Installation Concepts
For Noetix Platform to work successfully, it must be installed correctly. This guide will introduce you to the concepts and procedures that you need to know to install all the components of Noetix Platform successfully.
Before beginning the installation process, you must read the release notes and system requirements for the current version of Noetix Platform.
For more information regarding the components of Noetix Platform and how they interact with each other, see the Noetix Platform Administrator Guide.
Noetix Platform Environments
When setting up your Noetix Platform environments (development, test, and production), you can choose to install all software components for an environment either on one computer or on multiple computers. For many customers, a one-computer installation will be satisfactory for all environments. However, some customers may require multiple computers, especially for their test and production environments.
Your business goals, data volume, number of users, and technical requirements, among other factors, will determine the number of computers required for each environment. insightsoftwareSupportcan help you with a capacity planning exercise to determine what configuration will work best—currently, and as your business changes and grows.
insigihtsoftwarerecommends three environments for Noetix Platform, development, test and production. Having separate, well-defined environments for development, test, and production will help you manage software version upgrades and related issues with minimal impact to your production environment.
Development Environment
All your development work can be done at the development environment. The development environment can be set up on a single computer that houses all prerequisite and Noetix Platform software components. With the limited number of users actively using this environment, a single computer should meet your resource requirements.
Test Environment
The test environment gives you a proper environment to perform upgrades and apply service packs, patches, and hot fixes; without impacting production. The hardware in the test environment should parallel the specifications for the production environment in the number of computers, their physical layout, and purpose. However, these computers do not need to be as robust as their production counterparts. The Noetix Platform software should be located and configured to run the same way as production. If a problem is encountered in the test environment, it can be fixed prior to making changes to the production environment.
Production Environment
The production hardware specifications should be derived from a capacity planning exercise with insightsoftwareSupport, with a consideration given to the planned user base within 12 months after implementation. This planning exercise will result in a recommendation of one or more computers, which is further discussed later in this chapter.
Multi-Computer Installation
A Noetix Platform installation includes one or more computers. insigihtsoftwarerecommends that you adopt one of the four typical installation scenarios. The recommended installation scenarios range from a basic one-computer installation to a more complex four-computer installation. These scenarios can serve as a starting point in understanding the software and hardware requirements for your Noetix Platform environments.
The four computers in the typical installation scenarios are the following:
Noetix QueryServer (NQS) computer
Noetix WebQuery (NWQ) computer
Microsoft SQL Server (SQL Server) computer
Noetix Cache Maintenance Server (CMS) computer
For detailed information about the recommended five typical installation scenarios, see Typical Installation Scenarios.
NQS Computer
This is the primary computer in any Noetix Platform environment. The Noetix QueryServer service, the driving force behind Noetix Platform, must be installed on this computer. The NQS computer usually serves as the sole computer in a development environment or in a smaller production environment.
At a minimum, the following software must be installed on the NQS computer:
Prerequisite software: Windows Server operating system, Microsoft .NET Framework, all connectivity software, and relevant client tools. If Angles for Oracle Generator for Noetix Platform—Oracle E-Business Suite Edition (Angles for Oracle Generator) or Angles for Oracle Generator for Noetix Platform—Noetix Analytics Edition (Angles for Oracle Generator) is installed, Internet Information Services (IIS), and Microsoft ASP.NET must be installed.
Noetix Platform: NQS and NQS ODBC driver. You can also install Noetix DeliveryManager and server components of Angles for Oracle Generator and Angles for Oracle Generator Application Support.
NWQ Computer
You may choose to install NWQ on a separate computer for performance and scalability.
The following software is installed on the NWQ computer:
Prerequisite software: Windows Server operating system, IIS, Microsoft .NET Framework, Microsoft ASP.NET, and all connectivity software.
Noetix Platform: NWQ, and NQS ODBC driver.
SQL Server Computer
You may choose to install SQL Server on its own computer for performance and manageability. Alternatively, you may want to leverage an existing SQL Server installation in your environment.
The following software will be installed, if not already installed, on the SQL server computer:
Prerequisite software: Windows Server operating system, SQL Server database, all connectivity software, and relevant client tools, Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, and Microsoft .NET Framework.
