4.4 Dedicating a Local Administration Server to Run a Previous DRA Version

Dedicating one or more secondary Administration servers to run a previous DRA version locally at a site during upgrade can help minimize downtime and costly connections to remote sites. This step is optional and allows AAs to use a previous DRA version throughout the upgrade process, until you are satisfied that your deployment is complete.

Consider this option if you have one or more of the following upgrade requirements:

  • You require little or no downtime.

  • You must support a large number of AAs, and you are not able to upgrade all client computers immediately.

  • You want to continue supporting access to a previous DRA version after you upgrade the primary Administration server.

  • Your environment includes an MMS that spans across multiple sites.

You can install a new secondary Administration server or designate an existing secondary server running a previous DRA version. If you intend to upgrade this server, this server should be the last server you upgrade. Otherwise, completely uninstall DRA from this server when you successfully finish your upgrade.

4.4.1 Setting Up a New Secondary Server

Installing a new secondary Administration server at a local site can help you avoid costly connections to remote sites, and ensures your AAs can continue using a previous DRA version without interruption. If your environment includes an MMS that spans across multiple sites, you should consider this option. For example, if your MMS consists of a primary Administration server at your London site and a secondary Administration server at your Tokyo site, consider installing a secondary server at the London site and adding it to the corresponding MMS. This additional server allows AAs from the London site to use a previous DRA version until the upgrade is complete.

4.4.2 Using an Existing Secondary Server

You can use an existing secondary Administration server as the dedicated server for a previous DRA version. If you do not plan to upgrade a secondary Administration server at a given site, you should consider this option. If you cannot dedicate an existing secondary server, consider installing a new Administration server for this purpose. Dedicating one or more secondary servers to run a previous DRA version allows your AAs to continue using a previous DRA version without interruption until the upgrade is complete. This option works best in larger environments that use a centralized administration model.