Migrate/upgrade XCOM for Windows to new XCOM/Windows version

Products

• XCOM Data Transport
• XCOM Data Transport - Windows

Issue/Introduction

What are the best practices when migrating XCOM for Windows for these scenarios:
 - moving from one Windows Server version to another e.g. Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2016 or 2019
 - moving from one XCOM version to another on the same Windows server i.e. no change to Windows OS.

Environment

XCOM Data Transport for Windows

Resolution

Install or upgrade to the latest service pack and patch level of XCOM for Windows 11.6 that supports your Windows Server version per steps below. Currently, SP03 is the latest Service Pack for 11.6 which supports both Windows Server versions 2012, 2016, 2019 and 2022.

1. XCOM Data Transport r11.6 SP03 64-bit for Windows Family Server can be downloaded from the XCOM Product Download page (type windows into the search box and then the link for "XCOM Data Transport for Windows Family Server WINDOWS NT" will become easily visible). The SP03 release is version r11.6.20035.
2. See the online documentation section Installing and Upgrading. From that section, please note that for an XCOM upgrade on the same Windows server, automatic upgrades from 11.5 or 11.6 32-bit to any level of 11.6 64-bit are not supported.
3. After the install/upgrade, install the latest patch to avoid any known problems. XCOM patches are cumulative so only the latest patch needs to be installed. The patches are available on the XCOM Solution Download page (type windows into the search box and then the link for "XCOM Data Transport for Windows Family Server WINDOWS NT" will become easily visible).
4. In general, unless running an automatic upgrade on the same Windows server or the old and new Windows servers are running identical XCOM versions, the best practice advice for the migration of configuration settings is that the new version should not simply have its configuration files replaced with backed-up copies from the old server. Instead, the steps should be:
   a. Review what is currently in the xcom.glb and xcom.cnf files on the old server and use those files as a guide to modify the new xcom.glb and xcom.cnf. The same advice applies to any other configuration files e.g. configssl.cnf.
   b. If using XCOM pre-processing or post-processing scripts on the old server the versions of those equivalent scripts on the new server will need to be modified accordingly. 
   c. Review the online documentation to see what has changed: XCOM™ Data Transport® for Windows 11.6 Service Packs > Release Notes

Additional Information

NOTE:
May 30, 2023: XCOM for Windows 12.0 has now been released so it is strongly advised to upgrade to that version unless there is a specific reason not to do so.
More details here: XCOM™ Data Transport® for Windows 12.0 > Installing > Upgrade from a Previous Release

XCOM Distributed Platform Compatibilities page.

XCOM Data Transport main product page.