Updating a Firebird 2.5 Database to Firebird 5
The Importance Of The Current Testing Phase:
Partner Testing of Update 243 has been progressing well, with a number of reported items already resolved. Our expectation is that all Partners have now undertaken the following: We are now moving into the next step, which involves upgrading existing Firebird 2.5 databases to Firebird 5 for further testing.
If you have not yet been actively involved in this process to date, now is the time to do so. The purpose of this trial period is to identify any issues—particularly those related to customisations such as scripting or custom triggers. We cannot be in a position where, later on, Live environment upgrades encounter preventable issues due to a lack of testing at this stage. By the time Update 243 is available for public release, we will be shifting our focus to several 'significant future developments' for Ostendo. As our resources will be heavily committed during this period, therefore we may be unable to provide guidance to Partners who have chosen not to participate in this Pre-Release process. Consequently, those Partners should not undertake the upgrade process themselves. This is why your involvement now is essential—to identify and resolve any potential issues ahead of time.
In the coming days, we will be releasing Cloud installation instructions that cover the Remote Database configuration and setup. This will provide Partners with the information needed to establish a Cloud environment, whether for testing purposes or for client migrations. For Partners who prefer not to undertake the initial Cloud server setup themselves (both now and in the future), Cassini Cloud will be offering a very competitive paid fully managed service to handle this on your behalf.(Around AUD$20 per user per month). More information will be provided on this.
Significant Future Developments:
The next phase of the Ostendo rollout is the Continuum release adding the new OHJA (Ostendo/HTML/JS/AI) platform enhancements. From December there will be progressive updates that will include some of the following additions and enhancements to Ostendo: - BI Dashboards
- Process Models (SOP’s)
- Process Traveler (Shop floor data collection and instructional front end)
- Quick Launch & Navigator that front ends to Ostendo for improved navigation with the help of a new advanced search engine.
- Snapshot Reporting and Data Entry builder that natively generates HTML outputs and forms.
- Integration of AI tools leading toward a full Conversational AI layer in Ostendo (Ask Ostendo).
- Significant enhancements and improved accounting integrations (auto reconciliations and drill downs from accounting application Journals and OHJA screen sitting over both Ostendo and the specific accounting application along with a level of user customisation. ie: Journal Descriptions passed to Accounting Software. Inclusion of Advanced GL Mapping eg: to support multi divisional accounts.)
- On going new and upgraded screens using the OHJA platform (i.e. POS, Jobs, Sales, Purchases etc…). All new development is using the new HTML/JS/AI UI allowing for dynamic screen generation, more user customisation, and where applicable using AI to enhance the user experience.
Overview:In a previous article we provided details of downloading and installing FB 5.0.1 on a machine where an existing FB2.5 environment was in place. As a newer version of FB5 is now available (FB 5.0.3) we suggest removing that earlier 5.0.1 version and refreshing this with version 5.0.3. The following instruction (Removing FB 5.0.1) assumes you had already set this up as requested.
- Stop the FB 5 Guardian and FB 5 Server services
- Launch the DOS Command Prompt (as Administrator)
- Path to your FB 5 folder eg: cd C:\Program Files\Firebird\Firebird_5
- Run the following. instsvc r -name fb_5
- Delete all files from the Firebird 5 folder
Determining the FB 5 Installation method:
If the will be two instances of FB on this machine ie: FB 2.5 alongside FB 5 then following Method 1
If there will only be one instance of FB on this machine ie: FB 5 only, then follow Method 2
- Go to https://firebirdsql.org/en/firebird-5-0-3 and download FB 5.0.3 64 bit Zip Kit for manual / custom installs (NB: This is a zip file)
- Unzip this file into your Firebird 5 Folder
- Download http://ostendo.info/downloads/ostendo/SECURITY5.zip
- Unzip this file into your Firebird 5 folder (overwriting the existing SECURITY5.FDB file) (This file stores the Database User and Master Password, currently set to re default vales). This can be modified if necessary by advanced users using isql from within the Firebird 5 Folder)
- From within the Firebird 5 folder edit the firebird.confg file and change the following
- Change From #RemoteServiceName = gds_db
- To RemoteServiceName = fb_5
- Change From #RemoteServicePort = 3050
- To RemoteServicePort = 3051 (or whichever port you wish to use for FB 5)
- Ensure you have Windows Firewall Inbound and Outbound rules set for your Firebird 5 instance
- Launch the DOS Command Prompt (as Administrator)
- Path to your FB 5 folder eg: cd C:\Program Files\Firebird\Firebird_5
- Run the following. instsvc -install -auto -guardian -name fb_5
- Run the following. instsvc -start -name fb_5
- Download http://ostendo.info/downloads/ostendo/FBClient2_5_and_5.zip
- Unzip this file to your 243 Folder. This contains two fbclient.dll files, one to be used for FB 5 databases and the other for 2.5 databases.
- Launch the Ostendo Configuration Utility and specify the appropriate port numbers against the Computer Name/Port field and .dll against the Alternate fbclient.dll field
 - Delete the Firebird 5 folder
- Go to https://firebirdsql.org/en/firebird-5-0-3 and download FB 5.0.3 64 Windows executable installer, recommended for first time users
- Run the downloaded exe file (as Administrator) and follow the prompts
- From within the newly created Firebird 5 folder edit the firebird.confg file and change the following
- Change From #RemoteServiceName = gds_db
- To RemoteServiceName = fb_5
- Change From #RemoteServicePort = 3050
- To RemoteServicePort = 3051 (or whichever port you wish to use for FB 5)
- Ensure you have Windows Firewall Inbound and Outbound rules set for your Firebird 5 instance
- Launch the DOS Command Prompt (as Administrator)
- Path to your FB 5 folder eg: cd C:\Program Files\Firebird\Firebird_5
- Run the following. instsvc -install -auto -guardian -name fb_5
- Run the following. instsvc -start -name fb_5
- Download http://ostendo.info/downloads/ostendo/FBClient2_5_and_5.zip
- Unzip this file to your 243 Folder. This contains two fbclient.dll files, one to be used for FB 5 databases and the other for 2.5 databases.
- Launch the Ostendo Configuration Utility and specify the appropriate port numbers against the Computer Name/Port field and .dll against the Alternate fbclient.dll field
- From your current Ostendo (242) folder run the dbutils.exe Validation and Backup against this database to create an .fbk file (This will be your 2.5 backup file)
- For simplicity it is suggested you copy the .fbk to the Firebird 5 folder on the machine FB 5 is installed on.
- Launch the DOS Command Prompt (as Administrator)
- Path to your FB 5 folder eg: cd C:\Program Files\Firebird\Firebird_5
- Run SET ISC_USER=SYSDBA
- Run SET ISC_PASSWORD=masterkey
- Run the following. gbak -create -v Ostendo.fbk FB5_Ostendo.fdb (substitute your actual database names)
- Once the Restore is complete, copy the FB 5 .fdb file to your 243 test file location
- Launch the Ostendo Configuration Utility and go to the Companies (Local) tab and specify the Company Name eg: FB5_ABC appropriate Computer Name/Port number, Database Path and Alternate fbclient.dll (FB_5_fbclient.dll)
- Launch Ostendo (243) and select the Company Name and continue with testing.
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