7.0 Starting and Configuring the Appliances

After the VMs are deployed with the necessary disks added and other settings adjusted according to your worksheets, it is time to start and configure the appliance software on each appliance. When this section is completed, all of the appliances will be running and ready to be deployed as an integrated TeamWorks infrastructure by using the instructions in Section 8.0, Creating a Multiple-Appliance TeamWorks Deployment.

Table 7-1 Starting and Configuring the Appliances

Page, Dialog, or Option

Do This

 

1 - Before you deploy the first VM.

 

  1. (Multi-appliance deployments only) If you have not already done so, before you begin this process, you must set up shared storage for your TeamWorks appliances by:

    • Exporting an NFS directory

    See the Network-Based Shared Disk Space for /vashare section of Worksheet 15 and complete the instructions in Section 4.0, Setting Up NFS Shared Storage before continuing.

 

2 - Select an appliance.

 

  1. Choose one of the appliances that you deployed in Section 6.0, Creating the TeamWorks Virtual Machines and refer to its planning worksheet as you start and configure it.

    CAUTION:Initial start-up order doesn’t matter, but deployment order is critical!

    When you reach Section 8.0, Creating a Multiple-Appliance TeamWorks Deployment, you must follow the exact order presented there.

 

3 - Start the appliance.

 

  1. After you have downloaded the TeamWorks software and configured your appliances, you must start and configure each appliance in turn.

    • VMware: In the VMware browser-based client, power on the first appliance, then right-click the appliance and use the Console option to open a console.

 

4 - Accept the license and specify the keyboard layout.

 

  1. After the appliance boots, the License Agreement screen displays.

License Agreement

  1. Select your preferred keyboard layout in the Keyboard Language drop-down.

  2. (Optional) use the License Language drop-down to change the license language.

  3. (Optional) use the Keyboard Language drop-down to change the keyboard layout.

  4. Accept the license agreement.

Passwords and Time Zone

  1. On the configuration page, specify the following information:

    IMPORTANT:Keep a confidential record of the passwords you set for the root and vaadmin users below.

    Root password and confirmation: The root password provides root access to the appliance terminal prompt. Do not access appliances as the root user unless specifically requested by TeamWorks support personnel.

    Vaadmin password and confirmation: The preferred user for accessing the appliance as requested by TeamWorks support personnel.

    Consider using a different password for each appliance for enhanced security.

    NTP Server: The IP address or DNS name of the reliable external Network Time Protocol (NTP) server for your network.

    Example: time.example.com.

    For the best results, set up NTP in accordance with the VMware best practices guidelines.

    Region: Your local region.

    Time Zone: The time zone where the appliance is located.

  2. Click Next.

Network Settings

  1. Specify the Hostname:

    Hostname: The fully qualified DNS host name associated with the appliance’s static IP address.

    Example: TW-Search-1.mynetwork.example.com.

  2. Specify the following:

    IP Address: The static IP address for the appliance.

    Example: 172.17.2.3.

    Network Mask: The network mask associated with the appliance’s IP address.

    Example: 255.255.255.0.

    Gateway: The IP address of the gateway on the subnet where your TeamWorks virtual appliance is located.

    Example: 172.17.2.254.

    IMPORTANT:TeamWorks appliances do not tolerate latency and should be installed in the same subnet or a near-subnet.

    DNS Servers: The IP address of a primary DNS server for your network.

    Example: 172.17.1.1.

    Domain Search: The domain that is associated with the TeamWorks host name. The first is derived from the hostname. If your deployment is located in multiple domains, be sure to include the other domains as well.

  3. Click Next.

Additional LAN Card Configuration

  1. (Conditional) If you configured multiple network adapters for this appliance, select from the following options, then click Next:

    • Do Not Configure: Select this option to configure this network at a later time as described in Changing Network Settings in the TeamWorks 18.2.1: Administrative UI Reference.

    • DHCP Dynamic Address: Select this option to have an IP address assigned dynamically on the secondary network.

    • Statically Assigned IP Address: Select this option to assign a static IP address on the secondary network. Then specify the IP address, network mask, and host name.

Data Store Location

  1. Hard Disk 2 is automatically detected and the disk designation is displayed in the hard drive drop-down.

    Accept the defaults for the other options on this page by clicking Next.

    IMPORTANT:If you want a different filesystem than the default, do not select Ext 4.

    WARNING:If you have not already created additional disks 2 and 3 for each of your VMs and prepared a shared storage location for your TeamWorks appliances as described in early sections of this guide and in Planning Your Appliances in the TeamWorks 18.2.1 Planning Your TeamWorks Deployment—Best Practices guide, power off the virtual machine and make sure you have the required disk space in place for your deployment before proceeding. Otherwise, there is a substantial risk that your deployment will not meet your organization’s needs.

Data Log Location

  1. Hard Disk 3 is automatically detected and the disk designation is displayed in the hard drive drop-down.

    IMPORTANT:If you want a different filesystem than the default, do not select Ext 4.

    TeamWorks: Accept the defaults for the other options on this page by clicking Next.

    Search and PostgreSQL: Accept the defaults for the other options on this page by clicking Configure.

Shared Storage Type (TeamWorks and Search)

  1. If you are configuring a PostgreSQL appliance, this page doesn’t appear. Go to Configuring Password, Time, and Network Settings.

  2. If you are configuring a TeamWorks or Search appliance in a multi-appliance deployment, click Next.

Shared Storage NFS Location

Referring to the work you did in Table 4-1, Exporting an NFS Directory for /vashare, do the following:

  1. For the NFS Server Hostname field, click Browse and select the NFS server that you identified.

    If the NFS server is not found by browsing, typing its IP address or DNS name in the field should resolve the issue.

  2. For the Remote Directory field, click Browse and select the directory that you exported.

    IMPORTANT:It is important to use the browse feature for this step to ensure that NFS is working and the path is correct.

    If the Remote Directory is not found, verify that the NFS server path is entered correctly and NFS is running on the server.Then browse for the directory again.

    If the server is still not found, or if you overlooked making an NFS mount point available, you must do the following in order to proceed:

    • Click Shut Down Appliance to Fix Resources and confirm your action.

    • Complete the instructions in Table 4-1, Exporting an NFS Directory for /vashare, and verify that an NFS client can connect to the mount point you have just created.

    • When the NFS service is verified, power on the appliance.

    • When prompted, re-enter the passwords for the root and vaadmin users, then click Next to confirm the choices you entered in all of the dialogs, until you reach the NFS Server Hostname field prompt (Step 1, above).

  3. Click Configure.

  4. Continue with Configuring Password, Time, and Network Settings.

Configuring Password, Time, and Network Settings

  1. The settings you have specified are configured, storage is verified, and the appliance starts.

  2. Continue as indicated for your deployment type:

    Multi-appliance Deployment: Repeat the above steps starting with 2 - Select an appliance. until all of your appliances are started, configured, and running. Only then should you go to Section 8.0, Creating a Multiple-Appliance TeamWorks Deployment.