Initial BI 4 CMS install

[former_member294032]

I'm confused how to start my initial BOE 4.1 SP4 install.
This is a brand new install.
I have two empty databases on a a MS SQLserver (one for CMS, one for Audit).
These are Windows 2008 R2 servers.

I will be having a cluster where:
Server1 Web Tier
Server2 CMS and FRS related services
Server3 Second CMS and FRS related services
Server4 Crystal related job server services
Server5 Second Crystal related job server services
Server6 WebI related job server services

My question is how do I get my initial CMS database created?
I can't just do a Web Tier install on Server1 because it will be looking for an existing CMS.
I don't want to do a full install on Server2 because I won't be running the Web Tier components from there.
Do I perform a full install on Server1 and then disable the non-Web Tier components afterward?

It's been a while since I've done a brand new install with the intention of clustering.

Thanks.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi,

To simplify things:

The server numbering that has been done might be the reason of confusion.

Move Server1 to Server6 order, and bump up the rest so that CMS tier 1 is Server1!

-----------------------------------

1. A CMS repository is created when a CMS installation is performed.

- Therefore, install your CMS tiers first.

- Ensure the FRS is configured.

- You should be able to login to CMC, Launchpad, etc (if you also plan to install a Tomcat on atleast 1 of these).

This is your CORE installation.

You can now install the rest of the tiers atop this.

2. Install the processing tiers.

- This can be done in a parallel fashion.

- These installations (custom, no CMS) require atleast 1 CMS installed to a repository.

- You can use the primary CMS in the cluster during installation to register them to the CMS database.

3. Install the Web Tier (these are pretty much independent as the CMS db plays no role here).

---------------------------------

- This should be the basic approach.

- Testing at each phase will allow you to ensure that part of the installation is working fine.

- Then move on to the next phase.

- If you have any additional customization such as SSO, 3rd party authentication, web app customizing, etc. This should be done once the platform is successfully tested.

Hope this simplifies the skeleton plan for the installation.

-Sid

[former_member294032]

Thanks for all of your help.  I seem to be on my way now.  I ended up installing all but Crystal and WebI components on my CMS1 server, then only Crystal and the necessary data access components on my JOB1 server and then the Web Tier on my Web/App server (disabling Tomcat in the CCM on CMS1 server).  I was able to get into the CMC and do my FRS config and was able to hit Launch Pad.  I'll install my CMS2 server today and cluster it as well as my other job servers.

Thanks again for your help.

[amitrathi239]

Hi

For this landscape first you need to create CMS and Audit database on SQL Server.Then you need to create the System DSN for CMS and Audit database on server 2 and 3.

You need to start with server 2 and select the custom/expand installation.Select the core services and uncheck the web components & webi and crystal services depend on the installation requirement from this server.

There is no need to perform full installation on server1 and disable the services.

Once installation will complete on server 2 then start with server 3 and select the custom /expand installation and you will get the option in the installation to select option "Expand an existing SAP BusinessObjects BI platform deployment".

Once server 2 and 3 installation will complete then  you can install web tier or crystal services on different box.

If you have specific questions then let me know.

Amit

[former_member294032]

Amit,

I already have an empty database for a CMS and one for my Audit database (none of them initialized as nothing as touched them yet).  I also already have created the System DSN entries on my servers.  I realize that I'll be doing a "custom/expand" install on most of my servers (as I've done in the past) in order to get my cluster together.  However, it has always been my impression that a full install would need to be done somewhere first in order to initialize the databases to be used for the CMS and Audit.  Is this not the case?  Can I actually start with my Server 2 and de-select Web Tier and have that successfully initialize my empty databases for CMS and Audit?  If so, then yes, I could move to Server 3 next and perform an "expand" installation thus creating my cluster (and then move on to working on Server 1).  Please let me know.  I've always thought I need to do a full install first in order to get that initial CMS database initialized.  Thanks for your help.

[amitrathi239]

Hi,

Start with Server 2 and deselect the web tier components.There is no need to  go for full installation on server 2.Once you will complete the custom installation on server 2 then you will see tables in CMS and Audit databases.For your landscape you need to select the custom/expand installation on each server.

CMC and BI launchpad will not be accessible until you install the web tier but same time you can see number of BO servers in the CCM for each node.

Amit

[Former Member]

These step-by-step pattern books may be good start:

System landscape overview - Business Intelligence (BusinessObjects) - SCN Wiki

Configuring and installing BI platform on server 1

[former_member294032]

Thanks for the two links.  I was looking at the "Configuring and installing BI platform on server 1" eariler today.  I still am not sure if it answers my question.  I'll look at it again and see.  I just now glanced at the "System landsacpe overview..." link and I haven't seen it before.  It looks pretty good and I'll be checking it out more in depth.

Thanks.

[CdnConnection]

George,

    You would need to do a CUSTOM install of Server2 &/or Server3, prior to installing Web Tier server. You need a working CMS before creating cluster?

Why so many servers ?   How many users are looking to support?

Did you know that each CMS can support up 700 concurrent users.

Why not install Tomcat7 on both server2 & server3 and have server1 configured as HTTP cluster.

Currently you have single point of failure with Server1.

Regards,

Ajay

[former_member294032]

I believe that I need to establish a CMS database before I start adding other servers and clustering them.  If I can do a custom install on one of my CMS servers without adding the Web Tier components and initializing a brand new CMS, then I'll be ok.  I just not sure that I can do that.

As I'm sure you know, there are many different variables to consider when setting up a new system in relation to a company's specific environment.  The server layout should be fine (and yes, I do realize the single point of failure by having one Application server - I hope to address that later).  Our desired configuration was run by some SAP techs and they felt that in general the number of servers and the services running on them were ok.

Thanks for the input.

[CdnConnection]

George,

     If the install is so complex, why is it NOT being done by a certificated SAP Tech?

Regards,

Ajay

[former_member294032]

It's not a partiularly complex install. I could just do a full install on my Application server, get my CMS initilized, create a cluster and add new servers to it and then disable the non-Web Tier coponents on my Application server.  I've been a BO sys admin since WebI 3.1 or 3.2 (back in the late 90's) and am fully capable of handling this deployment.   I just can't see if I can initialize a brand new CMS repository without doing a full install on one server.

[former_member294032]

Correction: WebI 2.6.2 in late 90's not 3.1.

[CdnConnection]

By the way XI 3.0 was NOT released to users until Aug 2008.  Late 90's would mean you a BOBJ  5.x / 6.x Classic admin and things have changed massively since old days BO REPO.

Regards,

Ajay

[Former Member]

I guess I was still in high school at that time

To your actual question, don't think you can deploy a new CMS repository without doing Full/ Custom install.

[former_member294032]

Please read my post before yours.  I corrected myself.  I've installed 2.62 and a couple of XIR3.  Not interested in going around and around with you.  I know my capabilities and I'll have a few questions along the way (as has been with every deployment I've ever done).  That's what forums are for - getting some answers when you have a question - not being told to run to a certified SAP tech to hold my hand when I really don't need it.  I appreciate it if you're trying to help, but I'm just looking for a simple answer.

Thanks.

[former_member294032]

That's always been my impression.  I'm going to give this thread a few more hours and see if any other suggestions turn up.  Thanks again for your help.