Cognos 8 Business Intelligence Server Installation

[dtasso]

Hello everyone,

I have just installed for the first time on a server the Cognos 8 Business Intelligence Server. I have made all necessary changes on the Cognos Configuration as well as on IIS.
I have a server with Windows 2003 Server, IIS and SQL Server ( all installation are on the same pc).

When I am trying to access the http://localhost/cognos8  I get the following error
"
The page cannot be found
The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.
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Please try the following:

Make sure that the Web site address displayed in the address bar of your browser is spelled and formatted correctly.
If you reached this page by clicking a link, contact the Web site administrator to alert them that the link is incorrectly formatted.
Click the Back button to try another link.
HTTP Error 404 - File or directory not found.
Internet Information Services (IIS)

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Technical Information (for support personnel)

Go to Microsoft Product Support Services and perform a title search for the words HTTP and 404.
Open IIS Help, which is accessible in IIS Manager (inetmgr), and search for topics titled Web Site Setup, Common Administrative Tasks, and About Custom Error Messages. 
"

All tests on Cognos Configuration were succesful
But I don't know what I have to change on IIS to browse correctly the welcome page.
I delete and create again the virtual dierectories but I still get the same message.

It would be very helpful if someone had any idea.

Thanks for helping !!!!

[SomeClown]

What are the names of the virtual directories in IIS?  I've done this when I wasn't paying attention and installed the Series 7 way and called the virtual directory cognos, when it should be cognos8

[dtasso]

I have 2 virtual directories, one called cognos8 and the other cgi-bin....

So, I think something else should be the problem

[kommireddy]

Hi,

Just to reconfirm,

1.cognos8 virtual directory should be point to <c8 location>/webcontent folder, Permission: Read

2.cgi-bin should point to <c8 location>/cgi-bin folder, permissions: Read and Execute

3. As you said if OS is windows 2003, IIS version will be 6.0, you need to create a Webservice Extension under IIS which points to <c8 location>/cgi-bin/cognos.cgi if you are using CGI in Gateway URI or <c8 location>/cgi-bin/cognosisapi.dll if you are using ISAPI filter in Gateway URI in cognos configuration.

4. Just to be a precaution, reset the IIS after creating the virtual directories with iisreset commad.

5. Be sure that IIS is running on default port 80, if not you need to give the port number while you access the URL, for ex: http://<server name>:200/cognos8

Let me know if it helps.

[larsonr]

Just to clarify, you are typing in the address from the browser on the server? otherwise any other machine on your network should be hitting http://servername/cognos8

Another thing to think about since you are using IIS-- navigate to the cognos8 virtual directory.  You will see index.html and default.html.  There is a url in these files that point to the default pages.  By default I believe it is pointing to cognos.cgi?&startwelcome=yes or something close to that.  Change the cognos.cgi to cognosisapi.dll  in both files.  Also you will see in that same directory a folder called isapi.  Do the same thing there. 

Last piece, make sure that your cognos8 virtual  directory can find index.html.  Right click your Virtual Directory, click properties, and then click the tab with available home pages.  Make sure index.html is an available page.  By Default IIS does not include index.html, instead its index.htm.  Just click the add button and add index.html and you should be fine from that point.

[dtasso]

Hello ,

I' ve read all the replies and here are my settings:
1.cognos8 virtual directory should be point to <c8 location>/webcontent folder, Permission: Read

2.cgi-bin should point to <c8 location>/cgi-bin folder, permissions: Read and Execute

3. IIs version 6.0 with default port 80

4. I added the index.html in the virtual directory cognos 8

5. I also made a Webservice Extension under IIS as you told me to do but nothing change.

So when I am typing http://localhost/cognos8 from the server I am getting the message that I wrote the first time an when  I am typing http://servername/cognos8  from a machine now I am getting the following message:

The page cannot be displayed
There is a problem with the page you are trying to reach and it cannot be displayed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please try the following:

Open the server home page, and then look for links to the information you want.
Click the  Refresh button, or try again later.

Click  Search to look for information on the Internet.
You can also see a list of related sites.

HTTP 500 - Internal server error
Internet Explorer 


Thank all very much for your help...
If you have any other idea it would be really helpful as i have run out of ideas.....

[larsonr]

I don't think it will matter but cgi-bin only needs execute priveleges.  Just a piece to think about. 

I've gone through 8, 8.1 MR1, and I'm finally upgrading to 8.2 this week.  We're using the same set up of IIS, so this is still fresh in my mind.

If I have time tonight, I wouldn't mind requesting some more details on the installation that may help you out.

[CogDT]

I have 2 virtual directories, one called cognos8 and the other cgi-bin....

Just to confirm this...you should have ONE virtual directory called cognos8 under your default website.  Then you right-click that directory and create the cgi-bin virtual directory BENEATH the cognos8 virtual directory.  I've seen this mistake made in the past.

Secondly, a comment of the web service extensions.  If you're using cognos.cgi, just verify that CGI applications aren't 'prohibited.'

Creating an application pool for the cgi-bin is also worth a try.  Can you right-click & 'browse' the cognos8 virtual directory?

[dtasso]

Thank you all for the support !!!

I finally manage to make the portal work ! The error was in frond of  my eyes but I could not see it !!!
I had create the cgi-bin virtual directory in the same level as the cognos 8 in IIS.
Today I realised that simply cgi-bin should be under the cognos8.

Sorry for the  discomfort but it was the first time I was using IIS and installing Cognos 8!!!

I'll try to be more careful next time...
Thank you all again....

[MikeD]

Also - Allow the cgi / isapi / asp Web Server Extensions for IIS6 !

I hit the same problem and tried everything in these postings and it was only when I completed the above that it all worked - thanx for the rest of the info though!!!