Existing Xpage On IBM Bluemix / Hybrid Application Getting ... · IBM Bluemix is a cloud platform...

© Copyright Maarga Systems, 2015. All rights reserved.

Existing Xpage

On IBM Bluemix / Hybrid

Application

Getting Started

Srinivasan Bakthavatchalam

Sr. Software Engineer


Table of Contents

I. Introduction to IBM Bluemix ...................................................................................................... 3

II. Hybrid XPages Applications on Bluemix ................................................................................... 4

III. Setting up the environment to work .......................................................................................... 5

IV. Checking the connectivity ............................................................................................................ 6

V. Creating a Simple hybrid Xpage application in Bluemix ........................................................ 7

VI. Checking your Application from Bluemix .............................................................................. 12

VII. Simple data binding .................................................................................................................. 13

VIII. Technical challenges ................................................................................................................ 15


I. Introduction to IBM Bluemix

Technology is fast evolving and so is cloud. Cloud has changed from just being a storage

system to complete ecosystem allowing business to move towards efficiency and

profitability. World is moving to the cloud to achieve better flexibility, reduce costs, and

enable IT innovation. While taking this important step towards success, organisations

should first understand all the possible ways that can maximise its benefits and minimise

risk. Cloud computing (the cloud) is comprised of three major layers.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is the foundation that refers to the hardware, storage,

and network capabilities.

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is the middle layer where you build and deliver cloud

applications.

Software as a Service (SaaS) is the top layer that provides business services to

consumers.

In this paper we will try to understand how IBM Bluemix can be leveraged with existing

Xpage application.

IBM Bluemix

IBM Bluemix is a cloud platform for building, running, and managing applications. On

Bluemix, mobile and web developers can easily assemble existing services from IBM or

from third-party providers.

Bluemix is based on Cloud Foundry, an open source PaaS. This layer provides

middleware services such as data management, integration, or workload management.

It provides enterprise-level services that can easily integrate with your cloud applications.

Bluemix also facilitates and accelerates the provisioning of a cloud infrastructure

(storage, network, clustering, virtualization, etc.) so development teams no longer have

to worry about the plumbing (hardware, storage). They can focus on delivering business

value to their clients.


II. Hybrid XPages Applications on Bluemix

A hybrid application here refers to one that combines a front-end Bluemix cloud

application, with data stored on an external server (server on premises). For XPages, this

means a Bluemix application using the XPages runtime combined with data NSF(s)

hosted on an external private Domino server. The external Domino server could be a

standard on-premises server in your own data centre, or a server running in a cloud

platform like Soft Layer.

The hybrid model is an important solution for production XPages applications as it allows

customers to leverage their existing NSF data and Domino directory from within Bluemix

applications using the very latest XPages runtime. Of course the XPages Bluemix

application can also leverage the host of available Bluemix services, all in all it represents

a real opportunity to truly modernize existing Notes client applications.

Image title


III. Setting up the environment to work

Below are the Steps to set up the working environment.

1. Make sure that have a Domino designer 9.0.1 installed

2. Install the XPages Extension Library to Designer, release 901_v15. This library

release installs the new Bluemix tooling. You can get it from OpenNTF

3. If you are new to Bluemix, create a new Bluemix account. SIGN-IN

4. That’s it you are almost done

Image title

https://extlib.openntf.org/main.nsf/project.xsp?r=project/XPages%20Extension%20Library/releases/473B2FE80FD6EA0986257EEB003FA2FF

https://console.ng.bluemix.net/docs/starters/xpages/index.html#xpruntime


IV. Checking the connectivity

1. Open the Domino Designer

2. Navigate to File -> preference

3. As shown in the above image select the IBM Bluemix, and configure the

appropriate values

4. Then click on test connection button. On success you will be getting the

Connection success dialogue box


5. If you are getting an Error message as “Peer Authentication Failure” then

install the Fix pack for notes 9.0.1. This will resolve your issue

V. Creating a Simple hybrid Xpage application in

Bluemix

As described earlier, hybrid Xpage application to one that combines a front-

end Bluemix cloud application, with data stored on an external server (server

on premises). So our first step would be to separate the design and the data

from our existing application.

1. Create two new copy of the database that you want to host on Bluemix

2. One copy will be our design part and other will be our data.

3. In the design part make sure that you have the Xpages and custom control.

Delete other design elements in the design copy

4. In the data copy make sure that you have the all the design elements

except the Xpages and Custom Control (This will be residing in our

premises)

5. Now log in to you Bluemix account and start creating an xsp runtime

container. You could fine the Xsp Run time container in the Bluemix

catalogue


6. After creating it download the source code by clicking on the start coding

link in the left menu

7. Now come back to your Domino Designer and select Tools Import IBM

Bluemix Starter Code. Follow the steps as instructed by uploading the

starter code that you have downloaded from blue mix


8. Once after you complete, you will be able to see the Todo_design.nsf (this

name may differ) on your Application pane on your designer.

