We walk through the installation and configuration steps for a Cognos 11.2.1 upgrade. Just some of the topics we cover include: how installer got smarter, upgraded hardware requirements, backing up and preserving files, upgrade strategy and themes and extensions. See the recording and download this deck: https://senturus.com/resources/tips-for-installing-cognos-analytics-11-2-1/ Senturus offers a full spectrum of services for business analytics. Our Knowledge Center has hundreds of free live and recorded webinars, blog posts, demos and unbiased product reviews available on our website at: https://senturus.com/resources/

1. 1

2. 2
Hundreds of resources
Visit our Knowledge
Center to download this
presentation and
explore other assets:
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3. 3
Agenda
• Introductions​
• Cognos 11.2 overview
• A smarter installer
• Hardware requirements
• Preserving custom files
• Upgrade strategy
• Patching
• Senturus overview​ and additional resources​
• Q&A
3

4. 4
Steve Reed Pittman
Director
Enterprise Architecture and Engineering
Senturus, Inc.
4
Introductions
Todd Schuman
Practice Lead
Installations, Upgrades and Optimization
Senturus, Inc.

5. Enjoy the full webinar presentation
This slide deck is from the webinar Tips for Installing
Cognos Analytics 11.2.1
To view the FREE video recording and download this deck,
go to https://senturus.com/resources/tips-for-installing-
cognos-analytics-11-2-1/
5

6. Cognos 11.2.1 overview
6

7. 7
New UI – menu and homepage
7

8. Navigating content
8

9. Major changes in 11.2
My blog post
Cognos 11.2.0: Our Favorite New Features & What's Missing |
Senturus
IBM’s Rachel Su’s on-demand webinar
What's New in Cognos Analytics 11.2.1 | Senturus
9

10. A smarter installer
10

11. Multiple files required
• Installer
• Server ZIP
• Client tool ZIP
Standalone installer
• Cognos 11.1 – browse to
ZIP file
• Cognos 11.2 – installer
scans directory and
presents all ZIP options
Installation – minor changes
11

12. 12
Same Cognos components
• Content tier – content
manager (brain of Cognos)
• Application tier – dispatcher
(runs reports)
• Gateway – web server (SSL,
alias, SSO, images)
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13. 13
IIS/Apache
• IIS
• [install dir]cgi-
bintemplatesiis
13
• Apache
• [install dir]cgi-bintemplates

14. Like what you see?
To view the video recording and download the slide deck go
to https://senturus.com/resources/tips-for-installing-cognos-
analytics-11-2-1/
Visit our website to access our library of free BI knowledge
resources including events, blogs, demos, whitepapers, other
on-demand webinars and our dashboard gallery
https://senturus.com/senturus-resources/
14

15. Hardware/software requirements
15

16. • Verify system requirements - IBM documentation
• Processing: minimum: 4 CPU cores for one user
• Memory: minimum 10 GB
• Disk space (software): minimum of 7 GB
• Disk space (temp): minimum 5 GB
Hardware – IBM minimum
recommendations
16

17. • Processing: 4 CPU cores
• Memory: 32 GB
• Disk space (software): 20 GB
• Disk space (temp): 100 GB
Mileage may vary based on user load, report complexity and database performance
Hardware – Senturus recommendations
17

18. 18
Content store database
SQL Server
• Azure SQL database
• 2012-2019
Oracle
• 11gR2, 12cR(1&2), 18c, 19c
DB2
• 10.5, 11.1, 11.5
Informix
• 12.1, 14.1
18
When people say they have an
“Excel database.”

19. 19
Browsers
• Chrome
• Edge (Chromium)
• Firefox ESR
• Safari
Goodbye Internet Explorer
Query/Analysis Studio will need Firefox to work
19

20. Preserving custom files
20

21. 21
Preserve custom files and folders
• New releases overwrite most folders
• See exceptions: Preserved files and folders when
upgrading Cognos Analytics - IBM Documentation
• Always backup before (in case)
• [Install Dir]AnalyticsConfigurationPreserve
• Preserve.txt
• # Specify files or folders to preserve
• [folder name]
• [folder name]image.jpg
• Preserve
• Images/logos
• JS files
• WAR files
21

22. Upgrade strategy
22

23. Upgrade strategy
•Over the top
•Fresh install – migrate content store database
•Fresh install – export/import content store
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24. 24
Over the top
Pros
• Fast and simple
• Keep current config
Cons
• No “parallel” testing
• No removal of old content
• Usually older hardware/OS
• Rollout – all users at once
• Not possible for C10 to C11 upgrades
24

