Documentation forKiwi Syslog Server

Legacy Kiwi Syslog Server Upgrade Guide

This documentation is for legacy Kiwi Syslog Server versions 9.8.3 and older. See the KSS NG version of Kiwi Syslog Server Upgrade Guide for the newest version of the following documentation.

The purpose of this guide is to assist you in upgrading legacy Kiwi Syslog Server (KSS) to the latest version of the software. This guide assumes that you have already completed the initial installation of legacy KSS. If you have not installed legacy KSS, please refer to and following the instructions contained in the legacy KSS Installation Guide.

You can upgrade from any previous version. During the upgrade to the latest version of legacy KSS, your logged messages, rules, and other configuration settings are preserved. If you previously entered a license key, the key is automatically applied to the new version.

Upgrade Preparation Checklist

Review latest release notes Review the latest legacy KSS release notes.
Review system requirements Verify that your server meets the minimum hardware and software requirements to upgrade your product.
Run all Windows updates Before upgrading, check for and run all Microsoft Windows updates for your server. During the upgrade process, if Windows updates are applied, your system may reboot.
Check for antivirus software

Determine if any antivirus software is installed on the server housing legacy KSS. To ensure the installation goes smoothly, exclude the SolarWinds directory. For example, on Windows Server 2016, exclude the following directories:

  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Syslogd
  • C:\ProgramData\SolarWinds

Do not exclude executable files. SolarWinds assumes that C:\ is the default volume.
Backup configuration settings Backup your current configuration settings for legacy KSS.
Convert database file format Use the installer to convert your database files from Microsoft SQL Server Compact 3.5 to SQL Server Compact 4.0. If you use a version older than 3.5, see Upgrading from earlier versions.
  • Prior to installation, store your old .sdf files to the Kiwi Syslog Web Access installation folder. By default, this folder is located under: \Program Files(X86)\Solarwinds\Kiwi Syslog Web Access\html\App_Data\

Upgrade legacy KSS

When upgrading to the latest version of legacy KSS, your logged messages, rules, and other configuration settings are preserved. If you previously entered a license key, the key is automatically applied to the new version.

Download the installation file
  1. Log in to the SolarWinds Customer Portal.
  2. Locate legacy KSS under Latest Downloads for Your Products.
  3. Click Choose Download.
Run the installation file
  1. Log in to your server using a local administrator.
  2. Extract the contents of the downloaded installation ZIP file to your server.
  3. Run Kiwi_Syslog_Server_<version>.setup.exe.
    • If Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 or later is not installed, you are prompted to install it. Click Download and install this feature. After installing .NET, restart the installation of Kiwi_Syslog_Server_<version>.setup.exe.
Complete the legacy KSS Setup wizard
  1. On the Welcome dialog box, click Next.
  2. If you agree with the license agreement, click Next.
  3. Specify whether you want to install legacy KSS as a service or an application.
    1. Installation as a service allows the program to collect logs and process messages without the need for you to be logged in to the server.
    2. Installation as an application allows the program to collect logs and process messages only when you are logged in to the server and the application is running.
  4. If you are installing as a service, specify the account to associate with legacy KSS, and click Next.
  5. Specify whether to install Kiwi Syslog Web Access and log messages to it, then click Next.
    Kiwi Syslog Web Access is a secure web-based portal that you can use to view, filter, and highlight syslog messages logged by legacy KSS.
  6. Determine the shortcuts to create, and click Next.
  7. Specify the installation location, and click Next to begin the installation.
    By default, the installation location is the same as your previous version of legacy KSS.
(Optional) Complete the Web Access Setup Wizard

If you selected the option to install Kiwi Syslog Web Access, the web access setup wizard starts automatically during the installation process for legacy KSS.

  1. If any software prerequisites are missing, the Web Access Prerequisites wizard opens.
    1. On the Welcome dialog box, click Next.
    2. Click Next to install the missing prerequisites.
    3. After the prerequisites are installed, the Web Access wizard reopens.
  2. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the Web Access wizard.
Close the legacy KSS Setup wizard Click Finish to close the legacy KSS Setup wizard and open legacy KSS.