Check compatibility with earlier versions

It is recommended that you install the Version 8.2 OLAP server component with Version 8.2 client products. Client products include the Spreadsheet Add-in for Excel, the Runtime Client, and the Integration Services Console. The Version 8.2 server also works with the Spreadsheet Add-in for 1-2-3 from Version 8.1, Fix Pack 4 (Essbase 6.5.5.3) or later.

There are limitations when you mix different versions of clients and servers in the same environment:

Newer clients with older servers
Using a client that is newer than the server is not recommended or supported.
Older clients with newer servers
Clients at the V8.1 Fix pack 2 or higher level can work with V8.2 servers. Clients earlier than V8.1 Fix Pack 2 might work with the Version 8.2 server, although with feature limitations.

Depending on the service level of an older client, it might not be able to connect with a newer server. Additionally, the newer server might issue messages that are incorrect in the context of the older client.

V8.1 clients can connect only to V8.2 non-Unicode applications.

One client with many servers
If you need to connect a client to several OLAP servers on different machines or operating systems, it is recommended that you make them all the same version and service level. Your client should at least be at the same as the lowest level server. If you experience problems, you might need to use different client machines to match up with the appropriate host, or upgrade all clients and servers to the same service level.
Different versions of clients on the same client system
If you install more than one client component on the same computer, such as Spreadsheet Add-in and Runtime Client, make sure that all of the components are on the same release level. Version 8.1 clients share.dll files that may not work with earlier client components.

Do not install V8.1 clients on the same computer as V8.2 clients.

IBM components with Hyperion components
IBM does not support mixing OLAP clients and servers from IBM with OLAP clients and servers from Hyperion Solutions. There are some differences in feature mixes, levels, and some issues in licensing that may cause problems, even though mixing IBM with Hyperion products might appear to work in some situations.
DB2 OLAP Integration Server
DB2 OLAP Integration Server V8.2 is backward compatible with DB2 OLAP Server V8.1, Fix Pack 3 or higher. However, to use the V8.2 Hybrid Analysis features or Unicode, you must connect to DB2 OLAP Server V8.2.
Application Manager from V8.1 (Essbase 6.5.x)
You must install it on a different computer from the computer on which DB2 OLAP Server 8.2 is installed.
Application Manager V8.1 limitations
DB2 OLAP Server Application Manager V8.1 cannot edit non-Unicode V8.2 rules files. Additionally, Application Manager V8.1 does not work with aggregate storage.
Spreadsheet Add-in for Excel, any version earlier than V8.2 (Essbase Analytic Services 7.1)
If you use Spreadsheet Add-in for Excel from a release prior to V8.2, it must be installed on a different computer than the computer on which DB2 OLAP Server V8.2 (Analytic Server from Essbase 7.1) is installed.
Supported API versions
Programs compiled with DB2 OLAP Server V8.2 Application Programming Interface do not work with DB2 OLAP Server V8.1. Additionally, DB2 OLAP Server API programs compiled with header files from a specific release must use the libraries from the same release.