Migrate Tableau Server from an On-Premises Computer to a VM in the Cloud


You can migrate Tableau Server from a computer in your data center to a virtual machine (VM) in the cloud. As a part of this migration, you’ll need to move various Tableau Server data and configuration settings from your on-premises computer to a VM in the cloud where Tableau Server is installed.

Note: This operation includes steps that you may need to perform using the TSM command line.

Prerequisites

Before you migrate Tableau Server from an on-premises computer to a VM in the cloud, be sure to review the following prerequisites:

To migrate Tableau Server to a VM in the cloud

  1. Ensure that there are no background tasks running, such as, extract refreshes, workbook publishing, etc. When Tableau Server is idle, note any data source connection types in use so that you can install the appropriate drivers on the new Tableau Server on the VM in the cloud.
  2. Stop Tableau Server. At a command prompt, type:

    tsm stop(Link opens in a new window)

  3. After Tableau Server is stopped, make a complete backup, following the steps in Preparing for Upgrade and Back up Tableau Server data. The backup is what you will use to restore your Tableau Server data. You’ll use this backup to restore your Tableau Server data on the VM in the cloud.
  4. Move the backup off the server and store the backup securely. For example, you can store your backup on cloud storage such as Amazon S3, Google Drive, etc.
  5. If you are using SSL on the on-premises server, make a copy of the SSL folder. Be sure to note any security rules, for example, firewall rules, ports, etc. to avoid communication issues between different elements of your infrastructure and your new Tableau Server on the VM in the cloud.
  6. Remove any DNS entries using the IP address of the on-premises Tableau Server, so you can reassign them to the Tableau Server on the VM in the cloud.
  7. Launch a VM into the cloud that meets the Tableau Server recommendations.
  8. Install Tableau Server on the VM in the cloud. For more information, see:
  9. After installation is complete, copy any SSL files to Tableau Server on the VM in the cloud, and restore the backup on your new server.
  10. Configure Tableau Server on the VM in the cloud and install all SSH and port related stuff.

    Note: If you change the IP address/port of the database, you might need to update all connection information.

  11. Copy your backup file .tsbak to the folder location specified by the basefilepath.backuprestore variable. By default this is: /var/opt/tableau/tableau_server/data/tabsvc/files/backups/.

    Note: You can change the location for the backup file. For more information, see tsm File Paths.

  12. Next, stop Tableau Server. At a command prompt, type:

    tsm stop(Link opens in a new window)

  13. Restore your in-production data without configuration information to your new Tableau Server installation. At a command prompt, type:

    tsm maintenance restore -f <filename>

    where <filename> is the name of the .tsbak file you copied in step 11.

    For more information about restoring Tableau Server data, see Restore from a Backup.

  14. Start the server. At a command prompt, type:

    tsm start(Link opens in a new window)

  15. Distributed installations only: Install Tableau Server on the new VMs you want to add to your new Tableau Server cluster in the cloud. For more information, see:
  16. Test your Tableau Server on your VM in the cloud to ensure that it works as expected. If your Tableau Server is working fine in the cloud, you can deactivate your on-premises Tableau Server product key and use this same product key to activate your Tableau Server on the VM in the cloud.

    Note: If you do not have an internet connection, you are prompted to create an offline activation file to complete the deactivation process. For more information, see Deactivate Tableau Server Offline(Link opens in a new window).

  17. The same Tableau Server product key can be activated three times: once for a production environment, once for a test environment, and once for a QA environment. After you have tested your new Tableau Server installation and confirmed that it's ready for production, you must deactivate your earlier production version of Tableau Server, and then you must uninstall it. To deactivate the earlier version, see tsm licenses deactivate.

    Note: If you do not have an internet connection, you are prompted to create an offline activation file to complete the deactivation process. See Deactivate Tableau Server Offline for steps.

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