ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1 Upgrade Strategy

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This document outlines the recommended strategies for upgrading to SCADA Expert ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1.

For details on version compatibility of clients and servers as well as server-server for redundancy, please refer to the ClearSCADA Version Compatibility Matrix.

Important Information

Updating your ClearSCADA License

Prior to performing an upgrade of your ClearSCADA software, it is necessary to evaluate whether your current license is compatible with the new version of ClearSCADA.

License keys may need to be updated when upgrading to a new major or minor release. Provided that the server license you have supports a server version greater than, or equal to, the version of ClearSCADA to which you are upgrading, you do not need to update your license. If the ClearSCADA software version is greater than the license version, you will need to upgrade your existing license.

To determine your ClearSCADA version, please refer to the steps within Determine Your ClearSCADA or Geo SCADA Version.

To determine the version of your ClearSCADA server license, or to update your existing license, refer to the steps within Updating Your ClearSCADA License.

Changes to Upgrade Strategy

As a result of the changes to the ViewX User Interface for ClearSCADA from 2014 R1 onwards, the strategy for upgrading to ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1 from versions prior to 2014 R1 has been modified. Adhering to the previous strategy of upgrading ViewX clients prior to the ClearSCADA server will result in these upgraded clients being unable to communicate with the system until the server is also upgraded to ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1.

The recommended strategy for upgrading to ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1 is to upgrade the ClearSCADA server(s) first, followed by any remote clients. Previous versions of ViewX will provide remote clients with continued connectivity with ClearSCADA before and after the upgrade to ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1, after which time these clients can be upgraded to ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1.
It is recommended that all ViewX clients be upgraded to ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1 following successful upgrade of the server(s).

Server emulation is not required to support previous ViewX clients and should not be enabled on a ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1 Server.

Supported client versions include ClearSCADA 2013 R2, ClearSCADA 2014 R1 and ClearSCADA 2015 R1 (and corresponding Service Packs for each version).
ViewX clients prior to ClearSCADA 2010 R3 will not be able to connect to a ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1 server.

Removal of the Integrated PLC Driver

ClearSCADA software versions prior to 2014 R1 had an option of an integrated Kepware Technologies KEPServerEX4 PLC driver; however with the evolution of ClearSCADA this integrated PLC driver suite previously is no longer available.

To ensure the continuous, long-term operation of your system we recommend that you migrate to an external installation of KepServerEX5 (Kepware's latest version) prior to the upgrade to ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1. This migration will require the conversion of any existing PLC database objects into corresponding OPC database objects, for which a documented procedure and software tool has been prepared and will be provided free of charge from Schneider Electric on request.

An upgrade to ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1 should be performed only after all PLC database objects have been migrated to corresponding OPC database objects.

Upgrading from ClearSCADA 2015 R1

With a Standalone Server

• Shut the server down.

• Upgrade the server to SCADA Expert ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1.

• Restart the server.

With both Main and Standby Servers

• Shut down the Standby server.

• Upgrade the standby server to SCADA Expert ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1.

• Restart the standby server.

• Wait for the server to fully synchronize with the main server and go into the standby state.

• Connect a ViewX client to the upgraded standby server and confirm the client can connect and operate the system.

• Switch the upgraded standby server over to become main.

• Connect a ViewX client to the upgraded standby server (which is now main) and confirm the client can connect and operate the system.

• If there are any problems identified, reinstate the previous main server (which is now running as standby) and contact ClearSCADA Technical Support.

• Repeat upgrade for additional standby server(s).

• Upgrade the previous main server to SCADA Expert ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1.

• Restart the previous main server. The server will synchronize with the new main server and go into the standby state.

On a system with numerous clients connected to the servers, it is recommended that the servers be upgraded before the clients to ensure a smooth upgrade path.

To take advantage of the numerous improvements in this version, it is strongly recommended that both the servers and clients be upgraded to SCADA Expert ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1.

Other Versions

To upgrade from versions older than ClearSCADA 2015 R1, please follow the instructions shown in the Upgrade Strategy for ClearSCADA 2015 R1 (using 2015 R1.1 instead of 2015 R1).

ViewX clients prior to ClearSCADA 2010 R3 will not be able to connect to a ClearSCADA 2015 R1.1 server.

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