Navigating Sitecore Upgrade: A Guide to upgrade database from Sitecore 9 to Sitecore 10

Introduction:

Sitecore, a leading digital experience platform, continually evolves to offer enhanced features and performance. Upgrading from Sitecore 9 to Sitecore 10 is a significant step in staying abreast of the latest advancements. In this blog post, we’ll focus on a crucial aspect of this transition: upgrading your databases. Follow this comprehensive guide to ensure a smooth and successful database upgrade.

Step 1: Understand Database Changes in Sitecore 10 and related modules in use… Before diving into the upgrade process, it’s essential to understand the database changes introduced in Sitecore 10. Review the official Sitecore documentation, specifically the release notes and upgrade guides, to gain insights into any schema changes, data migrations, or new features related to databases. Best starting point is Sitecore official documentation https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/installation-and-upgrade-guides the Upgrade guide will contain detailed steps to your target Sitecore version and from the version from wich you are upgrading… Be aware that less Sitecore modules and hotfixes you have in place, easier will be your life since each of the modules may have a different upgrade path and may impact the data / items schema and require further rework, adaptation and test….

Step 2: Backup Your Databases Begin the upgrade process by creating comprehensive backups of your Sitecore databases. This includes the Core, Master, Web, and any custom databases associated with your Sitecore instance. Having reliable backups is crucial in case of unforeseen issues during the upgrade, allowing you to roll back to the previous state without data loss.

Step 3: Update Sitecore Databases Follow the step-by-step instructions provided in the Sitecore upgrade documentation to update your databases. This process may involve running scripts, executing database schema changes, and migrating data to align with the requirements of Sitecore 10. Pay close attention to any specific instructions related to database upgrades to ensure accuracy.

IAR Revolution

within Sitecore 10, Sitecore introduced IAR – https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/103/developer-tools/items-as-resources-plugin.html IAR files are a great improvement to simplify and facilitate future sitecore upgrades, but it requires you to run few steps for cleaning up your Sitecore 9 databases from old Sitecore items and to leverage new Sitecore IAR

SQL migration scripts to review and run as per Upgrade guide:

CMS_core

CMS_core_master_web_9x

CMS_master.sql

CMS_security.sql

CMS_web.sql

SXP_collection_GrantPermissions.sql(Run on both Shard0 and Shard1 databases)

SXP_collection_Part1.sql (Run on both Shard0 and Shard1 databases)

SXP_collection_Part2.sql (Run on both Shard0 and Shard1 databases)

SXP_experienceforms_filestorage.sql

SXP_experienceforms_storage.sql

SXP_marketingautomation.sql

SXP_processing_engine_tasks.sql

SXP_reporting.sql

SXP_reporting_migrate_experience_optimization_data.sql

XDB Migration

depending on the version upgrade that you are targeting this maybe easier or more complex, in the best case scenario you will have to just run sql upgrade scripts and point the upgraded databases to the XDB index role and rebuild the XDB index….

Sitecore Reporting database rebuild

Within my personal experience, it has always been required to rebuild reporting database after a major Sitecore upgrade in case you have been using Sitecore analytics. This task can be easy or probelmatic depending on the data quantity/quality that you have on your XDB instance & reference data…

Step 4: Verify Data Integrity After upgrading the databases, conduct thorough data integrity checks to ensure that all content, configurations, and user data have been successfully migrated. This step is critical in maintaining the continuity of your digital experience, and any discrepancies should be addressed promptly.

Step 6: Test Database Functionality Perform extensive testing on your upgraded databases to validate their functionality. Test content management operations, content delivery, personalization, and any custom functionalities that rely on the databases. Address and resolve any issues that may arise during testing to guarantee a seamless transition to Sitecore 10.

Step 7: Update Connection Strings and Configuration Files Update the connection strings in your Sitecore configuration files to point to the upgraded databases. Ensure that all configuration files are aligned with the requirements of Sitecore 10. This step is crucial in maintaining a coherent and secure environment post-upgrade.

Step 8: Document Custom Database Configurations If you have custom database configurations or additional databases beyond the standard Sitecore databases, document these configurations. Ensure that any custom scripts or procedures associated with these databases are compatible with Sitecore 10, and make the necessary adjustments to accommodate the changes.

Conclusion: Upgrading databases from Sitecore 9 to Sitecore 10 is a pivotal step in the overall upgrade process. By following this guide and leveraging the resources provided in the official Sitecore documentation, you can navigate the database upgrade with confidence. Stay vigilant during each step, perform thorough testing, and be prepared to address any issues that may arise. A successful database upgrade is key to unlocking the full potential of Sitecore 10 and delivering an enhanced digital experience for your users.