Topic: Upgrade from 5.6 to 7.2

[ktalley]

I am attempting to update from 5.6 to 7.2.  I have zero knowledge of linux and just enough knowledge of SME Server 5.6 to administer it (somewhat).  I have downloaded and burned the iso image to cd.  Problem is that when I insert it into the drive of the server nothing happens.  Light comes on the drive for a second or two then no action.  Have burned two seperate CD's with same issue.  I have looked in the bios of the machine and it is supposed to boot from cd first if available then HD.  I have rebooted server several times in hopes that it would boot from CD.

I would appreciate any and all help.

Thanks in advance.

[raem]

ktalley

I have downloaded and burned the iso image to cd.

I'm guessing this may be your problem.
The iso file is already the "image" of the CD.
You do not burn the iso file to the CD, instead you select the appropriate option in your burning software to create the CD from the image file.
ie in Nero you select the option to burn a disk image

[ktalley]

OK.  I used the software at the following link.

http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm

I downloaded the software for my OS.  I will try another.

Thanks

[raem]

ktalley

Well that software sounds like it can do the job, assuming you selected to burn the image rather than burn the file.

There have been numerous reports over the years of issues with different CD drives, so you might like to try a different CD drive in your sme server.

Did you check the md5 sum of the downloaded iso file to ensure the file was downloaded correctly ?

cd to the folder where the iso file is on your sme server
at the linux command prompt do

md5sum smeserver.iso

compare the number generated with the md5sum number listed at the download site


You can also try reading the CD on a Windows computer to see if you appear to have burnt it correctly.
On a 7.2 CD you should see folders like
images
isolinux
product
repodata
SME
updates


You can also try to boot your Windows computer to the CD, but don't install the OS of course, to see if it has burnt correctly and is in fact bootable.

[ktalley]

That helps a lot.  I tried to look at the disc on a windows machine and couldn't see any files there either.  I thought that maybe because it was a windows machine it would not recognize the information.  I guess I should have said in the original post that I have very limited knowledge of all operating systems.  Thanks for the help.  I will try again in the morning as the server is at the office.

Another question.  Should I be at the sme server screen, ie logged in as admin, and see the sme server non gui interface when I insert the CD.

Thanks again!

[raem]

ktalley

I tried to look at the disc on a windows machine and couldn't see any files there either.

That could be due to a bad md5sum (ie bad download) or that you burnt the disk incorrectly.
Remember you should NOT be burning the smeserver.iso file to the disk in the usual way that you burn files to CD's.
You should select to burn an image file and then select smeserver.iso.

Should I be at the sme server screen, ie logged in as admin, and see the sme server non gui interface when I insert the CD.

No you won't see any GUI and you don't login as admin.
You need to be at the sme server screen/keyboard, and insert the CD and restart the server.
When the server reboots the install process will then run with DOS style text/graphical menus etc.
Just follow the instructions. Your whole hard disk drive will be erased & reformatted.

[ktalley]

I did the md5sum check and the original file download was bad.  I noticed the new 7.3 available and scratched the 7.2.  When i burn the image file to cd I can see the following files and folder: Folder:SRPMS and files GPL, RPM-GPG-KEY-SMEServer.  Is this what I should I be seeing when viewing CD on a windows machine.  I am still trying to use iso image to cd burner earlier posted.

Needless to say I am still having no luck when rebooting in the linux machine in attempt to upgrade.

[raem]

ktalley

7.3 is the way to go

I'm looking at a 7.3 iso file and I see folders named
SME
images
isolinux
product
repodata
updates

and and I see files named
GPL
README.txt
RPM-GPG-KEY-SMEServer
TRANS.TBL

Your CD does not appear to be burnt correctly

Did you do a md5sum check on the sme7.3 iso file after it was downloaded ?
Otherwise try a different burning software.

[cactus]

I did the md5sum check and the original file download was bad.  I noticed the new 7.3 available and scratched the 7.2.  When i burn the image file to cd I can see the following files and folder: Folder:SRPMS and files GPL, RPM-GPG-KEY-SMEServer.  Is this what I should I be seeing when viewing CD on a windows machine.

Yes taht sound pretty normal.

I am still trying to use iso image to cd burner earlier posted.

Needless to say I am still having no luck when rebooting in the linux machine in attempt to upgrade.

Did you verify the MD5sum for the 7.3 image as well? If it is not the same it is of no use burning the CD. If your checksum matches and your CD won't run you might try to consider an other program to burn you image with.

Another possibility could be that your hardware is to old, outdated, for SME Server 7.3, perhaps it also helps trying to tell us some more about your error, other than only saying it does not work... what does it report?

[CharlieBrady]

Your whole hard disk drive will be erased & reformatted.

No, that's not true for upgrade from an earlier version. The earlier version should be detected, and the default option will be to upgrade.

[raem]

Charlie

Thanks Charlie for that "sharp eyed" correction. I re-read the post and my answer and don't know why I even said that, as the issue did refer to upgrading, which as you say will preserve existing data. I must have been thinking of a fresh install.