Noetix Platform: Noetix agent tools, NQS ODBC driver, Noetix heterogeneous mapping server, Noetix DeliveryServer (with Reporting Services), the repository components for Angles for Oracle Generator and Angles for Oracle Generator Application Support, and CMS (optional).
CMS Computer
You may choose to install CMS on its own computer for performance and scalability.
The following software will be installed on the CMS computer:
Prerequisite software: Windows Server operating system, Microsoft .NET Framework, Microsoft ASP.NET, and all connectivity software.
Noetix Platform: CMS and NQS ODBC driver.
Decide on a Multi-Computer Installation
The following table will help you in choosing a multi-computer installation that will best suit your requirements:
Number of Computers | One-computer | Two-computer
| Three-computer | Four-computer | |
Scenario Name | Scenario 1 | Scenario 2 | Scenario 3 | Scenario 4 | Scenario 5 |
| (All)
| (NQS+NWQ)+ SQL Server | (NQS+SQL Server) | NQS+NWQ+ SQL Server | NQS+NWQ+ SQL Server+ CMS |
No. of production users1 | Up to 100 | 100-4,000 | 100-4,000 | Over 4,000 | Over 4,000 |
Usage | When setting up your development environment | To keep SQL Server separate from the base Noetix Platform components (NQS) or to use an existing installation of SQL Server | To load balance NWQ | In addition to scenarios 1, 2, and 3, if cache refresh timings are different from subscription delivery timings | In addition to scenarios 2 and 3, if you want to scale out components that involve data such as cache mappings and subscription delivery |
Before proceeding with a multi-computer installation, you must see the following section to know about the prerequisites software and the Noetix Platform components that are installed on various computers.
Typical Installation Scenarios
The following tables list prerequisites and Noetix Platform components for each computer in typical installation scenarios. The Noetix Platform installation wizard helps you install Noetix Platform components according to these typical scenarios. For information about the compatible versions of the prerequisite software, see the system requirements for the current version of Noetix Platform.
Based on the components that you select to install on a computer, the Noetix Platform installation wizard automatically checks your computer for the necessary prerequisite software and hardware.
Scenario 1: One-Computer Installation—All Components
This is the most basic setup. All software components—prerequisites and Noetix Platform—are installed on one computer. insigihtsoftwarerecommends this setup if you have up to 100 production users with normal query usage.
Table 1.2 lists the prerequisite and Noetix Platform software that must be installed on the NQS computer.
Prerequisite software | Computer 1 |
Is this a dedicated computer? | Yes |
Is this a scalable computer? | Yes |
Windows Server OS | |
SQL Server database | |
|
|
i. Applications |
|
Internet Information Services (IIS) | |
Microsoft .NET Framework | |
Microsoft ASP.NET | |
Reporting Services | |
|
|
ii. Connectivity Software |
|
Oracle Net (if accessing Oracle data sources) | |
Other ODBC software (if accessing other data sources) | |
|
|
iii. Client Tools |
|
(required by NQS, CMS, and Reporting Services) | |
(if accessing Oracle data sources) | |
(if accessing other data sources) | |
Two-Computer Installation—NQS and SQL Server or NQS and NWQ (Scenario 2 and Scenario 3)
In a two-computer installation, you can have the following two scenarios:
NQS and SQL Server are installed on different computers. NWQ is installed on the NQS computer.
NQS and NWQ are installed on different computers. SQL Server is installed on the NQS computer. Based on your requirement, you can have additional NWQ computers using the custom installation option.
insightsoftware recommends this setup if you have between 100 and 4,000 production users with normal query usage.
Scenario 2: Two-Computer Installation: NQS and SQL Server
Tables 1.3 and 1.4 list the prerequisite and Noetix Platform software that must be installed on the NQS and SQL Server computers.