25. 25
Fresh install – migrate content DB
Pros
• New VM/OS/hardware
• Clean OS
• Parallel testing
• Rollout – all users or groups
Cons
• Reconfigure all server
• Install drivers and supported software
• New content needs to be manually
migrated/code freeze
25

26. 26
Fresh install – content export/import
Pros
• More control over migrated content
• Allows for parallel testing
• Allows for all user or group rollout
• Can move content between DB vendors
Cons
• Reconfigure all servers
• Slow
• Install drivers and supported software
• New content needs to be manually migrated/code freeze
• My Folders only included in “full content” export
26

27. Fix packs and interim fixes
27

28. Log4j
28
How the Apache Log4j2 Vulnerability
Affects Tableau & Cognos | Senturus
Cognos BI 10.2.x does not use
Log4j v2, only Log4j v1. Therefore, it
is NOT impacted by CVE-2021-
44228, CVE-2021-45046, CVE-
2021-45105, and CVE-2021-44832.

29. What version am I on?
29
How to determine which version of
Cognos Analytics you have
installed (ibm.com)
• [install dir]cmplst.txt

30. New versions?
•11.2.2 – Soon, should be by end of month/Q1
•11.2.3 – Shortly after (Q2/2022), major conversion of Cognos
Admin console to new Cognos “glass” UI
•11.2.X – Long term support (LTS) – Q4/2022
30

31. Get help with your upgrade
31
Learn more
Full implementation
Mentoring Quick start

32. Like what you see?
To view the video recording and download the slide deck go
to https://senturus.com/resources/tips-for-installing-cognos-
analytics-11-2-1/
Visit our website to access our library of free BI knowledge
resources including events, blogs, demos, whitepapers, other
on-demand webinars and our dashboard gallery
https://senturus.com/senturus-resources/
32

33. Answers to participant questions
33

34. Tips for Installing Cognos Analytics 11.2.1
34
Q: Is it possible to still install Cognos Transformer?
A: Yes, Transformer is still available, but requires its own separate download.
Q: Is there a new version of Transformer in Cognos Analytics 11.2.1?
A: The latest build of Transformer is 11.0.0.118. IBM occasionally gives it a new
start up screen with an updated version number. Here’s a fun fact, you can drop
Transformer cubes from Cognos 7 into Cognos 11.2 and report off them. That’s
how much (or little) things have changed with PowerCubes.
Q: It seems there is an issue with DMP files in Cognos 11.2.1, how do we
address this after upgrade?
A: We not aware of any issues. Please email Senturus at info@senturus.com if
you would assistance to troubleshoot.

35. Tips for Installing Cognos Analytics 11.2.1
35
Q: Are the installer changes in Cognos 11.2.1 similar for Linux?
A: We know the installer is a separate download in Linux, like Windows 11.1.
However, we haven’t had a chance to see if it automatically checks for the
server and client zips like it does with Windows.
Q: For a new, over-the-top Cognos 11.2.1 installation, should we install the
base and then install the interim fix?
A: No. You don’t need to install the base. All fix packs and interim fixes are full
installs.
Q: Did IBM update the base of Cognos 11.2.1 for the Log4j issue?
A: Not that we are aware of. Downloading the 11.2.1 IF3 is the only version that
has the source code patched.

36. Tips for Installing Cognos Analytics 11.2.1
36
Q: We’re getting ready to upgrade to Cognos 11.2.1, are there issues with
scheduling and activity that we need to know about?
A: No, we aren’t aware of issues or activity. We do know Cognos 11 schedule
and activity screens have been slow and difficult to use with large amounts of
schedules. We believe this will be addressed in an upcoming release this year.
Q: Can Cognos Query Studio be used in IE compatibility mode using
Edge?
A: Your mileage may vary when using IE compatibility mode in Edge. IBM
doesn’t officially support IE compatibility mode for any studios. For all legacy
Cognos studios (Query Studio, Analysis Studio, Event Studio), Firefox ESR is
the only officially supported browser going forward.

37. Tips for Installing Cognos Analytics 11.2.1
37
Q: If we upgrade our reports with JavaScript from Cognos 10.2.2 to 11.2.1,
do we need to update or modify the JavaScript?
A: Cognos 11 should run JavaScript from Cognos 10 if the interactive mode is
disabled for those reports. That said, JavaScript was never fully supported to
begin with, so testing would be important before a migration project. If you need
assistance migrating, email Senturus at info@senturus.com.
Q: Does an over-the-top install also upgrade all report specs to latest
version or is that a separate content maintenance task?
A: The report upgrade task is a separate job outside of the content store
upgrade that occurs when starting Cognos services.

