Cognos PP Upgrade and Migration Series 7 To Cognos 8 Powerplay Ga Migration Installation and Configuration Checklist

Guideline
Series 7 to PowerPlay GA for

Cognos 8 Migration Installation
and Configuration Checklist
Product(s): Cognos 8, Series 7 Migration
Area of Interest: Infrastructure
Series 7 to PowerPlay GA for Cognos 8 Migration Installation and 2
Configuration Checklist
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Cognos ULC (formerly Cognos Incorporated). Cognos ULC
is an IBM Company. While every attempt has been made to ensure that the
information in this document is accurate and complete, some typographical
errors or technical inaccuracies may exist. Cognos does not accept
responsibility for any kind of loss resulting from the use of information
contained in this document. This document shows the publication date. The
information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.
Any improvements or changes to the information contained in this document
will be documented in subsequent editions. This document contains
proprietary information of Cognos. All rights are reserved. No part of this
document may be copied, photocopied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, transmitted in any form or by any means, or translated into another
language without the prior written consent of Cognos. Cognos and the
Cognos logo are trademarks of Cognos ULC (formerly Cognos Incorporated)
in the United States and/or other countries. IBM and the IBM logo are
trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United
States, or other countries, or both. All other names are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective companies. Information about
Cognos products can be found at www.cognos.com
This document is maintained by the Best Practices, Product and Technology
team. You can send comments, suggestions, and additions to
cscogpp@ca.ibm.com.
Copyright © 2008 Cognos ULC (formerly Cognos Incorporated), an IBM Company. All rights reserved.
Contents
1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................... 4
1.1 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................4
1.2 APPLICABILITY .....................................................................................................4
2 SERIES 7 TO COGNOS 8 MIGRATION PREREQUISITE INFORMATION......... 4
2.1 SERIES 7 ENVIRONMENT .........................................................................................4
2.1.1 PowerPlay Enterprise Server ...............................................................................4
2.1.2 Upfront ............................................................................................................6
2.1.3 Series 7 Security................................................................................................6
2.1.4 Series 7 Locale ..................................................................................................8
2.2 COGNOS 8 ENVIRONMENT........................................................................................9
2.2.1 Cognos 8 ..........................................................................................................9
2.2.2 Cognos 8 Server Locale ......................................................................................9
3 PREPARING FOR THE SERIES 7 TO COGNOS 8 MIGRATION ........................ 9
3.1 SERIES 7 MIGRATION INSTALLATION CHECKLIST.............................................................9
3.2 MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF POWERPLAY ENTERPRISE SERVER AND UPFRONT ON MULTIPLE SERVERS10
3.3 SINGLE INSTANCES OF POWERPLAY ENTERPRISE SERVER AND UPFRONT ON MULTIPLE SERVERS.. 11
3.4 PREPARING SERIES 7 FOR MIGRATION CHECKLIST ........................................................ 13
3.4.1 Series 7 Namespace Validation.......................................................................... 13
3.4.2 Series 7 Upfront Clean-Up ................................................................................ 14
3.4.3 Series 7 PowerPlay Font Embedding .................................................................. 15
3.4.4 Series 7 Upfront and PowerPlay Content Validation.............................................. 16
3.5 COGNOS 8 CHECKLIST .......................................................................................... 17
1 Introduction
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this checklist is to provide an overview of the tasks required
to setup and configure the Series 7 to Cognos 8 for PowerPlay migration.
1.2 Applicability
The method outlined in this document only applies to:
• IBM Cognos 8 PowerPlay Server 8.4.27.26-0
• IBM Cognos Series 7.4 INR, MR1,MR2 and MR3
2 Series 7 to Cognos 8 Migration Prerequisite

Information
2.1 Series 7 Environment
2.1.1 PowerPlay Enterprise Server
Version of PowerPlay Enterprise

Server
Platform
Install Directory
Server name and Port
Imported Reports Location
(Local or remote UNC location)
UNC Cube Location(s)
(example: \\servername\share\)
Local Cube Location(s)
(example: D:\Mycubes\)
URL used to Access PowerPlay
2.1.2 Upfront
Version of Upfront
Platform
Install Directory
URL used to Access Upfront
2.1.3 Series 7 Security
To obtain the Series 7 Security information:

