The Value of Checklists - Dynamics GP 2013 Upgrade Checklist

As a general rule I advocate for the use of checklists when doing anything important.  It doesn't matter how many times a pilot flies, they still get in the plane and run through the "preflight" checklist prior to taking off, because let's face it, planes can and do fall out of the sky when something goes wrong.

Every year, our team goes through the Year-End Checklist prepared by the Microsoft team, adds our in spin on things, and then publishes it to our clients.

The checklist below is a constantly evolving Dynamics GP Upgrade Checklist. It is by no means exhaustive, and is a high-level document, which references technical information without providing significant detail.  Feel free to comment or ask questions.

Dynamics GP 2013 Upgrade

Preparation

Upgrades to GP 2013 Require a Zero Dollar Product Order

Designate a Client IT resource

Distribute Installation and Upgrade instructions to Client IT resource

Create/Validate Admin account for CustomerSource access for Client IT

Obtain Dynamics GP Install Media – Client IT Download to Install Folder

Obtain Dynamics GP Keys – Client IT Download to Install Folder

Obtain SQL Server Media – Client Obtain (validate licensing)

Obtain Management Reporter Media – Client Download to Install Folder

Obtain Management Reporter Key

Client IT - Create Domain/Machine Admin Credentials Install User

Client IT - Run File Maintenance / Check Links on data

Determine 3^rd Party Applications installed

Contact 3^rd Party support to determine version compatibility

Obtain 3rd Party Product Keys

Review necessary documentation – installation and upgrade instructions for any 3^rd Party products

Determine GP Modules Installed  and in use

Identify Reports used to validate upgrade

Installation Prerequisites

Validate Sever Configuration

Add Server Role - Web Server

Add Server Role - Application Server

Enable .Net 3.5.1 ASP.Net

Enable IIS 6 Metabase Compatibility Feature for IIS 7

Enable WCF HTTP Activation

Install SQL Server 2008 r2

Optional – if someone else installed SQL and used Window Only Authentication 

Reconfigure SQL to accept Windows and SQL Authentication

Enable SQL SA User Account

Set SQL SA User Account Password – make sure meets requirements

Distribute SA Password to designated client IT resource

Install SQL Server Reporting Services

Validate SSRS Install

Install Management Reporter

Install Dynamics GP

Install Required 3^rd Party Products

Backup Tasks

Backup Databases

Backup Working Workstation Folder for current version

Back Up Application Customizations

Custom Forms

Custom Reports

Optional - if moving Dynamics GP to New Environment

Move Database backups to new machine

Restore Files List Only (Determine DB Configurations)

Create Target Databases using DB Configurations

Restore Databases
Set SQL Compatibility Level (i.e. move from SQL 2005 to 2008)

Configure Security

Run Scripts to Capture Logins from Old Server

Run Script to Create Logins on New Server

Run sp_changeowner DYNSA on GP Databases

Run Grant.sql script on GP Databases

Backup the Databases – make sure you can restart from this point if Upgrade goes sideways

Run DynUtils

Upgrade System Database

Upgrade Company Databases

Enter Registration Keys

Add New Users

Create New Users

Testing -  Log in as user

Share Network Folder (hold shared components)

Set Security Correctly (Read and Execute Permissions)

Create Workstation install package

Install Workstations

Test Workstations

Run reports to compare to validation reports