Setting up Pulse Web Service on Win Server 2008

Deadline
1

Hi there,

I wanted to setup the Pulse Web Service to use with the mobile apps, however, I’m quite inexperienced in this regard (aside from setting up a IIS server).

So, my setup is:

  1. Pulse running on a dedicated (license) server called JESUS
  2. The repository is on a dedicated (file) server called MESSIAH

I have IIS setup and running on Messiah, though, if it can be used?

Both servers run Windows Server 2008 (MESSIAH only x86 version, JESUS x64 version)

Since Vista, there is no program called HttpCfg.exe, they suggest using Netsh (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa364478%28VS.85%29.aspx), but, in the docs it is only explained using the HttpCfg.exe.

So, how exactly can I setup the web server on the Pulse machine?

Also, where do I get the user ID from?

Thanks a lot in advance!

2

Ok, so, I tried experimenting with netsh and found some examples where they compare the older HttpCfg.exe commands and the new netsh commands.

What I did was this:

netsh http add urlacl url=http://+:8082/ user=STUDIO\loocas listen=yes delegate=yes

All went fine, but I still cannot see the Pulse’s “Error - Not a supported command.” response when I try to access the server: jesus:8082/ :cry:

Btw: the MESSIAH server is also a domain controller for the studio. The domain is called STUDIO (obviously).

3

There is something we can check, but first you need to enable Pulse verbose logging if it’s not enabled already. This can be done from the logging section of the Repository Options. Also, while you’re in there, can you check the Web Service Connection Limit setting in the pulse web service section? If it’s 0, that means that the web service is disabled, so bump it up if that’s the case.

Once verbose logging is enabled, and you’ve ensured that the connection limit is > 0, then restart Pulse and note the first couple of lines it prints out. If it’s unable to start the web service, it will print the appropriate message.

Cheers,

  • Ryan
4

I’ve checked the documentation, so I set the limit to 10. I’ll double check the logging and restart pulse. But right now the farm is busy, so I don’t want to toy with it for now. But will definitely do it later today.

I think the issue is setting up the http service (or whatever)in Win Server 2008. Even though the netsh commands were successfull, I wasn’t able to see anything when I accessed the web site.

Anyways, will come back with the results after the current job is rendered. Thanks for your reply!

5

Ok, now we’re getting somewhere! After restarting Pulse I get a different message when trying to connect to the server:

HTTP Error 503. The service is unavailable.

Also on the Android app.

What else needs to be setup?

Btw, Pulse wrote out after restart:

Web Service: Web Service is using Basic Authentication.
Web Service: Web Service listening for connections on port 8082…
Thermal Shutdown: Skipping zone “PowerSaver” because it is disabled
Idle Shutdown: Using default idle override settings for group “PowerSaver”
Idle Shutdown: Checking for slaves in group “PowerSaver” that have been idle for at least 240 minutes
…

6

It looks like Pulse is listening properly now.

Is it possible there is a firewall or antivirus software on that machine that is blocking the communication? You might need to add an exception for the Pulse app and the port it’s listening on so that remove machines can connect to it.

Cheers,

  • Ryan
7

All software firewalls are turned off completely. There is only one, HW, firewall that has the exception.

I’m not sure what else to setup. :frowning:

I did reserve this urlacl, if it changes anything: netsh http add urlacl url=http://+:8082/ user=STUDIO\loocas listen=yes delegate=yes

I’ll try to change the user, though, that might be the only thing I can think of.

8

So, nothing more to setup? :cry:

9

You had mentioned that you were going to try and change the user. I’m assuming that didn’t work?

Since Pulse says it’s web service is listening, it would appear that everything is working from Deadline’s end. Have you tried connecting to it from a browser running on the the same machine? If that works, then we know that the web service itself is working.

Cheers,

  • Ryan
10

Yeah, I did. Unfortunately that didn’t work.

Yeah, I also tried that, but I got the same response. Error 503. I’m sure there is something wrong with the web service setup as I have no experience in that regard. But I followed exactly your instructions, except with netsh commands, due to the Windows 2008 nature. I have no idea what else to do. I’ve tried to google the problem, but most of the answers point to the IIS and if not then they describe a completely different scenario than mine.

So, isn’t there a folder or a program or anything I have to point to in the URI definition? Or anything else?

11

Ok, so, basically I managed to get this thing working, but I actually had to delete the urlacl reservation in order to be able to log-in and finally see the “error - Not a supported command” message!

Even the deadline app (for android) works! However, it logs in (I assume) but throws this error message:

An error occured when parsing the data returned from Pulse: At line 1, column 0 syntax error.

I’m on the Deadline 4.1.0.43205 R if it makes any difference?

The deadline app for Android is the latest app downloaded from the beta forum.

12

Glad to hear you got it working!

Yes, that does make a difference. We had to update the mobile scripts in the repository to support the Android app, so currently it is only supported in the Deadline 5.0 beta.

Cheers,

  • Ryan
13

Aha! Will test that on my virtual Deadline installation tomorrow and will report back. :slight_smile:

Thanks for the info!