1. On the Upfront server, launch Configuration Manager via the
Start\Programs\Cognos Series 7 Version 4\Tools menu.
2. When prompted, select ‘Open the current configuration’
3. Within the left hand Explorer pane, traverse the structure to
Services\Access Manager – Runtime\Authentication Source\Directory
Server.
4. Use the information within the right hand pane, Directory Server –
Properties to fill out the table below.
a. Computer
b. Port/SSL Port
c. Base Distinguished
Name (DN)
d. Default Namespace
2.1.4 Series 7 Locale

To obtain the Series 7 Locale information:
1. On the Upfront server, launch Configuration Manager via the
Start\Programs\Cognos Series 7 Version 4\Tools menu.
2. When prompted, select ‘Open the current configuration’
3. Within the left hand Explorer pane, traverse the structure to Cognos
Shared \Locale.
4. Use the information within the right hand pane, Locale Properties to
fill out the table below.
a. Locale
2.2 Cognos 8 Environment

2.2.1 Cognos 8
Version of Cognos 8
Platform
Install Directory
URL used to Access Cognos 8
2.2.2 Cognos 8 Server Locale
Locale
3 Preparing for the Series 7 to Cognos 8 Migration

3.1 Series 7 Migration Installation Checklist
Ensure backups have been taken of the PowerPlay Enterprise Server and Upfront
Server identified in sections 2.1.1 and 2.1.2
Record the backup filename and date of the Upfront package file.
Filename_______________ , Date_______________
Record the backup filename and date of PowerPlay PPSRoot

directory.
Filename_______________ , Date_______________
Record the backup filename and date of the Series 7 Namespace

LAE
Filename_______________ , Date_______________
3.2 Multiple Instances of PowerPlay Enterprise Server and Upfront on

Multiple Servers
If there are multiple Upfront or PowerPlay Enterprise servers in the environment.

Please read “Preparing to Migrate Multi-Server PowerPlay Enterprise
Server Installs to GA.doc” and update the server names in section 2.1.1 and
2.1.2.
o Perform an install of the Cognos 8 Migration software, selecting only the
“Report Migration from Series 7” component.
Provide the install path from section 2.1.2
Record the Migration Service Port Number.

_______________ (default is 21567)
Record the Program Folder the shortcuts will be placed in, as this
will be the location for the uninstall.
________________ (default is Cognos 8)
• Start the IBM Cognos Series 7 Migration service.
3.3 Single Instances of PowerPlay Enterprise Server and Upfront on

Multiple Servers
If the PowerPlay Enterprise Server and Upfront Server identified in sections 2.1.1
and 2.1.2 are different servers and only 1 instance of Powerplay Enterprise
Server and Upfront exist.
o Perform an install of the Cognos 8 Migration software, selecting only the

“Report Migration from Series 7” component.
Record the Migration Service Port Number.

_______________ (default is 21567)
Create a shared network location will need to be setup for the migration service
to write to. To do this:
1. Create a folder that is accessible from both the PowerPlay Enterprise

Server and Upfront server and record it below.
_______________________
2. Ensure the PowerPlay Enterprise Server and IBM Cognos Series 7
Migration service are being started as a named account that has full
access to the shared location identified in the previous step and
record it below.
_______________________
3. On each of the servers that have the IBM Cognos Series 7 Migration
service installed make a backup copy of the
migs7service_configuration.xml file. Record the location of the
backup files in the space provided below.
_______________________
4. Edit the series7-shared-location description line to specify the shared
network location created in the first step of this section.
A sample update to this section would look as follows:
<series7-shared-location description= “Path to shared

folder”>\\machinename\share_name</series7-shared-location>
5. Save the changes to this file.

