Upgrading Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows with a standalone PostgreSQL database to August 2023 or later fails

[Sebastian_Linser]

Upgrading Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows with a standalone PostgreSQL database to August 2023 or later fails. The installer does not return an error on-screen.

A Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows environment can have a bundled PostgreSQL database or a standalone database.

If your Qlik Sense environment has relied on a standalone PostgreSQL database since its initial setup, and still has its PostgreSQL 9.6 database and binaries, additional steps are required to prepare for an upgrade to any versions beyond Sense August 2023. 

These binaries will be in the following folder: 

C:\Program Files\Qlik\Sense\Repository\PostgreSQL\version number

Where version number is 9.3 or 9.6. 

The old binaries need to be uninstalled and new binaries installed (on all nodes).

Applies to:

Qlik Sense August 2023 and higher as the target version
Qlik Sense May 2023 and lower as the source version

Resolution

Before proceeding with an upgrade:

1. Remove the 9.6 binaries for Postgres
   
   
   1. Open a Windows File Explorer and browse to C:\ProgramData\Package Cache
      
      
   2. From there, search for PostgreSQL.msi
      
      

      
      The msi will be revealed.

   3. Right-click the msi file and select uninstall from the menu.
      
      
2. Install the 12.5 Postgres binaries
   
   
   1. Open a Windows File Explorer and browse to C:\ProgramData\Package Cache
      
      
   2. From there, search for either PostgreSQL14.msi or PostgreSQL14.msi
      
      Qlik Sense August 2023 and later: PostgreSQL14.msi
      Qlik Sense February 2022 to May 2023: PostgreSQL125.msi
      
      

      
      The msi will be revealed.

   3. Right-click the .msi file and Open File location 
      
      
   4. Open a Windows Command Prompt as administrator
      
      
   5. Copy the path to the .msi file and navigate to it in the Command Prompt
      
      Example: 
      
      cd C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{GUID}
      
      
   6. Run the following command, replacing PostgreSQL.msi with the correct .msi depending on your previous version used.
      
      Qlik Sense August 2023 and later: PostgreSQL14.msi
      Qlik Sense February 2022 to May 2023: PostgreSQL125.msi
      
      msiexec.exe /qb /i "PostgreSQL125.msi" SKIPINSTALLDBSERVICE="1" INSTALLDIR="C:\Program Files\Qlik\Sense"
      
      This will re-install the binaries without installing a database.
      
      
3. Verify if old PostgreSQL binaries still remain in one of the two folders:
   
   C:\Program Files\Qlik\Sense\Repository\PostgresSQL\version number
   
   If 9.x directories remain in this folder, reboot the machine, then repeat the uninstall steps.
   
   C:\Programdata\Qlik\Sense\Repository\PostgresSQL\version number
   
   If 9.x directories remain in this folder, Qlik Sense was previously run with a bundled database. The directories can be safely renamed.
   
   
   

Cause 

The upgrade will be blocked when a 9.6 or 9.3 database binary folder is found. These folders can be in either:

C:\Programdata\Qlik\Sense\Repository\PostgresSQL\version number  
C:\Program Files\Qlik\Sense\Repository\PostgresSQL\version number

[shaan007]

Hi There, 

After upgrading my PostGreSQL to 14 I am unable to run the QS upgrade. It is saying that 'An Existing Database has been detected.... 9.3.

I follow the instruction but

When I try to uninstall the PostgreSQL.msi I am getting this error. What should I do?