Official Support Articles

[Mario_Petre]

March 14th 2023: You may have upgraded Qlik Sense and located a warning banner in your Management Console stating that this version of PostgreSQL is not supported. If you are running a standalone PostgreSQL database later than 9.6, this message can be disregarded. We are working on resolving the underlying cause. 

In this article, we walk you through the requirements and process of how to upgrade an existing Qlik Sense Repository Database from PostgreSQL 9.6 to PostgreSQL 12.5 (see supported scenarios) or install a brand new Repository based on PostgreSQL 12.5.

We will use the Qlik PostgreSQL Installer (QPI).

For a manual method, see: How to manually upgrade the bundled Qlik Sense PostgreSQL version to 12.5 version 

PostgreSQL 9.6 has reached End of Life Reference: PostgreSQL Versioning Policy.

Index

• Supported Scenarios
• Considerations
• Installing anew Qlik Sense Repository Database using PostgreSQL 12.5
• Qlik PostgreSQL Installer - Download Link
• Upgrading anexisting QRD to PostgreSQL 12.5
• The Upgrade:
• Finalizing the Upgrade/Uninstalling the old Database Service:
• Compatibility with PostgreSQL installers
• Troubleshooting
• Related Content

Supported Scenarios

• Upgrades: Before using the Qlik PostgreSQL Installer, upgrade to a supported version of Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows. Then use the Qlik PostgreSQL Installer to upgrade PostgreSQL.
  
  We tested and validated Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows from February 2022 to February 2023. Note that November 2022 and later do not support 9.6, and a warning will be displayed during the Sense upgrade.
  
  
• New installs: The Qlik PostgreSQL Installer supports installing a new Qlik Sense Repository Database cluster on a new server, setting up a new environment or migrating an existing Database to a separate host.

Considerations

• This installer will not detect a standalone PostgreSQL database installed by any other means, other than through an official Qlik installer package, installed on the standard folders in the C drive. 
• The installer itself does not provide a rollback feature. This is described below. 
• The user who runs the installer has sufficient permissions to execute it and install services 
• The user who runs the installer has sufficient permissions to create folders and files in the backup destination 
• The backup destination has sufficient free disk space to dump the existing database  
• The backup destination is not a network path or virtual storage folder. It is recommended the backup is stored on the main drive 
• There will be downtime during this operation, please plan accordingly 

Installing a new Qlik Sense Repository Database using PostgreSQL 12.5

1. Run the Qlik PostgreSQL Installer as an administrator 
   
   
2. Click on Install 
   
   
3. Accept the Qlik Customer Agreement 
   
   
4. Set your Local database settings and click Next. You will use these details to connect other nodes to the same cluster. 
   
   
5. Set your Database superuser password and click Next
   
   
6. Set the database installation folder, standard: C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\12
   
   
7. Set the database data folder, standard: C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\12\data
   
   
8. Review your settings and click Install, then click Finish
   
   
9. Start installing Qlik Sense Enterprise Client Managed. Choose Join Cluster option.
   
   The Qlik PostgreSQL Installer has already seeded the databases for you and has created the users and permissions. No further configuration is needed.
   
   
10. The tool will display information on the actions being performed. Once installation is finished, you can close the installer.  
    
    If you are migrating your existing databases to a new host, please remember to reconfigure your nodes to connect to the correct host. How to configure Qlik Sense to use a dedicated PostgreSQL database 
    

Qlik PostgreSQL Installer - Download Link

Download the installer here.

Qlik PostgreSQL installer version 1.2.1 Release Notes

Upgrading an existing QRD to PostgreSQL 12.5

Before using the Qlik PostgreSQL Installer, upgrade to a supported version of Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows. Then use the Qlik PostgreSQL Installer to upgrade PostgreSQL.

We tested and validated Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows from February 2022 to February 2023. Note that November 2022 and later do not support 9.6, and a warning will be displayed during the Sense upgrade.

Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows installations other than in C:\Program Files\Qlik\Sense are currently not supported. 