6. Stop and Start the PowerPlay Enterprise Server and the IBM Cognos
Series 7 Migration services.
3.4 Preparing Series 7 For Migration Checklist

3.4.1 Series 7 Namespace Validation
Ensure the Series 7 namespace is in good working order by running the detect
feature of the AM_NamespaceCorruptionDetect.exe found in the Cer5 bin
directory.
To run the AM_NamespaceCorruptionDetect executable:

1. From the Windows\Start\Run, type in cmd and press OK. This should
launch a new command window.
2. Traverse the directory structure to Cer5\bin directory.
3. Type in the following string:
AM_NamespaceCorruptionDetect –h <hostname> -p <port> -r <Base
Distinguished Name> -D <username> -w <password>.
A completed sample string may look as follows:
D:\Apps\Program Files\cognos\cer5\bin>
AM_NamespaceCorruptionDetect -h localhost
-p 389 -r dc=ent,dc=ad,dc=cognos,dc=com -D Administrator -w
Password#1234
4. Press the ENTER key to execute the command.
After some time the utility will return a message to the command window.
Ideally, no exceptions should be found.
If any exceptions are found, export the LAE and log a service request with
support to have it corrected.
LAE Filename
_______________
Support Service Request Number
_______________
3.4.2 Series 7 Upfront Clean-Up
Delete all user preferences, read status for Newsitems and person Newsboxes for
users who no longer have an Access Manager userid by running the Upfront
Server Administration User Clean Up feature.
To run the User Clean up feature:

1. On the Upfront server, launch Server Administration via the
Start\Programs\Cognos Series 7\Cognos Server Administration.
2. Click on the Upfront Server Administration icon labelled Portal.
3. Ensure the Upfront Server name is correct and click the Connect
button.
4. Once the connection is established, select User Cleanup from the
NewsIndex menu.
5. Click the Preview button to get a list of obsolete upfront objects.
6. If the list seems reasonable, click the clean up button to remove the
obsolete objects.
7. Click OK to the Successful User cleanup confirmation.
8. Exit the Upfront Server Administration.
3.4.3 Series 7 PowerPlay Font Embedding

In order to ensure that PPES PDFs do not run into font errors, ensure that font
embedding is enabled. To do this:
1. Within PowerPlay Enterprise - Server Administration, select the
servername within the left window.
2. From the Edit menu, click Properties, and then click the Report
Settings tab.
3. Under the Display\Report folder locate the Lightweight PDF
Generation property and set it from Enabled to Disabled.
4. Click OK.
3.4.4 Series 7 Upfront and PowerPlay Content Validation
Validate the existing PowerPlay and Upfront using the Bright Star Partners Validator
for Series 7 PowerPlay. This utility will connect to the existing Series 7 environment
and execute the cubes and reports. The utility will display a status of valid for
objects which run and should migrate. A status of warning indicates the object runs
in Series 7 but may not migrate. An error status identifies the Series 7 objects which
will not migrate. The utility will provide a reason for warning and error messages.
Download the latest version of the Bright Start Partners Validator for Series 7
PowerPlay from http://www.bspsoftware.com/products/ppvalidator.php
Read the “Validator for Series 7 PowerPlay User Guide” to determine any
environmental or utility configuration considerations.
Configure the Servers section in the utility to point to the Series 7 Environment
using the URLS recorded in Section 2.1.
Configure the Security section in the utility to use the Series 7 Security
information defined in Section 2.1.3.
Validate the current Series 7 content identified as content to be migrated.
Use the Knowledge base at,

http://support.cognos.com/knowledgebase/googlesearch ,to obtain possible
resolutions to the errors and warnings affecting the content to be migrated.
If the Validator returns the message: “The item does not have a data source
defined and will not migrate.”, it can be ignored. The GA version of the
migration will be able to resolve the data source and migrate the object.
If any corrections were made to the content to be migrated, repeat the validation
process.
Once the validation completes, save a copy of the output in CSV format.
CSV Filename
_______________
Open the CSV in Excel and identify the object count by looking at the left most
column. If the number of Upfront objects exceeds 1500 objects please read
through the document “Chunking the Upfront Environment for the Cognos
8 Migration.doc”
3.5 Cognos 8 Checklist
Ensure a backup of the Cognos 8 server identified in section 2.2.1 has been
taken.
Record the backup filename and date of the Cognos 8 Directory
Structure backup
Filename_______________ , Date_______________
Record the backup filename and date of the Content complete

content store deployment,
Filename_______________ , Date_______________
Record the backup filename and date of the database being used
as the content store.
Filename_______________ , Date_______________
Verify that the PowerPlay for Cognos 8 has been installed, configured and is
deemed in working order.
Create a new package from a PowerCube data source.

