Migrating process instances and snapshot data

After a snapshot has been deployed, you can migrate instances and snapshot data from one snapshot to another by using the Process Admin Console or the BPMMigrateInstances command. Snapshot data is also migrated when instances are migrated.

Alternatively, the TWProcessInstance JavaScript object contains methods you can use to migrate process instances individually. Depending on whether you want to use a policy file, you can use the migrateWithContextTo method or the migrateWithPolicyTo method. Do not use the migrateTo method. For more information, see the TWProcessInstance section of JavaScript API in processes and service flows.
Note: To use an API to migrate instances, you must build a custom service.

Before you begin

To migrate instances, you must be an Business Automation Workflow administrator or a person with authorization to deploy new snapshots of the process app.
Tip: To ensure migration is successful., follow the development practices and procedures in Development strategies for migrating instances. Ensure the target snapshot is installed successfully and avoid using processes in the involved snapshots while the instance migration process is running.
If orphaned token steps are identified, generate a migration policy file before migrating instances. For more information, see Managing tokens.
Note: If no orphaned token steps are identified then the file is not needed.

About this task

After a snapshot is deployed, you can migrate process instances in either of the following ways:
  • Use the BPMMigrateInstances wsadmin command - For each source snapshot you want to migrate instances from, run the BPMMigrateInstances wsadmin command. For more information, see BPMMigrateInstances command.
  • Use the Migrate Inflight Data option in the Process Admin Console by completing the following procedure.

Procedure

  1. From the Process Admin Console, select Installed Apps.
  2. From the list of snapshots, select the one you are migrating data to.
  3. Click Migrate Inflight Data.
    A source snapshot selection menu opens listing valid snapshots. A snapshot must have active, failed, or suspended instances for it to be listed.
  4. Select the snapshot you want to migrate data from.
  5. Optional: Upload a migration policy file.
  6. Click Migrate.
    When instance migration completes, you see a summary. If instance migration takes a long time, you might see a timeout error instead of the summary. A network timeout won't prevent the instance migration from completing on the server.

Results

After instance migration completes successfully for a snapshot, the source snapshot is deactivated. If the source snapshot was the default snapshot, the target snapshot becomes the new default snapshot.