Is an upgrade to Hyperion 11.2 the last upgrade you'll ever do? With Kscope19 in Seattle just behind us, and a new release of Hyperion EPM approaching in October, we have all the reasons to think about the next steps.
In this blog post we explore the main reasons you should upgrade from 11.1.2.4 and pre 11.1.2.x versions from a technical perspective.
The main technical catalysts we see today for upgrading to 11.2 are the following:
- Oracle Hyperion products - End of support for 11.1.2.x
- End of support for the underlying operating system (Windows/Linux)
- End of support for database server
- Different compatibility needs for end-users (Microsoft Office, OS and Browser)
Many organisations are only looking at the end-of-life for support for Oracle Hyperion 11.1.2.4 and pre 11.1.2.x versions. Aside from evolving business needs, we have other factors that could force us into a situation where an upgrade is needed. Instead of waiting for the demand from IT, security or end-user compatibility, it’s better to be proactive and understand the technical reasons behind an upgrade. This lets you take control of the situation and get ahead of your competition.
Oracle Hyperion - end of support
11.1.2.4
This version was released 2015 and has been great for stability and functionality. I'm guessing that many of you are already using 11.1.2.4 today and are in a position where the product is supporting your needs in a pleasant way without any major issues. From what we know so far, the general end of support for 11.1.2.4 has been increased to December 31 2021. This may feel far away, but time flies and we are already approaching 2020.
11.2 (11.2.x)
This release has been communicated as the "last version" and will move to be part of Oracle Applications Unlimited. Here you can read the official announcement. Many believe that the support ends in 2030. However, they are in fact saying that the Oracle Premier Support for Oracle Hyperion EPM System 11.2 is available through at least 2030. To me, this is a major difference!
Operating System - end of support
Microsoft
Hosting your Hyperion products on Windows is probably the most common setup. 11.1.2.4 is supported to run on Microsoft Server 2012 (all service packs) and Microsoft Server 2012 R2. Support for Microsoft Server 2012 ended on 9 October 2018, and end of extended support for the operating system will be on 10 October 2023. In general, this means that your security fixes will be covered until the end of extended support with no extra costs, but no development or new design will be added during this period.
Linux
Some of you host your EPM Hyperion products on Linux. If you are running 11.1.2.4 on Linux, the latest version of Oracle Unbreakable Linux is version 6. Version 7 is unfortunately not supported for 11.1.2.4. The Linux version 6 end of support is 31 March 2021.
Database - end of support
Microsoft SQL Server
The latest version of MS SQL Server that's supported for 11.1.2.4 is SQL Server 2012 (all SP-levels included). The end of support of MS SQL Server 2012 was on 11 July 2017 and the end of extended support is 12 July 2022. Whether you are running a dedicated SQL Server for your Hyperion products or if you use a shared one, we recommend staying on a fully supported platform.
Oracle Database
11.1.2.4 is supported on Oracle Database up to version 12.2.x. This version has the end of support on 31 March 2022. End of extended support for Oracle Database 12.2.x is on 31 March 2025. This will probably not be one of the main reasons for why an upgrade gets forced.
Changed user needs
Microsoft Office and Smart View
Smart View is one of the most popular ways to connect to Hyperion products. Smart View version 11.1.2.5.900 is the latest version released so far. This version is supported with Microsoft Office 2019 and locally installed versions of Office 365. Versions earlier than 11.1.2.5.520 are not supported with Office 2016.
11.2 Browser support
Many of our end-user interactions with our EPM environments come from the browser. Today we know that the following browsers will be supported in 11.2:
- Microsoft Edge
- Chrome
- Firefox
This is great news for many users out there. Exact versions and recommended settings are, however, not yet known.
Summary
Major changes are happening now in the EPM world. It is time to take action to start planning the next steps for your EPM environments.
If you are working for a large organisation, it's probably not only the demands of the Hyperion products that drive the decision to upgrade or move to the cloud. Many organisations have large programs to streamline their processes and enable a more effective way of working with on-premise and cloud applications.
As you may have noticed, there are several technical catalysts that need to be taken in consideration. Shared resources such as operating system versions, database servers and end-user demands are all as important as the EPM software itself.
This has been a high-level blog post. If you need help with developing a roadmap to meet your organisation's special requirements, inlumi is here to help. Our EPM specialists cover the full breadth of the EPM process, including advisory, functional consulting, technical consulting and managed services to help you make sense of your financial data.
Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions!
