Introduction

This tutorial walks you through the steps for applying a deployable package on a system. This package can be either a binary hotfix for Application Object Server (AOS) or a deployable package that was created in your development environment.

This article describes the process using the command line and requires remote access to the environments. On the other hand, and in most cases, you can apply a deployable package to an environment directly from Dynamics Lifecycle Services (LCS) as described in Apply a deployable package on a system, without the need to understand the process described on this page.

Key concepts

• Deployable package – A deployable package is a unit of deployment that can be applied in any environment. It can consist of a binary hotfix to the AOS runtime components, an updated application package, or a new application package.
• AXUpdateInstaller – A deployable package has the installer executable bundled in it. When the package is downloaded to a computer, the installer is available.
• Runbook – The deployment runbook is a series of steps that is generated for applying the deployable package to the target environment. Some of the steps are automated, and some are manual. AXUpdateInstaller provides the capability to run these steps one by one and in the correct sequence.

Collect topology configuration data

1. In Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services (LCS), open the Environment page.
2. Click the name of a virtual machine (VM), and establish a Remote Desktop connection to the VM by using the user name and password that are provided on the Environment page.
3. On the VM, download the zip file for the deployable package from LCS. Note: After you download the zip file, right-click it, and then select Properties. Then, in the Properties dialog box, on the General tab, click Unblock to unlock the files. Finally, extract the files, and continue with the next step.
4. In the folder where the deployable package was extracted, find and open the file that is named DefaultTopologyData.xml. You must populate this file with the VM name and installed components.
   • To populate the VM name, follow these steps:
     1. Open Windows Explorer, right-click This PC, and then select Properties.
     2. In the system properties, find and make a note of the machine name (for example, AOS-950ed2c3e7b).
     3. In the DefaultTopologyData.xml file, replace the machine name with the name that you found in the previous step.
   • To populate the installed components, follow these steps:
     1. Open a Command Prompt window as an administrator.
     2. Navigate to the extracted folder, and run the following command to see a list of all the installed components on the computer.

        AXUpdateInstaller.exe list

     3. Update the DefaultTopologyData.xml with the list of components.

   When you’ve finished populating the VM name and installed components, the DefaultTopologyData.xml file should resemble the following illustration.

5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 for each VM that is listed on the Environment page.

Generate a runbook from the topology

Based on the topology information in the DefaultTopologyData.xml file, you must generate the runbook file that will provide step-by-step instructions for updating each VM.

• On any VM, run the following command to generate the runbook.

  AXUpdateInstaller.exe generate –runbookid=[runbookID] –topologyfile=[topologyFile] –servicemodelfile=[serviceModelFile] –runbookfile=[runbookFile]

  Here is an explanation of the parameters that are used in this command:

  • [runbookID] – A parameter that is specified by the developer who applies the deployable package
  • [topologyFile] – The path of the DefaultTopologyData.xml file
  • [serviceModelFile] – The path of the DefaultServiceModelData.xml file
  • [runbookFile] – The name of the runbook file to generate (for example, AOSRunbook.xml)

  Example

  AXUpdateInstaller.exe generate -runbookid="VAL200AA2BMEDIU-runbook" -topologyfile="DefaultTopologyData.xml" -servicemodelfile="DefaultServiceModelData.xml" -runbookfile="VAL200AA2BMEDIU-runbook.xml"

The runbook provides the sequence of steps that must be run to update the environment. The following illustration shows an example of a runbook file. Each step in a runbook is associated with an ID, a machine name, and step execution details.

Install a deployable package

1. Based on the sequence of steps that is specified in the runbook, start with the first machine that is listed.
2. Follow these steps on each VM:
   1. Import the runbook by running the following command.

      AXUpdateInstaller.exe import -runbookfile=[runbookFile]

      Example

      AXUpdateInstaller.exe import -runbookfile="VAL200AA2BMEDIU-runbook.xml"

   2. Verify the runbook.

      AXUpdateInstaller.exe list

   3. Execute the runbook.

      AXUpdateInstaller.exe execute -runbookid=[runbookID]

      Example

      AXUpdateInstaller.exe execute -runbookid="VAL200AA2BMEDIU-runbook"

   4. Export the runbook.

      AXUpdateInstaller.exe export -runbookid=[runbookID] -runbookfile=[runbookFile]

      Example

      AXUpdateInstaller.exe export -runbookid="VAL200AA2BMEDIU-runbook" -runbookfile="VAL200AA2BMEDIU-runbook.xml"

3. AXUpdateInstaller updates the runbook file after each step is run on a VM.
4. The runbook also logs information about each step.
5. For manual steps, follow the instructions, and then mark the step as completed in the runbook by using the AXUpdateInstaller.

   AXUpdateInstaller.exe execute -runbookID=[runbookID] -setstepcomplete=[stepID]

   Example

   AXUpdateInstaller.exe execute -runbookid="VAL200AA2BMEDIU-runbook" -setstepcomplete=2

6. After all the steps are completed on one machine, export the runbook results.

   AXUpdateInstaller.exe export -runbookID=[runbookID] -runbookfile=[runbookFile]

   Example

   AXUpdateInstaller.exe export -runbookid="VAL200AA2BMEDIU-runbook" -runbookfile="VAL200AA2BMEDIU-runbook.xml"

7. Log on to the second machine that is listed, and repeat steps 1 through 6 until all machines have been updated.
8. If errors occur during any step, debug the script/instruction in the step, and update accordingly.

Back up the database and computer instance

• After all the services are stopped, make a backup of the database and VM snapshot manually (optional). Then run the following command to mark the backup step as completed. Supply the correct backup step ID.

  AXUpdateInstaller.exe execute -runbookid=[runbookID] -setstepcomplete=[stepID]

  Example

  AXUpdateInstaller.exe execute -runbookid="VAL200AA2BMEDIU-runbook" -setstepcomplete=3

Update files

1. After you’ve marked the backup step as completed, the next step is triggered. In the sample step, AOS packages are updated from the deployable package.
2. Run the following command to verify that the new version is installed.

   AXUpdateInstaller.exe list

3. View the runbook to see the completed steps.

Run database synchronization

• At one point, you will see a database synchronization (DBSync) step.

Start all services

• After the database synchronization step is completed, follow the same instructions to complete the remaining steps. All the services will be started.

Troubleshooting

• After all the steps are completed, export the runbook, and save it outside the computer for future reference. For example, you might have to use the runbook file in these situations:
  • You must analyze the downtime requirements for production, and so on.
  • You must send the file to Microsoft in the event of failure to install a deployable package.
• If any step fails, you can rerun it by running the following command.

  AXUpdateInstaller.exe execute -runbookid=[runbookID] -rerunstep=[stepID]

• To prevent version mismatch or downgrade, or installation of the same deployable package, run the following command.

  AXUpdateInstaller.exe execute -runbookid=[runbook ID] -versioncheck=true

• To verify database synchronization, navigate to the aosservce\scripts\ folder and find the dbsync.error.txt file. Find the file, and look for any errors.

AX7: Install a deployable package