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Installing or upgrading PostgreSQL using the Qlik PostgreSQL Installer

The Qlik PostgreSQL Installer (QPI) facilitates your installation or upgrade of the bundled PostgreSQL database. The QPI can be used when installing a completely new standalone database based on PostgreSQL 14.8, or when upgrading and unbundling an existing bundled database from PostgreSQL 9.6 and PostgreSQL 12.5 to PostgreSQL 14.8.

About the Qlik PostgreSQL Installer

As of March 2023, PostgreSQL 9.6 is no longer supported. Using the QPI when upgrading to PostgreSQL 14.8 simplifies the upgrade. The QPI also makes the installation of a new database easier.

When you launch the QPI, it detects any already existing PostgreSQL setup and starts the upgrade process. If no bundled PostgreSQL setup is detected, the QPI starts the installation process.

The default installation path is C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\14. Data for the new database is stored at C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\14\data.

You can change these paths, as long as they don't use the old path: C:\Program Files\Qlik\Sense\Repository\PostgreSQL\12.5. The change of paths is made to decouple PostgreSQL from Qlik Sense and facilitate maintenance and upgrading. With this change there is no dependency on upgrades to Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows. Any attempt to use the old installation path is automatically prevented to avoid issues with the database being interpreted as bundled by the installer when upgrading.

The QPI only supports Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows February 2022 and above.

When upgrading, the database backup is stored in C:\ProgramData\Qlik\Sense\Repository\PostgreSQL\backup\9.6. The 9.6 folder is renamed to 9.6_deprecated, to avoid accidental references to the old 9.6 folder.

Information noteUsing the Qlik PostgreSQL Installer not only upgrades PostgreSQL; it also unbundles PostgreSQL from your Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows installation. This allows for direct control of your PostgreSQL instance and facilitates maintenance without a dependency on Qlik Sense. Further Database upgrades can then be performed independently and in accordance with your corporate security policy when needed, as long as you remain within the supported PostgreSQL versions. See How To Upgrade Standalone PostgreSQL.

Supported scenarios

You can use the QPI in the following scenarios:

  • Clean installation of PostgreSQL 14.8. The QPI allows to install a standalone PostgreSQL 14.8 database on a new server for a new environment, or to migrate an existing database to a separate host.

  • Upgrade an existing bundled database from PostgreSQL 9.6 and 12.5 to 14.8. The QPI only supports Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows February 2022 and above. It's recommended that you upgrade to the latest supported version of Qlik Sense before using the QPI.

Information noteUpgrading earlier versions of the Qlik Sense Repository Database (QRD) is not supported through this method. Instead, upgrade to a version of Qlik Sense that supports 9.6 to automatically migrate through the minor version.

For more information about the QPI, see: Upgrading and unbundling the Qlik Sense Repository Database using the Qlik PostgreSQL Installer.

Considerations

Before you start installing or upgrading, consider the following:

  • Using the QPI on a patched Qlik Sense version might lead to unexpected issues. If you have a patch installed, follow these steps:

    1. Uninstall all patches for your current Qlik Sense version (for example, revert Feb 2022 Patch X to Feb 2022 IR).

    2. Use QPI to upgrade the PostgreSQL database.

    3. Finally, upgrade Qlik Sense to your desired version.

    Alternatively:

    1. Upgrade Qlik Sense to an IR (initial release) of a later version that supports QPI.

    2. Use QPI to upgrade the PostgreSQL database.

  • The QPI will not detect a standalone PostgreSQL database installed by any other means other than through an official Qlik installer package.

  • The QPI itself does not provide a rollback feature.

  • When using the QPI to upgrade the bundled PostgreSQL database, it not only upgrades the database to 14.8, but also unbundles it from Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows installation.

  • The user who runs the QPI needs to have sufficient permissions to execute the QPI and install services.

  • The user who runs the QPI needs to have sufficient permissions to create folders and files in the backup destination.

  • The backup destination needs to have sufficient free disk space to dump the existing database.

  • The backup destination is not a network path or virtual storage folder. It's recommended to store the backup on the main drive.

  • There will be downtime during this operation, plan accordingly.

Installing a new Qlik Sense Repository Database using PostgreSQL 14.8

Do the following:

  1. Stop all services on rim nodes.

  2. Run the Qlik PostgreSQL Installer.

  3. Click Install.

  4. Accept the Qlik Customer Agreement.

  5. Set the Local database settings and click Next. You will use these details to connect other nodes to the same cluster.

  6. Set the Database superuser password and click Next.

  7. Review the settings and click Install and then Finish.

  8. Do one of the following:

    1. Restore your existing QRD database, see: Restoring a Qlik Sense site.

    2. Start installing Qlik Sense Enterprise Client-Managed, see: How to configure Qlik Sense to use a dedicated PostgreSQL database.

  9. When the installation is complete, close the installer.

  10. Click Finish to complete the installation.

Upgrading an existing Qlik Sense Repository Database using PostgreSQL 14.8 - Central node

Information noteIt is required to first upgrade Qlik Sense to the latest supported version with QPI. Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows February 2022 and above are supported versions for the QPI.

Do the following:

  1. Stop all services on the rim nodes.

  2. On your central node, stop all services except the Qlik Sense Repository Database service.

  3. Run the Qlik PostgreSQL Installer. The installer will detect the existing database.

  4. Click Upgrade.

  5. Accept the Qlik Customer Agreement.

  6. Enter your Database superuser password and click Next.

  7. Set the backup location and click Next.

  8. Click Upgrade and then Finish.

    A new service named postgresql-x64-14 is now installed. It's run by the Network Service account. Don't change the name of the service and don't modify the account running it.

  9. Start all services except the Qlik Sense Repository Database service.

  10. Start all services on the rim nodes.

  11. Validate that all services and nodes are operating as expected.

  12. Once the upgrade and all validation are complete, remove the old Qlik Sense Repository Database from the server.

    Information noteThis step is required. Failing to remove the old service will lead the upgrade or patching issues.

    1. Open a command prompt and run:

      c:\cd ProgramData\Package Cache

    2. From there, do one of the following:

      • If you upgraded from 9.6, run:

        c:\ProgramData\Package Cache\dir /s PostgreSQL.msi

        The folder containing PostgreSQL.msi is displayed.

      • If you upgraded from 12.5, run:

        c:\ProgramData\Package Cache\dir /s PostgreSQL125.msi

        The folder containing PostgreSQL125.msi is displayed.

    3. Right-click the PostgreSQL.msi or PostgreSQL125.msi file and select Uninstall from the menu.

If the upgrade was unsuccessful and you are missing data in the Qlik Management Console or elsewhere, contact Qlik Support.

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