SmartIQ runs on the Microsoft .Net platform and as the Microsoft platform evolved, so did SmartIQ versions which shifted to each new technology Micrososft has offered. Because of this, as well as to reduce security risk, instances of SmartIQ which run on .Net Core will need to be upgraded to a version on a supported Microsoft .Net version.

For example, SmartIQ v16 runs on Microsoft .Net 6, which is supported by Microsoft through to November 2024.

SmartIQ v15 LTS

As good practice in reducing security risk, Smart Communications has developed and released a version of SmartIQ v15 which runs on Microsoft .Net 6 named IQ15 LTS (Long Term Support). This is because SmartIQ version 15 runs on Microsoft .Net Core 3.1 and the official support period of three (3) years for Microsoft .Net Core 3.1 expires on December 2022. For more information, refer to the Microsoft .Net Support Policy.

The following are additional upgrade considerations to be reviewed along with the general upgrade guidence within this documentation.

1. For these considerations to be accurate, the version of IQ15 must have LTS in the version number. For example, if the system is running IQ15.11 then the upgrade version must be IQ15.11 LTS.
2. The upgrade for IQ15 to IQ15 LTS includes a change to the Microsoft .Net platform support. IQ15 runs on .Net Core 3.1, IQ15 LTS runs on .Net 6. The .Net 6 ASP Core Runtime, Hosting Bundle needs to be installed for the system to run. This can be installed side by side with .Net 3.1 hosting bundle. In Azure Web App Service the platform, the .Net Version needs to be incremented to .Net 6 before the system will run.
3. There are no new System Requirements for Clients.
4. If the version matches as per #1 then there will be no database differences. This meanst that the databases are backwards compatible between IQ15 and IQ15LTS. If the versions do not match as per #1, then roll back the available database if there are issues.
5. As per #1 and #4. If the version has been matched and database backwards compatibility is maintained then a sandbox environment can be upgraded on a separate cadence to production and project compatibility will be maintained. For example, projects from Production will run in Sandbox and projects from Sandbox will run in Production.
6. Structure of Extensions is the same between IQ15 and IQ15 LTS, binaries only need to be updated which are provided with the release. No new extensions are to be added during upgrade, just updates to existing extensions. For example, a service extension (like SharePoint) remains a service, a dll extension remains a dll extension (like Salesforce).
7. Custom extensions will need to be replatformed to Microsoft .Net 6.