Downgrading Replication Server

Revert to an earlier version of the software. You cannot downgrade an RSSD to a version below the site version.

Prerequisites

Read the release bulletin for any information about downgrading your software. In particular, find out if an RSSD downgrade is required to return to the earlier version. When you downgrade to an earlier software version, you must install the earlier software. Read the release bulletin for the earlier version of Replication Server. Then refer to the installation or configuration guide for that version for installation instructions.
Note: If an RSSD downgrade is not required, you do not have to perform these steps. Reinstall the earlier software version following the instructions in the Installation Guide.
Back up your system.
If you are downgrading to a directory other than the existing version directory, verify that the appropriate sql.ini file is accessible.
Back up the RSSD for the Replication Server you plan to downgrade.
Warning! Some Replication Server configuration options with newer versions may have a wider valid range. If you increase any of these configuration options after upgrading, you must reinstate the old values before downgrading. Otherwise, the Replication Server may not start or may behave incorrectly. The Replication Server upgrade process prints all the current configuration option values in rs_config to rs_init log, so that you can restore the former settings before downgrading.

Task

Stop Replication Agent for all primary databases and system databases by executing this command on Replication Server:
```
suspend log transfer from all
```
If you are using Adaptive Server as your RSSD, stop RepAgent for the RSSD:
```
sp_stop_rep_agent RSSD_name
```
If you are going to downgrade a replicate Replication Server, log in to the primary Replication Server and suspend all the routes to the replicate Replication Server:
```
suspend route to replicate_Replication_Server
                    
```
Verify that the Replication Server queues have been drained and that Replication Server has been quiesced:
```
admin quiesce_check
```
Retry with admin quiesce_force_rsi if Replication Server is not yet quiesced.
Warning! You may lose data if you proceed with the downgrade process without quiescing Replication Server.
Log in as a system administrator.
Verify that the RSSDs and the Replication Servers you plan to downgrade are running.

Note: The downgrade process purges all the Replication Server inbound queues.
In the Windows group window, double-click the Replication Server Configuration icon.
Select Configure a Server Product, then choose Continue.
Select Replication Server, then choose Continue.
Select Downgrade RSSD for an Existing Replication Server, then choose Continue.
Enter information from the “Replication Server Installation Worksheet” section for the Replication Server you are downgrading:
- Name of the Replication Server for which you are downgrading the RSSD.
- Login name for the Replication Server “sa” user. The default value is “sa.”
- Password for the Replication Server “sa” user.
- Path name of the Replication Server configuration file.
Select Continue to save your changes. You see:
Execute the Replication Server tasks now?
Select Yes to continue.
Informational messages appear as rs_init loads the downgrade script into the RSSD. When the downgrade is complete, you see these messages:
RSSD successfully downgraded to rel_no. Replication Server 'rs_name' can now be restarted. Task to downgrade the RSSD succeeded. Configuration completed successfully.
where:
- rel_no – is the Replication Server version from which you are downgrading.
- rs_name – is the name of your Replication Server.
Select OK. You see:
Replication Server “rs_name” can now be restarted
Select OK. You see:
Configuration completed successfully.
Select OK. You see the Setup window.
Select Exit.
Shut down all Replication Servers and Replication Agents on this machine.
Restart the Replication Servers and Replication Agents.
If you are using Adaptive Server as the RSSD, restart the RepAgent for the RSSD:
```
sp_start_rep_agent RSSD_name
```