Server installation

This chapter explains how to install a test or production instance of ROB-EX Scheduler Multiuser Server 7.0 or later.

Prerequisites

Make sure the following pre-requisites are OK before proceding to install ROB-EX Scheduler Multiuser Server

1. A Microsoft SQL server instance is available.
   1. Make sure that the SQL Server you are connecting to is using Mixed Mode Authentication. You can inspect and change this setting from within SQL Management Studio. Right click on Database Server select Properties->Security->Server Authentication.
   2. If you do not have an existing SQL server to connect to we recommend that you install the MS SQL Express edition. As an example of what to install and configure, please read the chapter Installation of Microsoft SQL Server Express.
2. A SQL Server login with sysadmin role (e.g. the SA login). Windows authentication is supported.

*If you have a possible existing GanttMultiuser database take a backup of this database before you start the installation (see Backup of ROB-EX Multiuser Server database).

Installation of ROB-EX Multiuser Server

ROB-EX Multiuser Server is installed by running the setup program SetupRobex_vx.x.exe.

The installer handles the installation and updates of up to 9 individual ROB-EX Scheduler server instances.

Installer steps:

1. Welcome-screen: click Next
2. Installation options: Choose if you like to install a New instance or Update an existing. The languages drop down is relevant only for ROB-EX Scheduler clients, and can be ignored. Click Next
3. License agreement: Read carefully before clicking I agree
4. Choose Components:
   • Select the Multiuser Server component. Notice that the installer automatically selects a Java Runtime that fits your OS.
   • Choose where to install the ROB-EX Server instance. Important: you must install to a fixed hard drive, i.e. C:\Program Files (x86) since Windows will otherwise not allow the server to be started as a background service. As an example you should not install to F:\robex if the F: drive is a network mapped drive.
   • Specifying instance: The last letter of the folder path specifies the instance. ganttServer or ganttServerG2 are interpreted as instance 1. For all other instance id’s postfix your folder with _X, where X is the instance id. I.e. ganttServerG2_2 for instance 2, ganttServerG2_3 for instance 3, etc. Read here for more about different instances.
5. Database connection setup: Select the desired MS SQL database to install to.
   1. Server: The desired database server instance. Must be manually entered as <server-host>\<server-instance>. E.g. RBX02\SQLEXPRESS. The \<server-instance> part is optional. The SQL Server instance must support mixed mode authentication.
   2. Database: Enter the name of the ROB-EX Server database, defaults to GanttMultiuser. If this database already exists, the ROB-EX Multiuser Server will automatically migrate and update the database to the correct version. If the database does not already exist, then the installer will create the database.
   3. Choose Username and Password for authentication against the MS SQL Server. Leave blank to authenticate with the currently logged in Windows user. Or specify valid native MS SQL username/password. The authentication details are only used to create the database and a user with the right privileges (i.e. not used during normal operation of the ROB-EX server).
   4. Click Install and the database information is validated. Important: In case of connection problems, you will be given the option to complete the server installation without database connection. If this is selected, you must manually create the database after installation of the ROB-EX server (only intended for expert users, but useful to manually configure a PostgreSQL database).
6. Completing Setup: The installation is complete. Enable the option Start Multiuser Server service to automcally startup the newly created ROB-EX Server G2 Intance # service, once the Finish button is clicked. To start the service manually, use Start->Run->services.msc. Locate the ROB-EX Server G2 Instance # service and start the service using the menu item “Actions->start”. Also see Starting and stopping ROB-EX Server.

A link to administrate the instance is placed in the ROB-EX start folder. Click this link to test if the server instance is running, otherwise see Starting and stopping ROB-EX server

If after installation you have problems running the Multiuser Server please consult the Trouble Shooting Guide

*Note that in a multiuser environment, the clients and ROB-EX Scheduler Server rely on an uninterrupted datastream between them. I.e. make sure you have a stable network connection between the server and the client.

Secure network communication

To configure encryption between the ROB-EX Scheduler Server and the database, please append the setting encrypt=true to the urlParameters setting in the application.yml file. See more in the Server configuration file section.

For more on using secure/encrypted network communication when connecting to ROB-EX Scheduler modules, please read Secure networking communication – SSL Multiuser