How to recover Abacus after a server failure

This article was created to assist clients in recovering AbacusLaw after a failure of a server. If you only want to migrate your data, please use this article instead.

This article is under the assumption that you have a copy of your Abacus data. If you do not have your Abacus data, you can still install Abacus Law, but you will have to use an empty database.

If you would like Abacus Data Systems to reinstall Abacus Law, contact our Professional Services department and select the option for “Server Migration”.

On the New Server:

1. Log in as an Administrator.
   
2. Ensure User Account Control is disabled.
   
   
   
   
3. Disable any antivirus, firewalls, or any other program that may impede the installation of the program.
   
4. If you have a backup of the entire Abacus directory, copy the entire folder onto the new server. If you do not, skip this step. Share the Abacus folder that you copied to the new server with full permissions for all users.
   
   
5. Download your version of Abacus Law from the link below:
   
   AbacusLaw Version 23
   Version 22 can be found here.
   
   When you run the installer, you will need to point the installer to your current Abacus Directory, or where you want the directory to be. (ex: C:\Abacus, E:\data\Abacus)
   
   
6. After the Abacus program is installed on the new server open the AbacusLaw program.
   
7. If you are recovering from an Abacus Law backup, follow our guide on restoring a backup and resume these steps once complete. If not, skip this step.
   
8. Click on File > Register. Enter your Customer ID that was provided to you and your Firm name into the registration screen. Click the Activate button. If you get any registration errors, please call Client Services at 1-800-726-3339.
   
9. If you installed the Advantage Database Server (Fortress), find the ads.ini file located in Abacus\v##\Programs (where ## = current version) and update the new server name and new server IP address if necessary. Open the ads.ini file in Notepad and make edits. Save and replace the file.
   {Enter Server's computer name in the brackets}
   lan_ip={input new server IP address here}
   lan_port=6262
   
   
   
   
   
10. Set the following firewall port exceptions if running the default Windows Firewall or any third-party firewalls:

• 6262 UDP (Advantage Database Server)
• 8006 and 8007 TCP (Abacus Update Service)

On Each Workstation:

1. Map the workstations to the new server. The mapped drive and path to the Abacus folder should be the same as the old server. If so, the program is ready to run. Otherwise, continue if the path has changed.
   
2. If the drive letter or path was changed, you will need to map a new network drive (to the new server name, NOT the new server's IP address) to that drive letter.
   
3. Navigate to the server Abacus\v##\Programs and run AbacusLaw WorkStation Standard Setup. (The #’s represent the number of the version, e.g. v23)
   
   The server migration should be complete. Check each workstation. Verify that all users can access the database and that all document links are still accessible.