Categories
Knowledge Support Support exacqVision Enterprise

Failover and Failback Issue in exacqVision Server and Enterprise Manager

Description 

Level 3 Support has identified an issue with Failover functions in ExacqVision Server software manifesting as failback failure. The component responsible is ExacqVision Server software, but errors can be detected from the Enterprise Manager Failover Groups page as well, leading some customers to report this as an issue with the Enterprise Manager software. It is recommended that ExacqVision Server software version 23.03.3.0 be installed on protected and spare NVRs as a workaround until the future release can address this issue.

Product 

  • ExacqVision Server Software Version 23.06.1.0, 23.09.6.0, 23.09.9.0, 24.03.4.0
  • ExacqVision Enterprise Manager Software Versions:
    23.06.2.0 23.09.7.1, 23.09.9.0, 24.03.4.0

Steps to Reproduce 

  1. Upgrade exacqVision Server, Client and Enterprise Manager to versions 23.06.x.x. thru 24.03.x.x from previous versions.
  2. Test Failover/Failback functionality.

Expected Results 

Failover and Failback functions should complete without error.

Actual Results 

Failover and Failback functions do not complete, or complete with errors – sometimes forcing the abandonment of data, which then does not get returned to the protected NVR.

Solution

Prior to taking any of the steps below it is advised to take a backup configuration file of exacqVision Server, along with a backup license key of all NVRs affected.

It is preferred to also have prior configuration backups available for NVRs taken at earlier times.

It is also preferred to have a backup copy of Enterprise Manager’s configuration and/or a copy of the PostgreSQL or Microsoft SQL database.

  1. Stop all Enterprise Manager services to delete this failover group from shell. See: https://support.exacq.com/#/knowledge-base/article/4998
  2. Start all Enterprise Manager services and Delete the NVRs that were included in the failover group from Enterprise Manager.
    (this is a good time to take another backup)
  3. Unmanage the NVRs that were included in the failover group from exacqVision Client > Enterprise > Security tab.
  4. Downgrade (or if using older version, upgrade) exacqVision Servers to exacqVision Server version 23.03.3.0
    (At this step it is advised to restore from a previously taken backup that is known to have no issues at the time it was taken, if available, but this may not always be required)
  5. Return the Spare to an “Active Recorder” in the Client if still showing as spare – remove exacqVision Server software from the spare (not keeping configuration files for future installs) and then install a fresh version of exacqVision Server 23.03.3.0.
  6. If needed you can restore Enterprise Manager from BOTH the previous EM backup AND the Database Backup or by connecting to existing SQL database (if this is verified to have no issues). Alternatively, add back NVRs if issues are known to be present with the backup file or configuration at the time this was taken. This also may not always be required if EM configuration is in current good standing at this step.
  7. Verify no connection issues are present with the Servers and then Re-create the previous Failover Group and test functionality.

AES-733, AES-705

Categories
Configuration Video Library exacqVision Enterprise Categories Products

Enterprise Manager Failover

Enable automatic system failover to prevent loss in recording when an ExacqVision server loses network connectivity or is brought down for maintenance.

Learn how to create a failover group for automated failover, perform a manually triggered failover, and how to failback to the original state.

Categories
Knowledge Support Support exacqVision Enterprise Categories Products

Stuck Pinned Spare/Data Restore Pending due to firewall blocking vfba process

Exacq Support has identified an issue preventing fail-back due to VFBA.exe being blocked; which uses port 28774.

Windows Versions

It is recommended to create both inbound and outbound Windows firewall rules on the SPARE server to allow communications through port 28774 for the Windows Firewall.

** Due to issues with the Window OS, disabling Windows Firewall does not allow this thru, and the creation of the FIREWALL rule is required. **

On a Windows Machine, do a search for FIREWALL and click on the option for Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.

Click on the inbound/outbound rules and select NEW RULE from the right.

Highlight Port and click NEXT

Select Port 28774 and click next.

Be sure to repeat this for BOTH Inbound and Outbound connections.

In some cases it may be necessary to “whitelist” ExacqVision components (core.exe, edvrclient.exe, including .ps and .psi file types, and ExacqVision Enterprise System Manager components) Enterprise Manager, Server and Client software along with vfba.exe within any used Antivirus configuration.

Categories
Video Library Demo exacqVision Enterprise Categories Products

2021-07 EM Failover + API Training

Categories
Video Library Demo exacqVision Enterprise Categories Products

2021-07 EM Failover Training

Categories
Knowledge Support Support exacqVision Server Categories Products

Server 19.06 indicates failover/failback not supported

Issue

 Enterprise Manager will report that failover not supported on some instance of exacqVision server 19.06. This affects only fresh installs of 19.06 and applicable to all platforms. 

<br>

Workaround

  1. Downgrade-Upgrade
    • Downgrade the server to 19.03, then upgrade the server to 19.06. This issue does not affect upgraded systems
  2. Manual xml edit
    • stop the exacqServer service
    • edit update.xml file and make FailoverState=”100″. save file
    • start the exacqServer service

<br>

Resolution

Upgrade to exacqServer 19.12.4 or later

<br>

Version Affected

exacqServer 19.06

<br>

Version Fixed

exacqServer 19.12.4