Documentation forSolarWinds Observability SaaS

Configure deployed Network Collector for High Availability installation

By default, the Network Collector uses an embedded SQL Server Express to store configuration and temporary data.

To set up High Availability for Network Collector, you need to migrate the database to a separate SQL Server. Both the active and backup Network Collectors use this SQL Server to share configuration and temporary data.

Migrating allows you to keep all relevant configurations. Historical data are not fully preserved, and this is not needed as the metrics, topology data, flows, and other historical data are persisted in the cloud.

SolarWinds provides High Availability on the application level. It is the customer’s responsibility to provide High Availability for the SQL Server.

High Availability requirements

Requirement type Details
Network Collector version 2024.1 or later
Server software

A separate MS SQL Server 2022

For fresh installations, the Network Collector also supports older versions of SQL Server. The full list of supported SQL versions is:

  • SQL Server 2022 (including installations on Linux)
  • SQL Server 2019 (including installations on Linux)
  • SQL Server 2017 (including installations on Linux)
  • SQL Server 2016 SP1 or SP2

Recommendations

  • Use Standard or Enterprise editions of SQL Server 2022 (including installations on Linux).

    The Express edition is also supported for the production environment but does not provide the Always On availability groups feature. For the upgrade, only SQL Server 2022 or newer is supported because SQL Server Express 2022 is embedded.

  • Support for Microsoft SQL Server Service Packs and Cumulative Updates is assumed unless otherwise noted.

Migrate the embedded SQL version to a new database server

  1. Prepare your new database server.

    Build the new database server including any changes to the architecture, hardware, and operating system.

  2. Stop Network Collector services.

    On the server where Network Collector is installed, open the SolarWinds Platform Service Manager application and stop all SolarWinds services.

    • SolarWinds recommends discussing database migrations with a DBA. You should also schedule a maintenance window to migrate, during non-peak hours (recommended), and notify your company when taking services offline to migrate.

    • When you migrate your database, your services are down and not collecting polling data.

  3. Back up the SQL database. On the machine where Network Collector is installed, run the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and back up the following databases:

    • SolarWindsOrion
    • SolarWindsOrionLog
    • SolarWindsFlowStorage

    See the Microsoft article Create a Full Database Backup for details.

    If you do not have SSMS installed on the Network Collector server, use the following link to download SQL Management Studio: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/download-sql-server-management-studio-ssms?view=sql-server-ver16.

  4. Restore the database to the new server. Copy and restore the database to the new server, for example using the SQL Management Studio.

  5. On the Network Collector, run the Configuration Wizard to update the database connections. Perform the following steps:

    1. Run the Configuration Wizard to update the database location.

    2. On Database Settings, specify your new database server in the SQL Server field.

    3. Select the user with sufficient rights to the migrated database (db_owner) or select a user with privileges to create a new user. Click Next to continue. See SQL permission role requirements on the SolarWinds Platform.

    4. Select Use an Existing Database and select or type the database name and click Next. When prompted to use the existing database, click Yes.

    5. On Database account, specify the account for accessing the database. Select an existing account or create a new one.

      SolarWinds recommends that you create a new account to ensure that the SolarWinds Platform has required access to the database:

      1. Select Create a New Account and provide a New Account name.

      2. Provide and confirm an account Password and click Next.

    6. Complete the wizard.

  6. Start services. Using the SolarWinds Platform Service Manager, start all services on the Network Collector.

The Network Collector uses the new database on a separate server and is ready for the installation of the High Availability backup server.

Set up High Availability for your Network Collector

  1. Log in to the Network Collector server which you want to use as a backup server.

  2. Download the Network Collector installer to the server.

    Adjust the following download URL according to your region. Replace xx-yy in the URL with your data center. See Find the data center and endpoints for your organization.

    https://downloads.solarwinds.com/solarwinds/Observability/RTM/Solarwinds.Observability.NetworkCollector.OfflineInstaller_SOC_SWOURL=xx-yy.cloud.solarwinds.com.iso

  3. Mount the ISO file and run the installation file on the server.

  4. In Installation Type, select High Availability for an existing collector.

  5. On Server Connect, provide the IP address or host name of your primary Network Collector server, your user name and password.

  6. Paste the API token and complete the installation wizard. For details on completing the installation, see Network Collector.

In case of failover, your Network Collector will switch to the secondary server in the pool. To see details about your High Availability setup in SolarWinds Observability, click Settings > High Availability.

Set up High Availability with your Network Collector concurrently

Use the following instructions for your deployment when a Network Collector is getting deployed in High Availability on day one:

  1. Prepare the Ingestion token from SolarWinds Observability Web Console:

    1. Settings -> API Tokens -> Create API Token

  2. Download the Network Collector ISO file to the server: https://downloads.solarwinds.com/solarwinds/Observability/RTM/Solarwinds.Observability.NetworkCollector.OfflineInstaller_SOC_SWOURL=xx-yy.cloud.solarwinds.com.iso.

