Installing the portal on Linux

Use these instructions to install the portal on Linux. 

Currently, a Linux installation must be linked to an Oracle database. No other database platforms are currently supported for Linux installations.

Communication protocols

BladeLogic Portal can support both HTTP and HTTPS communication. You choose a communication protocol during the installation process.

  • HTTP—If you select HTTP, an unsecure HTTP port is enabled. Communication with the BladeLogic Portal server is unencrypted.
  • HTTPS—If you select HTTPS, a secure HTTPS port is enabled. Communication with the BladeLogic Portal server is encrypted. A self-signed SSL certificate is created for BladeLogic Portal. When a user connects to the portal through a browser for the first time, the browser warns that the connection cannot be verified. Users can follow documented procedures for their browser to import the certificate or add an exception for BladeLogic Portal site. Alternatively, users can manually add a trusted certificate to the BladeLogic Portal, which eliminates the security warnings that browsers encounter when they first connect to the BladeLogic Portal server.

Before you begin

  • The installation must run on a 64-bit Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) operating system, version 6.0 or later.
  • Java RunTime Environment (JRE) 1.7 must be installed. Set the JAVA_HOME variable so its value is the location of the JRE.
  • A database must be set up so the installation program can connect to it. Currently, for Linux installations, the database must be running on Oracle. See Setting-up-an-Oracle-database. The database should reside on the same LAN as this installation of BladeLogic Portal. 
  • BMC Server Automation must be installed and its Application Server must be started. The Application Server should reside on the same LAN as this installation of BladeLogic Portal.
  • BMC Server Automation must be configured so web services are enabled. 
  • The server where you are installing BladeLogic Portal must be a clean machine with no other web services running that might conflict with the portal's default ports.

To install on Linux

  1. Copy the installation file, BLPortal11.LIN64.tar.gz, to an appropriate location on the computer where you are installing the portal. 
  2. Extract the contents of BLPortal11.LIN64.tar.gz. This extraction generates a file structure where the top level directory is named linux.
  3. Navigate to linux/BladeLogicPortal/Disk1. 
  4. Make sure you have permissions to execute the file BladeLogicPortal/Disk1/setup.bin. If necessary, run the following command to grant execute permission on the file: 

    chmod +x BladeLogicPortal/Disk1/setup.bin

  5. Launch the installation program by entering the following command:

    ./setup.bin

    The portal installer program opens.

    Note

    You cannot launch the installation program by entering a command such as:
    sh setup.bin.

  6. Click Next.
    The Review License Agreement window opens.
  7. To accept the license agreement, select I agree to the terms of the license agreement, and then click Next.
    The third party software window opens.
  8. Review the list of third party software used in BladeLogic Portal and click Next.
    The Installation Directory Selection window opens. 
  9. (Optional) To select a location other than the default, which is /opt/bmc/BladeLogicPortal, click Browse and choose a new location.
  10. Click Next.
    The BladeLogic Portal Configuration window opens.
  11. Select a communication protocol (HTTP or HTTPS) and provide the following values:
    • HTTPS Port—Listening port for HTTPS traffic. The default value is 8443. This option is available only if you selected a protocol of HTTPS.
    • HTTP Port—Listening port for HTTP traffic. The default value is 8080. This option is available only if you selected a protocol of HTTP.
    • Shutdown Port—Port for administrative access. The default value is 8005.
    • JVM Max Arg—Maximum heap size, in megabytes, to use for the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The default is 512 MB. 

    • JDK/JRE Path—Click Browse and navigate to the location of the Java RunTime Environment or Java Development Kit.

      Note

      The path cannot include spaces or any special characters.

  12. Click Next.
    The installer displays the Database Type Selection window.
  13. For Linux installations, always select Oracle, and then click Next.
    The BladeLogic Portal Database Information window opens. It provides a link to instructions for setting up the portal's database.
  14. When the database setup is complete, click Next.
    A window asks for database connection information. 
  15. Provide the following information for an Oracle database connection:
    • Host Name—Fully qualified name or IP address of the server that hosts the Oracle database.
    • Database Port—Port for communicating with the database. The default value is 1521.
    • Oracle SID or Oracle Service Name—Choose the type of Oracle environment you are accessing.
    • Oracle Instance ID—Identifier for the Oracle instance to which you are connecting.
    • User Name—Name of the schema owner.
    • User Password—Password for the schema owner.

    • Advanced Connection Settings—Only enabled if you selected Oracle Service Name above. To use advanced connection settings, check this option and enter a connection string. A connection strings can include multiple lines.

      Click here for an example of a connection strings.
      (DESCRIPTION =
           (
                 ADDRESS_LIST =
                                 (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)
                                     (HOST = bladerac1.calbro.com)
                                     (PORT = 1521))
                                 (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)
                                     (HOST = bladerac2.calbro.com)
                                     (PORT = 1521))
                                 (LOAD_BALANCE = yes)
           )
                
                (CONNECT_DATA = (SERVER = DEDICATED) (SERVICE_NAME = blee) )
           )

      For more information, see Oracle's documentation for connection strings.

  16. Click Next.
    The installer evaluates your entries and displays the BMC Server Automation Connection window.
  17. Provide the following information for your connection to BMC Server Automation:
    • Host Name—Fully qualified name or IP address of the server that hosts the BMC Server Automation Application Server.

    • Server Port—Web service communication port configured on the BMC Server Automation Application Server. Typically, the Application Server is configured to use 9843 for its web service communication port.

      Tip

      If you have access to the Application Server, run the following blasadmin command to show its web service communication port:

      show AppServer HttpsPortNumber
    • User Name—Name of the administrative user for BMC Server Automation. This user should have access to all system objects in BMC Server Automation. For this version of the portal, use BLAdmin.
    • Password—Password for the administrative user.
    • Role Name—Name of the administrative role for BMC Server Automation. For this version of the portal, use BLAdmins.
  18. Click Next.
    The installer displays an installation preview screen that describes what is about to be installed. 
  19. Click Install.
    Progress bars show installation activity until the Installation Summary window provides details about the installation.
  20. Click Done.

 

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