Step 1. Checking System Requirements

In this section:

Before beginning server installation, review the requirements in the following topics.


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Operating System Level and Patch Requirements

For current information about supported releases:

  1. Go to http://techsupport.informationbuilders.com.

    The Information Builders Technical Support home page opens.

  2. In the Quick Links section on the right side of the page, click Supported Systems/Adapters.

    The Supported Systems and Adapters page opens.

  3. Click the link for the server release you want.

    The Supported Systems and Adapters page for that release opens.

  4. Click the link for your platform.

    The support chart for that platform opens.

In general, the operating system should have the latest cumulative patch levels applied.

Confirm that your server installation software is labeled for your operating system level.

OpenVMS Release

CD Label

7.3-2 Alpha

OpenVMS V7.3-2 Alpha

8.3-1H1 IA64

OpenVMS 8.3-1H1 IA64 (Integrity)

Third-party TCP/IP packages from Process Software have also been tested in the past at the Multinet 4.4 and TCPWare 5.6 levels for basic connect and data retrieval, and are known to be operational and require no special configuration. If you have a problem using third-party TCP/IP products, be sure to specify the product, the release, and any installed patches when contacting Customer Support Services.

In OpenVMS 8.x, some DBMS vendors changed their products to use IEEE floating point for single (F) /double (D) float data, while others have retained use of G_FLOAT float point or depend upon the application itself. In order to support these varying float-type sources, OpenVMS 8.x servers use the SET VMSFLOATCONV = IEEE/G_FLOAT command to select the float type of the data, and it would be used in the server profile (edaprof.prf). Sites that use both IEEE and G_FLOAT data sources will need separate server configurations with the appropriate SET VMSFLOATCONV = IEEE/G_FLOAT command and a hub-sub configuration to allow the joining of data.

OpenVMS 8.x releases prior to the 7.7.02 server used separate builds type to read the different float types. As of 7.7.02, SET VMSFLOATCONV = IEEE/G-FLOAT is used. For configuration information, see Configuring for IEEE/G_FLOAT Float Data.


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JVM Requirements for Java Services

If JVM-based adapters, server-side graphics, XBRL, or user-written CALLJAVA applications are to be used, a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) JVM must be installed on the machine, and the server must be configured to use it.

As of 7.7.05 and 8.0.01 production releases, the minimum JVM release level is 1.6 or higher, due to required internal components of the server. The Java Listener will not start unless 1.6 (or higher) is in use. Prior 7.x releases would allow the listener to start with any release, and sub-components would fail if they required a higher Java Level. The primary reason for this change is that Java 1.5 (and prior releases) are past their End of Service Life (EOSL) dates, and, as such, are unsupportable, in addition to lacking newer functionality. The following URL has Java EOL and EOSL information:

http://java.sun.com/products/archive/eol.policy.html

Installing maintenance updates to the EDAHOME of an existing server running releases prior to production 7.7.05 will also have the requirement of moving up all dependent configurations to use Java 1.6 (as instructed in this section).

You may install a Java JRE or a Java SDK. When you install a Java SDK, the JRE component (where the JVM lives) is included, so either is allowed. If using servlet, the Java SDK is required for the jar command, so it is generally preferred over the Java JRE. The SDK or JRE build type must also match the 32-bit or 64-bit bit type of the server. If an appropriate JVM from a JRE or SDK is not found on the library path or using variables as described below, or is not the appropriate bit type, a Failed to find JVM message will be displayed. Debugging information will be written to the start log indicating a failed JSCOM3 service.

If JAVA* logicals are not active system-wide or are for Java 1.4 or 1.5, when we require 1.6, you must make the Java 1.6 logicals active by installing the desired Java SDK (from HP), and either at the system level or at the server level, execute the DCL initialization script that comes with the Java SDK (ie @SYS$COMMON:[JAVA$60.COM]JAVA$60_SETUP.COM or any system symbol that may have been set up for Java 1.6 activation). At the server level, this could be done by adding the Java initialization script to the server edaenv.com file in the EDACONF bin directory (create it if needed). As of the 7.7.x release, the edaenv.com file is pre-created (on new installs) with standard DCL to initialize the required Java level. Older installs upgraded to 7.7.05 may need the edaenv.cfg file adjusted to use Java 1.6.

The OpenVMS Java logical JAVA$CLASSPATH is not currently supported for adding classes to the JVM class path for customer-written CALLJAVA applications. To add classes, use the logical CLASSPATH using UNIX style conventions enclosed in quotes as described in OpenVMS Java documentation or use the Web Console to set the Java Listener IBI_CLASSPATH property.

If JVM-based adapter or features are not required, the message Failed to find JVM is normal and can be ignored.


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IP Port Number Requirements

The install process prompts for two IP port numbers: the TCP Listener and HTTP Listener. It also uses the next two consecutive ports after the supplied HTTP Listener port for FDS use. This results in a total of four IP ports.

The supplied IP port numbers must be above the IANA registered well-known reserve range (numbers under 1024) and not over the maximum legal number (65535). Additionally, do not use IP port numbers already being used by other applications or products. Netstat, or netstat like commands, should reveal what actual ports are in use.


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SMTP E-Mail Server Information (Optional)

The server has outbound email features using STMP protocols. To use these features, the TCP/IP host name (or number) and port number for an accessible SMTP server must be configured (the default port number is 25). The installation process allows this information to be set at installation time, but it may also be added (or changed) afterward using the Web Console. To change it from the Web Console, select Workspace from the main menu, and then select E-Mail SMTP Server from the ribbon.

If the defaults are not taken at the prompt for directories and port numbers, an additional prompt for the SMTP Server host name occurs. If an SMTP Server host name is supplied, the process will then prompt for the SMTP Server port number and inputs for default email sender address (the from address for users reading an email from the server if none was specified in the originating application) and the server administrator email address (address to send administrative warnings to, such as an agent crash).



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Browser Requirements

The Web Console server requires one of the following web browsers:

The Opera™ browser does not support RIA (Rich Internet Application), the default appearance mode of the 7.7.x Web Console. Opera 5.0 or higher seems to operate properly in HTML mode, and the Web Console detects this and switches to this mode automatically. Since HTML mode is less extensively tested, Opera is considered unofficially supported at this time. Please report any issues you find to customer service.


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Disk Space Requirements

The following are approximate disk space requirements. Specific sizes may vary slightly according to the options that were selected during configuration. The usage numbers do not include space for actual applications, databases, sort space, output preparation, or logs.

Platform

Version

After Install

OpenVMS for Alpha

7.3-2

1,090,000 blocks

OpenVMS for IA64 (Integrity)

8.3-1H1

1,100,000 blocks



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Memory Requirements

Memory usage in a configured environment is determined by the following factors:

Actual memory usage varies depending on the features used by the application, and will increase or decrease as agents change between active and idle states.


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Workspace Manager Shared Memory Resources Requirements

The Workspace Manager makes use of a specific system resource known as shared memory. Each individually configured server, with or without adapters, uses one shared memory. The size of this memory varies based upon the sizes of the agents table and the queue.

Generally, shared memory use does not require special configuration. It is just a resource that system administrators like to know is being used so they can monitor it with the SHOW MEMORY/POOLED command (non-paged section).


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Communications Requirements

You need four TCP/IP ports for each server instance that you configure. Three of these ports must be consecutive. You specify these port numbers during installation. You may require additional ports depending on which options you configure later.


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User ID Requirements

When installing and using the server, you need two types of operating system user IDs:


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