BusinessObjects XI R2 Fix Pack 6.4

Last week, I installed SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI R2 Fix Pack 6.4 on a Service Pack 6 virtual machine running Microsoft Windows Server 2003. This fix pack is the final patch for the XI R2 platform. Below is the Central Configuration Manager on Service Pack 6. Notice that most servers such as the CMS are at version 11.5.12.1838; however, the Web Intelligence Report Server and Performance Management servers (AA Alert, etc.) have been updated to version 11.5.12.1916.

The patch was easy to install. After accepting the license agreement, the only two decisions are whether you want to “deploy webapps when install completed” and “restart servers when install completed”. Both are selected by default. When finished, the following screen appears:

When completed, the CMC reveals that the Web Intelligence Report Server and performance management servers have gone to version 11.5.12.2126.

As expected, the Web Intelligence Java Report Panel applet has also been patched to 11.5.12.2126. Notice that the certificate is signed by SAP.

And here’s the Web Intelligence Java Report Panel splash screen confirming the applet version.

After daylight savings time in the United States ended this past weekend, I created scheduled jobs for the Crystal Reports, Web Intelligence, Desktop Intelligence and Program job servers. Everything ran “on time” as expected. In addition, I confirmed that the Web Intelligence Java Report Panel and Desktop Intelligence client were capable of putting the correct refresh date in the status bar.

I went to all this trouble to be sure that Fix Pack 6.4 installs cleanly; however, I am not sure that I’ll ever install the patch for a customer. We’re encouraging customers to move to XI 3.1 SP3. Professionally, it’s been a long, strange trip with XI R2 since November 2005. I’m a much different consultant than I was five years ago and its hard to believe that this blog entry may very well be my last one for that release. This week, I’m helping a customer install SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 3.1 SP3 and Explorer XI 3.2 and migrate from XI R2. I’m looking forward to the ramp up of SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence 4.0 later this month and general availability early next year.

NOTE: As with any service pack or fix pack from any vendor, you should install and test in a separate environment before installing on your production environment. Please feel free to post comments if you have any positive or negative experiences with this final fix pack.