Setting up CE9 Test environment 1

[bessebo]

I have successfully implemented Crystal Enterprise in our production environment and I want to set up a Test Environment. I would also like to document this process in case we needed to re-install the application in production for disaster recovery. I am backing up our CE90 database nightly as well as the contents of the Filestore Input and Output folders. I assume that the steps to create the Test environment are as follows:

1. Install CE90 on the test box.
2. Create the ODBC DSNs on the test box.
3. Copy the contents from the production FileStore Input and Output folders tothe test box.
4. Restore the CE90 database from production to the Test Box.

Are there any other steps that I will have to take to create the Test environment as a mirror of our production? Also, is there any documentation on doing this somewhere?

Regards,
Bessebo

 

[rhinok]

Based on my conversations with Crystal Decisions, you'll need additional licenses for your test server. If you have two servers then you need enough licenses to cover both servers. I've had to spec out licenses for a three server environment: Development, QA and Production.

 

[bessebo]

Rhinok,
Are the steps I mentioned all that I should need to do? Do you know if there is documentation on retoring from a production environment and backups?
Have you performed these steps when creating a Test environment?

Regards,
Bessebo

 

[brianzoot]

Bessebo,

From what I can see, your steps are correct. You may however run into an issue w/ the restore of the dbase because of server names. I attempted to do a very similar thing as you have described and found that even though I said not to cluster the systems, the install found the current APS and tied it together as a cluster.

Another way to do this is to do your fresh install & set up your DSN's. Instead of restoring the dbase, use your import wizard to "copy" the enviornments. This will take all your reports, instances, etc over to your test box. This will help eliminate the "automatic clustering" of the 2 servers.

Lastly, Crystal told me that you can install the Enterprise Software on as many machines as you want, but your total # of users on each machine can not exceed what you are licensed for.

Example: 25 user license agreement.
Production you have 10 users assigned, you then assign 15 users in other enviornments. If you set up the same user in both enviornments, then they count as 2 users.

This just goes to show, depending on who you talk to at Crystal, you can get 180 degree answers.

 

[bessebo]

Brianzoot,
I'm cool with using the Import Wizard to create the Test environment but my main concern is recovering from a catastrophic failure. At that point we will have to use backups. There must be some documentation on this. I will have to hunt around...

Regards,
bessebo

 

[rhinok]

Bessebo,

Regarding disaster recovery, there is a whitepaper

(

http://support.businessobjects.com/communityCS/TechnicalPapers/ce8_disaster_recovery_plan.pdf)

on Disaster Recovery. Unfortunately, this probably won't help you because the premise of the paper is that you must have a redundant environment for fail-over support.

In your particular case (single server installation), it is a good idea to back up both the CE9 Database and the Input and Output folders, which you've done. I would also do the following:[ol][li]Back up any custom scripts (.csp) so that they can be easily replaced in the event of a reinstall[/li][li]Document custom configurations, such as additional commands added to the end of any command line statements in the CCM (web component server timeout, for example)[/li][li]Document current NTFS permissions[/li][li]document all users in your NT User Groups Folder, if you're using NT Users[/li][/ol]Briantzoot,

Your understanding of the licensing requirements is essentially correct. The issue is that many companies only purchase enough licenses for their production environment. Case-in-point, Bessebo has had an existing production environment for some time and is just now setting up a test environment. Bessebo would have to separate out licenses from production in order to use them in test. If he/she has a processor license, then this isn't possible. If he/she has named or concurrent licenses purchased in a block, then he/she will need to contact Business Objects and request that new license keys be generated for the specific quantities required of each environment.