workflow databases:
Production:
- Backup SharePoint Content Database
- Backup Nintex Database
- Both have to be in Sync. No Workflow changes while Backup
Development/Integration:
- Restore SharePoint Content Database
- Delete existing Nintex Database
- Restore Nintex Database
- Mount SharePoint Database
- Perform IIS Reset
- Change license key to development key
HINT: I automated the database backup/restore process for repeating actions with
MS SQL SSIS. It allows you to prepare a package with all parameters and actions
required for the movement.
At the end you get a "click once" Nintex database deployment between farms! Quite nice..
At the end you get a "click once" Nintex database deployment between farms! Quite nice..
I am trying to migrate some site collections to another server, but we want the change to be gradual, what would your focus be on that case? do you know if you can backup a specific site collection from Nintex database?
ReplyDeleteTo give you a proper advice, we need to clarify the following points:
ReplyDeleteAre you trying this on SharePoint 2010? Can you please also tell me the exact Nintex product version, which you can find in central admin.
How do you try to migrate the site collection? As I assume, you have a content database with multiple site collections and you want to export a site collection to a new content database. Or do you use any 3rd Party tool?
The minor issue here is to understand, that Nintex saves some data of the running Workflows in the content database, but all configuration settings are stored in the Nintex configuration database. The tricky point here is to Keep them in sync while backup, restore and attach to target SharePoint.
Please give me some more Information and we ll find a way to solve the issue...
Thanks for your prompt response. Yes, it's SharePoint 2010, and it's Nintex Workflow 2010. We use the method of the backup and restoring database, directly on SQL Server, and then attaching it to the new site collection.
Deletenormally Content databases are attached to web applications. so in this Case you Need to do a full backup and restore of the Content database and nintx workflow database as describe in the above article. After attach to the new web application you can go ahead and delete all unused site collections from your migrated content database. this ll be reflected in nintex configuration database also and deleted objects ll be deleted there also.
ReplyDeletethen you can delete the migrated site collections from old system and you have splitted your content databases and site collections successfully.
DeleteIt would work if we were to make the complete migration at once but the problem is that they want some sites now and some sites later but if they keep working on the old sites I don't think we can update the changes in the workflows, that's my question, if it is possible to make it in two parts.
DeleteAlso, what happens to the ongoing workflows? will they keep working just fine after the restore?
To make in in two steps Ll require some more engineering, but it's possible. My recommended way would be to migrate at once. the other possible solution ll result in much effort. After successful migration of content database and nintex at the same time, Workflows keep their state.
DeleteI will try and use this approach. Thanks for your recommendation and for your time!
ReplyDelete