Managing SyteLine Dev, Test, and Production Environments
A properly managed multi-environment SyteLine landscape—development, test, and production—is the foundation of safe change management. Each environment serves a distinct purpose: development for building and configuring changes, test for validation and user acceptance, and production for live operations. The challenge is keeping environments synchronized enough for meaningful testing while isolated enough to prevent development activities from contaminating production data or configurations.
Environment Architecture and Configuration
Each SyteLine environment requires its own SQL Server database instance (or at minimum separate databases), IIS web application, and utility server configuration. The SyteLine Configuration Utility (SLConfigUtil.exe) on each utility server defines the database connection, application server settings, and runtime parameters specific to that environment. The development environment typically runs on shared or lower-spec hardware, the test environment mirrors production specifications for performance-relevant testing, and production runs on fully redundant infrastructure. Environment-specific settings—email server addresses, integration endpoints, report distribution lists—must be configured independently to prevent test activities from triggering production integrations.
- Configure each environment with a separate SyteLine database, IIS site, and utility server instance using SLConfigUtil.exe
- Set environment-specific parameters in SyteLine Parameters form: email server, integration URLs, and external system endpoints
- Disable outbound integrations (EDI, email, ION events) in dev and test environments to prevent accidental production side effects
- Use distinct SQL Server instances or named instances per environment to prevent cross-environment query access
- Label each environment clearly in the SyteLine banner or login screen using the Configuration form's environment name field
Database Refresh and Data Masking
Test environments need realistic data to provide meaningful validation, which means periodically refreshing the test database from production. The refresh process involves backing up the production database, restoring it to the test SQL Server instance, and then running post-refresh scripts to update environment-specific settings—connection strings, email addresses, integration endpoints, and any sensitive data that should be masked. Data masking is essential if test environments are accessible to developers or consultants who should not see production customer names, pricing, or employee data. Build a post-refresh script library that automates these sanitization steps to ensure consistency and prevent accidental exposure.
- Schedule quarterly database refreshes from production to test using SQL Server BACKUP and RESTORE WITH REPLACE
- Build a post-refresh script that updates SyteLine Parameters: email SMTP to test server, integration URLs to test endpoints
- Mask sensitive data after refresh: randomize customer names, scramble pricing, anonymize employee records using UPDATE scripts
- Reset all user passwords in the refreshed environment and disable production service accounts to prevent cross-environment access
- Document the complete refresh procedure as a runbook with pre-checks, execution steps, post-refresh validation, and estimated duration
Change Promotion Workflow
Changes developed and tested in lower environments must be promoted to production through a controlled workflow. SyteLine changes fall into several categories: form customizations (exported as XML), IDO metadata changes (exported via the IDO export utility), database schema changes (SQL scripts), report modifications (Crystal or SSRS files), and configuration parameter changes. Each category has its own promotion mechanism and risk profile. The promotion workflow should include a change request with description and testing evidence, peer review, approval from a change advisory board or manager, scheduled deployment window, and post-deployment validation checklist.
- Export form customizations using the SyteLine Form Export utility as XML files for promotion between environments
- Promote IDO metadata changes using the IDO Export/Import utility, validating property mappings after import in the target environment
- Script all database schema changes (ALTER TABLE, CREATE INDEX, stored procedures) for repeatable execution across environments
- Use a version-controlled change log that tracks every change promoted to production with date, author, description, and rollback plan
- Implement a change approval workflow requiring test evidence, peer review sign-off, and scheduled maintenance window for production deployment
Need better environment management for SyteLine? Netray's AI agents automate database refreshes, change promotion, and environment synchronization—book a demo.
Related Resources
SyteLine Database Backup and Recovery Strategy Guide
Plan database backup and disaster recovery for Infor SyteLine SQL Server environments. Configure full, differential, and transaction log backup strategies.
Infor SyteLineSyteLine Patch Management and Hotfix Process Guide
Manage patches and hotfixes for Infor SyteLine with testing, deployment, and rollback procedures. Structured approach to keeping CloudSuite Industrial current.
Infor SyteLineSyteLine Automated Testing Framework Guide
Build an automated regression testing framework for Infor SyteLine using IDO-based test scripts, UI automation, and database validation for reliable ERP testing.