Backward compatibility requirements for Security Center - Security Center 5.12.0.0 is backward-compatible with many Security Center components from the three previous major versions. A server or workstation that is three major versions behind can connect to the 5.12.0.0 Directory, but one that is four major versions behind cannot. - Security Center 5.12.0.0 - Compatibility matrices - Installation guides

Security Center Installation and Upgrade Guide 5.12.0.0

Product
Security Center
Content type
Guides > Installation guides
Version
5.12
Release
5.12.0.0
ft:locale
en-US
Last updated
2024-06-27

Security Center 5.12.0.0 is backward-compatible with many Security Center components from the three previous major versions. A server or workstation that is three major versions behind can connect to the 5.12.0.0 Directory, but one that is four major versions behind cannot.

To retain backward compatibility when upgrading your system in stages, no part of Security Center can be more than three major versions apart. For systems that are four to six major versions behind, upgrade in two steps to maintain backward compatibility.
IMPORTANT: Adding backward-compatible connections slows down the performance of the Directory. It is only recommended as a temporary solution before you can upgrade all servers and workstations.
IMPORTANT: For client workstations, backward compatibility applies only to Security Desk. Config Tool is not backward-compatible because it must be of the same version as the Directory.
Backward compatibility in Security Center has the following requirements:
Upgrading to the latest version
When upgrading, you must always upgrade the main server that hosts the Directory role and Config Tool. Always upgrade expansion servers that host non-backward-compatible roles.
Using new features
To use the new features introduced in version 5.12.0.0, upgrade your Security Center servers.
Role assigned to multiple servers
If a role is assigned to multiple servers, such as in a failover configuration, all of its servers must run the same version of Security Center.
Directory assigned to multiple servers
All Directory servers must use the same version, meaning that all four digits of their version numbers must be the same. For example, if you upgrade to Security Center 5.12.0.0, you must upgrade all Directory servers to 5.12.0.0.

For information on enabling and disabling backward compatibility, see Enabling backward compatibility and Disabling backward compatibility on the TechDoc Hub.

Backward compatibility between Security Center roles

Each new version of Security Center includes new role features that might be incompatible with earlier versions. The Security Center roles that are backward-compatible are outlined in the following table.
IMPORTANT: All expansion servers that host a non-backward-compatible role must be upgraded to the same version as the main server hosting the Directory.
5.12 role Backward-compatible with 5.9, 5.10, and 5.11
Yes No
Access Manager ✓  
Active Directory ✓  
ALPR Manager

Formerly LPR Manager (5.9.2.0 and earlier)

✓  
Archiver ✓  
Authentication Service (OpenID & SAML2)   ✓
Authentication Service (WS-Federation)

Formerly Active Directory Federation Services

  ✓
Authentication Service (WS-Trust)

Formerly Active Directory Federation Services

  ✓
Auxiliary Archiver ✓  
Camera Integrity Monitor (hidden) ✓  
Cloud Playback ✓ (5.10.0.0 and later)  
Directory Manager   ✓
Global Cardholder Synchronizer (GCS)   ✓
Health Monitor   ✓
Intrusion Manager ✓  
Map Manager ✓  
Media Gateway ✓  
Media Router   ✓
Mobile Credential Manager ✓ (5.10.0.0 and later)  
Mobile Server ✓  
Plugin (all instances) See Supported plugins in Security Center.
Point of Sale   ✓
Privacy Protector™ (hidden) ✓  
Record Caching Service ✓ (5.10.0.0 and later)  
Record Fusion Service ✓ (5.10.0.0 and later)  
Report Manager ✓  
Reverse Tunnel ✓  
Reverse Tunnel Server ✓  
Security Center Federation™ ✓  
Unit Assistant ✓ (5.10.1.0 and later)1  
Wearable Camera Manager   ✓
Web App Server2

Formerly Web Server (5.11.1 to 5.11.x)

  ✓
Web Client Server3

Formerly Web Server (5.11.x and earlier)

  ✓
Web-based SDK ✓  
Zone Manager ✓  

1 Unit Assistant is only backward-compatible for the unit password management feature. The unit certificate management feature has only been introduced in 5.11.0.0.

2 Starting from 5.12.0, the Web App Server role replaces the Web Server role as the back-end component of Genetec™ Web App. For more information, see About Genetec Web App on the TechDoc Hub.

3 Starting from 5.12.0, the Web Client Server role replaces the Web Server role as the back-end component of Security Center Web Client. For more information, see About Security Center Web Client on the TechDoc Hub. If you are upgrading from 5.11.x or earlier, the name used in the earlier version is preserved. If you are installing 5.12 from scratch and need the Web Client, you must create the Web Client Server role manually.

Backward compatibility with Security Center tasks

The Security Center 5.12 tasks that are backward-compatible with Security Desk 5.9, 5.10 and 5.11 are summarized in the following table:

Task category Task type Backward-compatible with Security Desk 5.9, 5.10, and 5.11
Yes No
Operation Monitoring (live and playback video) ✓  
Maps ✓  
Dashboards ✓  
Health dashboard ✓
Remote   ✓
Cardholder management ✓  
Credential management ✓  
Visitor management ✓  
People counting ✓  
Hotlist and permit editor ✓  
Inventory management ✓  
Mustering ✓
Alarm management Alarm monitoring ✓  
Alarm report ✓  
Investigation Genetec Clearance™ activities See Supported plugins in Security Center.
Incidents ✓  
Transactions   ✓
Zone activities ✓  
Investigation > Access control Area activities ✓  
Door activities ✓  
Cardholder activities ✓  
Visitor activities ✓  
Area presence ✓  
Time and attendance ✓  
Credential activities ✓  
Credential request history ✓  
Elevator activities ✓  
Visit details ✓  
Investigation > Asset management Asset activities   ✓
Asset inventory   ✓
Investigation > ALPR Hits ✓  
Hits (Mutli-region) ✓  
Reads ✓  
Reads (Mutli-region) ✓  
Patroller tracking ✓  
Inventory report ✓  
Daily usage per Patroller ✓  
Logons per Patroller ✓  
Reads/hits per day ✓  
Reads/hits per zone ✓  
Zone occupancy ✓  
Parking sessions ✓  
Parking zone activities ✓  
Investigation > Intrusion detection Intrusion detection area activities ✓  
Investigation > Record fusion Unified report1 ✓ (5.10.0.0 and later)
Investigation > Video Archives ✓  
Bookmarks ✓  
Camera events ✓  
Motion search ✓  
Video file explorer ✓  
Forensic search ✓  
Security video analytics ✓  
Maintenance System status ✓  
Audit trails ✓  
Activity trails ✓  
Health history ✓  
Health statistics ✓  
Hardware inventory ✓  
Maintenance > Access control Access control health history ✓  
Access control unit events ✓  
Cardholder access rights ✓  
Enhanced cardholder access rights ✓  
Door troubleshooter ✓  
Access rule configuration ✓  
Cardholder configuration ✓  
Credential configuration ✓  
I/O configuration ✓  
Maintenance > Intrusion detection Intrusion detection unit events ✓  
Maintenance > Video Camera configuration ✓  
Archiver events ✓  
Archiver statistics ✓  
Archive storage details ✓  
Wearable camera evidence ✓  

1 Used to be called Records in Security Center 5.11.1.0 and earlier.