  3. Unblock the ISO file.

  4. Mount the ISO on the server, and start the installation.

    1. Installation Type: Select Collector, then click Next.

    2. Access Token: In the field for API Token, enter the token created in Step 1.a.

    3. Agree to the license agreement, and click Next.

    4. Installation Options:

      1. Use SQL Server.

      2. Select the Destination folder where the Network Collector will be installed.

      3. Click Next.

    5. Installation Report:

      1. System confirmation and check.

      2. Click Install.

  5. Configuration Wizard:

    1. Install all missing IIS components.

    2. Click Yes.

  6. SolarWinds Configuration Wizard:

    1. In the welcome screen, click Next.

    2. Database Settings:

      1. SQL Server - Enter tcp:hostname,port for your SQL Server. (for example, tcp:yourserver,1433).

      2. SQL Server credentials and connection configuration - Use sa level credentials, and click Next.

      3. Create a new database - This is called the Core database, and it is the first of 3 databases. Click Next.

      4. Create a new account - This account is tailored for optimal SolarWinds Network Collector operations. Click Next.

    3. Website Settings:

      1. Define the website configuration - this is for the Network Collector local web console. Click Next.

    4. Database Settings for Log and Events Monitoring:

      1. Place log and event database on a dedicated SQL Server. Click Next.

      2. SQL Server - Enter the tcp:hostname,port (for example, tcp:yourserver,1433).

      3. SQL Server credentials and connection configuration - Use sa level credentials, and click Next.

      4. Create a new database - This is called the LA database, and it is second of 3 databases. Click Next.

      5. Create a new account - This account is tailored for optimal SolarWinds Network Collector operations. Click Next.

    5. NTA Flow Storage Configuration:

      1. SQL Server - Enter the tcp:hostname,port (for example: tcp:yourserver,1433).

      2. SQL Server credentials and connection configuration - Use sa level credentials, and click Next.

      3. Create a new database - This is called the NTA database and it is third of 3 databases. Click Next.

      4. Create a new account - This account is tailored for optimal SolarWinds Network Collector operations. Click Next.

    6. Completing Configuration Wizard - Click Next.

    7. Configuring SolarWinds Platform - Click Finish.

    8. Configure the password for Admin account on the local network collector website (configured in Step 6.c.i.).

  7. Download the Network Collector ISO file to the second server: https://downloads.solarwinds.com/solarwinds/Observability/RTM/Solarwinds.Observability.NetworkCollector.OfflineInstaller_SOC_SWOURL=xx-yy.cloud.solarwinds.com.iso.

  8. Unblock the ISO file.

  9. Mount the ISO on the second server, and start the installation.

    1. Installation Type: Select High Availability for an existing collector, and click Next.

    2. Server Connect:

      1. Enter the IP or hostname of the server from Step 4.

      2. Username: Enter Admin.

      3. Password: Use the Admin Password configured in Step 6.h.

    3. Access Token: In the field for API Token enter the token created in Step 1.a. Click Next.

    4. Agree to the license agreement, and click Next.

    5. Installation Options: Select the Destination folder where the Network Collector will be installed, and click Next.

    6. Installation Report:

      1. System confirmation and check.

      2. Click Install.

  10. Configuration Wizard:

    1. Install all missing IIS components.

    2. Click Yes.

  11. SolarWinds Configuration Wizard:

    1. In the welcome screen, click Next.

    2. Database Settings:

      1. SQL Server - Enter the tcp:hostname,port (example: tcp:yourserver,1433).

      2. SQL Server credentials and connection configuration - Enter sa level credentials, and click Next.

      3. Use an existing database (Configured in step 6.b.iii.), and click Next.

      4. Use an existing account (Configured in step 6.b.iv.), then click Next.

    3. Website Settings:

      1. Define the website configuration - This is for Network Collector local web console. Click Next.

    4. Database Settings for Log and Events Monitoring:

      1. Place log and event database on a dedicated SQL Server, and click Next.

      2. SQL Server - Enter the tcp:hostname,port (for example: tcp:yourserver,1433).

      3. SQL Server credentials and connection configuration - Use sa level credentials, then click Next.

      4. Use an existing database (Configured in step 6.d.iv.). Click Next.

      5. Use an existing account (Configured in step 6.d.v.). Click Next.

    5. NTA Flow Storage Configuration

      1. SQL Server - Enter the tcp:hostname,port (example: tcp:yourserver,1433).

      2. SQL Server credentials and connection configuration - Use sa level credentials, and click Next.

      3. Use an existing database (Configured in step 6.e.iii.), then click Next.

      4. Use an existing account (Configured in step 6.e.iv.). Click Next.

    6. Completing Configuration Wizard - Click Next.

    7. Configuring SolarWinds Platform - Click Finish.