Transition guide from Blue 8 to 9 - IT administrators

Introduction

Last updated on: 2025-05-14

If you are planning to upgrade from Blue 8 to Blue 9, this document, intended for IT administrators will guide you through the changes you can expect. In this document, we will cover important things you should know before upgrading and what has changed in Blue 9:

Your organization's IT is responsible for:

• Whitelisting IP addresses
• Sharing SMTP credentials with Explorance
• Reconfiguring SSO profiles with Explorance
• Redirecting old vanity URLs to new vanity URLs redirects if using a custom domain

Upgrade checklist

What is the process of updating to Blue 9?

Because Blue 9 is built on a brand-new technological infrastructure, there are important changes to be aware of before updating such as new URLs, data field requirements, SSO configurations, and more. Familiarize yourself with the changes in the list below before scheduling your update with Explorance Customer Support.

Important things to consider before upgrading:

• New Blue 9 spaces - Blue 9 brings an exciting change as the traditional Blue 8 homepage and admin console have transformed into four distinct spaces, each designed to streamline related options into one convenient place. As Blue 9 is a brand-new platform, it introduces entirely new links to access these distinct spaces, offering our customers a fresh and more intuitive experience. With these UI improvements, you gain not only enhanced navigation but also increased convenience, making your interactions with the platform more efficient. There are unique URLs for the following:
  • Blue home - The main landing page that serves as a central homepage for all users to access Blue.
  • Blue administration - The old Blue 8 landing page has been renamed to Blue administration and will be exclusively for project managers and administrators to configure projects and report settings in Blue 9.
  • System administration - A new area where administrators are able to set up SSO profiles and modify system settings.
  • Home administration - A new page that administrators can use to modify what information is available on Blue home.
• SSO configuration - With a brand new platform for authenticating users, it's important to note that Single Sign-On (SSO) profiles will require reconfiguration. To ensure a smooth transition, please ensure that you have all the necessary information ready for the Explorance Customer Support Team before the upgrade.
• Email SMTP configuration - The email distribution system has been updated in Blue 9. This will require communicating SMTP credentials to Explorance, whitelisting several IP addresses, and potentially other items that may require the assistance of someone from IT. The following IP addresses should be whitelisted for Explorance authentication emails: 149.72.25.119 and 149.72.25.163.
• APIs and DST - APIs and the Data Sync Tool (DST) will need to point to a new URL that is the Blue Core endpoint All data blocks must be removed and recreated in the DST.

• URL changes that require action - The necessary actions for URL changes between Blue 8 and 9 differ depending on whether your organization uses standard URLs or custom domains. Custom domains, also referred to as branded or vanity domains, will continue to be supported in Blue 9. Please consult the section below for further instructions.

URL changes that require action

The necessary actions for URL changes between Blue 8 and 9 differ depending on whether you use standard URLs or custom domains.

Standard URL A standard URL refers to the default domain provided by Explorance. It typically comprises a standard format and is assigned to users automatically without any additional configuration or customization.

Custom domain A custom domain, also known as a branded domain or vanity domain, is a URL that customers configure to replace the standard URL provided by Explorance. This personalized domain allows businesses to establish a unique online presence and often involves an additional cost for the customization service.

During the upgrade, your Explorance Customer Support representative will be able to confirm the domain name for the URLs above.

Upgrade FAQ's

If I have three user datasources in Blue 8 for example, will I need to combine them all into one user datasource before upgrading to Blue 9?

No, you don't need to. There is no requirement to reduce the number of datasources in Blue 9, as long as the data in all user datasources are valid. See the table above for examples of valid and invalid data.

What if Blue 8 is installed on-premises?

We are completing the analysis process so that customers can continue to use Blue on-premises with release 9. For questions and additional details, please reach out to your Explorance Account Manager.

Is the upgrade from Blue 8 to 9 done on Explorance's side?

Yes, the Explorance Support team will take care of the upgrade process. However, they will need to reconfigure the SSO and SMTP settings together with your IT team.

Do I need to make changes to my APIs?

Yes, the URL will be different (example format: my-[orgname]-bc.bluera.com).*

Do I need to make changes to the Data Sync Tool (DST)?

Yes, the URL will be different (example format: my-[orgname]-bc.bluera.com).* As a consequence of changing the URL, all data blocks will need to be removed from the data sync tool and added again as if they were new.

Which features are no longer available in Blue 9?

As part of the enhanced security, authentication and compliance updates included in this upgrade, certain features have been removed.

The following features are now managed by Explorance:

• Email SMTP settings for SMTP server, SMTP Server Port, username, and password
• DKIM configuration
• XML settings