Prerequisite software | Computer 1 | Computer 2 |
Is this a dedicated computer? | Yes | No |
Is this a scalable computer? | No | No |
Windows Server OS | | |
SQL Server database |
| |
|
|
|
i. Applications |
|
|
IIS | |
|
Microsoft .NET Framework | | |
Microsoft ASP.NET | |
|
Reporting Services |
| |
|
|
|
ii. Connectivity Software |
|
|
Oracle Net (if accessing Oracle data sources) | | |
Other ODBC software (if accessing other data sources) | | |
|
|
|
iii. Client Tools |
|
|
SQL client tools (required by NQS, CMS, and Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services) | | |
Oracle client tools (if accessing Oracle data sources) |
| |
Other client tools (if accessing other data sources) |
| |
Noetix Platform software | Computer 1 | Computer 2 (SQL Server) |
i. Server Components |
|
|
NQS | |
|
NWQ | |
|
Angles for Oracle Generator (server components) | |
|
Angles for Oracle Generator (repository components) |
| |
Noetix agent tools |
| |
NQS ODBC Driver | | |
HMS |
| |
Noetix DeliveryServer |
| |
Noetix DeliveryManager | |
|
CMS |
| |
|
|
|
ii. Angles for Oracle Generator Applications |
|
|
Angles for Oracle Generator for Noetix Platform— Oracle E-Business Suite Edition (server components) | |
|
Angles for Oracle Generator for Noetix Platform— Oracle E-Business Suite Edition (repository components) |
| |
Scenario 3: Two-Computer Installation: NQS and NWQ
Tables 1.5 and 1.6 list the prerequisite and Noetix Platform software that must be installed on the NQS and NWQ computers.
Prerequisite software | Computer 1 | Computer 2 |
Is this a dedicated computer? | Yes | Yes |
Is this a scalable computer? | No | Yes |
Windows Server OS | | |
SQL Server database | |
|
|
|
|
i. Applications |
|
|
IIS |
| |
Microsoft .NET Framework | | |
Microsoft ASP.NET |
| |
Reporting Services | |
|
|
|
|
ii. Connectivity Software |
|
|
Oracle Net (if accessing Oracle data sources) | | |
Other ODBC software (if accessing other data sources) | | |
|
|
|
iii. Client Tools |
|
|
SQL client tools (required by NQS, CMS, and Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services) | |
|
Oracle client tools (if accessing Oracle data sources) | |
|
Other client tools (if accessing other data sources) | |
|
Noetix Platform software | Computer 1 | Computer 2 (NWQ) |
i. Server Components |
|
|
NQS | |
|
NWQ |
| |
Angles for Oracle Generator (server and repository components) | |
|
Noetix agent tools | |
|
NQS ODBC Driver | | |
HMS | |
|
Noetix DeliveryServer |
| |
Noetix DeliveryManager |
| |
CMS | |
|
|
|
|
ii. Angles for Oracle Generator Applications |
|
|
Angles for Oracle Generator for Noetix Platform— Oracle E-Business Suite Edition (server and repository components) | |
|
Scenario 4: Three-Computer Installation—NQS, NWQ, and SQL Server
In this scenario, NQS, NWQ, and SQL Server are installed on separate computers. insightsoftware recommends this setup if you have over 4,000 production users with normal query usage.
Tables 1.7 and 1.8 list the prerequisite and Noetix Platform software that must be installed on the NQS, NWQ, and SQL Server computers.
Prerequisite software | Computer 1 | Computer 2 | Computer 3 |
Is this a dedicated computer? | Yes | Yes | No |
Is this a scalable computer? | No | Yes | No |
Windows Server OS | | | |
SQL Server database |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
i. Applications |
|
|
|
IIS |
| |
|
Microsoft .NET Framework | | | |
Microsoft ASP.NET |
| |
|
Reporting Services |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
ii. Connectivity Software |
|
|
|
Oracle Net (if accessing Oracle data sources) | | | |
Other ODBC software (if accessing other data sources) | | | |
|
|
|
|
iii. Client Tools |
|
|
|
SQL client tools (required by NQS, CMS, and Reporting Services) | |
| |
Oracle client tools (if accessing Oracle data sources) |
|
| |
Other client tools (if accessing other data sources) |
|
| |
Noetix Platform software | Computer 1 | Computer 2 (NWQ) | Computer 3 (SQL Server) |
i. Server Components |
|
|
|
NQS | |
|
|
NWQ |
| |
|
Angles for Oracle Generator (server components) | |
|
|
Angles for Oracle Generator (repository components) |
|
| |
Noetix agent tools |
|
| |
NQS ODBC Driver | | | |
HMS |
|
| |
Noetix DeliveryServer |
|
| |
Noetix DeliveryManager |
|
| |
CMS |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
ii. Angles for Oracle Generator Applications |
|
|
|
Angles for Oracle Generator for Noetix Platform—Oracle E-Business Suite Edition (server components) | |
|
|
Angles for Oracle Generator for Noetix Platform—Oracle E-Business Suite Edition (repository components) |
|
| |
Scenario 5: Four-Computer Installation—NQS, NWQ, SQL Server, and CMS
In this scenario, NQS, NWQ, SQL Server, and CMS are installed on separate computers. insightsoftware recommends this setup if you have over 4,000 production users with normal query usage.
