Administrator's Guide

Chapter 2 Administration Overview

This chapter introduces the SilverStream Application Server architecture and outlines administrative tasks in SilverStream.

It contains sections on:

The SilverStream Application Server

The SilverStream Application Server is a multithreaded application server implemented in Java. Client communications are conducted through the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), the most common protocol for the World Wide Web.

NOTE There are two situations when clients do not use HTTP but instead use RMI (Java's Remote Method Invocation) to communicate with the server: (1) When calling an Enterprise JavaBean and (2) when an external client using AgRuntime establishes a connection using connectRMI().

The SilverStream Server provides business logic processing and access to new and legacy data. Business logic is stored in a SilverStream database as forms, views, business objects, pages, and Java code. All data is stored in relational databases connected to the SilverStream Server through the Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) API.

Three-tiered communications

SilverStream provides a three-tiered architecture that consists of a client, an application server, and a database server. The client provides users and designers with a visual environment. SilverStream clients include browsers, the SilverJRunner application, the SilverStream Designer, and non-SilverStream Java clients.

The clients connect directly to the SilverStream Server, which conducts all communication with the database server. The clients do not communicate with the database server directly.

Some SilverStream products include Sybase Adaptive Server Anywhere as a database server, but you can use any other supported database servers instead. For a list of supported databases, see the release notes and the Installation Guide.

Three-tiered communications provide the following benefits:

Security management. The SilverStream Server mediates all communication to the database, enforcing the security you set up.
Code management. By encapsulating your business logic into server-side objects, it is easier to manage and maintain code, especially in a large-scale development environment.
Data validation. Because the business logic is contained in one tier, you can protect data by controlling access and operations from one central point.

Application Server environments

As a SilverStream administrator, you must set up and support two types of environments:

Development environment. The development environment is the system configuration that enables software developers and programmers to develop applications. The SilverStream development environment consists of one or more development servers, one or more database servers, and SilverStream Designer or other development tools.
Production environment. The production environment is where applications are deployed for use on the Web. The SilverStream production environment consists of one or more application servers, one or more database servers, and clients.

Clients can either be browsers (running HTML or applets) or Java clients (a SilverStream client using SilverJRunner or a non-SilverStream Java client).

For more information about development and production environment configurations, see Server Configuration.

SilverStream administration

In addition to administering different application environments, you have administrative responsibilities for each of the three tiers in the server architecture: the client tier, the server tier, and the database tier.

Client administration

Specific requirements for running each of the SilverStream client types are as follows:

Browser. The browser requirements depend on the kind of HTML applications being run.

For more information, see the deployment chapter in the Programmer's Guide.
NOTE Browser administration is not covered in this guide. See your browser documentation for more information.
SilverJRunner. SilverJRunner is a SilverStream executable program that is available with the product as a deployment tool. You can use this program to run a SilverStream Java application. SilverJRunner is useful if you prefer not to run a Java application as an applet inside a browser.

For information about using SilverJRunner, see the deployment chapter in the Programmer's Guide
SilverStream Designer. The SilverStream Designer is installed using the SilverStream Installation program. The Designer is the SilverStream integrated development environment (IDE) for application developers. Each developer using the SilverStream IDE should have a Designer installed on their local workstation.
Non-SilverStream Java client. The SilverStream Server also supports non-SilverStream Java clients, such as a command-line Java application, a Java GUI application using AWT or Swing written with a third party IDE, or an externally written applet.

For more information, see the chapter on external clients in the Programmer's Guide.

Database administration

On the database side, your administrative duties include configuring a database, adding and deleting databases, reregistering a database, managing database connections, and some general administration. For more information, see Database Configuration.

One of the key features of the SilverStream environment is the SilverMaster catalog, which is created at installation as a relational database. Among other important functions, the SilverMaster maintains a catalog of databases managed by the server. For a description of the SilverMaster, see Database Configuration.

NOTE Each type of database requires its own administration. See your database vendor's documentation for details. For SilverStream-specific information, see the chapter about your DBMS in the SilverStream Installation Guide.

Server administration

In the SilverStream environment, server administration is your major responsibility. Most server administration is accomplished through the SilverStream Management Console, a standalone administration tool that is described later in this chapter.

Here are the major areas of SilverStream administration:

Administration area

Server environment

Description

Installation

N/A

Use the SilverStream Installation program to install the product.

    See the Installation Guide for instructions. See the release notes for the latest system requirements.

