Migrating the AcctVantage Server to new hardware
These instructions are for migrating your current AcctVantage Server to new hardware. Upgrading to a new version of the software is not required here, although it is an option.
The process will include:
- Move the licenses from the old hardware to the new hardware.
- Move the database and related files from the old hardware to the new hardware.
- Install the AV Server application on the new hardware and connect the AV server to the data file.
- Connect AV Clients to the new AV Server.
1. Move the licenses to the new hardware
There are two licensing components -- an AcctVantage key file and 4D licenses. The 4D licenses will need to be moved to the new server.
In most cases, you will not need to do anything with the AcctVantage key file when migrating the AV Server to new hardware. The only instance where you'd need a new key file is when you upgrade major versions of AV (e.g. AV 2021 to AV 2023). If you're staying on the same version or you are doing a minor upgrade, then you won't need a new key file.
1.1. Find the licenses on the current hardware
While the AV Server is running, go to the Help menu (top of the screen) and then select Licenses Manager.
1.2. Licenses Folder
After you open the Licenses Manager, click on the Licenses Folder button. This will open the folder in Finder (macOS) or File Explorer (Windows OS).
macOS licenses folder
The licenses folder on macOS should be at the following path. Copy the license(s) and prepare to move them to the same path on the new hardware.
Macintosh HD/Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/4D/Licenses
Windows licenses folder
The licenses folder on Windows OS should be at the following path. Copy the license(s) and prepare to move them to the same path on the new hardware.
C:\ProgramData\4D\Licenses
2. Move the data file to the new hardware
- After copying the licenses, shut down the AV Server app on the old server.
- Find the folder where your data file is located. The most common location for this is within the AcctVantage ERP Server folder itself. You should have a folder named something to the extent of "<your company data>". When you find this folder, compress it into a ZIP file so it will be easier to move.
- Move the compressed ZIP file to the new server. If you have a shared network folder, that would be the easiest way to do this. You can also move the file to a USB drive and then copy if from the USB drive onto the new server. Don't forget to unzip the file!
If you want the <your company data> folder to live next to the AV Server application, you can wait to move the data file until after you run the AV Server installer.
3. Install the AcctVantage Server application on the new hardware
- Download the AV Server installer.
- Next, follow the installation instructions for either macOS or Windows.
- After the installer is finished, now you can move the 4D licenses into the same folder location on the new server.
- When you get to the part of the instructions where you connect the AV Server to the 4DD data file, you will be connecting to the database that you moved in the previous step.
If you are upgrading major versions while migrating to new hardware (e.g. AV 2021 -> AV 2023) then you will need a new key file when you launch the AV Server for the first time.
4. Connect AV Clients to the new server
After all of the above is done and the AV server is currently running, you are now ready for your AV Clients to connect. When each AV client is initially launched, it will most likely remember the location of the old server. You should receive a dialog where the AV Client will let you select the new AV Server and connect to it. After you do this, you might see some progress bars on the AV Client as it connects to the server ... this is totally normal! After a few seconds, the AV Client will be connected to the new AV Server and at this point you are finished with the migration process.
