Upgrade analysis (Lifecycle Services, LCS)

Important

This content is archived and is not being updated. For the latest documentation, see Microsoft Dynamics 365 product documentation. For the latest release plans, see Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform release plans.

This topic explains how to use Upgrade analysis in Lifecycle Services (LCS). Upgrade analysis helps you plan full-version, minor-version, and in-place upgrades to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.

In Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services (LCS), Upgrade analysis helps users plan a full-version upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 from Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 or Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009, or a minor-version or in-place upgrade from one version of AX 2012 to another. The following chart shows how the service works for both full-version upgrades and in-place upgrades.

Upgrade analysis uses a Rapid Data Collector (RDC) tool to analyze information about the existing environment. This information can help you estimate the scale of the upgrade project. For more information about full-version upgrade, see Scenario: Upgrade AX 4.0 or AX 2009 to AX 2012 (all versions).

Collect and upload files for analysis (Full-version upgrade: AX 4.0 or AX 2009)

To use Upgrade analysis, you must install the RDC tool, and then upload the RDC files and AOD files. The RDC tool collects metadata about the production environment, such as the number of records in tables. Important: The RDC tool should be run in a copy of the production environment where no upgrade scripts have been loaded.

Install the RDC tool

1. Go to LCS, and sign in.
2. Open a project, and then click the Upgrade analysis tile.
3. Click Add.
4. On the Upgrade analysis create job page, in the source-to-target upgrade list, click Download.
5. Download the RapidDataCollector.msi file, and then run it on an AX 4.0 or AX 2009 client to install and run the Rapid Data Collector service. The service creates a zip file that contains RDC files.
6. Enter a name for the job, identify the version and build of Microsoft Dynamics AX that you're upgrading from, and then click Create.

Upload and analyze files

You can upload the RDC files and AOD files in any order.

1. On the Upgrade analysis file upload page, click + (Add files).
2. Select the type of file to upload (Rapid Data Collector or AOD).
3. Enter the file location, and then click Upload.
4. After you upload all the files to analyze, click Analyze. When the analysis process is completed, the status appears as Complete.
5. For information about the reports that are available, see the "Download the report" section.

Collect and upload files for analysis (In-place upgrade: AX 2012)

For in-place upgrades, you must upload a model store that you have exported as a zip file. Before you begin, follow the steps in the Before you begin section of the Scenario: Perform in-place upgrade to AX 2012 R2 or AX 2012 R3 topic.

Export and zip your model store

1. Use Microsoft Windows PowerShell or the AxUtil command-line utility to export the model store from the system that you plan to upgrade. For details, see How to: Export and Import a Model Store.
2. Use Microsoft Windows or another system to zip (compress) the file.

Upload and analyze files

1. Sign in to LCS, open a project, and then click the Upgrade analysis tile.
2. Click Add.
3. On the Upgrade analysis create job page, enter a name for the job, identify the version and build of AX 2012 that you're upgrading from, and then click Create.
4. On the Upgrade analysis file upload page, click + (Add files).
5. Browse to the zipped model store, and then click Upload. After the file is uploaded, the site lists the file name and size.
6. Click Analyze Code to start the analysis process. If no virtual machine is available when you start the process, the status appears as Process pending. Note: The analysis process takes 2 to 5 hours, depending on the size of the model store. You can close the website and sign in again later to check on the progress of the analysis. The progress is updated every 15 minutes.
7. When the analysis process is complete, the status appears as Complete.
8. For information about the reports that are available, see the "Download the report" section.

Download the report

Upgrade analysis creates two reports: an overview report, which is an HTML file, and a detailed report, which is a Microsoft Excel file that you can download and review.

• To view the overview report, click View.
• To download the detailed report, click the Excel icon.

The following table describes the Excel worksheets that the detailed report provides.

Worksheet	Description	Input for
Upgrade summary	A list of key reports, and the number of objects that are affected by the upgrade in each module
Global tables	A list of tables that don't have DataAreaId values	Data upgrade, Code upgrade
Customization Statistics	A list of all customizations	Code upgrade
Customization View	The number of customized tables and classes	Data upgrade
Modified Objects	A list of modified objects	Code upgrade
Modified Object Details	A list of what is modified in each object	Code upgrade
Domain information	A list of companies, domains, and related users	Security upgrade
Table statistics	A list of table sizes, properties, and counts of rows and columns	Data upgrade, Minimizing downtime
Parameters	A list of parameter values	Data upgrade, Code upgrade
Tables without DataAreaId	A list of any tables that don't have DataAreaId values	Data upgrade
SysUtilElementsLog (AX Object Usage Summary)	A list of usage patterns for MSDAX objects	Code upgrade