Move PHS7 database to a new server.
PHS7: All versions
When the current PHS7 server being decommissioned and replaced by another server, specific steps must be followed to moved from the old server to the new server.
Directly copying the database files while in use is dangerous because the database engine could write data during the copy process. If this happens, the copy will likely be corrupted.
Not following this procedure risks corrupting the database.
Ensure that all users are logged out of PHS7 and do not use PHS7 for the duration of this process.
The product activation must be removed from the old server to make it available for reactivation on the new server.
Refer to Product deactivation to move to a new server for information on this process.
Prior to copying the database from the old server, we will rename it.
This serves two purposes.
Locate the database. The default location for the PHS7 database is:
C:\ProgramData\WH Software\PHS7\Database
Almost always it is called PHS7.fdb.
Rename it to MovedToNewServer_PHS7.fdb
If Windows will not allow you to rename the database then do not continue.
This means the database is in use.
Using PHS7Setup.exe, perform a new install of PHS7 to the new server.
When the installer runs the ProMaster Hardware 7 Database Creator program, click Cancel to close it. This will skip the creation of a blank database because we do not require it.
Copy the renamed database file to the PHS7 database folder on the new server.
The PHS7 database location is:
C:\ProgramData\WH Software\PHS7\Database\
Next, rename the copied database files on the new server from MovedToNewServer_PHS7.fdb to PHS7.fdb
Configure and test backups on the new server.
See Backup overview or the PHS7 help file.
DO IT NOW. DO NOT SKIP THE BACKUP CONFIGURATION.
On each workstation, edit the following file:
C:\ProgramData\WH Software\PHS7\PHS7.ini
In that file there will be two sections that look like this (likely the blank lines will be missing but you may make blank lines to make the file more readable):
[Environments]
Default=Environment-Default
[Environment-Default]
ServerName=OLDSERVER:PHS7
The [Environments] section defines the default environment available to the program and points to the next section called Environment-Default. Then in the section [Environment-Default], the server for that environment is named (in this example) OLDSERVER with a database alias of PHS7.
Change the name of the server to that of the new server (in this case NEWSERVER):
[Environments]
Default=Environment-Default
[Environment-Default]
ServerName=NEWSERVER:PHS7
Save the configuration file
Login as a normal user (not the ‘admin’ user) to perform the PHS7 activation.