Launch the PowerPlay Administration by clicking the PowerPlay8
tab within Cognos Administration.
Open the Power Cube in PowerPlay Studio via the Launch drop
down within Cognos Connection.
Stop the services associated with the Cognos 8 Server identified in section 2.2.1.
On the Cognos 8 Server identified in section 2.2.1 perform an install of the

Cognos 8 Migration software, selecting only the “Report Migration to Cognos 8”
component.
If migrating Upfront content, the Cognos 8 server will need to be configured to

use the same security provider as the Upfront server being used as the source of
the migration. To do this:
1. Open Cognos Configuration on the Cognos 8 server identified in

section 2.2.1.
2. Within the left hand Explorer pane, traverse the structure to
Security\Authentication\Cognos.
3. Within the right hand pane, change the Allow anonymous access from
True to False.
4. Within the left hand Explorer pane, highlight Authentication by clicking
on it.
5. Right Click, and select New Resource\Namespace from the available
menu.
6. Enter a name for the name field.
7. From the type drop down menu, select series 7 and press OK.
8. The right hand pane should now display the Namespace – Resource
Properties. Within this pane fill out the following information.
Namespace ID: This is the namespace name the will be
displayed to users logging in. This can
be any friendly name.
Host and Port: This will be items a. and b. of section

2.1.3. The string value for the host
must match the exact value specified
for the a. Computer in section 2.1.3.
Base Distinguished Name This will be item c. in section 2.1.3.
Namespace Name This will be item d. in section 2.1.3.

The string value for the Namespace
name must match the exact value
specified for the d. Default
Namespace in section 2.1.3.
9. Save the changes, but DO NOT start the Cognos 8 service.
Ensure that font embedding has been enabled within both Cognos Configuration
and PowerPlay 8 Administration. To do this within Cognos Configuration:
1. Start Cognos Configuration
2. In the Explorer window, click the Environment property.
3. In the "Fonts to Embed (Report Service)" locate the desired default
font in the list and place a check in the always column. This will
cause the product to always embed the chosen font.
Ensure that the Cognos 8 Server has access to the cubes used by PowerPlay in
section 2.1.1.
If the cubes reside in a physical location on the PowerPlay
Enterprise server, the cubes will need to be copied to exact same
location on the Cognos 8 server. This may require the creation of
the physical directory structure.
For example if a physical MDC named mymdc.mdc is located

within D:\mycubes on the PowerPlay Enterprise server. The
Cognos 8 server will expect the mymdc.mdc file in the physical
location on the D:\ drive.
If the cubes reside on a shared location, the Cognos 8 service will

need to be started with a named account that has access to that
share.
Create a language properties file for each of the locales recorded in sections
2.1.4 and 2.2.2 of this document.
To create the language properties file:

1. Create a copy of the c8_location/webapps/p2pd/WEB-
INF/classes/migrationMsg_<lang>.properties file
2. Rename the copy as migrationMsg_<lang>-<country
code>.properties where <lang>-<country code> is the Series 7
locale.
3. Create another copy of the c8_location/webapps/p2pd/WEB-
INF/classes/migrationMsg_<lang>.properties file
4. Rename the copy as migrationMsg_<lang>-<country
code>.properties where <lang>-<country code> is the Cognos 8
locale.
The table below illustrates the language.properties files required for

several Series7 and Cognos 8 locale combinations.
Series 7 Locale Cognos 8 Server Locale Required Language.Properties file

de-de de-de migrationMsg_de-de.properties
de-at de-de migrationMsg_de-at.properties
migrationMsg_de-de.properties
de-de de-at migrationMsg_de-de.properties
migrationMsg_de-at.properties
To create the required files in the table above, an administrator would

