Convert an unwanted app server to become a Test environment

Products

• CA Service Management - Service Desk Manager
• CA Service Desk Manager
• ServiceDesk

Issue/Introduction

Currently our production has an Advanced Availability environment that consists of one background server, one standby server and a couple of app servers. We have determined that one app server is not needed anymore and would like to turn this unwanted app server to a Test environment with Conventional architecture.

Environment

CA Service Desk Manager 17.3 and higher, Advanced Availability install

Resolution

Please follow these steps

1. On the server designated to become the new Test server, shutdown Service Desk Manager service
   
   
2. On the background server web interface, navigate to Administration-->System-->Servers, double click on the designated app server and click on Edit and change the status from Active to Inactive
   
   
3. On the designated new Test server, uninstall the existing Service Desk Manager instance and install the Service Desk Manager GA and then install the rollup patch using a new mdb
            Note: you can't use the existing mdb database that is being used by the production install
   
   
4. On the designated new Test server, run pdm_configure and do the following changes
   1. choose Conventional configuration
   2. choose primary server type
   3. enter a new database server name for the mdb and check the checkbox "Load default data"
               Note: you can't use the existing mdb database that is being used by the production install
      
      
5. Start Service Desk Manager service on the new Test server (now it is a primary server) if it does not start yet
   
   
6. Follow steps in
   How to migrate CA Service Desk Manager (CA SDM) changes made in Web Screen Painter (WSP)
   to move the customization from the production installation to this new Test (primary) server

After these steps, your existing production installation has one less app server and you have a new Test installation using that unwanted app server. Please note that in step 3 you could make it a new background server but since there is no standby/app servers in this new install, we recommend make it a conventional primary server.