Databases

Development/Production

You need to specify how the server will communicate with one or more databases, and how to maintain database connections.

    See Database Configuration.

Licenses

Production

The server requires a valid license to run. You receive a license when you purchase the product. You can obtain additional licenses from SilverStream.

    See Managing licenses.

Statistics

Production

Once a production server is up and running you can monitor statistics in order to tune performance and schedule maintenance activity.

    See Maintaining the Server.

Logging

Development/Production

The SilverStream Server can log different types of system information to either a database or a file.

    See Using server logging.

Security

Production

SilverStream offers different levels of security: server security, application security, and database row-level security.

    See Setting Security.

Certificates

Production

Certificates are used in Secure Socket Layer (SSL) connections for the server to authenticate itself to clients and for the clients to authenticate themselves to the server. You can install RSA and DSA certificates on the SilverStream Server.

    See Setting Security.

Server performance

Production

The server has several settings that define its behavior when busy or under light load. You can define the number of connections required for the server to be in a specific state.

    See Tuning the Server.

Mail

Development/Production

The server can get mail from a POP3 server for processing by business objects. You can configure the mail accounts it reads and how often it checks for mail.

    See Setting up mail on the server.

Load balancing

Production

Load balancing lets you use multiple servers (clusters) in a large-scale production environment.

    See Administering a Cluster.

Troubleshooting

Development/Production

    See Troubleshooting.

Administration area	Server environment	Description
Installation	N/A	Use the SilverStream Installation program to install the product. See the Installation Guide for instructions. See the release notes for the latest system requirements.
Databases	Development/Production	You need to specify how the server will communicate with one or more databases, and how to maintain database connections. See Database Configuration.
Licenses	Production	The server requires a valid license to run. You receive a license when you purchase the product. You can obtain additional licenses from SilverStream. See Managing licenses.
Statistics	Production	Once a production server is up and running you can monitor statistics in order to tune performance and schedule maintenance activity. See Maintaining the Server.
Logging	Development/Production	The SilverStream Server can log different types of system information to either a database or a file. See Using server logging.
Security	Production	SilverStream offers different levels of security: server security, application security, and database row-level security. See Setting Security.
Certificates	Production	Certificates are used in Secure Socket Layer (SSL) connections for the server to authenticate itself to clients and for the clients to authenticate themselves to the server. You can install RSA and DSA certificates on the SilverStream Server. See Setting Security.
Server performance	Production	The server has several settings that define its behavior when busy or under light load. You can define the number of connections required for the server to be in a specific state. See Tuning the Server.
Mail	Development/Production	The server can get mail from a POP3 server for processing by business objects. You can configure the mail accounts it reads and how often it checks for mail. See Setting up mail on the server.
Load balancing	Production	Load balancing lets you use multiple servers (clusters) in a large-scale production environment. See Administering a Cluster.
Troubleshooting	Development/Production	See Troubleshooting.

For a quick reference of administration tasks, see Administration tasks.

The SilverStream Management Console (SMC)

The SilverStream Management Console (SMC) is a standalone administration tool that you can use for most of your SilverStream administration tasks. SMC can be run as a Java applet anywhere on the network in a browser or as a standalone SilverJRunner application.

You can perform the following administrative tasks using the SMC:

Maintain the SilverStream Server environment
Monitor the environment
Modify configuration options to improve performance
Set up authentication
Configure e-mail accounts for the server
Set up and maintain server clusters for load balancing

You can administer multiple servers from the same SMC window.

A few of the SMC settings affect entries in the httpd.props file, which you can edit directly. However SilverStream recommends that you use the SMC to change server settings, whenever possible. For more information about the httpd.props file, see The httpd.props File.

NOTE Silverstream also offers a full administration API that Java programmers can use to perform administration tasks programmatically. This API requires that users have the correct access privileges. For more information, see Using the Server Administration API.

Running the SMC

There are several ways for you to run the SMC.

To run the SMC in SilverJRunner:

Use any of the following methods.
- From the SilverStream Designer choose Manage Server from the File menu.
- From Windows NT choose Programs>SilverStream version>SilverStream Management Console from the Start menu.
- At a command prompt, type the following command:
```
  installation directory\SilverStream\bin\smc 
```

The smc command can take the following command-line options:

Command-line option

Description

-s serverName:port

Name of the SilverStream Server and optionally the port number that the server is listening on (default is localhost:80 for an NT server, localhost:8080 for a UNIX server)

-d databaseName

Name of the SilverMaster database (default is SilverMaster35)

-?

