Upgrade to Ghost Solution Suite 3.3

Products

Ghost Solution Suite

Issue/Introduction

Do you support upgrading SQL Server? What is the suggested upgrade path, and is there any documentation on how to do this upgrade?

Example Scenario:

Have a GSS3.3 RU2 (Build 2121) install which currently uses SQL Express 2014 (which is EOL). It’s using the default install by GSS of SQL Express and we need to get to a newer SQL version and then upgrade GSS version as well.

Environment

GSS 3.3 RU2 and later

Resolution

Documentation:

Supported Upgrade Paths for Ghost Solution Suite 3.3

Before you start the upgrade process, please answer the following questions:

Is your SQL server the same box as your GSS server?
Are you planning to just upgrade your SQL server to a newer version?
Are you also planning to upgrade your GSS server from GSS 3.3 RU2 to 3.3 RU6 as well since you are upgrading your SQL Express server for example?

Let me share few things and hopefully this is as straightforward as possible.

Upgrading your SQL Express server on-box should be irrelevant for GSS IF it is upgraded to a supported version for the current GSS installed version. Please refer to the GSS Support Matrix:

Platform and OS Support Ghost Solution Suite 3-X
Note: Also, with the GSS downloaded files, refer to the Support Matrix.
In this example, if you stay with GSS 3.3 RU2, SQL Server 2016 is the highest that should go. If everything is working for you and you don't need any of the fixes released with GSS 3.3 RU3, RU4, RU5, RU6, RU7, RU8, RU9, RU10, RU11, or RU12, just upgrade your SQL Express Server.

Here is where you can go and check the GSS Release Notes for GSS 3.3 RU6 - RU12:

Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 RU6 Release Notes
Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 RU7 Release Notes
Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 RU8 Release Notes
Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 RU9 Release Notes
Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 RU10 Release Notes
Ghost Solution Suite 3.3 RU11 Release Notes
Ghost Solution Suite 3.3.12 Release Notes
If you decide to upgrade GSS 3.3 RU2 to something newer in order to be up-to-date with the current version, please refer to the upgrade documentation here:

175846 "Download the latest version of Symantec Ghost Solution Suite"
Installing and upgrading to Ghost Standard Tools 3.3

NOTE: To upgrade, it is as simple as running the new RU6 files (Symantec_Ghost_Solution_Suite_3_3_RU6.exe and Symantec_Ghost_Standard_Tools_3_3_RU6.msi) and follow the install screens.
Remember, it is a good idea to make a backup of your database
Upgrading the DAgent version. After upgrading to a newer GSS version, the DAgent file is also replaced.

Few things to consider for the DAgent upgrade process are:

Automatically update to newer version of Ghost Solution Suite Agent.

At times, Sumantec may update versions of the Ghost Solution Suite Agent to enhance features. For best performance, we recommend that all managed computers run the latest version of the Ghost Solution Suite Agent. When a new version of the Ghost Solution Suite Agent is saved to the eXpress Share file server, the managed computers automatically update the Ghost Solution Suite Agent.

To automatically update to newer version of Ghost Solution Suite Agent.

When you are done upgrading your GSS server to 3.3 RU10, then you can move on and do the DAgents in one jump.

The "Automatic Agent Update" Job should be automatically created and executed after the GSS server is updated in case this option is enabled as it is displayed here:

The "Agent Update Jobs" task should be populated automatically by the computers that need the new agent version and this task will update them.

This job replaces agent binaries so it should be able to replace binaries of DAgent with binaries of the installed GSS version.

Other DAgent upgrade methods:

From the computer where Ghost Soluti8on Suite Server is installed, click Start > Altiris > Configuration:

The Symantec Ghost Solution Suite Server "Configuration" Utility page appears.
Click "Options".
Click "Transport".
Select the "Automatically update clients" option and then click "OK".

OR

Run this directly, "C:\Windows\Sys\WOW64\axbectl.cpl"

On older OS versions, run:

Click Start>All Programs>Altiris>Ghost Solution Suite>Configuration. The Symantec Ghost Solution Suite Server "Configuration" utility page appears.
Click "Options".
Click "Transport".
Select the "Automatically update clients" option and click "OK".

What to do when something goes wrong with the upgrade?

Do we have some sort of steps / plan of action on backup and rollback solution for GSS upgrade if it fails?

At this point, no we do not ... As we always encourage customer to back up the database first and then proceed with the upgrade. If the upgrade goes sideways then use the uninstall/reinstall document:

163068 How to Uninstall/Reinstall Ghost Solution Suite 3.x

NOTE: If GSS 3.3 RU5 or newer no need to reinstall GSS 3.3 GA version first.

FYI, here is our online documentation as a reference:

https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/symantec-security-software/endpoint-security-and-management/ghost-solutions-suite/3-3/Using-GSS.html