About the migration tool

The migration tool takes a source file, typically AX-3.8 station backup .dist file, and outputs a migrated N4.0-compatible station folder. You can then use Workbench to open a platform connection to the target platform (for example, a converted controller), and install this station using the N4.0 platform Station Copier.

Important points to remember are:

A source backup .dist file is not harmed in any way, regardless of the migration outcome.  Migration output always goes to a different location, along with a text log file that contains execution details.
The migration tool does not require AX-3.8 installed on the same PC, only a path to the source backup .dist files.
You run the migration tool from the standalone Niagara Console window, typically launched from the Windows Start menu.

The following is the log generated while running the migration tool on a very simple Supervisor station backup file. The migrator ran in a standalone Niagara Console window.

NOTE: Running the migrator in the embedded Workbench Console is not supported, as it does not properly process the necessary user inputs that may be required if your NiagaraAX station contains passwords that need to be encrypted with a pass phrase.

Figure 13. Example migration tool processing a Supervisor station backup

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------–-
C:\Niagara\Niagara-4.1.xx.xx>n4mig C:\niagara\niagara-3.8.111\backups\
backup_Supvsr_150526_1545.dist 
INFO [15:48:41 26-May-15 EDT][sys.registry] Up-to-date [92ms] 
INFO [15:48:41 26-May-15 EDT][sys.registry] Loaded [32ms] 
INFO [15:48:42 26-May-15 EDT][sys] Niagara runtime booted 
("C:\Niagara\Niagara-4.1.xx.xx") on Win-23A9-FCD0-B958-4E02 
[15:48:42 26-May-15 EDT][migration] 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [15:48:42 26-May-15 EDT][migration] Migrating station
 backup_Supvsr_150526_1545.dist to backup_Supvsr_150526_1545.dist
 Station to be migrated: Supvsr
 -------------------------------------------------------–---–---–---–---–---–---–--
    Migrating station Supvsr to Supvsr
 Migration Templates:
    1: Controller Migration Template  (ControllerMigrationTemplate.ntpl)
    2: Supervisor Migration Template  (SupervisorMigrationTemplate.ntpl)
 You can also use 'c' for default Controller and 's' for default Supervisor template.
 Please select a Migration Template: 2
 Using Migration Template SupervisorMigrationTemplate.ntpl

 Completed Migration
  Source: C:\Users\John\Niagara4.0\Rocket Industries\migTemp\Supvsr
  Target: C:\Users\John\Niagara4.0\Rocket Industries\stations\Supvsr
  Migration Report: C:\Users\jDoe\Niagara4.0\Rocket Industries\stations\Supvsr_miglog
_1505261548.txt

  Important Migration Notes - see Migration Report for details
    Using Migration Template SupervisorMigrationTemplate.ntpl
    config.bog: REMOVED all uses of type niagaraDriver:NiagaraFoxService in bog

In the example above, the migration tool was launched with only the “n4mig” command and the source backup .dist file path, without any options or explicit migration output location. As shown, the migration template was not specified, so the tool paused and prompted for the migration template (1 or 2). After this was entered, the tool continued processing and completed the migration.

The migration tool posts information while processing the backup .dist file. By default, the migration output goes to the stations folder of your Workbench User Home, as shown in the following figure.

Figure 14. Example migration tool output in Workbench User Home (station folder, migration log file)

In this example, notice that the migration process created a Supvsr folder and an associated log file in the stations folder. The target station name is automatically determined from the station name inside the station backup .dist file.

Entries in the log file (migration report) display source and target locations for items written, actions performed, and so on. If needed, you can use command line options to create a greater level of log detail.