Tables 1.9 and 1.10 list the prerequisite and Noetix Platform software that must be installed on the NQS, NWQ, SQL Server, and CMS computers.
Prerequisite software | Computer 1 | Computer 2 | Computer 3 | Computer 4 |
Is this a dedicated computer? | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Is this a scalable computer? | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Windows Server OS | | | | |
SQL Server database |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
i. Applications |
|
|
|
|
IIS |
| |
|
|
Microsoft .NET Framework | | | | |
Microsoft ASP.NET |
| |
| |
Reporting Services |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ii. Connectivity Software |
|
|
|
|
Oracle Net (if accessing Oracle data sources) | | | | |
Other ODBC software (if accessing other data sources) | | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
iii. Client Tools |
|
|
|
|
SQL client tools (required by NQS, CMS, and Reporting Services) | |
| | |
Oracle client tools (if accessing Oracle data sources) |
|
| |
|
Other client tools (if accessing other data sources) |
|
| |
|
Noetix Platform software | Computer 1 | Computer 2 (NWQ) | Computer 3 (SQL Server) | Computer 4 (CMS) |
i. Server Components |
|
|
|
|
NQS | |
|
|
|
NWQ |
| |
|
|
Angles for Oracle Generator (server components) | |
|
|
|
Angles for Oracle Generator (repository components) |
|
| |
|
Noetix agent tools |
|
| |
|
NQS ODBC Driver | | | | |
HMS |
|
| |
|
Noetix DeliveryServer |
|
| |
|
Noetix DeliveryManager |
|
| |
|
CMS |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
ii. Angles for Oracle Generator Applications |
|
|
|
|
Angles for Oracle Generator for Noetix Platform—Oracle E-Business Suite Edition (server components) | |
|
|
|
Angles for Oracle Generator for Noetix Platform—Oracle E-Business Suite Edition (repository components) |
|
| |
|
Sequence for Custom Installation in Distributed Environment
In a one-computer installation, all the components of Noetix Platform are installed together. For the typical installation scenarios outlined in this chapter, the Noetix Platform installation wizard determines the order in which the Noetix Platform components must be installed. However, if you are performing a custom installation of Noetix Platform in a multi-computer installation, make sure that you install the components of Noetix Platform in the following order:
NQS
Noetix agent tools
NWQ
Noetix Platform client tools
Reporting Services Integration
Noetix DeliveryServer and Noetix DeliveryManager
Guidelines for Installing in a Distributed Environment
To determine the installation sequence for a distributed environment, use the following guidelines:
Determine the components that should be installed on each computer.
Determine the order of installation of computers using the installation sequence for custom installations.
Install the Noetix Platform components on each computer according to steps 1 and 2. You might have to run the installation wizard more than once on a computer to install a component that falls later in the installation sequence or if the component can be installed only after the prerequisite component is installed.
Sequence for Custom Upgrade in Distributed Environment
When performing a custom upgrade of Noetix Platform in a distributed environment, use the sequence that you used while performing the custom installation. However, you need to run the installation wizard only once on each computer because all the eligible Noetix Platform components will be automatically selected and upgraded.
In a distributed environment, make sure that the custom upgrade is performed on all the computers so that all the components are upgraded to the same version.
