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How to upgrade to GFI MailArchiver 2013

Author: Luis Fernandes

Answer

This article does not refer to the latest version of the product.
If you want to upgrade to the latest version, please read: http://www.gfi.com/support/products/gfi-archiver/How-to-upgrade



This article covers the process of upgrading GFI MailArchiver to the latest version: GFI MailArchiver 2013

IMPORTANT

If you are not upgrading from GFI MailArchiver 2012, but an older version (like 2011 or 6) read the section When Upgrading from GFI MailArchiver 2011 or older on the bottom of this article. Also, your Windows Active Directory domain must be at a Windows Server 2003 functional level.


PRE-REQUISITES

  • Ensure that the system meets the increased system requirements
  • If you are upgrading from a previous major release (like GFI MailArchiver 2012 or older) a new license key is required
  • The PST Exporter has been made obsolete and replaced by the Archive Assistant
  • Distributed Deployment Manager is not distributed with the install anymore. In case you have a distributed deployment environments, please contact GFI Support before you do the upgrade.
  • It is best practice to create a backup before performing the upgrade


UPGRADE

  1. Ensure that you are logged on as Administrator or using an account with administrative privileges
  2. Fully disable any anti-virus software running on the MailArchiver server
  3. Download the latest installer from:
  4. Before starting the installation, save and close all open applications on the server
  5. Run the installer from a local disk (not a network location)
  6. Follow the wizard and enter the requested information
    • The installation will be updated
    • Settings and data will be retained
  7. On the Post Install Update page choose the option Upgrade Database schema now; this will launch the BulkSchemaUpgrader tool
    • IMPORTANT: GFI MailArchiver does not work if the database schema is not upgraded
    • If the logged on user does not have sufficient privileges on the SQL server a username/password dialog will be shown
    • Enter the 'sa' account and password of the SQL server (KBID003580)
  8. Once the database schema have been updated successfully a dialog will allow to re-enable archival of emails; ensure that the entries in the list are ticked and enable archival
  9. Re-enable anti-virus software if needed 
  10. If using the Outlook Connector upgrade them using the installer found in the directory ..\GFI\MailArchiver\Outlook
  11. If using the Outlook Addon upgrade exising installations to the new Archive Assistent using the installer found in the directory ..\GFI\MailArchiver\Outlook


WHAT’S NEW 

WHEN UPGRADING FROM GFI MAILARCHIVER 2011 OR OLDER

In GFI MailArchiver 2012 Archive Store Management was redesigned to automate the Archive Store creation process. This has an effect on how several features within the product work and this applies to GFI MailArchiver 2013 too.

Notes:

  1. Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 are no longer supported
  2. Export of emails from GFI MailArchiver 2 Archive Stores and GFI MailEssentials Archive is no longer supported
Additional Pre-Upgrade Tasks
  1. Launch the web interface as an administrator, go through the following sections and ensure that settings are up to date and valid
    • Configuration > Archive Stores > Schedule Archive Store (ensure that a Periodic Schedule is configured)
Additional Post-Upgrade Tasks
  1. Launch the web interface as an administrator, go through the following sections and ensure that settings are up to date and valid
    • Configuration > Archive Stores > Schedule Archive
    • Configuration > Archive Stores > New Archive Store Settings
    • Configuration > General Settings > Change Settings
The list below explains the most vital feature requirements and changes:
 
Database Schema Upgrade
 
Ensure that the Database Schema is upgraded during the installation / upgrade process, otherwise Archive Store automation is not implemented and GFI MailArchiver 2013 does not work. The Database Schema can also be upgraded manually using the Database Schema Upgrader tool. For more information refer to Upgrading the database schema.
 
Databases cannot be created manually
 
Archive Stores can no longer be created manually. Archive Store management is an automated process handled by GFI MailArchiver. 
 
Automatic Archive Store Creation
 
To facilitate Archive Store management, GFI MailArchiver creates new Archive Stores as required. The new Archive Stores are created when emails are received into GFI MailArchiver from Journaling or from Manual Archiving, based on the template settings specified in the New Archive Store Settings.  
 
New Archive Store Settings
 
A template for automatically creating new Archive Stores is created based on New Archive Store Settings specified during post installation tasks. This template can be modified later from the GFI MailArchiver UI. For more information refer to Configuring Archive Store Settings. 
 
Scheduling Archive Stores
 
Archive Stores are automatically created periodically on a predefined schedule. The default and recommended rollover period is Bi-Monthly. For more information refer to Scheduling Archive Stores.  
 
No active / inactive Archive Store
 
Created Archive Stores remain active until the Archive Store is full, or set as read-only, so emails with dates that span the Archive Store period are archived within the respective container. 
 
A read-only Archive Store
 
An Archive Store can be set as Read-only. When this happens, a new Archive Store for the same period is created when an email that falls within that time bracket needs to be archived. For more information refer to Editing Existing Archive Store Details. 
 
A full Archive Store 
 
A new Archive Store for the same period is created if the recommended size limit for that Archive Store is reached. This feature is only available for Archive Stores based on SQL Server Express and Firebird databases. 
 
Single instance storage 
 
Using a single-instance storage system, GFI MailArchiver ensures that no duplicate emails are kept within the same Archive Store.  
 
Importing emails into GFI MailArchiver 
 
When using the GFI MailArchiver Import Export Tool to import emails in GFI MailArchiver, emails are sorted and archived according to their date without the need of creating a plan. New Archive Stores are created as required if none exist for a particular period. If an email is imported for 1 user, then all recipients / senders in the email have ownership of that email, and they can access it. Archive Stores created during import process can be used for normal GFI MailArchiver operations when emails are archived from journaling or manual archiving. For more information refer to Import and Export Emails.