Important! Before upgrading from 7.1 to 8.1, verify that the version of your signature files is v30.7.3576 or newer. If your signature file is an earlier version, you must download the latest signature files before you begin the upgrade.
After verifying the version of your signature files, install the 8.1 ITM Server on top of the 7.1 Admin Server. There is no need to modify the contents of the 7.1 database prior to or after installing r8.1. The installation wizard will detect the existing 7.1 product and prompt you to save your current settings.
Note: In general, it is always good practice to make a back-up copy of your database prior to performing an upgrade; however, do not attempt to import a copy of your 7.1 database into r8.1. The 7.1 database will not work with r8.1 as there have been changes to the database.