Downgrade to a Previous Version

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Affected Roles: System Owner  
Related Nx VMS Apps: N/A 
Complexity: High
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Why downgrade an Nx Witness system?

Although it is never recommended to downgrade an Nx Witness System there are certain cases where a user may need to downgrade their Nx Witness System after an upgrade to the latest release. This article outlines how to accomplish a downgrade.

Well, there's good news, folks! Prior to every upgrade Nx Witness automatically creates a backup of the previous version database - so to downgrade an Nx Witness System you will need to create a copy of this database, completely remove Nx Witness from your computer, install the target version, and then restore the newly installed System form the backed up database.

To downgrade an Nx Witness System:

Step 1: Make a copy of the System database

1. Stop the Media Server
2. Locate the Network Optix Media Server database folder
   
   • In Windows the Media Server folder is located at C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Network Optix\Network Optix Media Server
   • In Linux /opt/networkoptix/mediaserver/var
     
     
3. Move ecs.sqlite from this folder to your desktop or other location where it can be easily found. You will only need this is the proverbial poop hits the fan. 
4. In a System with multiple Servers do this for every Server.
5. There will be database backup files in the folder with names like:
   Versions 3.0 and forward: ecs.sqlite.<version number>.<build number>, e.g. ecs.sqlite.3.0.0.15297.
   Versions 2.6 and earlier: ecs_0.backup
   Copy it to some different folder too just in case.

Step 2: Uninstall Nx Witness

Step 3: Install the desired past version of Nx Witness

1. Install and setup the desired Nx Witness version (must match the copied database version!) on each affected Server in the System. Feel free to use the same System Name, or another one, it doesn't really matter as this will be restored by your ecs.backup file.

Step 4: Stop Servers, Restore Database, Restart Servers

1. After installation is complete stop all Servers in the System.
2. Navigate back to the Network Optix Media Server folder (referenced in Step 1)
3. Delete the ecs.sqlite database currently in the folder
4. Find the backup file you would like to restore from.
   • The file you're looking for will have the same date as the date you upgraded to the version you are downgrading from. (example: If you upgraded your system to 3.1 on November 28th, 2017 your backup file will have been created on the same date.
     • In version 2.6 and before the files were called ecs_x.backup
     • In version 3.0 and forward the files will have a version (e.g. ecs.sqlite.3.0.0.15297) and are easier to identify.
5. Rename the database backup file to ecs.sqlite
6. Repeat for all Servers in the System
7. Restart all Servers

Step 5: Log in to your restored, downgraded System.

1. Open Nx Witness and log in using the owner password (or Nx Cloud account)
2. After restoring the database make sure all cameras/etc are accurate. Note: Any changes made to the System since the backup file was created will not be persistent.