Updating the external database configuration

Last Updated : Jun 05, 2026 |

If this Experience Portal system is connected to an external database, you must update the external database before you upgrade the EPM software. The older EPM software will continue to operate against the updated database.

About this task

Use this procedure to update the external database configuration.

Note:

The external reporting database schema is updated in Experience Portal 8.1. If you are upgrading from 7.0, run the appropriate script to add 7.1 columns, and then run the script to add 7.2 columns. Finally, run the script to add 8.1 columns.

The .sql files are located in the directory /Support/ExternalDB/<DBVENDOR>/UpgradeScripts. Where, <DBVENDOR> can be Oracle, Postgres, MSSQL, or MySQL.

Note:

The administration and maintenance of the external database is a customer responsibility.

Procedure

  1. Insert the Experience Portal installation DVD in to the DVD device of the server on which the external database resides.
  2. Based on the external database and the upgrade scenario, run the required scripts:
    1. If you use Oracle:

      • For a 7.2/8.0 to 8.1 upgrade scenario, run the Oracle_New_Columns_81.sql script.

      • For a 7.1 to 7.2 upgrade scenario, run the Oracle_New_Columns_72.sql script.

      • For a 7.0 to 7.1 upgrade scenario, run the Oracle_New_Columns_71.sql script.

      • For a 6.0 to 7.1 upgrade scenario, run the Oracle_New_Columns_70.sql script first and then run the Oracle_New_Columns_71.sql script.

    2. If you use an external Postgres server:

      • For a 7.2/8.0 to 8.1 upgrade scenario, run the New_Columns_81.sql script.

      • For a 7.1 to 7.2 upgrade scenario, run the New_Columns_72.sql script.

      • For a 7.0 to 7.1 upgrade scenario, run the New_Columns_71.sql script.

      • For a 6.0 to 7.1 upgrade scenario, run the NewColumns_70.sql script first and then run the New_Columns_71.sql script.

    3. If you use Microsoft SQL server:

      • For a 7.2/8.0 to 8.1 upgrade scenario, run the MSSQL_New_Columns_81.sql script.

      • For a 7.1 to 7.2 upgrade scenario, run the MSSQL_New_Columns_72.sql script.

      • For a 7.0 to 7.1 upgrade scenario, run the MSSQL_New_Columns_71.sql script.

      • For a 6.0 to 7.1 upgrade scenario, run the MSSQL_New_Columns_70.sql script first and then run the MSSQL_New_Columns_71.sql script.

    4. If you use MySQL or MariaDb:

      • For a 7.2/8.0 to 8.1 upgrade scenario, run the MSSQL_81.sql script.

      • For a 7.1 to 7.2 upgrade scenario, run the MSSQL_72.sql script.

      • For a 7.0 to 7.1 upgrade scenario, no upgrade steps are required.

      • MySQL was not supported in 6.0.

    Important:

    For Microsoft SQL Server, the database user name for Experience Portal must be assigned SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE privileges on the newly added VPZones table.

    For Postgres, the database user name for Experience Portal must be assigned CONNECT, TEMPORARY ON DATABASE, SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE privileges on the newly added VPZones table.