How to move Workflow/ServiceDesk 8.x SQL database to a new server.

Products

• ServiceDesk
• IT Management Suite

Issue/Introduction

There are 4 places where SQL Server connection string needs to be updated to change the SQL Server Workflow/ServiceDesk uses.

I. Symantec Workflow Explorer - SymQ Configuration:

• SymQ_Local_Defaults > local.workflowsqlexchange-
• SymQ_Local_Defaults > local.orm
• Workflow_Core > local.workflowsqlexchange-

II. Connection string in ProcessManager web.config

While server may be changed, database name cannot be changed from what it was set to when installing Workflow/ServiceDesk. If database name is changed Workflow/ServiceDesk will not function correctly.

Resolution

Steps to change the SQL Server connection string:

I. Change the SQL Server in SymQ Configuration:

1. Open Workflow Explorer: Start > All Programs > Symantec >  Workflow >Designer > Tool > Workflow Explorer
2. Navigate to SymQ Configuration tab
3. In the left pane select SymQ_Local_Defaults
4. In the right pane select local.workflowsqlexchange- and click Edit button
5. Click the ellipsis ... button next to Sql Connection String
6. In Connection String Editor modify the Server name and authentication type as needed. 
   Do NOT change the database name.
7. When ready, click on Test Connection button and make sure it results in Test connection succeeded, then click OK
8. Copy the resulting connection string to Notepad for further use, then click OK.
   1. Click Save button
9. In the right pane select local.orm and click Edit button
10. Paste the connection string to Sql Connection String field.
    It is recommended to click the ellipsis ... button next to it and click Test Connection to make sure it is correct.
11. Click OK button.
    1. Click Save button
12. In the left pane select Workflow_Core
13. In the right pane select local.workflowsqlexchange- and click Edit button
14. Paste the connection string to Sql Connection String field.
    It is recommended to click the ellipsis ... button next to it and click Test Connection to make sure it is correct.
15. Click OK button.
    1. Click Save button

II. Steps assume the default location of C:\Program Files\Symantec\Workflow for Workflow/ServiceDesk installation, replace it with appropriate path if you have it installed in another location.

There are two ways to have the connection string in the web.config - plaintext and encrypted. Connection string in plain text works but can be problematic in high security environments.

Plaintext: Steps to change the connection string in ProcessManager web.config:

1. Open web.config in Notepad (or other text editor) 
2. Find the connection string (DataAccessConfiguration > ConnectionInstance) the line should look like this:
   <add key="ConnectionString" value="H26o71ZL...L1Csw=" />
3. Replace the value between quotes "" with the connection string from Step 8 above.
4. Save.

Encrypted: Steps to change the encrypted connection string in ProcessManager web.config:

1. Make a backup copy of C:\Program Files\Symantec\Workflow\ProcessManager\web.config (copy it to another folder like desktop, do not leave it in the same folder).
2. Open an Administrator Command Prompt (right click on the shortcut and select Run As Administrator)
3. Run LBUtil to update the encrypted connection string in ProcessManager web.config, making sure paths to both lbutil.exe and web.config are correct:
   "C:\Program Files\Symantec\Workflow\Tools\lbutil.exe" -updatepmconnection -connectionstring [paste connection string here] -webconfig C:\Program Files\Symantec\Workflow\ProcessManager\web.config

III. Change the SQL Server reference under the Process Manager Sessions exchange:

1. To reconfigure the Process Manager Sessions exchange
2. Open Workflow Explorer, and in the toolbar at the top of the page, click the SymQ Configuration.
3. In the SymQConfiguration section, click Process Manager.
4. In the Process Manager section, click Add.
5. In the Select Exchange Type dialog box, click SqlExchangeConfiguration and then click OK.
6. In the Edit Exchange dialog box in the Exchange Name field, type the name ProcessManagerSqlStorage.
7. In the SQL section, type the SQL connections details.
8. To the right of the Sql Connection String field, click the ellipsis.
9. In the Connection String Editor dialog box, click Test Connection. Do not go to the next step until the SQL connection is verified.
10. In the Edit Exchange dialog box in the Global Settings section, check Is Template Configuration and uncheck Is External Config.
11. Click OK.
12. ProcessManagerSqlStorage appears in the list of exchanges.
13. Click Save.
    
    

IV. Restart IIS and Symantec Workflow Server service to properly apply the changed settings.

 

Additional Information

"How to move a Workflow database from one SQL Server to another" (KB 179763 (HOWTO26047))
"How to migrate the ServiceDesk 7.5 or 7.6 Microsoft SQL database to a new server and/or move the ServiceDesk 7.5 or 7.6 application to new server" (KB 178800 (HOWTO36202) )