How To Upgrade .Net for Discovery Accelerator 14.5.X on Windows 2019

Description

This guide addresses the compatibility of Microsoft .Net versions with Discovery Accelerator (DA) version 14.5.X installed on Windows 2019. With Microsoft .Net 6 reaching End of Support (EOSL), administrators may need to upgrade to a higher version. This article provides clarity on supported Microsoft .Net versions and recommendations for testing upgrades in a controlled environment to ensure compatibility and functionality.
 

Context and Importance

Discovery Accelerator 14.5.X requires .Net 6 as a prerequisite. However, with .Net 6 reaching End of Support, administrators are exploring options to upgrade to a higher .Net version.
 

Compatibility Overview

• Discovery Accelerator 14.5.X: Does not officially support .Net 8 or .Net 9 as per the Compatibility Charts.
• Enterprise Vault (EV) 15.0 and Higher: Officially supports .Net 8.
   

Lab Findings

Internal testing was conducted using the following components:

• Microsoft .Net SDK 9.0.101 (x64)
• Microsoft .Net Core 9.0.0 Shared Framework (x64)
• Microsoft .Net Runtime 9.0.0 (x64)

No functionality issues were observed with Discovery Accelerator or its Client during these tests. However, these findings are not officially supported and should be validated in a test environment before implementation.
 

Recommendations

1. Upgrade to .Net 8:

   • If upgrading to Enterprise Vault 15.0 or higher is an option, .Net 8 is officially supported and recommended.
   • For Discovery Accelerator 14.5.X, .Net 8 is not officially supported; however, lab tests indicate no observed issues. Proceed with caution and test thoroughly.
      

2. Test in a Controlled Environment:

   • Before implementing any .Net upgrade in a production environment, replicate the setup in a test environment.
   • Validate all critical functionalities of Discovery Accelerator, including client-server interactions and data processing.
      

3. Monitor for Updates:

   • Regularly check the Veritas Compatibility Charts for updates on supported .Net versions for Discovery Accelerator 14.5.X.
   • URL for reference: https://www.veritas.com/content/support/en_US/doc/128058600-128865835-0/v128055538-128865835

4. Plan for Future Upgrades:

   • Consider upgrading to Enterprise Vault 15.0 or higher to ensure compatibility with newer .Net versions and extended support.
      

Precautions

• Ensure that all backups are up-to-date before making any changes to the environment.
• Document all changes and test results for future reference.

By following these steps, administrators can address the End of Support for .Net 6 while minimizing risks to their Discovery Accelerator environment.