Upgrading EcoStruxure IT Gateway Servers from Centos 7 to Rocky Linux 9.3 (Blue Onyx)

[ThisIsJimmy]

Hello

We need to uplift our EcoStruxure IT Gateway servers from Centos 07 to Rocky Linux.

Whilst looking at the system requirements here: https://community.se.com/t5/System-requirements/System-requirements-for-EcoStruxure-IT-Gateway/ta-p/... it says that you support Rockly Linux Version 9.1.  In our estate we have upgraded to Rocky Linux 9.3 (Blue Onyx).  Will Gateway also work on this version of Rocky Linux?

Secondly, I don't really fancy the idea of having to re-create everything from scratch once we have uplifted the OS.  Is it possible to export and reimport the application data from my existing Centos 07 Gateway Servers to the new Rocky Linux Gateway Servers?  And if so, what is the process to do this please?

Many Thanks,

James

[spezialist]

Dear @ThisIsJimmy,

Of course, EcoStruxure IT Gateway software will work fine under any minor version of Rocky Linux 9.x.

The answer to your second question can be found at the same link you posted, i.e. in the article System requirements for EcoStruxure IT Gateway there is a link to How to replace your EcoStruxure IT Gateway with a new installation. This is what you need.

[ThisIsJimmy]

Hi @spezialist.

Thanks for the reply.  Being able to use Rocky Linux 9.3 is good to know.

Regarding the second point it would appear as user of Ecostruxure IT Asset Advisor I would have to create my own batch file to upload as you can only download a CSV in IT Expert.  Based on the restrictions that exist though with that import (it essentially being a massive IP Address list without the facility as part of the batch file to point to specific SNMPV3 Credentials), it's not going to work for me without having lots of issues of devices locking out the Gateway servers whilst it cycles though all the different Discovery and File Access Credentials.  It would be quicker and less painful for me to just discover manually doing targeted IP Range discoveries against site specific discovery and file transfer credentials.

It's a shame that you can't export and import Discovery or file and transfer credentials as this is going to be the time consuming bit for me.

Still, at least I have my answer on this now.

Cheers,

James

[spezialist]

Dear @ThisIsJimmy,

I completely understand your problem when you have many hundreds of devices already set up and monitoring working.
So I can suggest two options for in-place migration of an existing installation of =SE= EcoStruxure IT GW software under CentOS 7, which however are not officially supported by =SE=. In addition, they require a good knowledge of Linux based OS from the person who will do it.

1. The first option is an in-place upgrade of CentOS 7 to CentOS 8, followed by a conversion of CentOS 8 to Rocky Linux 8, for which an in-place upgrade to Rocky Linux 9 is then performed. All these standard procedures have been in use for years and have been described many times on the Internet. But personally, I prefer the more reliable option for enterprises -- the officially verified and documented procedures for converting CentOS 7 to RHEL 7 followed by a sequential in-place upgrade to RHEL 8 and then to RHEL 9. And all this is done without any financial costs, get free and guaranteed upgrades for the OS with a standard for RHEL long support cycle. And if you decide that you need official RHEL support, you can always purchase it and take advantage of all its benefits.

2. The second method is less time-consuming than the first method, but it too can be used successfully. As you know the =SE= EcoStruxure IT GW software is a standalone bundle of a fixed set of software components such as Java, PostrgeSQL, Tomcat Java Application Server and a set of service scripts. And this entire bundle is compactly located in one common EcoStruxure IT GW directory inside Linux. This bundle works on different versions of RHEL-based Linux (7.x, 8.x, 9.x), so the first method of migration to Rocky Linux 9 described by me is suitable for it. However, nothing and no one prevents you from deploying a new server with Rocky Linux 9 or RHEL 9 corresponding to it and perform a fresh installation of the =SE= EcoStruxure IT GW software on it. Then, on this new server stop all EcoStruxure IT GW processes (Tomcat server processes and PostgreSQL processes) and rename the EcoStruxure IT GW directory for example to EcoStruxure IT GW new. Then on your old server with CentOS 7 also stop all EcoStruxure IT GW processes in the standard way and completely copy the entire EcoStruxure IT GW directory with absolute paths and permissions to the new server with Rocky Linux 9 or RHEL 9. It is understood that the =SE= EcoStruxure IT GW software versions must be exactly the same on both servers. That's all, after that you can start all EcoStruxure IT GW processes on the new server in the standard way and consider that the migration is over.

As you can see, all this is not so difficult, but not easy either. And it all depends on what's easiest for you, whether the migration options I've suggested, or whether it might actually be easier to rediscover all your devices, as you've described above.

[spezialist]

...Somehow, I completely forgot about the third method: to backup the =SE= EcoStruxure IT GW software under CentOS 7 and then restore from the backup under RockyLinux 9. I recommend that you pay attention to the FAQ Can I backup a Gateway installed on CentOS 8 and restore on CentOS 7? and to the articles Configure Gateway backup in Gateway 1.8+ and Configure Gateway restore on Gateway 1.8+.

