ARIS Method gone bad

Peter Björklund on March 7, 2011

We´ve been using ARIS Implementation Platform for a couple of years. We´ve also started using ARIS IT Architect (from the ARIS Design platform recently).

In the beginning, ARIS was used isolated in an ERP-implementation project, where many different peolpe used ARIS to define business processes and IT-system (operational and functional views). There was never a governance model for using ARIS (or working with BPM or EA for that matter). There was one database for all the processes and (unfortunatly) another database for the IT-architecture, dont ask me why, not my call. A lot of databases and filters has meanwhile been created, uploaded, exported, re-defined, imported, since different people apparently find ARIS exciting and wants to learn/experiment. This has caused extensions, with new object available in the ARIS Method, but also, as it seems, decreases of the ARIS Method and causing some conventions not to work.

As a vital step to implement our governance model we would now like to define a new convention based on the default ARIS Method. It sounds simple to just make db back-ups and then re-install the platform on the ARIS server? but am I naive to think so? has anyone experienced the same thing them selves and performed the activity?

Question:

1. Is this a more complex activity than I imagine?

2. How do I re-install ARIS platform on the server?

Tags: #filter

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9 Replies

Sebastian Stein on March 8, 2011 - 08:41

Hhhm, I think you would need to install ARIS Platform on a new server (e.g. your local PC) and create a filter there just allowing what you really need for your environment. After completing the filter, you should export it and get it into your production server.

Method extensions like custom icons, etc. are stored on a server level and it is not really easy to remove them without a complete reinstall (which I guess is no option for you). Therefore, I think the method above using a vanilla install is easier.

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Peter Björklund Author on March 8, 2011 - 13:08

Thanks for your reply.

I´m afraid your answer doesnt really solves my problem. Your answer is excactly what I did from the beginning, but it didnt work:

I restored a database (recieved from Software AG, based on a specifik EA framework wich we want to use) on another server (e.g. my local PC)

. TheThe restored db contained new modeltypes, new objects, etc and therefore extended the entire method. I then created a new filter (on my local PC) using these new framework specific objects, symbols, etc. It works fine on my local PC.

When I restore the same database on the production server and import the new filter half of the new model types are missing. In the test models several connections and objects are missing as well.

Why is this? And how do I fix this problem?

As I said previously: It sounds simple to just make db back-ups and then re-install the platform on the ARIS server? but am I naive to think so? has anyone experienced the same thing them selves and performed the activity?

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Sebastian Stein on March 8, 2011 - 14:32

Hi Peter,

that sounds very odd. Are you using the same ARIS version (server and client) on both systems?

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Martin Schröder on March 8, 2011 - 16:42

Hello Peter,

you should discuss the details for a time saving step by step procedure with IDS support as much depends on the Aris release and client (license) types used. There have been bugs and fixes concerning the transfer of method filters and extensions between servers (cf. service release newsletters at Aris download site).

AFAIK it makes a difference if you first import the filter (activate all options to overwrite existing method extensions) and then the database into a server. Aris help and docs are not very articulate on these topics.

I assume that you use IT Architect, which comes with method extensions apart from other client types. Is it only you who observes missing models or do other users try to view model types which do not correspond with their client license?

Besides installing a new business server to get a clean method configuration for your production system there is a way to migrate the complete configuration database (filters, symbol and extensions, layout templates, charts) from your Local Server by means of ArisAdmin71.exe commands backupconfig and restoreconfig (cf. Aris Installation and Admin Guide)

Regards, Martin

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Peter Björklund Author on March 8, 2011 - 17:12

Yes, I have the same versions installed, 7.1.0.524795.

For example, when I view the filter customization on the production server, the object Application system type choosen for the model type SV-4 System functionality description is light grey (not able to choose). When I check the ARIS Method the object are there.

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Peter Björklund Author on March 9, 2011 - 15:29

Martin, thanks for you reply.

What would you have preferred?

1) to install a new business server to get a clean method configuration for our production system and then import filters and databases the proper way?

2) migrate the complete configuration from a local server?

We are actually about to change production server in a near future, wich would be reason enough to install a new business server.

/Peter

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Martin Schröder on March 9, 2011 - 18:13

Hello Peter,

1) is always the better option, as recommended by Sebastian Stein.

We use 2) the other way round to distribute the config DB from our production server to Local Servers bundled in a Business Architect software package in our environment to spare the users importing filters and layouts manually.

But given your problem with the EA framework (what is so specific about it?) and the method, I cannot guarantee that a copy of config DB from Local Server is a true replica for use on a Business Server. The inactive application system type you describe looks like a mismatch in license types to me. Does the use of your EA framework depend on a specific license like IT or SOA Architect?

Regards, Martin

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Peter Björklund Author on March 29, 2011 - 11:59

Martin and Sebastian,

After reading you comments I assume the best option for us is to re-install a new server client.

Step 1. Export all ARIS content (db:s, templates and filters) that we modelled to this date and that we want to use tomorrow.

Step 2. Remove current ARIS server installation

Step 3. Install new ARIS server client

Step 4. Import relevant ARIS content (db:s, templates and filter. In the sequential steps that Martin described.

Am I on the right track?

Thanks for your time

Peter

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Martin Schröder on April 4, 2011 - 19:05

Hello Peter,

your procedure looks alright.

in step 1.

ArisAdmin71.exe command backup /all <backup-directory> saves all DBs in one go

Only filters and layouts have to be exported manually

after step3.

Just to play safe do a backupconfig to keep a clean method configuration database you can revert to.

step 4.

Import filters and layouts from files,

then you can restore all DBs by arisadm71.exe in one go: restore <backup-directory>

Regards, Martin

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