NetMan Desktop Manager knowledge base
Tags HAN.V6
HAN 6 Update
This KB article provides important information on planning an update from HAN 5.x to version 6.0.
Please note:
As part of the development of HAN 6, the software was revised and some functionalities from HAN 5 were changed. Specifically, this means:
- HAN 6 no longer supports URL kernel mode. HAN 5 resources that require this mode will likely no longer function with HAN 6.
- HAN "Discovery Service Mode": This technology is based on the HAN kernel mode and is therefore no longer available in HAN 6. However, we will provide a replacement for this mechanism in HAN 6.1.
The release of the new HAN 6 functions will take place in stages. For this reason, the following functions will only be available with HAN 6.1:
- HAN-Library: HAN 6.1 introduces the availability of the HAN library. This allows you to centrally download the login logic for online resources and submit requests to H+H for this logic via a ticketing system integrated into HAN.
- HAN-Statistic: HAN 6.1 introduces completely revised new role-based statistics. Until then, log data will be recorded in HAN 6 in accordance with data protection regulations, but usage cannot be evaluated..
- HAN Modefür search engines: mit diesem Modus unterstützt HAN den Aufruf von Metasuchmaschinen. Dieser Modus ist die neue Version für den unter HAN 5 verwendeten „Discovery Service Modus“.
A subscription licence is required to operate HAN 6. Customers who have purchased a licence in the past cannot use this licence to update to HAN 6 and must sign a subscription agreement to do so. Please contact H+H before planning your update. (Contact H+H Software GmbH here).
Update strategies – in-place update and installation on a new server (soft migration)
The update to HAN 6 is always a new installation with the option to transfer user-specific data from the HAN 5 installation.
In-place-Update
With an in-place update, HAN 6 is installed on the HAN 5 server. The first step of the setup process is to uninstall the HAN 5 components, which means that parallel operation of both systems is not possible. Once the installation is complete, HAN 6 is automatically productive, as the HAN server name and IP addresses are automatically transferred.
With this update strategy, it is important to ensure that there is enough free hard disk space available for the HAN 6 installation and data transfer (as a guide, you can use the disk space used by the HAN 5 installation). It should also be noted that the HAN 6 installation cannot be reversed and HAN 5 will therefore not automatically be available again.
Installation on a new server
With this strategy, a second new server is set up (temporarily) and HAN 6 is installed on it. The new server must meet all system requirements. This means that a wildcard DNS entry, etc. must be available for testing HAN 6. At the end of the HAN 6 installation, it is possible to migrate data from the HAN 5 installation in order to transfer the HAN 5 data.
The advantage of this update option is that HAN 5 and HAN 6 can be run in parallel and HAN 6 can be thoroughly tested. At the same time, this also allows the server operating system to be updated to Windows Server 2025, for example.
At the end of the test phase, the IP addresses and DNS names can then be transferred from the HAN 5 server to the HAN 6 server so that HAN links etc. are retained.
For details on both strategies and a detailed description of the individual steps involved in the update, please refer to the PDF guide linked below. (The PDF guide will be added shortly).
Information required for the HAN 6 update
To perform the actual HAN 6 update, the following information must be available and entered as part of the HAN 6 configuration:
- HAN 6 licence file: Please download the current HAN 6 licence file from your licence account in good time. The file must be read in during configuration. The setup cannot be completed without this file.
- Wildcard SSL certificate or Let's Encrypt configuration data (email address of the licence account and HAN licence key (if Let's Encrypt has already been used in HAN 5 via the H+H mechanism, the HAN 5 licence key must be available)).
Getting started in HAN 6
Data protection
HAN 6 was developed in accordance with the principles of "privacy by design" and "privacy by default". For this reason, HAN 6 is delivered with data protection settings activated so that logging, etc. complies with data protection regulations at all times. If settings have already been made in HAN 5, these are transferred to HAN 6. Otherwise, the default data protection settings (removal of user names and IP addresses of calls) will be applied. In any case, these settings are secured with the principle of "dual control" (passwords must be entered by two people). After installing HAN 6, set up these passwords so that you can make changes to the data protection settings.
User accounts
HAN 6 introduces new user roles and functions. For this reason, not all existing assigned roles for user accounts can be transferred automatically. Please check whether the role assignment for the accounts is still correct.
HAN 6 Client
The new HAN 6 client is required to operate HAN 6. This must be installed manually; automatic updating of the HAN 5 client is not possible. You can download the latest HAN 6 client here:
Please note: to install the client, you will need the HAN client key for your HAN 6 installation.