The process of upgrading your software copies older files to your new ParaChat Server v5.5 instance on your computer, while leaving the old ParaChat Server v3.0, v4.0, v4.5 or v5.0 fully intact. This allows you to complete the v5.0 installation process while minimizing down-time for your users. If for any reason you require reverting back to the older chat server, simply shut down the v5.5 chat server, and then restart your older chat server.

NOTE: Your older ParaChat Server and v5.5 do not share any information. If you revert back to your older ParaChat Server none of the changes made in v5.5 will be reflected in your older chat server.

During the course of the upgrade to ParaChat Server v5.5, the following tasks are completed:

1. Copies the data from your older ParaChat Server directories in an overwriting fashion to the following ParaChat Server v5.5 directories:

1. logs
   - C:\Program Files\ParaChat\ParaChat550\logs\
   
   
2. radata
   - C:\Program Files\ParaChat\ParaChat550\radata\
   
   
3. rooms
   - C:\Program Files\ParaChat\ParaChat550\rooms\
   
   
4. users
   - C:\Program Files\ParaChat\ParaChat550\users\
   
   
5. scripts
   - C:\Program Files\ParaChat\ParaChat550\httpd\pchat\classes\scripts
   
   
6. images
   - C:\Program Files\ParaChat\ParaChat550\httpd\pchat\classes\images
   
   

Note: You will need this information in the next step.

Open a Command Prompt (Start >>> Run >>> cmd.exe). In the Command Prompt window, type:

cd "C:\Program Files\ParaChat\ParaChat550"

upgrade.bat your_server_path

upgrade.bat "C:\program files\parachat\parachat450"

NOTE: You must place a double quote around the file path as in the example above

Check the output from the scripts. If there is no error message, the upgrade has completed. You may see some warning messages. That is OK.

Purchase A Valid License Key

Customers who are upgrading from ParaChat Server v3.0, v4.0 or v4.5 will need to place an order to receive a valid ParaChat Server v5.5 license key:

Order a ParaChat Server v5.5 License Key

Once you place your order and receive a ParaChat Server Upgrade Order Acknowledgement email, reply to that email and attach a current, valid license key from your existing installation. The license key is called 'paraserver.lic' and is found within the "config" directory of your main ParaChat Server directory.

Customers who are upgrading from ParaChat Server v5.0 do not need to purchase a new license key. Your existing license key is valid with v5.5.

Once customers who are upgrading from ParaChat Server v3.0, v4.0 or v4.5 have purchased a v5.5 license key, the new license key will be issued by email. Place the new license key within the "config" directory of your ParaChat Server v5.5 installation, and then re-start your ParaChat Server:

C:\Program Files\ParaChat\ParaChat550\config\paraserver.lic

This action replaces the temporary license key that is included with the v5.5 software package with a valid, full-use license key.

The new, full-use license key will permit the same number of concurrent users as your older server license key.

Purchase A Valid License Key and Add More Users

If you would like to upgrade your software, and require a larger license key to permit a greater number of users to connect to your ParaChat Server, you will need to place an order to request an upgrade and an increased concurrent user capacity:

Order a ParaChat Server v5.5 License Key and Add More Users