Website doesn't start after installation

[RudiHendrix]

Today I installed Cognos 11 Analytics on my development machine. I used the manual that we have available for Cognos BI 10. So far so good... in the last step of configuring IIS and the website something goes wrong.
I want to use cognosisapi.dll

At some point in our manual we have a note:

The Default.htm file in D:\Prog\COG\webcontent however points to the   
CGI interface. Therefore the default.htm file needs to be changed.     
Create a copy of the current Default.htm file. Change the following line
window.setTimeout("window.location.replace('cgi-bin/cognos.cgi?         
b_action=xts.run&m=portal/main.xts&startwel=yes')",5);                 
to                                                                     
window.setTimeout("window.location.replace('cgi-bin/cognosisapi.       
dll?     b_action=xts.run&m=portal/main.xts&startwel=yes')",5);

But the default.htm doesn't hold that content. Next to that the website doesn't start at all.

Now I did find: http://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/data/cognos/documentation/docs/en/11.0.0/inst_cr_winux.pdf Which is nice, but I really don't know where to look!

[MFGF]

Today I installed Cognos 11 Analytics on my development machine. I used the manual that we have available for Cognos BI 10. So far so good... in the last step of configuring IIS and the website something goes wrong.
I want to use cognosisapi.dll

At some point in our manual we have a note:But the default.htm doesn't hold that content. Next to that the website doesn't start at all.

Now I did find: http://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/data/cognos/documentation/docs/en/11.0.0/inst_cr_winux.pdf Which is nice, but I really don't know where to look!

Hi,

Setting up IIS for Cognos Analytics is a very different process than setting up IIS for Cognos 10. Don't follow the Cognos 10 install guide instructions. Take a look at the below technote:

http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21976614

Cheers!

MF.

[RudiHendrix]

Hi MF!

As a matter of fact the guy from Cognos support stated exactly the same :) It's good, that I am first doing this on my development machine :)

I just found the website you're pointing to as well.

In Cognos 10 the website was setup as 32 bit (even on a 64 bit server), so my first question is if I need to download ARR in 32 bit or 64 bit.

Thanks again for your prompt response!

[MFGF]

Hi MF!

As a matter of fact the guy from Cognos support stated exactly the same :) It's good, that I am first doing this on my development machine :)

I just found the website you're pointing to as well.

In Cognos 10 the website was setup as 32 bit (even on a 64 bit server), so my first question is if I need to download ARR in 32 bit or 64 bit.

Thanks again for your prompt response!

Hi,

I used to configure my Application Pool to allow 32-bit apps for earlier versions of Cognos 10, but not for a long time - mine were configured as 64-bit. Anyhow, as I said before, ignore everything you did for Cognos 10. If you are running your gateway / web server on a 64-bit machine, get the 64-bit ARR.

One important question... Is there a specific reason you need to use a web server? Are you implementing single signon? If not, it's far easier to use the servlet gateway, as no setup is required for this...

Cheers!

MF.

[RudiHendrix]

Hi,

I used to configure my Application Pool to allow 32-bit apps for earlier versions of Cognos 10, but not for a long time - mine were configured as 64-bit. Anyhow, as I said before, ignore everything you did for Cognos 10. If you are running your gateway / web server on a 64-bit machine, get the 64-bit ARR.

Yes, I did ticked that box as well to allow for 32 bit. That doesn't mean it will run as 32 bit; just it has the possibility to do so. (At least I hope so)
I have downloaded the 64 bit ARR
In the manual online I see a lot that still looks like the Cognos 10 installation :) But I do see a lot of differences as well.

One important question... Is there a specific reason you need to use a web server? Are you implementing single signon? If not, it's far easier to use the servlet gateway, as no setup is required for this...

Cheers!

MF.

Err.... I do see there are two options for installation. One with IIS and ARR Extension configuration and another with IIS and ARR with Cognos Analytics Server gateway configuration. Are you talking about the latter one?
We have a web server machine that I think should be setup as a web server...right?

[MFGF]

Yes, I did ticked that box as well to allow for 32 bit. That doesn't mean it will run as 32 bit; just it has the possibility to do so. (At least I hope so)
I have downloaded the 64 bit ARR
In the manual online I see a lot that still looks like the Cognos 10 installation :) But I do see a lot of differences as well.Err.... I do see there are two options for installation. One with IIS and ARR Extension configuration and another with IIS and ARR with Cognos Analytics Server gateway configuration. Are you talking about the latter one?
We have a web server machine that I think should be setup as a web server...right?

