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XProtect Management Client

Moving the management server

Last Updated: 4 minute read

The management server stores your system configuration in a SQL Server database. If you are moving the management server from one physical server to another, it is vital that you make sure that your new management server also gets access to this SQL Server database. The system configuration database can be stored in two different ways:

  • Network SQL Server: If you are storing your system configuration in a SQL Server database on SQL Server on your network, you can point to the location of the database on that SQL Server when installing the management server software on your new management server. In that case, only the following paragraph about management server host name and IP address applies and you should ignore the rest of this topic:

    Management server host name and IP address: When you move the management server from one physical server to another physical server, it is by far the easiest to give the new server the same host name and IP address as the old one. This is because the recording server automatically connects to the host name and IP address of the old management server. If you give the new management server a new host name and/or IP address, the recording server cannot find the management server and you must manually stop each Recording Server service in your system, change their management server URL, register the recording server again and when done, start the Recording Server service.

  • Local SQL Server: If you are storing your system configuration in a SQL Server database on SQL Server on the management server itself, it is important that you back up the existing management server's system configuration database before the move. By backing up the SQL Server database, and subsequently restoring it on a SQL Server on the new management server, you avoid having to reconfigure your cameras, rules, time profiles, etc. after the move

Note

If you move the management server, you will need the current system configuration password in order to restore the backup, see System configuration password.

Requirements

  • Your software installation file for installation on the new management server

  • Your software license file (.lic), that you received when you purchased your system and initially installed it. You should not use the activated software license file which you have received after a manual offline license activation. An activated software license file contains information about the specific server on which the system is installed. Therefore, an activated software license file cannot be reused when moving to a new server

If you are also upgrading your system software in connection with the move, you have received a new software license file. Simply use this.

  • Local SQL Server users only: Microsoft® SQL Server Management Studio

  • What happens while the management server is unavailable? Unavailable management servers)

Unavailable management servers

  • Recording servers can still record: Any currently working recording servers received a copy of their configuration from the management server, so they can work and store recordings on their own while the management server is down. Scheduled and motion-triggered recording therefore works, and event-triggered recording works unless based on events related to the management server or any other recording server because these go through the management server

  • Recording servers temporarily store log data locally: They automatically send log data to the management server when it becomes available again:

    • Clients cannot log in: Client access is authorized through the management server. Without the management server, clients cannot log in

    • Clients that are already logged in can remain logged in for up to four hours: When clients log in, they are authorized by the management server and can communicate with recording servers for up to four hours. If you can get the new management server up and running within four hours, many of your users are not affected

    • No ability to configure the system: Without the management server, you cannot change the system configuration

Milestone recommends that you inform your users about the risk of losing contact with the surveillance system while the management server is down.

Move the system configuration

Moving your system configuration is a three step process:

  1. Make a backup of your system configuration. This is identical to making a scheduled backup. See also Back up system configuration with scheduled backup.

  2. Install the new management server on the new server. See scheduled backup, step 2.

  3. Restore your system configuration to the new system. See also Restore system configuration from a scheduled backup.