Manually Configuring Apache Tomcat

In this section:

Note: If you chose the option for the WebFOCUS installation to install Tomcat, you can skip this chapter. Tomcat will be configured as a Tomcat stand-alone configuration.

This section explains how to install and configure Apache Tomcat.

Tomcat can be used as both a web server and application server where all processing is done by Tomcat. This is referred to as a Tomcat stand-alone configuration.

Steps are the following:

  1. If it is not installed, install Tomcat 7.x.
  2. Set environment variables and create contexts to deploy WebFOCUS web applications, as explained in Deploying WebFOCUS Web Applications With Tomcat.
  3. Verify the configuration, as explained in Verifying the WebFOCUS Configuration With Apache Tomcat.

Top of page

x
Preparing Tomcat for WebFOCUS Configuration

How to:

To prepare Tomcat for WebFOCUS, you need to choose how to create WebFOCUS graphics and add the ReportCaster JDBC driver.



x
Procedure: How to Configure Tomcat for WebFOCUS Graphics

To generate and display certain graphics, WebFOCUS Servlets either need access to an X Server or they can use the Java VM headless option. You can set either by editing the setenv.sh file.



x
Procedure: How to Set the Tomcat CLASSPATH

To set the Tomcat CLASSPATH:

  1. Open the following file in a text editor:
    /tomcat_home/bin/setenv.sh
  2. Add the following line to the end of the file:
    export CLASSPATH="$CLASSPATH":/QIBM/ProdData/HTTP/Public/jt400/lib/jt400.jar 

    If your jt400.jar file is in a different location, substitute the correct location in the CLASSPATH setting.

  3. Save your changes.

Top of page

x
Deploying WebFOCUS Web Applications With Tomcat

How to:

Reference:

Configuring Tomcat mainly requires telling Tomcat where WebFOCUS files are located and the context roots in which to use them. For example, you must tell Tomcat to serve files from the WebFOCUS web application:

/install_directory/ibi/WebFOCUS80/webapps/webfocus

When it receives a request for the WebFOCUS context root:

http://TomcatHost:tomcatHTTPport/ibi_apps

By creating this context, you deploy the WebFOCUS web application.



x
Procedure: How to Create Contexts

There are several ways to create contexts:

This procedure explains how to create contexts using the web-based tools. When you create a context for a web application, the web application is deployed.

  1. Start Tomcat.
    /tomcat_folder/bin/catalina.sh start
  2. Open the Tomcat administration page:
    http://tomcat_host:tomcat_port
  3. Click the Manager App link.

    You may need to log on based on settings in:

    /tomcat_folder/conf/tomcat-users.xml
  4. In the Deploy section, install the three WebFOCUS applications:

    Context Path: /ibi_apps

    WAR or Directory URL:

    /installation_directory/ibi/webfocus80/webapps/webfocus.war

    Context Path:/ibi_help

    WAR or Directory URL:

    /installation_directory/ibi/webfocus80/webapps/ibi_help.war

    Context Path:/approot

    WAR or Directory URL:

    /installation_directory/ibi/webfocus80/webapps/approot.war
  5. Click Deploy after adding each context path.

    Note: This process may take some time to complete.



x
Procedure: How to Test the Tomcat Configuration

After deploying the WebFOCUS web applications, you can test them in a browser as follows:

  1. Test the WebFOCUS web application by going to the following URL in a browser:
    http://TomcatHost:TomcatHTTPport/ibi_apps

    A WebFOCUS 8 welcome page is displayed.

    If the page fails to load, restart Tomcat, and ensure it can compile JSP files. In some environments, the very first time a JSP file is compiled you might receive an error.

  2. If you are using Tomcat as both web and application server, proceed to Verifying the WebFOCUS Configuration With Apache Tomcat.


x
Reference: Reloading Web Applications

This is not a consideration if you just installed WebFOCUS for the first time, but you should be aware of it for when you install a service pack or new release. When you upgrade WebFOCUS or install a service pack, Tomcat must use the new web applications rather than cached copies of the old version.


Top of page

x
Verifying the WebFOCUS Configuration With Apache Tomcat

How to:

After finishing the configuration, run test calls to verify operability.



x
Procedure: How to Verify the WebFOCUS Configuration
  1. Restart the following:
    • WebFOCUS Reporting Server
    • IBM WebSphere Application Server
  2. Enter the following URL in your browser:
    http://hostname:port/ibi_apps/

    where:

    hostname:port

    Are the host name and port of the web server. However, if you use an application server only configuration, then these are the host name and HTTP port of the application server. For Tomcat standalone configurations, the default port is 8080. If you require SSL, use https instead of http.

    The WebFOCUS Sign In page opens, as shown in the following image.

  3. Sign in as an administrator. The default user name and password is admin and admin.

    The WebFOCUS Business Intelligence Portal Welcome page opens in your web browser. Your Welcome page may have different folders displayed.

  4. Click Administration in the top pane, and then select Administration Console, as shown in the following image.

    The WebFOCUS Administration Console opens.

  5. Expand Diagnostics, Verification, and then WebFOCUS Reporting Server, as shown in the following image.

    The following page opens, which lists your WebFOCUS Reporting Server instance if it is available.

  6. Click Test Existing Procedure.

    If your WebFOCUS Reporting Server is running with Security enabled (ON), then you are prompted for WebFOCUS Reporting Server credentials, as shown in the following image.

    If you receive an error, ensure that your WebFOCUS Reporting Server is running and that valid credentials are used.

    The Run a Stored Procedure page opens, as shown in the following image.

  7. Click Run to execute the test procedure.

    A procedure is normally launched using the WebFOCUS Servlet and a sample report should display. You can also call the servlet directly to run a specific procedure, such as carinst.fex. For example:

    http://host:port/ibi_apps/WFServlet?IBIF_ex=carinst

Be aware that you may need to increase your Java memory settings if you are using InfoAssist. For more information, see Java Memory Issues.


WebFOCUS