Hi,

No - with the servlet gateway you don't need a web server at all. Having installed and configured Cognos Analytics, just enter http://<your CA server hostname or IP>:9300/bi/

Cheers!

MF.

[RudiHendrix]

The good people from IBM just gave me a call. I will try and do the IIS part again.

As I understand it if I hadn't start fiddling around with the IIS it would have worked as a servlet gateway out of the box :) Shoot!

[MFGF]

The good people from IBM just gave me a call. I will try and do the IIS part again.

As I understand it if I hadn't start fiddling around with the IIS it would have worked as a servlet gateway out of the box :) Shoot!

Have you tried it? The servlet gateway is on port 9300, but the web server gateway is often port 80. I don't see why you couldn't use both?

MF.

[RudiHendrix]

Just tried it and it doesn't work. I guess I have messed up too much by following some of the Cognos 10 instructions.
For example I have already configured Handler Mappings.

Going to http://localhost:9300/bi/ returns a "This page can't be displayed".

For now I will first check the documentation. As soon as I start with the server (this is my personal development machine, running the same Windows version as the server) I have complete clean and empty machine. I will do that one from scratch

[RudiHendrix]

Ok, I uninstalled the whole bunch and installed it again this time choosing "Easy install". The good news is: It's working! However this is not the way i want to install it on the server of the client. This uses an Informix content store db, CA proprietary user management and Apache web server. I want to use Active Directory, IIS and an Oracle db for the content store.

I think that will work on the server if I follow the manual. Would you guys think it is possible to connect the new CA to the old Cognos 10 content store?

[MFGF]

Ok, I uninstalled the whole bunch and installed it again this time choosing "Easy install". The good news is: It's working! However this is not the way i want to install it on the server of the client. This uses an Informix content store db, CA proprietary user management and Apache web server. I want to use Active Directory, IIS and an Oracle db for the content store.

I think that will work on the server if I follow the manual. Would you guys think it is possible to connect the new CA to the old Cognos 10 content store?

Hi,

You need to do a Custom install to use your own content store. You can install the Gateway component too if you wish, but if you're not using a web server there's little point?

You can re-use your old content store database if you wish, although it will not be available for use by your old C10 instance after that as it gets upgraded.

Cheers!

MF.

[RudiHendrix]

Hi,

You need to do a Custom install to use your own content store. You can install the Gateway component too if you wish, but if you're not using a web server there's little point?

Err... because I want it to run using IIS just as my client is used to. I'm pretty sure if I follow the manual that will become clear.

You can re-use your old content store database if you wish, although it will not be available for use by your old C10 instance after that as it gets upgraded.

Cheers!

MF.

Hmmm... that is interesting to keep in mind. I'll ask the DBA to create a backup of the content store.

Will the same go for the packages created in Framework Manager? As I understood it is possible to open a Cognos 10 framework in Cognos 11 Framework Manager. I'm pretty sure I will manage to publish it to my newly created Cognos installation. But if I export that package and move it to a Cognos 10 server and import it there....will it still work?

[MFGF]

Err... because I want it to run using IIS just as my client is used to. I'm pretty sure if I follow the manual that will become clear.
Hmmm... that is interesting to keep in mind. I'll ask the DBA to create a backup of the content store.

Sorry, I thought you were planning to use the servlet gateway? If you want to use IIS you will need to install the gateway component and configure IIS using the C11 process.

Will the same go for the packages created in Framework Manager? As I understood it is possible to open a Cognos 10 framework in Cognos 11 Framework Manager. I'm pretty sure I will manage to publish it to my newly created Cognos installation. But if I export that package and move it to a Cognos 10 server and import it there....will it still work?

You can open FM 10 projects in FM 11, but they will get upgraded and will no longer be accessible from FM 10.

You can't publish packages from FM 11 to Cognos 10. Neither can you deploy content from Cognos 11 to Cognos 10. 10 to 11 is fine, but any Cognos 11 content will not be accessible in Cognos 10.

Cheers!

MF.

[RudiHendrix]

Thanks for clarifying that! This one is going to be put in the fridge for a while.

The client wasn't too sure about the possibility to quickly fix Production issues if we are fiddling with the development environment, so we will setup a new D, A and P server alongside the current  Cognos 10 servers.