The Upgrade:

1. Stop all services on rim nodes 
   
   
2. On your Central Node, stop all services except the Qlik Sense Repository Database 
   
   
   
   
3. Run the Qlik PostgreSQL Installer. An existing Database will be detected. 
   
   
   
   
4. Highlight the database and click Upgrade 
   
5. Read and confirm the (a) Installer Instructions as well as the Qlik Customer Agreement, then click (b) Next.
   
   
   
   
6. Provide your existing Database superuser password and click Next.
   
   
7. Define your Database backup path and click Next.
   
   
   
   
8. Define your Install Location (default is prefilled) and click Next.
   
   
   
   
9. Define your database data path (default is prefilled) and click Next.
   
   
    
10. Review all properties and click Upgrade.
    
    
    
    
11. The upgrade is completed. Click Close.
    
    
     
12. Open the Windows Services Console and locate the Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows services.
    
    You will find that the Qlik Sense Repository Database service has been set to manual. Do not change the startup method. 
    
    
    
    You will also find a new postgresql-x64-12 service. Do not rename this service. 
    
    
    
    
13. Start all services except the Qlik Sense Repository Database service. 
    
    
14. Start all services on your rim nodes.
    
    
15. Validate that all services and nodes are operating as expected.

If the upgrade was unsuccessful and you are missing data in the Qlik Management Console or elsewhere, contact Qlik Support.  

1.  

Finalizing the Upgrade/Uninstalling the old Database Service:

No further steps are needed unless you plan to upgrade Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows to the next major release. If you plan to upgrade to, for example, November 2022, the old Qlik Sense Repository Database service must be removed from the server.

Perform the following steps to delete the Qlik Sense Repository Database Service:

1. Open a command prompt and run the command:
   cd "C:\ProgramData\Package Cache"
2. From there, run:
   c:\ProgramData\Package Cache\dir /s PostgreSQL.msi
3. The folder containing PostgreSQL.msi will be revealed.
4. Right-click on the PostgreSQL.msi file and select uninstall from the menu.

Compatibility with PostgreSQL installers

This version of the upgrade tool is fully compatible with the official PostgreSQL installers from https://www.enterprisedb.com/downloads/postgres-postgresql-downloads.

If you need to upgrade to a higher release than Qlik provides, you can install the same minor PostgreSQL release 12.x.

Troubleshooting

1. If the installation crashes, the server reboots unexpectedly during this process, or there is a power outage, the new database may not be in a serviceable state. Installation/upgrade logs are available in the location of your temporary files, for example:
   
   C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Temp\2
   
   A backup of the original database contents is available in your chosen location, or by default in:
   
   C:\ProgramData\Qlik\Sense\Repository\PostgreSQL\backup\9.6
   
   The original database data folder has been renamed to:
   
   C:\ProgramData\Qlik\Sense\Repository\PostgreSQL\9.6_deprecated
   
   
2. Upgrading Qlik Sense after upgrading PostgreSQL with the QPI tool fails with:
   
   This version of Qlik Sense requires a 'SenseServices' database for multi cloud capabilities. Ensure that you have created a 'SenseService' database in your cluster before upgrading. For more information see Installing and configuring PostgreSQL.
   
   See Qlik Sense Upgrade fails with: This version of Qlik Sense requires a _ database for _.
   
   To resolve this, start the postgresql-x64-12 service.

The information in this article is provided as-is and to be used at own discretion. Depending on tool(s) used, customization(s), and/or other factors ongoing support on the solution below may not be provided by Qlik Support. The video in this article was recorded in a earlier version of QPI, some screens might differ a little bit.

Related Content

Qlik PostgreSQL installer version 1.2.1 Release Notes  
Techspert Talks - Upgrading Qlik Sense Repository Service
Backup and Restore Qlik Sense Enterprise documentation
Migrating Like a Boss
Optimizing Performance for Qlik Sense Enterprise
Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows: How To Upgrade Standalone PostgreSQL
How-to reset forgotten PostgreSQL password in Qlik Sense
How to configure Qlik Sense to use a dedicated PostgreSQL database
Troubleshooting Qlik Sense Upgrades

[agigliotti]

Hi,
I have a customer with PostgreSQL 9.6 and QSEoW  Nov' 22 version.
I'd like to upgrade to Feb '23 version.