38. Tips for Installing Cognos Analytics 11.2.1
38
Q: Is the content store export/import method necessary when moving
from SQL Server to Azure SQL?
A: We believe Azure has its own options when converting standard SQL Server
to SQL Azure. Get more information.
Q: We use a custom authenticator provider with the JDBC sample to
authenticate our users pointing to SQL. We’re assuming the Cognos 11.2.1
will upgrade many versions of the SDK libraries from 11.0.6 to 11.2.1. Do
the jar files need to be recompiled? Are there any other changes in the
SDK? We’re concerned our many apps developed 11.0.6 will break.
A: We’re not sure about your custom SDK code. We recommend you use
sandbox environment to test what is working and what needs to be modified.

39. Tips for Installing Cognos Analytics 11.2.1
39
Q: Are there any process or steps to convert legacy Cognos studios
(Query Studio, Analysis Studio) in Cognos 11.2.1?
A: IBM has ceased new development on the legacy studios. You can still open
and modify existing content in Query Studio and Analysis Studio if you use
Firefox ESR as your browser. No conversion steps are required.
Q: How does installer work in the cloud for Cognos 11.2.1?
A: Installer works the same on any supported environment. There is no
difference when running in AWS, Azure, Google, etc.
Q: When Cognos 11.2.3 comes out, will it include the interim fix for Log4j?
A: Cognos 11.2.3 will build on previous versions and will have the Log4j patched
as part of its release.

40. Tips for Installing Cognos Analytics 11.2.1
40
Q: Do you have any information about the next Cognos long-term support
(LTS) version?
A: Cognos 11.1.7 is the current LTS release. It sounds like next LTS will be
announced December 2022, which will be assigned the latest release number at
that time, most likely 11.2.5.
Q: Is the gateway still compatible with MS IIS?
A: Yes, the gateway is still compatible with both IIS and Apache web server.
Q: Is PPES still available in Cognos 11.2.1?
A: Yes, PPES is still available but much like Transformer, it hasn’t been updated
since 11.0.

41. Tips for Installing Cognos Analytics 11.2.1
41
Q: For our distributed environment, does the content management server
need to be the same size as a dispatcher server?
A: IBM recommends increasing the content management server ram and CPUs
to match the dispatcher server size. How much to increase the size depends on
multiple factors. Please contact Senturus at info@senturus.com or 888-601-
6010 if you need help with sizing.
Q: Should we try to move away from using Cognos Event Studio?
A: In general, we encourage clients to move away from the Cognos legacy
studios whenever possible. Because IBM is no longer updating the code base
for legacy studios, those studios will likely stop working in Firefox sometime in
the future.

42. Tips for Installing Cognos Analytics 11.2.1
42
Q: I am using homemade scripts to stop the servers in a multi-server
environment and then clears the temp files weekly. Is that the
recommended way to do it?
A: That is a good way to do it. A weekly refresh can will help keep your
environment stable.
Q: What version of Cognos Analytics are you using for the demo?
A: Cognos 11.0.x.

43. Like what you see?
To view the video recording and download the slide deck go
to https://senturus.com/resources/tips-for-installing-cognos-
analytics-11-2-1/
Visit our website to access our library of free BI knowledge
resources including events, blogs, demos, whitepapers, other
on-demand webinars and our dashboard gallery
https://senturus.com/senturus-resources/
43

44. Additional resources
44
Insider viewpoints
Technical tips
Unbiased product reviews
Product demos Upcoming events
More on this subject

45. Decisions and actions
Business needs
Modern BI: accelerated & accessible
45
Analysis-ready data

46. A long, strong history of success
•21+ years
•1350+ clients
•3000+ projects
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47. 47
Join the
Senturus team
We’re hiring talented and experienced professionals
• Java Developer
• Senior Azure Architect
• Senior Cognos BI Architect/Project Manager
• And more
See job descriptions: https://Senturus.com/why-Senturus/careers/
Send your resume to: jobs@Senturus.com

48. © 2020 by Senturus, Inc. This presentation may not be reused or distributed without the written consent of Senturus, Inc.
www.senturus.com 888-601-6010 info@senturus.com
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