9. Do a normal replace design to this Todo_deign.nsf with the design copy of

the existing Xpage application that you have taken in the step 3

10. That’s it your design part is ready.

11. You now need to configure your data part to this design.

12. First open the File Preference Domino Designer IBM Bluemix


13. If you are not familiar with creating a Trusted Server ID then kindly refer

the link creating a Trusted Server ID.

Note:

Make sure that this server ID that has been created is trusted by the

on-premises server (server on which your data resides).

The idea behind uploading this ID is that, your Bluemix run time sever

were your design resides will be logged in with this ID and from this ID

https://console.ng.bluemix.net/docs/starters/xpages/index.html#xpruntime


Bluemix automatically make a cross certification of your organization

address book.

So now your run time container is signed with the ID that you have

uploaded and that will make a talk to your on premises server.

14. So after that log-in to your designer with the trusted server ID that you

have created recently.

15. Sign in the design elements of the application (NSF that has your xpage

and custom control alone) with the trusted server ID.

16. Now open the IBM Bluemix Manifest from the Application configuration

and the click on the edit button under the Hybrid Configuration part, then

click on “Load Default Configuration”.


17. Finally click on Finish.

18. You can now deploy the application to Bluemix by right clicking on the

application IBM Bluemix Deploy Application.

19. You will now receive a Deployment successful message box after

deployment is done.

1

2

VI. Checking your Application from Bluemix

1. Once done with deploying, then log on to IBM Bluemix and check whether

the app is running.

2. The green Light indicates that your app is up and running.

3. Now click on the link near the application name to run it.

4. You will be redirected to the IBM Bluemix log in page based on the ACL in

your application (Make sure that you have the Anonymous as no access).


5. You can now use your own Domino web login that you have used

previously to log in to the system.

6. If you are able to login successfully without any issue, then you have

successfully set up a hybrid application which has its data on the on-

premises server and design hosted in Bluemix

VII. Simple data binding

1. We now need to bind the forms and views in our on-premises server to

the Xpages in the Bluemix.

2. Simple you can just change the database in the binding session to the

database in Bluemix as below.


3. This “getApp_REMOTE_DATA_SERVER_ADDRESS” will have the values

that you have configured in the on-premises server address (our case it

will be as eapps.maargasystems.com )

4. To know detail about this environmental variable, you can view it in your

application at Bluemix.


5. The same detail will also be available in the IBM Bluemix Manifest file.

6. So you can do the same for data binding to a view / panel and so.

VIII. Technical challenges

1. There were two block that I have faced while setting up the environments

a. While testing the connection as mentioned in “Checking

Connectivity” session. If you are getting an Error message as “Peer

Authentication Failure” then install the Fix pack for notes 9.0.1. This

will resolve your issue.

b. Then while connecting the on-premises database to the IBM

Bluemix run time container. I got the below error in IBM Technical

Console

Directory Assistance could not access Directory X.XX.XXX.XX names.nsf, error: Unable to find path to

server. Check that your network connection is working. If you have a working connection, go to

Preferences - Notes Ports and click Trace to discover where it breaks down.


c. If you encounter the same issue, make sure that the fully qualified

host name and TCPIP port are mentioned correctly in Server

Document. Correcting this resolved my issue.

d. You can check the log of the Bluemix server from

2. The system was relatively slow in response.

About Maarga

Maarga Systems is a 11-year-old IBM Premier Partner specializing in Notes/Domino Application

Development and Infrastructure Management. Our customers are spread all over the world including

Coca Cola, Panasonic, Allianz, BT to name a few. Developed after observing over 500 workflows, our unique

XFactory framework cuts down a typical app development timeframe by 50%. Additionally, our 50 Lotus

Certified professionals, 2 Fortune 500 IBM Published Case Studies and 24/7 operation serving 30

countries makes us the largest Notes development firm out of India. Maarga brings a blend of process

driven factory approach and business-savvy consulting to its engagements to deliver rapid value to

customers at the most efficient cost structures. Maarga has an extended eco-system of partners it is

deeply associated with and has access to multiple other technology capabilities through this eco-system,

including .NET, SharePoint, PHP, Graphics Design, iOS, Google AppEngine etc.

Know More: (www.maargasystems.com)

Existing Xpage On IBM Bluemix / Hybrid Application Getting ... · IBM Bluemix is a cloud platform...

Documents

Transcript of Existing Xpage On IBM Bluemix / Hybrid Application Getting ... · IBM Bluemix is a cloud platform...