Fusion Update Process & FAQs
Here's a quick video overview of the Fusion update process.
InnoSoft releases free updates to Fusion about three times each year, which include new functionality and fixes. All Fusion updates involve an InnoSoft staff member applying the new Fusion version to the Fusion servers, which update the desktop application, the Fusion sites (primarily the Member Portal), and the Fusion database. The updated version of Fusion is then downloaded to each local install of Fusion the next time it is run via the desktop shortcut. We schedule these updates with the Rec facility staff, and IT staff when needed.
How long do updates take?
Depending on the size of the database, the number of version leaps taking place, and the power of the Fusion server, Fusion updates can take as little as 5 minutes, or as long as an hour (with campus-hosted attended access). The average is about 15 minutes. For daytime attended updates, we ask for an hour of time to be blocked out, but usually complete the update in less than 30 minutes.
Can I continue to use Fusion throughout the update?
No. Throughout the update, all staff must close out of the desktop Fusion app. Failure to close Fusion can result in error messages, until it is fully closed & reopened (prompting the desktop client to update itself). The Fusion workstations can remain powered on--they just can't have Fusion open during the update.
The Portal will go through a much shorter outage, usually a maximum of a few minutes.
Do I need to be present onsite for the update?
No. Unless your campus has particular IT needs (like requiring that admins update Fusion on shared accounts, or removing Fusion workstations from a 'deep freeze' during updates), no staff should need to be at the facilities during the update.
What do I do after the update is complete?
Once the update is complete, we will inform staff via the update ticket, and they can launch Fusion via the desktop shortcut. Fusion will then update itself (which usually only takes a couple of minutes to download the new files).
Avoid launching Fusion via a pinned icon on the taskbar, or from the Start menu. Unfortunately Microsoft ClickOnce technology doesn't play well with those shortcuts.
Unless Fusion is going through some major change (which would have been discussed in the update ticket), you should not need to uninstall and reinstall Fusion.
Do I need Administrator privileges to update Fusion?
Generally, no. Fusion is installed per-user on each workstation, and you normally don't need Admin permissions to install or update an application that only affects the currently-logged-in user.
What changes can I expect in the new version?
Each release of Fusion has new features, improvements, and fixes. You can see all of the Release Pages, and can access more verbose Release Notes if you have an InnoSoft Zendesk account. If you can't see the Release Notes page (and need to), you can ask your campus Fusion Champion to request that you receive Zendesk access in a new ticket to support@innosoft.ca.
How can I get an update to the newest version?
All clients can sign up for Fusion news (including new version releases) at this link. When a new version of Fusion is released, you can follow the steps in the newest Release Page to begin scheduling your update.
If your organization doesn't already have an open update ticket with InnoSoft, you can always submit a new email to updates@innosoft.ca and we will help you with the process.
We schedule both daytime and overnight updates using Calendly links, which are provided in the update ticket.
When can I get an update?
If InnoSoft staff have direct access to the Fusion servers, updates can be scheduled overnight from Sunday night through Wednesday night after 10pm Eastern. We ask that clients always select the earliest workable time, 10 minutes after the facilities close, because Fusion updates require manual steps by our installers. This allows our installers to get to sleep after the update.
We can also update you during the day, during business hours Eastern Time, if you prefer.
For clients who allow InnoSoft staff to remotely access their campus-hosted Fusion servers, we will need remote access open during the chosen update window.
For attended access clients (those with whom we have to screenshare to reach Fusion servers), we only offer the update during business hours Eastern Time, usually 10am to 4pm Eastern.
I've received the update in my Test environment. How do I change over to it?
To change between instances (Test or Prod) of Fusion, you must:
- Close Fusion fully (not just log out)
- Uninstall Fusion via Windows 'Programs and Features' - this does not usually require Admin privileges
- Visit your desired deployment URL (Test or Prod), and click to install Fusion from there. If you don't know your deployment URLs, we can provide them to you.
- Take these steps again when you want to change back to the other instance of Fusion
The install team is excited to get you the newest version of Fusion. If you have additional questions about Fusion updates, you can send them to updates@fusionfamily.com. If you have questions about Fusion generally, please send those to support@fusionfamily.com.