have made a copy of the original migrationMsg_de.properties file and
renamed it.
Start the Cognos 8 Service.
Ensure the Product language and Content Language are set to the appropriate
language for the locale files created earlier. The content and product language
will only need to be set for the user performing the migration. To set the
product and content language:
1. Within Cognos Connection go to My Area\My Preferences
2. Under Regional options set the content and product language.
For the examples given above the product language would be German
and the content language could be either German(Germany) or
German(Austria).
Ensure that any Series 7 users that are going to be accessing Cognos 8 Power
Play studio have the appropriate Power Play Studio capability set. To do this:
1. Within Cognos Connection go to Launch\Cognos Administration.

2. Click on the Security tab.
3. Click on the Capabilities link located at the top left of the screen.
4. Click the down arrow for the PowerPlay and select Set properties.
5. Click on the Permission tab. To display a list of users and roles that
currently has access to the PowerPlay Studio.
As a Cognos 8 Administrator user do a test migration of 1 Newsbox which

contains both cubes and reports.
Launch the PowerPlay Administration by clicking the PowerPlay8
tab within Cognos Administration and ensure the new cubes are
present.
Open the Power Cube in PowerPlay Studio via the Launch drop
down within Cognos Connection.
Run any existing report from Cognos Connection.
Check the security settings to ensure the Upfront security has
been migrated over.
The environment is now ready to be migrated.

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Guideline

Series 7 to PowerPlay GA for

2 Series 7 to Cognos 8 Migration Prerequisite

Version of PowerPlay Enterprise

2.1.3 Series 7 Security

To obtain the Series 7 Security information:

2.1.4 Series 7 Locale

2.2 Cognos 8 Environment

2.2.2 Cognos 8 Server Locale

3 Preparing for the Series 7 to Cognos 8 Migration

Record the backup filename and date of PowerPlay PPSRoot

Record the backup filename and date of the Series 7 Namespace

3.2 Multiple Instances of PowerPlay Enterprise Server and Upfront on

If there are multiple Upfront or PowerPlay Enterprise servers in the environment.

Record the Migration Service Port Number.

• Start the IBM Cognos Series 7 Migration service.

3.3 Single Instances of PowerPlay Enterprise Server and Upfront on

o Perform an install of the Cognos 8 Migration software, selecting only the

Record the Migration Service Port Number.

1. Create a folder that is accessible from both the PowerPlay Enterprise

A sample update to this section would look as follows:

<series7-shared-location description= “Path to shared

5. Save the changes to this file.

3.4 Preparing Series 7 For Migration Checklist

To run the AM_NamespaceCorruptionDetect executable:

A completed sample string may look as follows:

3.4.2 Series 7 Upfront Clean-Up

To run the User Clean up feature:

3.4.3 Series 7 PowerPlay Font Embedding

3.4.4 Series 7 Upfront and PowerPlay Content Validation

Validate the current Series 7 content identified as content to be migrated.

Use the Knowledge base at,

3.5 Cognos 8 Checklist

Record the backup filename and date of the Content complete

Create a new package from a PowerCube data source.

On the Cognos 8 Server identified in section 2.2.1 perform an install of the

If migrating Upfront content, the Cognos 8 server will need to be configured to

1. Open Cognos Configuration on the Cognos 8 server identified in

Host and Port: This will be items a. and b. of section

Base Distinguished Name This will be item c. in section 2.1.3.

Namespace Name This will be item d. in section 2.1.3.

For example if a physical MDC named mymdc.mdc is located

If the cubes reside on a shared location, the Cognos 8 service will

To create the language properties file:

The table below illustrates the language.properties files required for

Series 7 Locale Cognos 8 Server Locale Required Language.Properties file

To create the required files in the table above, an administrator would

Start the Cognos 8 Service.

1. Within Cognos Connection go to Launch\Cognos Administration.

As a Cognos 8 Administrator user do a test migration of 1 Newsbox which

The environment is now ready to be migrated.

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