16_Inplace_Vs_Outofplace_Upgrade - Nirvan-Pandey/Azure_DOC GitHub Wiki
When upgrading software systems, understanding the difference between in-place and out-of-place upgrades is crucial. Each method has unique benefits and drawbacks depending on the context, system requirements, and risk tolerance.
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In-Place Upgrade: This upgrade method installs the new version directly over the existing system on the same hardware and file structure.
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Out-of-Place Upgrade: This method installs the new version on separate hardware or a different environment, allowing for parallel setup.
Aspect | In-Place Upgrade | Out-of-Place Upgrade |
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Definition | Replaces the current version on the same system | Installs new version in a separate environment |
System Downtime | Higher downtime required | Lower downtime, can be prepared in advance |
Rollback | Difficult and risky | Easier, revert to the old environment |
Risk Level | Higher (affects current system directly) | Lower (no change to current system until ready) |
Resource Requirement | Lower (no extra system needed) | Higher (needs separate environment/hardware) |
Data Migration | Not usually required | Required (move data to the new system) |
Speed of Upgrade | Faster to execute | Slower due to setup and data migration |
Common Use Cases | Minor updates, patches | Major upgrades, mission-critical systems |
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Useful for minor software or OS patches.
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Environments where resource constraints exist.
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Situations where rollback is unlikely to be needed.
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Recommended for mission-critical applications.
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Major upgrades (e.g., database engine upgrades).
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Environments requiring high availability and rollback capability.
In-Place: Upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11 on the same PC.
Out-of-Place: Installing Windows 11 on a new partition or different PC.
In-Place: Upgrading Oracle 12c to 19c on the same instance.
Out-of-Place: Installing Oracle 19c on a new server and migrating data.
In-Place: Updating a compute instance’s OS or database version directly on the existing virtual machine.
Out-of-Place: Creating a new compute instance or database in OCI with the upgraded version and migrating apps/data.
In-Place: Performing an OS or software upgrade on an existing Azure VM.
Out-of-Place: Deploying a new VM or Azure service with updated configurations, then migrating services and users.
In-Place: Upgrading a running EC2 instance’s OS or RDS database version directly.
Out-of-Place: Launching a new EC2 or RDS instance with updated settings, and then migrating workloads.
In-Place: Performing updates on a running GCE VM or managed database service like Cloud SQL.
Out-of-Place: Creating a new GCE instance or Cloud SQL environment with the latest version and switching traffic after migration.
Choosing between in-place and out-of-place upgrades depends on your system's criticality, your rollback requirements, and available resources. Understanding both approaches ensures smoother upgrades with minimal disruption and maximum safety.