Upgrading from Datamaker to Test Data Manager

[Luis Manrrique]

Hello everyone, 

I have an interesting question I'd like an anwer to, I appreciate your help in the matter, 

Is it possible to make an upgrade from Datamaker to all the set of Test Data Manager? As I understang Datamaker is already a component of Test Data Manager per se, but a client is currently in thoughts of upgrading the tool to have a more complete set in their system, then, is it possible? I researched Datamaker and it also appears to be another individual product appart from Test Data manager, I don't really know the difference and is complicated to find a proper answer so I come to you, I'm really confused there. 

Thanks for all your help. 

[Bradley Gray]

Hi Luis,

I'm not sure if I fully understand your question. What version of TDM does your client have? 

There are multiple components to TDM, and Datamaker is just one of them. It's best to upgrade all the components, as we don't support a mixed environment. When upgrading, you should begin with upgrading the TDM Portal component.  When the CA Test Data Manager Portal service first starts, a connection is established with the gtrep repository database, and a migration script runs to verify the schema release of the repository database. If any changes are required, the script will upgrade the repository schema for you. As a best practice, it recommended using the latest TDM Portal patch available for the version of TDM you are upgrading to. The TDM Portal patches are full installation of the TDM Portal component

Depending on the release of TDM you are upgrading from, it's a good idea to download the CA-TestDataManager-FullPackage-4.xx package from the Broadcom Support Portal, and upgrade the GTServer. The GTServer installation wizard will upgrade all the other components. This will put you at the GA (General Availability) Release of TDM. After the GTServer installation is complete, I recommend downloading the latest TDM Component patches, such as GT Datamaker, SubSet, FDM, and Javelin, and run the installation for the patches. By doing this, you will have all components upgraded to the latest build release. 

The latest TDM patches can be downloaded from the Test Data Manager (TDM) Support Patches page.

For more information on Upgrading TDM, see:

• TDM Upgrade Best Practices
• How to apply patches for TDM

If you need help reviewing your TDM Upgrade plan, or going over the steps to upgrade your TDM environment, please open a support case, and let the TDM Support team know about your plans for upgrading. Also see Test Data Manager Upgrade Review. The KB has an attached spreadsheet that will help you document the system you need to upgrade.

I hope this information was helpful.

Best regards,
Brad

[Luis Manrrique]

Hey Bradley,

Thanks for your help, let me try to explain it because the possible client is in a little bit of a tangle, 

For what I know they're not using the tool (TDM) in its full totality, they appear to have done a partial installation with only the Datakamer component in use, I'm targeting to make them install all the other components of the solution so they can use it in its full potential, and in the proper way, but I have to make this question, 

Have you seen this done before? The IT management of the company insist that the Datamaker is old and was installed when TDM had not yet become the array of interconnected tools it is now. Do you have any information about the evolution of the tool so I can explain it to the team?. Again I had not seen this done before and I'm in a bit of a struggle to understand too. I'll keep you informed if I know anything more, but I'll be of great help if you answer this. 

Thanks for your kind help in this!

Best regards,

Luis.

[Bradley Gray]

Hi Luis,

It makes sense that some customers would only install the components they know that they need, based on their requirements. I've seen a customer only install the TDM Portal and FDM, as these components gave them the ability to do what was asked of them. Since your client only has Datamaker installed, this makes me think that they are running a very older release that is no longer supported. Which also raises some concerns about upgrading. When upgrading TDM, we can only jump two major releases. So, for example, if they are currently running TDM 4.7, then they must upgrade to TDM 4.9, before going to a newer release.  If they are running anything older than release 4.7, say TDM 4.4, then upgrading them will require some help from Support, as the media required for the upgrade is no longer available for download. It would help a lot to know the release of TDM that your client is working with.

I don't know the full history of the TDM Product. In the early releases, prior to TDM version 4.5 or 4.6 (I don't recall) Datamaker was the main component. When upgrading any release older them TDM version 4.7, it was required that you first upgrade Datamaker, which would run a migration script that would upgrade the gtrep repository database schema to ensure any changes to the gtrep schema were performed. 

However, starting with TDM release 4.8, the TDM Portal now manages the script that upgrades the gtrep schema. So having TDM Portal installed is a requirement. You must install/upgrade the TDM Portal component before upgrading Datamaker. 

I recommend opening a Support case, and asking for help with an upgrade review. The Support team can also engage help from our Solutions Engineering team, and/or your Broadcom account team, to ensure your customer is getting their full value from TDM product.  

Regards,
Brad

[Luis Manrrique]

Hey Brad, 

Again thanks for your help with this, now I get it, the client has just updated me about the version of Datamaker they use and is the GTSDM version 3.71.8.0, which I think aludes to V3.71.8.0 of TDM, is that right? I'd appreciate if you confirm me this so I can have a guide and know from where to go with the setting of this to open up a case, which I'll be doing. Thank you for your kind help again Brad,

Regards, 

Luis.

[Bradley Gray]

Hi Luis,

I'm not sure the exact version of TDM that translates to, but it's very old and no longer supported. There wasn't a 3.71 or 3.7 release. If this correlated to TDM 3.6, it hasn't been supported since 01/01/2018.  Version 3.8 hasn't been supported since 04/01/2018.  With them being this far behind, I recommend that they consider starting over with a fresh installation. A Support case will be needed, so we can discuss the use case and determine the proper way to get them upgraded.

Regards,
Brad