Success Story:
Future-Proofing STARLIMS (Windows Server 2025, SQL Server 2022, .NET 8)

Success Story: Future-Proofing STARLIMS Through a Complete Infrastructure & Version Upgrade

1) The Ask

A major organization requested Lightetech Consulting to perform a full modernization of their STARLIMS environment, which had not been upgraded in more than a decade. The goal was to:

  • Upgrade the operating system, database engine, and .NET framework to the newest stable releases

  • Migrate from the outdated XFD-based STARLIMS version to STARLIMS 12.2

  • Eliminate security vulnerabilities caused by legacy software

  • Ensure long-term maintainability, compliance, and supportability

  • Overcome vendor installation tool limitations that previously caused failures

The client wanted a future-proof, secure, and high-performance LIMS environment—without operational disruption.

2) The Challenges

This project presented multiple technical and operational complexities:

Outdated Infrastructure (10+ Years Old)

The entire stack—OS, SQL, .NET, and STARLIMS runtime—had remained untouched for over a decade, creating mounting security concerns and operational instability.

Legacy XFD STARLIMS Version

Upgrading from the XFD version required navigating a significant architectural change, including compatibility adjustments and custom component restructuring.

Vendor Installation Tool Failure

The manufacturer-provided installer failed repeatedly, preventing a standard deployment path. Many teams would halt the project here due to lack of custom tooling or internal technical depth.

High Security Requirements

Security teams had been struggling to maintain the outdated system, pushing for a complete modernization to meet current cybersecurity standards.

Risk of Data or Environment Breakage

Jumping across multiple generations of OS, SQL, and STARLIMS versions introduced risk of configuration failures, broken components, and deployment instability.

3) The Solution

Lightetech Consulting designed and executed a complete modernization strategy using the latest technologies available today:

New Infrastructure Installed

  • Windows Server 2025

  • SQL Server 2022

  • .NET 8.0.21

  • Latest STARLIMS 12.2 and latest runtime

Custom Installation Tools

Because the vendor installation tool failed, Lightetech used its proprietary internal installation and validation tools, enabling a full, error-free deployment.

Deep STARLIMS Expertise

Our team leveraged more than a decade of hands-on STARLIMS implementation knowledge to fine-tune:

  • System configuration

  • Service dependencies

  • Database connections

  • Runtime components

  • Custom modules & XFD migration

  • Security hardening

Future-Proof Architecture

The final configuration ensures:

  • Long-term security

  • Maximum compatibility

  • Vendor supportability

  • Modern feature availability

  • Smooth upgrade pathways

4) What Happened After

The result was a fully modernized, fully functional, fully secure STARLIMS ecosystem, with:

  • Zero downtime for the business

  • Successful migration off XFD

  • No installation errors thanks to our custom tools

  • Satisfied security teams relieved of maintaining decade-old software

  • Improved performance, stability, and scalability

  • A platform ready for future upgrades, patches, and expansions

The client now has a future-proof STARLIMS platform running on the newest OS, newest SQL Server, newest .NET framework, and newest STARLIMS runtime—something very few teams can deliver safely.

5) Risks of Choosing Someone With Lesser Experience

Selecting an inexperienced team for a STARLIMS upgrade of this scale can lead to severe consequences:

  • Installation failures due to vendor tool limitations

  • Data corruption or data loss

  • Broken workflows, modules, or custom components

  • Security vulnerabilities if outdated software remains in use

  • Extended downtime or full system outages

  • Inability to recover from failed upgrades

  • Costly remediation or rollback efforts

Many standard IT teams — and even many STARLIMS integrators — lack the deep technical knowledge needed to navigate complex version leaps, runtime migrations, and cross-stack modernization.

6) Why Choose Lightetech Consulting

Lightetech is uniquely qualified for complex STARLIMS upgrades because:

We Build Our Own Installation Tools

When vendor tools fail, we don’t stop — we have internal technology to complete the job.

10+ Years of Deep STARLIMS Expertise

We understand the inner workings of STARLIMS, not just surface-level configurations.

Proven Success With Major Version Gaps

Upgrading 10-year-old systems is extremely rare—yet we have successfully delivered it.

Zero Downtime Track Record

Our processes avoid interruptions to laboratory operations.

Security-First Approach

We help organizations eliminate outdated components that create risk.

Future-Proof Implementations

We deploy using the newest OS, SQL, .NET, and STARLIMS versions to maximize longevity.

With Lightetech, organizations get a highly experienced, technically capable, and future-oriented STARLIMS partner.

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