[KB8148] Upgrade ESET Security Management Center 7.x to the latest version of ESET PROTECT On Prem via Web Console

Issue

Solution

You have several upgrade options:

Upgrade option: Applies to: Comment:
Components Upgrade task in the Web Console (this article) Windows and Linux  
ESET PROTECT All-in-one installer (Windows)
Windows
This is the recommended option if the existing server has the default installations of MS SQL database and Apache Tomcat (the existing installation was performed via the All-in-one installer).
Manual component-based upgrade Linux Upgrade instructions for advanced Linux users.

Prerequisites

Important recommendations before the upgrade

Before upgrading to ESET PROTECT 9, make sure that you have met all prerequisites listed below.

  • Make sure that you have met all ESET PROTECT 9 system requirements.

  • You must have ESET Security Management Center (ESMC) version 7.x or ESET PROTECT 8.x to upgrade to ESET PROTECT 9. Check which version of ESMC/ESET PROTECT you have installed.

  • Upgrading from ESMC 7.0-7.1 to the ESET PROTECT Server component is not compatible with 32-bit machines (x86 architecture). Upgrading a 32-bit Server machine to ESET PROTECT 9 will fail.
    • If you have already run the upgrade and now your system is not working, you need to manually reinstall all ESMC components to the original version.
    • If you want to upgrade, you need to migrate your current ESMC to a 64-bit machine, and after successful migration, you can run the upgrade task.

  • If you have an older unsupported database installed (MySQL 5.5 or MSSQL 2008), upgrade your database to a compatible database version before upgrading the ESMC Server. MS SQL 2012 is not supported by ESET PROTECT 9.

  • ESET PROTECT uses LDAPS as the default protocol for Active Directory synchronization. If you upgraded from ESMC 7.0-7.1 on a Windows machine to ESET PROTECT and you were using the Active Directory synchronization, synchronization tasks will fail in ESET PROTECT.
Perform a full backup of ESMC 7.x or ESET PROTECT 8.x:
  • Database: Follow #@#publication_url id='1133' language='1' content='[KB6725] Create a backup of the ESET Security Management Center database (7.x)' target='_blank'#@# to back up the ESMC database. Follow #@#publication_url id='3237' language='1' content='[KB7978] Create a backup of the ESET PROTECT database (8.x)' target='_blank'#@# to back up the ESET PROTECT database. 
  • Configuration: Copy the Startupconfiguration.ini file, located at: C:\ProgramData\ESET\RemoteAdministrator\Server\EraServerApplicationData
  • Certificates: Export the Certification Authorities and Peer Certificates.
  • Mobile Device Connector: If this component is used, copy the Startupconfiguration.ini located at: C:\ProgramData\ESET\RemoteAdministrator\MDMCore\EraServerApplicationData\Configuration.


The following steps will upgrade both ESMC components (Server, Console) and the ESET Management Agents. When upgrading to the latest version, your policies will be preserved.
Steps apply to ESMC 7.x

The steps below describe the upgrade procedure for ESMC 7.2, but they apply also to older ESMC versions (7.0/7.1).


Upgrade ESMC Server using the Components Upgrade task in the Web Console

Components Upgrade task may take some time to complete

Be patient during the Components Upgrade task process. It may take some time to complete. Do not restart your ESMC Server until the task has been completed.

Special characters may cause upgrade to fail

If you have met the requirements for upgrading and your upgrade to the latest version of ESET PROTECT On-Prem fails, it could be due to the use of special characters in your ESMC password. To resolve this issue, change your ESMC Web Console password and attempt the upgrade again.

  1. Open the ESET Security Management Center Web Console (7.x) (ESMC Web Console) in your web browser and log in.

  2. Click TasksESET Security Management CenterSecurity Management Center Components Upgrade and click New → Client Task.

Figure 1-1
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  1. In the Name field, type a name for your task. In the Task drop-down menu, verify that Security Management Center Components Upgrade is selected.

Figure 1-2
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  1. Click the Settings section, select the check box next to I accept the terms of the application End User License Agreement and acknowledge the Privacy Policy and then click Choose server. We recommend that you also select the check box Automatically reboot when needed below Choose server.

Figure 1-3
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  1. Select the ESET PROTECT Server that you want to upgrade to and click OK.

Figure 1-4
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  1. Click Finish.

  2. Create a trigger and add the ESMC Server computer as a target to execute the task.

Do not add more target computers

Add only the computer where ESMC Server is installed as a target. Do not add more target computers at this point in the upgrade.

  1. Wait a few minutes until all ESMC components installed on the server machine are upgraded. Apache Tomcat service can get turned off during the update. If the Web Console is unavailable after the update, open the services management (run services.msc) and Start the Apache Tomcat service.

  2. To verify that your server upgraded to ESET PROTECT, check Programs and Features in the Control Panel. You will see ESET PROTECT Server listed as a program if it has been upgraded.

Figure 1-5

When the task is finished on the ESET PROTECT Server machine, verify that the ESET PROTECT Server works properly. Wait an hour to see if any problems occur.


Upgrade Agents on managed computers

Upgrade to the latest ESET Management Agents using the Components Upgrade Task in ESET PROTECT On-Prem


Upgrade ESET security products on managed computers