Upgrading CyberArk PVWA, CPM, and PSM from 12.6 to 13.2 - Lab Demo

In this lab demonstration, we'll walk you through the process of upgrading CyberArk components - PVWA, CPM, and PSM - from version 12.6 to 13.2. This tutorial is designed for those with minimal resources, making it ideal for lab environments and learning purposes.

Prerequisites:

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

Backup: Take a complete backup or clone of your existing CyberArk environment, including configuration settings, databases, and any customizations.

System Requirements: Confirm that your lab server meets the minimum system requirements for CyberArk 13.2.

CyberArk License: Ensure you have a valid CyberArk license for version 13.2.

Network Connectivity: Make sure your lab server has internet connectivity to download necessary installation files and patches.

Upgrade Steps:

Download Installation Files:

Visit the CyberArk Support Portal to download the installation files for version 13.2.
Install Prerequisites:

Install any necessary prerequisites for CyberArk 13.2, such as .NET Framework, SQL Server versions, and other dependencies.
Upgrade PVWA:

Stop the PVWA service.
Run the CyberArk PVWA installation package for version 13.2.
Follow the installation wizard, providing the required information, including the existing PVWA database details.
Choose to upgrade existing components during installation.
Start the PVWA service once the upgrade is successful.
Upgrade CPM:

Stop the CPM service.
Run the CyberArk CPM installation package for version 13.2.
Follow the installation wizard, providing the required information, including the existing CPM database details.
Choose to upgrade existing components during installation.
Start the CPM service once the upgrade is successful.
Upgrade PSM:

Stop the PSM service.
Run the CyberArk PSM installation package for version 13.2.
Follow the installation wizard, providing the required information, including the existing PSM database details.
Choose to upgrade existing components during installation.
Start the PSM service once the upgrade is successful.

Post-Upgrade Verification:

Thoroughly test your environment to ensure everything functions as expected. Verify user access, session recording, and other critical functionalities.
Backup Post-Upgrade:

Take another backup of your upgraded environment to have a clean snapshot of the new version.
Documentation:

Update your documentation to reflect the upgraded version and any changes in configuration or functionality.
Monitoring and Maintenance:

Continue monitoring your lab environment for any issues and perform regular maintenance tasks as needed.
Rollback Plan:

Be prepared with a rollback plan in case you encounter critical issues during or after the upgrade.

Read the CyberArk upgrade documentation before doing an upgrade.

In the installation in the lab, we will see that the C++ will want to be installed every time at the start of each of the upgrades. The upgrade is not picking up that the C++ is already installed.

During the upgrade, I ran a backup of the vault server via a Python script which backed up the Vault server password-protected the log file and emailed it to my CyberArk mailbox.