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OpenCDSS / cdss-website-hydrobase

Instructions how to attach HydroBase locally
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HydroBase installer - distribute a tool with TSTool to install HydroBase #2

Open smalers opened 2 years ago

smalers commented 2 years ago

In discussions with Doug Stenzel, the topic came up of what to do about the HydroBase database manager tool. Apparently the source code is no longer available and the tool is not actively maintained. If there is a problem it will not be possible to troubleshoot the program.

Doug has indicated that rather than distribute a tool, documentation can be provided to tell power users how to install SQL Server and attach a database. This is probably the bare minimum that could be done.

Another option would be to distribute a Windows cmd file (or similar) to step users through the steps. This could use a simple text menu. I have done such things for other tools, although I generally use Bash linux shell, such as with StateMod test runner (search for runInteractive function). The nice thing about a script is that it forces users to go through the known steps and feedback can be provided by resting each step. I have created such tools for simple to complex environments. A tool like this could be distributed with TSTool so people would just need to download and install TSTool and then run the script. My main concern is whether it is possible to automate setup but I assume so since the original tool must have called SQL Server command line to install.

Addressing this ahead of time would allow for a clean transition from the legacy tool rather than figuring out in a crisis.

smalers commented 2 years ago

More on this... Doug built a new database backup so that I could finalize comparison with web services but that did not work with my SQL Server because Doug is using a newer version. I had not planned on issues with that and Doug said that he would create a new backup with older SQL Server. I could update my SQL Server but there may be issues and I'm trying to finish the work for Reclamation.

Should the State want to go ahead with instructions and possibly a helper script, I could also document troubleshooting should there be any with running multiple SQL Server versions. There is usually some back and forth dealing with versions. I could do this work with support budget if the State wanted me to do that.

Below is the error I got. Versions are described in the following link:

Microsoft SQL Server Internal Database Versions and Compatibility Levels

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