Recover Content Server MaxDB from a different DB release

[Former Member]

Note 962019 - System copy of an SAP MaxDB Content Server database:
You use a MaxDB Content Server database, and you want to copy it to another host.
      1. To do this, you use a homogeneous system copy with the backup/recovery procedure.
              Homogeneous system copies (backup/recovery) can be executed only in systems that fulfill  the following conditions:
            a) The database versions in the source system and the target system do not differ.

 Note 129352 - Homogeneous system copy with MaxDB (SAP DB):
As of MaxDB Version 7.5, backups can also be imported into target systems in which a higher MaxDB version is running. Example: A backup of Version 7.5.00.50 can be imported into a target system with all of the available MaxDB versions higher than or equal to 7.5.00.50.

Which note tells the truth? Does this mean that there is a different rule for doing a copy of a content server DB? Can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks,

Matthias

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks,

that answered my question

[thorsten_zielke]

Hello Matthias

indeed, you are correct. In previous MaxDB versions, we had always required the source and target database to be at least on the same support package level, that is 7.5.00.50 to 7.5.00.52 or 7.6.00.15 to 7.6.06.17.

Reason is that we need to migrate some internal structures like the database catalog and we would have to support this for various upgrade combinations.

I have discussed the issue with both people responsible for these notes and we have agreed to have the supported release information kept in one note only to avoid contradicting information.

This said, yes, we have changed our strict rule, which means that note 129352 is correct and you can - at least in theory - upgrade directly from any version starting with 7.5.00.50 or higher to any version up to 7.8. (just make sure to patch your 7.5 to at least 7.5.00.50 before!).

The Content Server note 962019 is beeing changed, so that it points to note 129352 regarding the allowed upgrade paths.

Best regards,

Thorsten Zielke

[markus_doehr2]

As long as the target version is higher you can import the backup to a different release.

Markus