Transfering IMDB models from one environment to another.

Transferring models and data between different environments can be a straightforward process by exporting and importing the ETL and re-executing it in the destination environment (provided that all the data sources exist there).

However, if the data sources are not available, you can follow these steps to move IMDB models

Prerequisites

• Version compatibility: The source and target must run the same Pyramid Analytics version.
  Confirm the exact matching rule (for example, same major.minor build) in the release notes before publishing.
   Do not copy an IMDB file to an environment on a different version.
• Access: You need administrator rights on both environments and a role that can read the target database.
• Quiesce the source: Stop scheduled loads and ETL jobs that write to the database, and ask users to log off.
  Copying a file that is being written can produce a corrupt or inconsistent copy.
• Maintenance window: Plan downtime on the target. Replacing an IMDB file while the target is serving queries can cause errors.

1. On the source, stop the Pyramid analytics services so the IMDB file is closed and no writes are in progress. Confirm the services are stopped before continuing.
2. Locate the IRDB file of the relevant database on the source environment, which is usually found in C:\Program Files\Pyramid\repository\Imdata.
3.  Copy the irdb file to the same folder on the target environment.
4.  Export the model definitions file from the source environment.
   
   To do this, select the model that you want to transfer and then, click "Export" as follow:
    

Restart the source services.

On the target environment, stop the services. Place the verified .irdb file in the same Imdata folder, keeping the existing file as a backup. Restart the services.

 Next step would be to "Recognize" the model in the Target system (Data>Source Manager)

5. In the Target environment, locate the database under Admin>Data>Source manager, It should be listed under “Security”.
Ensure that the database has read access to the required roles.

6. Next, go to Admin>Data>Source manager select the IMDB database and click  "Import"  to import the model definitions file exported in step 3.

7. Refresh the page to view the model. Run a test query and compare row counts with the source to confirm the transfer.