If you want to move your Informant database to a new server, get in touch with us to set up a time to assist with migrating your Informant database and other files to your new server. Your IT personnel should also review this checklist prior to the scheduled migration to ensure a successful and efficient migration.
1. Designate a new Informant server machine
- Applies To: All editions
Designate one server or desktop computer to be your new Informant server. Check the "Server requirements" section on our system requirements page for details on what is required/recommended for your Informant server machine.
If you only have one computer, it can be used as your Informant server.
2. Keep your old server up and connected to the Internet (prior to the migration)
- Applies To: All editions
To complete a server migration, our team will need to be able to remotely connect to both your current Informant server and the new server to migrate data and files from one server to the other.
Because of this, you should keep your current server running and connected to the Internet prior to the server migration.
3. Prepare your new server for OnPatrol (if applicable)
- Applies To: Elite, Enterprise
If you have the Elite or Enterprise edition, you also have Informant's remote access solution (OnPatrol). For the OnPatrol software to work properly, you or your IT provider will need to configure a few things ahead of the implementation date.
- Get a public static IP address for your router/modem: You will need to request that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) provide a static public IP address to the router used to connect to the Internet. OnPatrol requires a public static IP address that remote clients will use to connect to Informant from outside of your department's local area network.
- Assign a permanent DHCP lease to your Informant server: You or your IT provider will also need to assign a private static IP address to your Informant server by assigning a permanent DHCP lease to your Informant server machine via your router or designated DHCP server's DHCP settings. Consult your router's documentation or your Internet provider for help with this step.
- Set up port forwarding for OnPatrol: You will need to either enable UPnP in your router or manually set up a port forwarding rule in your router that forwards incoming TCP/IP traffic on port 11000 to your Informant server's private IP address on port 11000. See Set up port forwarding for OnPatrol Server for additional details.
4. Schedule a migration with our team when you're ready
Once you're ready to do the server migration and have completed the previous steps, contact our team to schedule a server migration if you haven't already done so.
5. Be ready on the scheduled server migration date
Once everything is confirmed, ensure that you and your IT provider are available on the scheduled date and time for your implementation.
Who needs to be present for the migration?
For a server migration, the following people should be present on the date and time of the migration:
- An IT person with administrator access to the old and new server: If you need to schedule an IT person to be on-site, make sure they will be present for the migration.
- Someone with access to Administration in Informant: Toward the end of the migration process, we will need someone to log into Informant on the new server to allow us to re-configure various parts of the system to complete the migration.
What to expect during the server migration?
- An Informant Support Team member will call you and connect remotely to your current and new Informant server with your or your IT provider's assistance using ConnectWise (ScreenConnect), our remote assistance software.
- Our team will install and set up SQL Server and Informant software on the new Informant server. We will also install SQL Server Management Studio and allow you or your IT provider to set up your own "sa" password in SQL Server that can be used to automate database backups and other database maintenance tasks.
- We will move the Informant database from the current server to the new server, along with any relevant Informant files (such as attachments).
- We will reconfigure relevant Administration and server role settings to point to the new server.
- After the migration, you or your IT personnel will need to reconfigure any Informant clients to point to the new server if the new server is running under a different name than your previous server (see Post-migration steps for more details).
How long does a server migration take?
A server migration typically takes 1 to 2 hours.
Reboots and server downtime
A server migration may require the Informant server to be rebooted, so your agency should be prepared for this and any operational contingencies that may need to be in place during the server migration process.
Windows administrator access will be needed
The server migration process will require someone on the other end of the remote connection to remain available to enter Windows administrator passwords and click through Windows UAC prompts when needed, as the process involves installing software packages.
Post-migration steps
After a server migration, our team will confirm the new Informant server is properly configured before disconnecting. At this point, you or your IT can then perform the following tasks.
1. Reconfigure Informant client software on other computers
After a server migration, you will have a fully working Informant installation on your Informant server machine. If you have other workstations and the new server's name is different from the previous server's name, you will need to update the database connection settings for your other Informant machines.
On each Informant client in the station:
- Search for "Informant Configuration Manager" in the Windows Start menu and click Informant Configuration Manager when it appears.
- Click Connection Setup.
- Click Change Settings.
- Click Find my database for me.
- Wait for Informant to locate your new database and click Confirm when it finds the new database. If Informant doesn't find your new database automatically, click Configure Manually. Change the server name under SQL Server Name and click Continue.
- Confirm that you have Connection Status: OK under "Status". If not, double-check the server name.
If you have OnPatrol, any PC's, laptops, or tablets that connect to Informant remotely with OnPatrol won't need to be reconfigured if they were previously using your server's public IP address, as this IP address won't change during a migration.
2. If using E-Citation Interface or CAD Interface, reach out to relevant parties to reconfigure file transfers
If your department uses either the E-Citation Interface or CAD Interface (or both), we will re-configure these systems to look for incoming files on your new server instead of your old server; however, you will need to reach out separately to your E-Citation software provider and/or CAD system representative to ensure that new files are sent to your new server from those systems.
For CAD, you or your IT may also need to reconfigure any file transfer scripts that were implemented to connect Informant's CAD Interface to your county's CAD system.
3. Recommended: Set up a backup process on the new server
We highly recommend using a third-party cloud backup provider that supports SQL Server and configuring it to back up the "Informant20" database on your new Informant server, along with the contents of the directory where Informant stores attachments (typically C:\Informant\Attachments, but the location is configurable and may be different for you).
You can also manually back up the database periodically by following the steps here: Backing up your Informant database
4. Optional: Decommission your old server if desired
After the migration is complete, it's safe to decommission your previous server if you are no longer using it. Before you do, ensure that any important non-Informant files are backed up and/or have been transferred to a new location.