Do i need to upgrade   PostgreSQL to version 12.5  or not?
Please let me know.

Best Regards

[Sonja_Bauernfeind]

@agigliotti You will need to upgrade PostgreSQL to 12.5 if it is still on 9.6. Feb´23 does not support 9.6 in any other context than for the initial upgrade. 

When you upgrade Sense, the installer will alert you that upgrading the PostgreSQL db is necessary.

Since your customer already has November 2022, you can follow the instructions in this article to upgrade to 12.5 before you move to February 2023. 

Alternatively, you can go ahead and upgrade to February first and then follow the instructions in this article. The choice is yours.

All the best,
Sonja 

[agigliotti]

@Sonja_Bauernfeind  So if I well understood the QSEoW Feb '23 version is the first version where PostgreSQL v12.5 is required to upgrade successfully.

Is this right?

Because i got the installer alert also when I upgraded to Nov '22 version , however the upgrade completed successfully with PostgreSQL 9.6

[Sonja_Bauernfeind]

Hello @agigliotti 

November 2022 already does not support 9.6 for production (only for upgrade purposes). It will have warned you during the upgrade process. See System Requirements: 9.6x (for upgrade scenarios from previous versions only—no longer supported after February 2023)

What'll happen when you upgrade:

As you mentioned yourself, if you upgrade a Sense system running PostGRE 9.6 to November 2022, it will alert you with this message:

You can continue though! The same will happen for February 2023. There is no hard stop yet for the upgrade itself.

Here are the February 2023 System Requirements:  9.6x (no longer supported after February 2023)

Does this help?

All the best,
Sonja 

[agigliotti]

@Sonja_Bauernfeind Ok thanks for your support.

Is there any warning about using PostgreSQL 9.6 with Feb '23 version? Maybe something related to the overall performance?
Version Nov' 22 with PostgreSQL 9.6 is working fine.
Anyway do you suggest to upgrade PostgreSQL  to 12.5 version?

Best Regards

[Sonja_Bauernfeind]

Hello @agigliotti 

Anytime! Let's see if I can answer your remaining questions too. I will go into as much detail as possible so that we can also help other people with similar questions.

If by warning you mean the alert that is displayed when you upgrade with PostgreSQL 9.6 installed, then, yes. February 2023 will alert you just like November 2022 did. As for why we no longer support 9.6 with Qlik Sense: It has reached end-of-life and is not being supported by Postgre any more.

Yes, please upgrade PostgreSQL to 12.5.

And on November 2022 working fine with 9.6: While we expect no issues running it while a customer prepares for an upgrade to 12.5, we cannot guarantee it in a production environment. Please see the release notes for supported PostgreSQL versions with any of our Sense releases. 

[jchoucq]

Hi and thank you very much for this article !

If i understand correctly, after using QPI for upgrading postgreSQL from 9.6 to 12.5, at the end Qlik Sense Repository Database service is removed (replaced by postgresql-x64-12 service)
But if you run a brand new installation of Qlik Sense November 2022 for example, the service is still there, is it correct ?

Even after using QPI, there won't be any problem for future upgrade regarding the lack of  Qlik Sense Repository Database service ?
Have a nice day.

Johann

[Sebastian_Linser]

@jchoucq 

Yes that is correct, you would get the embedded Postgres in version 12.5 when you reinstall fresh.

But the second option is using QPI, before reinstalling fresh and user the option to install a fresh database, then you can install Qlik Sense in the same external instance. The advantage here is the possibility to quickly upgrade postrges from 12.5 to e.g. 12.11 if you would need that.

upgrades will work in both scenarios.

best regards

Sebastian

[khartmann2]

Hello,
if Qlik is not installed under C:, then the upgrade of the postgres installation works if you copy the directory "...\Qlik\Sense\Repository\PostgreSQL\9.6" to C:
But the article says: "Qlik Sense Enterprise on Windows installations other than in C:\Program Files\Qlik\Sense are currently not supported."
When will this be supported? Because there are several customers whose Qlik installation is not under C:.

[Sebastian_Linser]

@khartmann2 this feature is on the roadmap but there is no ETA at the moment.