Katalyst: High-level checklist before performing a Katalyst upgrade

Description

• Before upgrading Katalyst (application or components), administrators need a clear checklist to reduce the risk of downtime or data loss.
• Upgrades might include:
  • New Katalyst version.
  • Spectrus DB upgrade.
  • Underlying OS or platform changes.

Solution

• Minimum pre‑upgrade checklist:
  1. Confirm compatibility
     • Verify supported version combinations of Katalyst, Spectrus DB, and database (e.g., PostgreSQL).
     • Confirm with Project Manager and IT team the version release notes and required migration steps. 
  2. Backups
     • Full backup of Spectrus DB and any other Katalyst databases.
     • Snapshot configuration files, integration settings, and SSL certificates.
     • For VMs, consider snapshots if allowed by policy.
  3. Environment and access
     • Ensure you have admin access to all relevant servers (app, DB, web/proxy).
     • Confirm maintenance window and communication plan to users.
  4. Upgrade rehearsal in UAT or Dev environment
     • Validate core workflows: login, creating experiments, attaching data, exports, and integrations.
  5. Rollback plan
     • Define clear rollback steps (e.g., restore DB backups, revert to previous version, restore configuration snapshots).
     • Ensure required backups are verified and restorable.
• After upgrade:
  • Run a smoke test checklist.
  • Monitor logs and performance to catch any post‑upgrade issues early.