Seeking Advice: Replacing a Linux Server with SAS 9.4 TS1M4...Use Same Install Order?

[SteveInTally]

We are replacing 2 Linux 6 x86_64 servers that have SAS 9.4 TS1M4 installed (different product groups).   The new servers will be Linux 7 x86_64.  We could install the latest received install orders and apply the latest setinits to them and then export/import the MetaData.   Or we could copy the !SASHOME and !SASROOT from one to the other.

Or we could request TS1M6 (or M7) install orders for them and export/import MetaData and such.

We've left these in the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mode for several years, and we do not have a lot of experience at the system admin level with these tasks.  In the past we've contracted SAS partners.  We have no budget for that this year....

Has anyone done this, and willing to share their strategy or offer suggestions?

[Kurt_Bremser]

Get a new SAS depot, and install from that. Take care to recreate your server configuration as-is; if you used SASApp out of the box, it won't be critical. Move any further information in your metadata by exporting/importing packages.

It is (IMO) always a good idea to use a machine switch for an upgrade.

[SASKiwi]

I second @Kurt_Bremser 's response. It is a lot of work to migrate SAS servers so you might as well gain the benefit of getting your software up-to-date with the latest maintenance release. Manual migration of metadata from the old servers via packages is your best option.