Safeguard the databases

The upgrade process involves executing some SQL scripts to upgrade the databases. However, if you execute the scripts against databases that are in use, it can make the system unstable. To avoid this situation, you must safeguard the databases by ensuring that they are not being used when you run the SQL scripts.

To safeguard the databases, you can:

• Use the backup tools to make a copy of the databases and follow the instructions in this guide to upgrade these copies.

  For more information about how to configure the Collection database after you copy it, see our documentation. Or

• Disable the environment and follow the instructions in this guide to upgrade the databases.

  Stop the Sitecore web applications and services and turn off the application roles like CM or CD by stopping the sites in the IIS Management Console.

  If you are upgrading from Sitecore XP 9.0.0 or later and using the xDB functionality, you must also stop the xConnect web application roles and the following Windows services:

  • The Sitecore XConnect Search Indexer service
  • The Sitecore Marketing Automation Engine service
  • Sitecore Cortex Processing Engine service – if you are upgrading from Sitecore XP 9.1.0 or later