I hope this is what you need.

[JLehr]

Hi @ThisIsJimmy and @spezialist 

Attempting to manually upgrade the OS or migrate the software file is highly discouraged.

Installing and discovering devices using import via CSV is the recommended method.

The new credential selection added in Gateway version 1.20.0 works with the Import. You'll need to import a separate file for each credential selection.

1. Recreate your Device Communication settings.
2. Go to Discover Devices.
3. Click "Configure Credentials" and select the credentials to use for import.
4. Click Import...
5. Select the file to import.

Alternatively, manually backup the old server and import to your new server.

@ThisIsJimmy please contact support to help you if needed.

[JLehr]

Hi @spezialist 

The article about restoring on CentOS 7 has been removed. Thanks for directing me toward this oversight.

[ThisIsJimmy]

Hi @JLehr 

I have already contacted Support.  They have advised Rocky Linux 9.3 is not supported and using it would be at my own risk.  For it to be supported would require a feature request to be submitted.  At this point i'm going to spin up a trial of it to see if I am happy to risk this in the interim, otherwise I may have to look at a Windows Build.

As for the import, as I would have to recreate all the different credential configuration from scratch, at that point their is no benefit to creating an import file if I would need to create multiple files for each IP Address range.  I may as well just manually do the imports on the App itself and be importing multiple ranges on the fly at the same time.

[spezialist]

Dear @JLehr,

Thanks for the important clarification regarding exports and imports via CSV -- this may make it easier to migrate for @ThisIsJimmy.

[wasabi]

@spezialist May i ask about your recommendation for method 2 on the NUC appliances running the headless version of CentOS ? I do believe root/sudo account is needed to copy/download the EIT gateway folder from it then this can be pasted on the new server.

[spezialist]

Dear @wasabi,

There is a separate article Replacing your EcoStruxure IT Gateway appliance on the replacement of the =SE= EcoStruxure IT GW hardware appliance. And as far as I understand, it in turn refers us to article How to replace your EcoStruxure IT Gateway with a new installation, which I have already mentioned here. So, for your case, again, the CSV export and import method may be the best option for you.

Well, or as an alternative method -- it's a backup of NUC appliance and then restore to a pre-prepared RHEL-based server with exactly the same version of =SE= EcoStruxure IT GW.

---

I do believe root/sudo account is needed to copy/download the EIT gateway folder from it then this can be pasted on the new server.

---

Yes, of course exactly, but I've never dealt with the EcoStruxure IT Gateway hardware appliance, so it's difficult for me to recommend anything about it, much less this method of migrating from it.

[JLehr]

@ThisIsJimmy and @spezialist -

The Gateway system requirements were updated for Linux and now include Rocky Linux 9.3. 

Please note that the Gateway appliance is no longer supported. 

[JLehr]

Hi @wasabi 

Please follow the recommendations in the help center.

The appliance is no longer supported by the manufacturer. It is strongly advised that the Gateway software no longer be run on the NUC.

https://community.se.com/t5/EcoStruxure-IT-Gateway-appliance/Replacing-your-EcoStruxure-IT-Gateway-a...

[Cory_McDonald]

Hello All,

Just creating a combined answer to this post for easier visibility:

• The latest sub-version of Rocky Linux 9.X is usually used for testing, so I would not expect any issues to arise from using the latest release.  I believe that all instructions have now just listed Rocky Linux 9 instead of including the sub-version to clear up this matter.
• I do not recommend going through an in place upgrade from CentOS to Rocky Linux due to there being many complexities involved.  The additional points below would be a better migration path from one Gateway to Another.
• NUC Appliances are end-of-life: https://community.se.com/t5/EcoStruxure-IT-Gateway-appliance/Replacing-your-EcoStruxure-IT-Gateway-a...
• For migrating from one installation of the gateway to another there are a few possibilities, each can be found here:
  • For some setups a simple Export device list and Import may suffice:
    • Export Device List: https://community.se.com/t5/ITE-FAQ/Can-I-export-the-IT-Expert-device-list-to-CSV/ta-p/446887
    • Import Device List: https://community.se.com/t5/Gateway-software-installation-and/Import-a-device-list-to-discover-devic...
  • Backup/Restore can only be done between gateways that are running the same version of the gateway.
    • Backup: https://community.se.com/t5/Configuration/Configure-Gateway-backup-in-Gateway-1-8/ta-p/446892
    • Restore: https://community.se.com/t5/Configuration/Configure-Gateway-restore-on-Gateway-1-8/ta-p/446910

Kind Regards,

Cory

[wasabi]

Thank you for your responses.

My initial tests with backup from NUC ISO version 1.20.0.8 to NEW RL9.4 on the same version IT Gateway, after successful restore, it will not load to the login page.

Also, from the NUC ISO version to Windows OS on same version would not work.

Ticket has been sent to support however never got a response back.