Installing CAREWare 6 alongside CAREWare 5

Jennifer Eggerton

Sep 25, 2026

1583

Purpose	Explain how CAREWare 6 can be installed on the same server as CAREWare 5.
Who should do this	CAREWare system administrators and other IT staff.
Use this guide when you need to	Run CAREWare 5 and CAREWare 6 on the same server at the same time.
Main warning	Installing two business tiers on one PC or server is not generally recommended because it can cause confusion and make upgrades difficult.

Quick tip
Install the CAREWare 6 services and a second SQL Server instance, configure the database, set a unique queue prefix, and verify the services.

Important: Use a separate CAREWare 6 database instance and unique EURNGeneratorQueuePrefix value. The NULL default value is acceptable for only one database.

Installing CAREWare 6 Alongside CAREWare 5

The directions for upgrading CAREWare from CAREWare 5 to CAREWare 6, here, recommend uninstalling CAREWare 5 and closing port 8124. However, CAREWare 5 and CAREWare 6 can be installed on the same server at the same time.

Here is a diagram of the CAREWare 5 architecture.

Here is a diagram of the CAREWare 6 architecture.

Note: The installation of two business tiers on a single PC or server is not generally recommended because it can lead to confusion about which installation is in use and difficulty upgrading each business tier.

Install CAREWare 6 on a CAREWare 5 Server

1. Download the CAREWare Business Tier and HTTP Server here.

2. Run the CAREWare Business Tier and CAREWare HTTP Server installation files listed under the build number.

3. Install a second SQL Server database instance for CAREWare 6 using the SQL Server Setup here.

4. Create the CAREWare database by running the queries here on the CAREWare instance that was created. If there isn't a clean database backup for the organization, users can contact the CAREWare Help Desk and request a clean backup file to use for creating the database.

5. Configure the database connection string; follow the instructions here.
Note: In this case, the server name is CWHD1 and the database instance name is CAREWare6. The password is for the login cwbt in the CAREWare database. The default password is CWtemp100%.

6. Once the database connection string is complete, save the file.
Note: Make sure the file is saved as an XML file and replaces the original file.

7. Enter unique values for the EURNGeneratorQueuePrefix for each of the CAREWare databases in Common Storage Settings. The NULL default value is okay for one of them.

8. Connect to the CAREWare database instance using SQL Server Management Studio.

9. Expand Databases.

10. Expand CW_Data.

11. Expand Tables.

12. Right-click cw_common_storage.

13. Click Edit Top 200 Rows.

14. Scroll to EURNGeneratorQueuePrefix.

15.

Enter a unique value in cmm_st_text for EURNGeneratorQueuePrefix (this can be any value: a, b, z, cw5, cw6, etc.).

16. Click any field to save.

17. Verify the CAREWare Business Tier Service and CAREWare HTTP Services are running in Services. If the services are not started, start the CAREWare Business Tier Service first, and then start the CAREWare HTTP Service.

18. Install Message Queuing by following the instructions here.

19. Open a browser and enter the URL http://localhost:8080/rs/index.htm to log in.

How to Confirm It Worked

CAREWare 5 continues to operate on port 8124 and connects to the CAREWare database identified in CW Admin. CAREWare 6 connects on port 8000 and to the CAREWare database identified in CW Admin.

CAREWare 6 includes options for setting a unique URL and additional security features by using the HTTP Server Setup. Click here for instructions for the HTTP Server Setup.

Related References

Document	Use it for
Upgrading CAREWare 6	Review the standard upgrade process.
CAREWare 5 Application Architecture	View the CAREWare 5 architecture diagram.
CAREWare 6 Application Architecture	View the CAREWare 6 architecture diagram.
CAREWare Production Builds	Download the Business Tier and HTTP Server installers.
Installing and Maintaining SQL Server	Set up the second SQL Server instance.
Create Database Queries	Create the CAREWare database.
Database Connection String	Configure the CAREWare 6 database connection.
Windows Services	Open and manage Windows services.
Turn On Message Queuing	Install Message Queuing in a 64-bit environment.
CAREWare 6 HTTP Server Setup	Configure a unique URL and additional security.

Attachments