Lists options

Command-line option	Description
-s serverName:port	Name of the SilverStream Server and optionally the port number that the server is listening on (default is localhost:80 for an NT server, localhost:8080 for a UNIX server)
-d databaseName	Name of the SilverMaster database (default is SilverMaster35)
-?	Lists options

To run the SMC in Internet Explorer from the SilverStream Designer:

From the SilverStream Designer open the Pages directory for the SilverMaster database.
Select smc.html and click the Run button at the bottom of the right panel on the Designer.
For the browser login, use the administrator user name and password for your site (note that passwords are case-sensitive). The default user name/password pair is the following:
```
  Administrator/admin 
```

To start the SMC directly from Internet Explorer:

Use the following URL:

  http://server/SilverStream/Pages/smc.html

For example, if you are running a local server, you would specify:

  http://localhost/SilverStream/Pages/smc.html

For the browser login, use the administrator user name and password for your site (note that passwords are case-sensitive). The default user name/password pair is the following:
```
  Administrator/admin 
```

Changing the administrator's password

You should change the password for administrators at your site as soon as possible. For information, see About Silver Security users and groups.

Creating a secure connection

You can establish a secure (SSL) connection between the SMC and the SilverStream Server. For information, see Establishing a secure connection to the server.

The SMC user interface

The SMC consists of a series of panels that provide the settings you can make to administer the server.

NOTE The SMC displays different options if you are running the server in a clustered environment. For more information, see Administering a Cluster.

SMC panels

The administrative options are divided into panels, such as General, Advanced, and so on.

For a quick reference to the different SMC panels, see SMC panels.

Toolbar

The toolbar at the top of the console displays buttons that allow you to perform actions.

Button

Description

Configuration

Provides access to configuration options, such as general server options, database options, and client connection options

Security

Provides access to security options, such as users and groups, the use of user authentication, certificates, and security providers

Monitor

Provides access to charts of server statistics, server logs, and views of statistics

Choose (server)

Add a server on your network to administer using the SMC; you can administer as many servers from one SMC console as you want

Restart (server)

Restart the selected server after changing parameters

Stop (server)

Shut down the selected server

New (cluster)

Create a cluster profile for load balancing.

Dissolve (cluster)

Dissolve a load balancing server cluster and delete the cluster profile (applies to server clustering only).

Button	Description
Configuration	Provides access to configuration options, such as general server options, database options, and client connection options
Security	Provides access to security options, such as users and groups, the use of user authentication, certificates, and security providers
Monitor	Provides access to charts of server statistics, server logs, and views of statistics
Choose (server)	Add a server on your network to administer using the SMC; you can administer as many servers from one SMC console as you want
Restart (server)	Restart the selected server after changing parameters
Stop (server)	Shut down the selected server
New (cluster)	Create a cluster profile for load balancing.
Dissolve (cluster)	Dissolve a load balancing server cluster and delete the cluster profile (applies to server clustering only).

Logging in

If you invoke the SMC without providing a user name or password, you are connected as Anonymous, and have any permissions that are unrestricted.

NOTE If you have logged in through the SilverStream Designer and invoke the SMC from the Designer, you are logged into the SMC as that user, not as Anonymous.

As administrator, the first thing you should do is log in as the administrator (typically, with user name Administrator).

To log in:

Select File>Login.

The Enter Password dialog displays.
Enter your administrator user name and password, then click OK.

NOTE SilverStream predefines a user named Administrator with the case-sensitive password admin. For information about the predefined user Administrator, see Predefined user and groups.

You now have all administration permissions. The SMC shows the name of the user in its window title.

Logging out

You can log out from any server except the server you started the SMC from.

To log out:

In the left panel of the SMC, select a server other than the one you started the SMC from.
Select File>Logout.

You are now connected to that server as Anonymous (as shown in the window title). If you want, you can log back in as a user.

Online help

SilverStream provides a complete online help system. The online help contains the entire contents of the printed documentation set (including the Administrator's Guide) and much more.

There are several ways to access the Administration help.

From the SMC, press F1 or select Help/Help Topics. The Administration Quick Reference displays in your browser. From there you can access the entire Administrator's Guide as well as the rest of the SilverStream help.
From the SilverStream Designer, select Help/Help Topics and select the Administrator's Guide book in the help table of contents frame and choose the item you want.
From outside SilverStream, from the Start menu select Programs>SilverStream version>SilverStream Help and select the Administrator's Guide book in the help table of contents frame.