Lesson Learned installing BusinessObjects XI 3.1 on Windows 2008 servers

[Former Member]

There are still companies installing the 3.1 version of BusinessObjects on a new 2008 64-bit servers even thou I am aware a lot of new installations are focused on 4.1 as I am writing this blog.

In this blog I will try to consolidate every situation I faced with this installation in one place.

BusinessObejcts XI 3.1 is a 32-bit application and Windows 2008 servers are usually 64-bit servers. It is true you can install a 32-bit version of a Windows 2008 server, because of some other application requiring a 64-bit O/S, you might not always able to install BusinessObjects on a 32-bit version of Windows server.

1. Install the 32-bit version of Oracle client (if you use Oracle as middleware) on the server.
2. Install BusinessObjects on a different folder than the Program Files(X86) folder. Create a different folder on the drive you are allowed to install called BusinessObjects. Ex: C:/BusinessObjects. The root of your BusinessObjects install should not be in the Program Files (x86) folder.
3. Once BusinessObjects is installed, if you want to use .NET Infoview, you need to enabled the appPool in IIS 7 to work with 32 bit applications.
   • Click run on the server
   • Type inetmgr
   • On the connections side of IIS Manager, expand the node. You should see Application Pools.
   • Click on Application Pools
   • Right click on each application Pools on the right panel and select "Advanced Settings..."
   • In the (General) frame, set "Enable 32-bit Applications" to True.
4. In .NET Infoview, the Webi applet may generate an error message like "Java Report Panel can not connect to the server (WIJ20002)"
   To make it work, follow these simple steps:
   • Click run on the server
   • Type inetmgr
   • Click on the node in the left panel, it should bring you to the home panel.
   • Click on the icon "Handler Mappings".
   • Under Actions, click Add Module Mapping...
   • In Request Path type .wis
   • Select IsapiModule from the drop down box under Module.
   • As executable path add the path of cdzISAOI.dll. example: "C:/BusinessObjects/BusinessObjects Enterprise 12.0\win32_x86\cdzISAPI.dll"