Add or remove an index column with or without re-crawling

The Microsoft FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint Cumulative Update for December 2011 introduces a new procedure that enables you to add or remove an index column with minimal search downtime.

You can download the hotfix at the following KB Article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2597067

The FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint Cumulative Update for December 2011 (or newer) must be installed to use the new procedure, the standard procedure is simpler but has significantly longer downtime associated with it.

This whitepaper provides information about how to use the new procedure and supporting tools.

Installing a software update to FAST Search Server is done using the following procedure, in this example below I am using the method for a “single server deployment”

You can verify the successful installation of a software update by checking the “Installed Updates” shown here:

The screenshot above shows that I have installed the February 2012 hotfix located here at KB 2597131. The February 2012 hotfix includes the December 2011 hotfix, there is also a more recent hotfix which was released just this past April 2012 here at KB 2598329.

Remember to use either of these methods to Install a software Update:

• Single Server Deployment
• Multiple Server Deployment

depending on the deployment of your FAST Search Server to apply the hotfix.