[AG-TECH] Node Setup Wizard problems

[Lewis Grantham]

hi Randy,

try this route, it worked out here ok:

a. go to each machine in turn, and run the venueclient as a personal 
node (VenueClient.py --personalNode).  If any cert request wizards pop 
up, cancel them (over and over) til they go away.  you need each venue 
client to run cleanly as a personal node without grumbling - that should 
mean all certs and IDs are good, and proxies are fine on each unit.  you 
should get a local log on all three machines to let you know whats 
occuring.  if you need to, reimport IDs and certs from the

Venue Client > preferences > Manage Certificates menus

You can check they are all Ok there also.  Only ANL issued certs and IDs 
are anygood in the longterm.  Importing other CAs and IDs doesnt totally 
work last we tried.  Take some time to check all cert parts.  The 
default ID, a globus CA and ANL CA cert are needed, and should be 
imported in sequence (globus CA , ANL CA , then personal cert).

If you reimport - try removing all the older IDs and reimporting.  I 
keep a floppy to hand with both CA certs and my trusty ANL ID for this 
tasks.  Paranoid maybe, but a good clear out works wonders 9/10 times. 
(By the by - it is very vital you export a safe, known good copy of your 
ID for later use and retrieval).

when each machine runs venue client with personal node services cleanly, 
you can set up the wider multimachine options.  I would not try too much 
further til this step works, and you can start VenueClient with personal 
node services on each unit manually.

Also, dont waste time 'managing' your node yet (adding services etc)- 
all those parts change later.

You should not at this stage be running any other tools manually.  No 
command line Node services or Ag service managers - just the 
VenueClient.py with the --personalNode option.  try to get away from 
older AGTK thinking - theres a lot of differences, largely undocumented 
(sorry Ivan, but there is ;)

b. choose a machine that your users will typically start the toolset 
from.  (Almost always this is the display PC).  This machine will 
continue to run :

VenueClient.py --personalNode

Make sure the shortcut or script file includes this option.

Never attempt to manually script AGServiceManager or 
NodeManagementService etc to run on this (the lead) machine - always let 
the VenueClient start personal node services as needed for you (it will 
actually start AGServiceManager and NodeManager(?) for you).

c. On all other machines, set AGServiceManager to run as default through 
  whatever scripting system you want to use.  Only AGServiceManager is 
needed. Its best to create long proxies on these machines for this 
reason, as these services will rarely be used interactively later.  No 
command line options need be specified.


d. With AGServiceManager running on the slave machines, start up 
VenueClient --personalNode on your lead machine.

e. Chose the

VenueClient > preferences > Manage my node

option, and the node managment app should pop up.  by default the 
localhost will be in there with little else.  you should be able to choose

Service manager > Add..

from the menu and add the other two service managers by IP address. 
(Only AGServiceManager.py needs to be running on these to make this 
choice work).

f. If you get this far successfully, and have three service managers 
listed, you are home and dry. Add/remove and edit your services as 
required across all three machines.  when you are happy, choose

File >Store Configuration

from the Node Management app.

You can choose the default configuration, and check use as default, and 
all your changes should stay put, for all users of the machine.


In future, always boot all three machines.  make sure AGServiceManager 
runs as standard on the two slave units.  On the main lead unit, simply 
run VenueClient with personalNode services enabled - on windows just 
click the desktop shortcut, as --personalNode is already included in that.

The personal Node charaterisation is a bit of a misnomer in this for 
sure, but no one sees it.  And this way the config stays put over 
reboots and correctly starts required services on each unit automatically.

Other routes will see your config and services choices disappearing 
after reboots (if you get that far) and its a right work up.

Hope this helps get you going sooner rather than later, or at least 
shakes something concrete loose to debug.

bye
lewis

-- 
Lewis Grantham LLB MSc
Project Leader
Media Resources (Multimedia Unit)
Windeyer Building
Cleveland St
London
W1T 4JF

Tel:0044(0)2076799258
Fax:0044(0)2075800995