Example of Custom Upgrade in a Distributed Environment
The following example illustrates how Noetix Platform must be upgraded in a distributed environment. This example comprises four computers with Noetix Platform components installed as shown in the following table:
Table 1.11: Configuration of Noetix Platform Components
Computer | Components |
Computer A | SQL Server Noetix DeliveryServer Noetix agent tools Reporting Services Integration |
Computer B | NQS NWQ Noetix DeliveryManager |
Computer C | NWQ |
Computer D | Noetix Platform client tools |
To upgrade Noetix Platform
Upgrade Computer B (NQS, NWQ, and Noetix DeliveryManager).
Upgrade Computer A (Noetix DeliveryServer, Noetix agent tools,and Reporting Services Integration).
Upgrade Computer C (NWQ).
Upgrade Computer D (Noetix Platform client tools).
Noetix Platform Client Tools Installation
The following client tools help you administer and manage Noetix Platform:
NQS Administrator
NQS Monitor
NQS Query
For more information about the Noetix Platform client tools, see the Noetix Platform Administrator Guide.
You can install the Noetix Platform client tools on your computer and point them to a Noetix QueryServer service that is installed on a different computer in your network. Usually, this type of setup is used if you do not want to run the Noetix Platform client tools on the computer running the Noetix QueryServer service or the NQS repository.
The Noetix Platform installation wizard allows you to install the Noetix Platform client tools. For information about installing the Noetix Platform client tools, see Noetix Platform Client Tools Installation in “Installing Noetix Platform.”
IMPORTANT: When you upgrade Noetix Platform client tools, make sure that all the components are upgraded to the same version.
Alternative Installation Scenarios
This section discusses the details of some alternative installation scenarios. These scenarios are not a part of the typical installation scenarios, but would work just as well.
Installing SQL Server, Reporting Services Separately
By default, Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is installed with SQL Server on one computer. In this scenario, Noetix DeliveryServer is also installed on the same computer for high scalability. However, you can install Reporting Services and SQL Server on separate computers.
To separate Reporting Services (including Noetix DeliveryServer) from the SQL Server computer, you need to install the following software, if not already installed, on the other computer:
Prerequisite software: Windows Server operating system, all connectivity software, relevant client tools, Reporting Services, and Microsoft .NET Framework.
Noetix Platform: Noetix DeliveryServer and NQS ODBC driver.
Installing CMS on NWQ Computer
By default, CMS is installed on the NQS computer in a typical one-computer installation and on the SQL Server computer in typical two-computer and three-computer installations.
Another option is to install CMS on the NWQ computer. Before installing CMS on the NWQ computer, you must install NQS ODBC Driver, Microsoft .NET Framework, Microsoft ASP.NET, and client tools on this computer for accessing the data sources for caching. You can then use the NWQ computer for user queries during business hours and for cache refreshes during off-hours. You can use the custom installation method to install CMS on the NWQ computer. For information about the custom installation steps, see Custom Installation in “Installing Noetix Platform.”
Specific Requirements
This section discusses scaling, cloning, or improving the availability of Noetix Platform.
Scaling Noetix Platform
For information about how to scale Noetix Platform, such as scaling up, scaling out or scaling down, refer to theKnowledge area of the insightsoftware Support Community. Contact insightsoftwareSupportto arrange for a technical consultant to assist you with planning and scaling your environment.
Cloning Noetix Platform
You can create an identical copy of your Noetix Platform environment including your data and all your configurations, such as security, schema definitions, and subscriptions for the following reasons:
Test/development environment: You might need a test or development environment to roll out a new version or patch of Noetix Platform before rolling it out to the production environment.
Backup: You might want to make an exact copy of your Noetix Platform environment as an additional backup.
For more information about how to clone your Noetix Platform environment, see the Cloning Noetix Platform white paper that is available on the Knowledge area of the insightsoftware Support Community.
Setting Up Fault-Tolerant Environment
For more information about how to set up a fault-tolerant environment with Noetix Platform, contact insightsoftwareSupport to arrange for a technical consultant to assist you with design and implementation.