System Applications and Cloning

[Vanitha Naidu]

Backing up applications

Custom applications and app customizations in development need to be manually preserved before a clone if the versions are not the same on the source and target instances. Backup the app to source control or update set. Please note using clone excludes and preservers only applies to tables. 

1. Documentation to integrate to source control : https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/washingtondc-application-development/page/build/applications/conc...
2. Documentation to publish each application to an update set : https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/utah-application-development/page/build/applications/task/t_Publi...

Preserve applications and customizations in development during a system clone

https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/utah-platform-administration/page/administer/managing-data/concep...

Additionally when using App Engine Studio ensure you have the following preservers and excludes are added per the documentation below:

https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/washingtondc-application-development/page/build/app-engine-studio...

Some common issues :

1. You need to backup your custom app on your target development instance. This needs to be done manually as outlined above.
2. Custom application is not editable in Studio or App Engine Studio after a clone. (Note: This is only in reference to applications you created and not store apps you installed from the ServiceNow store. Also ensure you have applied the steps in the section above)
   1. Look for the app in sys_store_app table, navigate to the related links and select “Convert to development mode”
3. You created a preserver for sys_app table and you cannot access your application on the target instance.
   1. Remove the preserver for future clones.
   2. Contact support to assist with the issue.
4. Unable to import your application from source control after a clone.
   1. If the base application was never installed on the source instance, Delete the repository configuration (sys_repo_config) and import the application from the source control repository.
   2. Review errors seen in sys_execution_tracker entry and local host logs.
   3. Review entry in sys_repo_config .
5. You did not backup your apps before the clone.
   1. You can rollback your clone
      1. You have 7 days to rollback(2 days if you instance is sharded)
      2. Steps to rollback Navigate to All > System Clone > Live Clones > Clone History and in related link click “Rollback”