KanBo Backup and Update (Microsoft 365 + Azure)

Table of Contents

Overview

This article will walk you through the update process and demonstrate how to perform backups along the way. It is absolutely critical to perform backups at each step of the update process. Failing to do so can lead to irreversible data loss, so be sure to follow those steps.

Always back up data before updates or configuration changes.

Prerequisites

Before you initiate the update, verify that you have:

  • Sufficient privileges to stop and start the KanBo Web App, as well as access files via Kudu and to create a copy of the KanBo database
  • The KanBo.zip package that contains update files for the KanBo App
  • The KanBo.Jobhost.zip package that contains update files for KanBo scheduled tasks
  • The RM.zip package that contains update files for the Resource Management app (if Resource Management is a part of your KanBo license)

The Setup role is needed to perform an update. Ensure that the email address used for KanBo is correctly entered in the "admin-upn" variable within the "auth-aad" section of the appsettings.json file in KanBo.

First step: KanBo Backup

Before updating KanBo, it is essential to create a complete backup.

  1. Access your KanBo Database via Azure.
  2. Use the Copy function to create a duplicate copy.
  1. Select the target subscription and resource group where the backup will reside.
  2. For cost efficiency, in the Compute + storage section, select Configure database and adjust the database sizing during the copying process.

You may continue with the update procedure while the backup is in progress, but ensure the backup process completes successfully.

Second step: KanBo Update

To begin the update process:

  1. Navigate to your KanBo web app on Azure and stop the application.
  1. Within the Azure portal, go to Development Tools > Advanced Tools, and then select Go to launch Kudu.
  1. On the top Kudu menu, select Debug Console > PowerShell.
  1. Navigate to the site directory and select the download icon next to the wwwroot folder. This backs up both the application and WebJob files.
  1. Within the wwwroot folder, drag and drop the KanBo.zip package into the file list (specifically into the Size column) to unzip and update its contents.
  1. To update KanBo WebJobs, navigate to App_Data > jobs > triggered.
  1. For each WebJob folder, unzip the KanBo.Jobhost.zip package.
    Important: Do not extract the files directly in the triggered folder; instead, place them in the correct jobs folder.
  1. After updating the application and WebJob files, restart the KanBo web app via the Azure portal.

If the Resource Management module is installed, repeat the aforementioned steps (excluding the WebJob update steps) with the RM.zip package for the respective Resource Management web app.

  1. After the restart is finished, visit your KanBo app.

If you are presented with this screen, that means that a database upgrade is required. If that is not the case, you can skip the rest of the steps in this section.

To upgrade databases:

  1. Append/setup to your KanBo URL (e.g., contosokanbo.azurewebsites.net/setup) to access the setup page.
  2. Select Show advanced setup.

A page displaying an error about a failed license ID fetch due to pending migrations should appear, and the License ID section should display “Loading… (retrying in Xs).“

  1. Select Upgrade databases.

On successful migration you will be presented with a “Finished databases upgrade” message and the license ID visible again.

If an error occurs during the upgrade, contact our support team at support@kanboapp.com.

  1. After a successful database upgrade, on the top left corner select Exit to go back to KanBo.

Resource Management module

For KanBo installations with Resource Management module, verify if a database upgrade is needed by refreshing the setup page.

  1. Go to the Advanced setup > Resource Management. 
  1. If the Upgrade database button is visible in the Resource Management section, initiate the upgrade.
  1. On successful upgrade, it is recommended to synchronize the Resource Management Users and Managers.

Restoring KanBo to the previous version

In the event of an unsuccessful update or system issues, restore the previous version by following these steps:

  1. Stop the KanBo web app.
  2. Restore the database to the previously created database backup via the Azure portal.
  3. Restore the KanBo files by unzipping the previously downloaded wwwroot.zip archives into the wwwroot folder (c:/site/wwwroot) of KanBo.
  4. If Resource Management module is installed, step 3 should also be performed for it.
  5. Start the KanBo web app.

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