Vaults created by older versions of Meridian (up to version 2008a) are not compatible with upgrades of the Windows operating system running on the Meridian server. This issue affects server operating system upgrades as well as vaults moved or restored to a new server with a different operating system version. The reverse is also true; vaults are not compatible with downgrades of the Windows operating system running on the Meridian server. The reason is Windows API sorting functions that support National Language Support (NLS) change between each Windows version (including Windows XP, Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 at a minimum). Technical information about this issue can be found in this MSDN article: NLS Sorting Changes.
Description
When an existing Meridian installation is upgraded to Meridian 2008a SP1 or later on the same operating system version, the existing vaults are compatible with the operating system but are not visible because they lack the operating system version and NLS version information that is stored in vaults as described below. In that case, the tool provided below can be used to add the information to the vault. The tool can also be used to verify vault compatibility with the current operating system. Use the update option of this tool only if the Meridian software has been upgraded to Meridian 2008a SP1 or later and the operating system version has not changed. It will not upgrade a vault created on one Windows version so that it can be opened or restored on a different Windows version without serious damage occurring.
Vaults created by newer versions of Meridian (version 2008a SP1 and later) are also affected by this issue but the operating system version and NLS version information are stored in the vault and a check of this information is performed in the software that will prevent the vault from opening on a different operating system unless the vault is properly upgraded as described below.
Windows Vista, Windows 7, and later workstation operating systems are not supported by Meridian as production server platforms and should only be used for evaluation and demonstration purposes.
There are two ways to safely transfer an existing vault from a computer running one Windows version to another version:
- Import the vault from the computer running the first operating system into a new vault on a computer running the second operating system. After import, no further action is necessary.
- Reindex the vault on the second operating system with the icosnlsver tool described below.
To reindex a vault, use the following procedure:
- Run the Vault Consistency Wizard on the vault on the old server (for example, Windows Server 2003) with only the Check only, String domain, and Name domain options selected.
- If any inconsistencies are detected, run the Vault Consistency Wizard again with the Check, Repair, and Compact options selected and all Analysis options selected.
- For Meridian and TeamWork versions 2008a SP1 and 2009 only, install the appropriate ObjectSet patch on the new server as described below.
- Restore a vault backup made on the old server to the new server (for example, Windows Server 2008). An error will occur and the vault cannot be opened.
- Run the tool attached below with the reindex command line parameter on the new server and specify the datastore name to repair. The vault's datastore name can be found in the datastore.ini file that is used to restore the backup. The tool will either repair the inconsistencies or report additional problems that may require manual repair, in which case you should contact BlueCielo ECM Solutions Technical Support or your Solutions Partner for assistance.
To install the ObjectSet patch before running the icosnlsver tool:
- Ensure no users are connected to the Meridian or TeamWork server.
- Download the appropriate 28237* archive file below for your version of Meridian or TeamWork .
- Stop and disable the BlueCielo EDM Server service.
- Back up the existing ObjectSet*.dll files located in the Program folder on the server. By default, this folder is located at C:\Program Files\<BC-Meridian or BC-TeamWork>\Program.
- Extract replacement ObjectSet*.dll files to the Program folder. Only extract the files required to replace existing files.
- Enable and restart the BlueCielo EDM Server service.
Note This patch is necessary only if the icosnlsver tool will be used.
Important Release 2007 and earlier vaults must be imported into a later release vault or the Vault Consistency Wizard run on them before reindexing the vaults.
To execute the tool:
- Download the icosnlsver archive file below and extract its contents to the Program folder on the Meridian server. By default, this folder is located at C:\Program Files\<BC-Meridian or BC-TeamWork>\Program.
- Ensure no users are connected to the Meridian or TeamWork server.
- Open a command prompt window (with the Run as administrator option) and change the current directory to the folder containing the tool.
- Execute the tool with one of the following command line parameters:
- Without any command line parameters to view usage information.
-
With the downgrade command line parameter to clear the OS and NLS version information in the vault and reset its version to be compatible with Meridian or TeamWork versions prior to 2008aSP1.
icosnlsver downgrade <DatastoreName> -
With the verify command line parameter to verify an existing vault:
icosnlsver verify <DatastoreName> -
With the update command line parameter to upgrade the OS and NLS version information in an existing vault:
icosnlsver update <DatastoreName> -
With the reindex command line parameter to rebuild the string domain and name domain indexes in an existing vault using the sorting order of the current operating system:
icosnlsver reindex <DatastoreName>
Where <DatastoreName> is the name of the datastore containing the vault to use. In most cases, the names are the same. The results of the tool will display in the command prompt window.
Test the results of using this tool on a copy of production vaults before use. Only run this tool when the vault is not open by any users.
After using this tool to modify an existing vault, run the Prepare for Backup Wizard on the vault before putting the vault into production use. Failure to do so leaves a snapshot of the unmodified vault that will be restored in the event of an unexpected termination of the EDM Server service before a snapshot is created automatically. If the old snapshot is restored, all work performed in the modified vault will be lost. For more information on configuring automatic snapshot creation, see the Meridian Enterprise Administrator's Guide.
The tool icosnlsver is included in the 2010 release and can be found in the Program folder.
Download one of the following 28237* archive files:
