Experience is that ability which allows to recognize when we have made the same mistake again.
In addition to all the recommended tasks and preparations for a server upgrade, I have decided to add one more. As part of my standard procedure, immediately after the installation, I plan to start Domino once from an icon (NOT as a service). That way I will have a console and will see the dialog box which pops up saying, “Do You Want To Upgrade Your Address Book?” Otherwise, the server stops and just waits … indefinitely. For those of us running servers away in a data center which we never see or touch, the lack of an actual console can be a problem. Depending on what remote control software you use to access your servers, you may or may not have a way to see the console waiting for input. This can result in an extended, hair-pulling wait while nothing happens.
HTH