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*2/8/24 Update:
We are currently optimizing the hardware in the new data center.
As a result, PDIs within the old data center will not be reclaimed until the new data center is fully optimized. While we encourage users to back up their data with source control regularly, those who have not lost their PDIs will retain them until further notice.
PDI Best Practices
Keep in mind that PDIs are intended for short-term use, serving as sandboxes for experimentation. They do not offer the same level of support as paid-for ServiceNow instances. Think of them as display phones in a cell-phone store: useful for exploring the interface and testing new apps and features, but not suitable for storing personal or critical information.
Therefore, it's essential to regularly back up your data with source control. This ensures that in the event of any PDI issues, you can easily retrieve your data.
We will continue to keep you updated throughout this process. If there are any questions or concerns, please leave a comment and we will do our best to give you a timely and thorough response.
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To our esteemed developers,
We've got some news we’d like to share about our Personal Developer Instances (PDIs).
As some of you know, there have been unexpected scares within the PDI space in the past couple of weeks. We understand this is a serious matter, and we want to be transparent about what went down, why it happened, and extend our apologies.
If you are looking for instructions on what to do next, scroll to the bottom of this post for any information you may need.
The What: PDI Infrastructure Migration
Recently, many members of our Community received emails informing them that their PDIs were being promptly retired. This is because we are migrating our PDI infrastructure from one data center to another. The entire migration is a result of our continued mission to elevate your PDI experience and further enhance security.
The Why: Enhancing Data Security
Our commitment to enhancing data security led us to this decision. The new data center includes enhanced safeguards, ensuring a more secure environment for the data within your PDIs. However, ServiceNow needs to retire instances in the old data center to make this upgrade happen. Those who want to continue their PDI journey need to request a new instance.
Our Apology
We know this migration has caused disruptions and inconveniences for many members of our developer space. Some of you have lost work, and, at the bare minimum, losing access to your PDIs and having to resubmit for a new one is far from an ideal scenario. We acknowledge any frustration or challenges this may have introduced and want to assure you that we value your feedback. We are committed to improving our communication processes and actively engage in regular discussions with our engineering team to ensure a smoother and more transparent transition in the future. Your experience matters, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through these improvements together.
What's Next: Instructions for how to proceed.
As always, if you have a PDI, please ensure that you are consistently backing up your work with source control. If you currently have a PDI within the old data center, this is especially the case.
FAQs
What happens if I open a PDI and it goes to the old data center?
- We are currently optimizing the hardware in the new data center. As a result, PDIs within the old data center will not be reclaimed until the new data center is fully optimized. While we encourage users to back up their data with source control regularly, those who have not lost their PDIs will retain them until further notice. If you open a PDI and it is in the old data center, please regularly back up your data with source control.
How will I know if my PDI is already in the new data center?
- The best way to know if you have a PDI in the new datacenter is to look at stats.do.
- Login to your instance. In your Filter navigator type “stats.do” and press enter.
- Login to your instance. In your Filter navigator type “stats.do” and press enter.
- Look at line 2 in the above image:
“Connected to cluster node: app128179.ord191.service-now.com:dev202179001” - If this line contains ord191 or aus191, your PDI is in the new data center.
- If this line does not contain the above phrases, your PDI will be retired shortly after February 1st.
How can I export or back up my data?
- Please use this resource to help export your data!
Where do I go to get a new PDI?
- Once your PDI has been released, you may log back in to https://developer.servicenow.com, and press "Request Instance". Follow the instructions to gain access to your new PDI.
We appreciate your patience, understanding, and commitment to innovation within our Developer Community. We promise to learn from this experience and are working hard to ensure smooth transitions moving forward.
Best,
The ServiceNow Community Team
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