DashboardException (BI Server 8.3)

[markryan]

Hi all,

I posted this topic in the Cognos Connection thread, but I wondered if this wasn't the better place for the question?

I can remove the other one?


I'm having an odd issue since yesterday.  We were setup with the 8.1.2 tool set and I had documented and tested the server setup for that version.  Yesterday we installed BI Server 8.3 on a server, and I followed my own instructions from the past.  Everything seemed to go perfectly fine until I tried to launch Cognos Administration.  I get the following error and can't find much info on it's cause anywhere.

Any thoughts?


DashboardException

PF-SRV-6116 Unable to process the document, target is not valid or the target was not received.

com.cognos.portal.fragment.server.DashboardException: PF-SRV-6116 Unable to process the document, target is not valid or the target was not received.
   at com.cognos.portal.fragment.service.ServiceEnvironment.getLocalTargetStream(ServiceEnvironment.java:253)
   at com.cognos.portal.fragment.Environment.getTargetStream(Environment.java:581)
   at com.cognos.portal.fragment.service.ServiceEnvironment.createValidationDocument(ServiceEnvironment.java:658)
   at com.cognos.portal.fragment.Environment.getValidationDocument(Environment.java:250)
   at com.cognos.portal.fragment.service.ServiceEnvironment.verify(ServiceEnvironment.java:605)
   at com.cognos.portal.fragment.service.ServiceEnvironment.verify(ServiceEnvironment.java:600)
   at com.cognos.portal.fragment.server.DashboardProcessor.process(DashboardProcessor.java:167)
   at com.cognos.portal.fragment.service.DashboardService.invokeImpl(DashboardService.java:287)
   at com.cognos.pogo.pdk.BasicHandler.invoke(BasicHandler.java:252)
   at com.cognos.pogo.handlers.logic.ChainHandler.invokeImpl(ChainHandler.java:73)
   at com.cognos.pogo.pdk.BasicHandler.invoke(BasicHandler.java:252)
   at com.cognos.p2plb.clerver.LoadBalanceHandler.rawForwardToSelf(LoadBalanceHandler.java:648)
   at com.cognos.p2plb.clerver.LoadBalanceHandler.forwardToSelf(LoadBalanceHandler.java:614)
   at com.cognos.p2plb.clerver.LoadBalanceHandler.invokeImpl(LoadBalanceHandler.java:382)
   at com.cognos.pogo.pdk.BasicHandler.invoke(BasicHandler.java:252)
   at com.cognos.pogo.handlers.logic.ChainHandler.invokeImpl(ChainHandler.java:73)
   at com.cognos.pogo.pdk.BasicHandler.invoke(BasicHandler.java:252)
   at com.cognos.pogo.handlers.engine.ServiceLookupHandler.invokeImpl(ServiceLookupHandler.java:116)
   at com.cognos.pogo.pdk.BasicHandler.invoke(BasicHandler.java:252)
   at com.cognos.pogo.handlers.logic.ChainHandler.invokeImpl(ChainHandler.java:73)
   at com.cognos.pogo.pdk.BasicHandler.invoke(BasicHandler.java:252)
   at com.cognos.pogo.handlers.performance.PerformanceIndicationHandler.invokeImpl(PerformanceIndicationHandler.java:143)
   at com.cognos.pogo.pdk.BasicHandler.invoke(BasicHandler.java:252)
   at com.cognos.pogo.impl.PogoEngineImpl.service(PogoEngineImpl.java:133)
   at com.cognos.pogo.transport.PogoServlet.processRequest(PogoServlet.java:249)
   at com.cognos.pogo.transport.PogoServlet.doGet(PogoServlet.java:546)
   at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:740)
   at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:853)
   at com.cognos.pogo.isolation.ServletWrapper.service(ServletWrapper.java:291)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:247)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:193)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapperValve.invoke(StandardWrapperValve.java:256)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardPipeline$StandardPipelineValveContext.invokeNext(StandardPipeline.java:643)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardPipeline.invoke(StandardPipeline.java:480)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.invoke(ContainerBase.java:995)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContextValve.invoke(StandardContextValve.java:191)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardPipeline$StandardPipelineValveContext.invokeNext(StandardPipeline.java:643)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardPipeline.invoke(StandardPipeline.java:480)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.invoke(ContainerBase.java:995)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext.invoke(StandardContext.java:2416)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHostValve.invoke(StandardHostValve.java:180)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardPipeline$StandardPipelineValveContext.invokeNext(StandardPipeline.java:643)
   at org.apache.catalina.valves.ErrorDispatcherValve.invoke(ErrorDispatcherValve.java:171)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardPipeline$StandardPipelineValveContext.invokeNext(StandardPipeline.java:641)
   at org.apache.catalina.valves.ErrorReportValve.invoke(ErrorReportValve.java:172)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardPipeline$StandardPipelineValveContext.invokeNext(StandardPipeline.java:641)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardPipeline.invoke(StandardPipeline.java:480)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.invoke(ContainerBase.java:995)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngineValve.invoke(StandardEngineValve.java:174)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardPipeline$StandardPipelineValveContext.invokeNext(StandardPipeline.java:643)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardPipeline.invoke(StandardPipeline.java:480)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.invoke(ContainerBase.java:995)
   at org.apache.coyote.tomcat4.CoyoteAdapter.service(CoyoteAdapter.java:223)
   at org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11Processor.process(Http11Processor.java:601)
   at org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11Protocol$Http11ConnectionHandler.processConnection(Http11Protocol.java:392)
   at org.apache.tomcat.util.net.TcpWorkerThread.runIt(PoolTcpEndpoint.java:565)
   at org.apache.tomcat.util.threads.ThreadPool$ControlRunnable.run(ThreadPool.java:619)
   at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)

[markryan]

After consulting with a Cognos Support person, I was forwarded an email with a solution to this problem.  Seems that the way we had found for setting up IIS for ISAPI extension mappings was ok for 8.1.2, but not for 8.3.  This may or may not be due to the introduction of AJAX in 8.3, but I was told by support that AJAX was one of the major differences between the two versions.

So basically, if this happens to you, follow the approach bellow:

-Recreate the cgi-bin virtual directory again allowing for permissions to run both scripts and executables.

- Follow the instructions in KB#1026572.5 to create the ISAPI extension mapping:
1. From the Windows Control Panel open Administrative Tools, and then Internet Information Services Manager.

2. In the left pane of the IIS Manager window, expand your local computer directory.

3. Right-click Web Service Extensions, and then select Add a new Web service extension.

4. In the Extension name box, enter some descriptive name, for example "cognos isapi"

5. In the Required Files box, enter the file: for ReportNet use installation_location\crn\cgi-bin\cognosisapi.dll.

6. Set the Set extension status to Allowed and then click OK.

7. Right click on the server node --> All Tasks --> Save Configuration.  (If you don't, the extension will likely be removed once you restart IIS.)

8. Stop and Start the IIS services.

Repeat the process for each ISAPI or cgi extension that applies in your installation.