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Warning

If you are running a SSP version prior to 1.1.1, you are strongly encouraged to upgrade or otherwise apply the reporting subsystem security patches described by SSP-701.

Also please take a few minutes to review additional security-related announcements detailed at the top of the SSP space here in Confluence.

Table of Contents

Step by step instructions for building and deploying the SSP

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2.0-b2 release.

Software Prerequisites (JDK, Tomcat, Maven, Ant, RDBMS)
SSP Platform build and deployment

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Anchor
Software Pre-reqs
Software Pre-reqs
Software Prerequisites

The following software prerequisites must be installed with the appropriate environment variables to build and run SSP:

JDK 1.6 update 21 or later (JDK 1.7 is not supported as of 2013/01)
- Download Location: http://java.sun.com (openjdk works as well)
- Environment Variable: JAVA_HOME
  Tip
  title Java Environment Variable
  JAVA_HOME=/path/to/your/java (ie: /usr/local/java or C:\java\jdk)
  
  (optional)
  PATH= append the bin subdirectory to the path statement
Tomcat 6.X (Tomcat 7 is not supported as of 2013/01)
- Instructions for installing and configuring Tomcat for the SSP-Platform (uPortal 4.0)
  Warning
  title Tomcat Configuration
  It is important to complete sections: Environment Variables, Shared Libraries, Shared Sessions, Java Heap
Maven 3.0.3 or later
Download Loation: http://maven.apache.org

Environment Variable: MAVEN_HOME

Tip

title	Maven Environment Variables

MAVEN_HOME=

Additionally, a performance improvement has been experienced by enabling compression in Tomcat

Tip

Add compression="force" to the server.xml in the connector like the following:

<Connector port="8080" protocol="HTTP/1.1

connectionTimeout="20000"

redirectPort="8443"

emptySessionPath="true"

compression="force" />

Maven 3.0.3 or later

Download Loation: http://maven.apache.org

Environment Variable: MAVEN_HOME

Tip

title	Maven Environment Variables

MAVEN_HOME= /path/to/your/maven (ie: /usr/local/maven or C:\tools\maven)

M2_HOME= /path/to/your/maven (ie: /usr/local/maven or C:\tools\maven)


(optional)
PATH= append the bin subdirectory to the path statement

Ant 1.8.2 (use this exact version)
- Download Location: http://ant.apache.org
- Environment Variable: ANT_HOME
  Tip
  title Ant Environment Variable
  ANT_HOME= /path/to/your/ant (ie: /usr/local/ant or C:\tools\ant)
  
  (optional)
  PATH= append the bin subdirectory to the path statement
RDBMS (support for PostgreSQL and Microsoft SQL Server)
- PostgreSQL 9.1 or later
  - Download Location: http://www.postgresql.org
    - On Unix:
      - PostgreSQL is available in the package manager of most linux distributions.
        Install it according to the distribution's instructions
      - Ubuntu - https://help.ubuntu.com/11.10/serverguide/C/postgresql.html
    - On Mac:
      - PostgreSQL is available via the homebrew package manager or as a download on the postgresql.org site.
    - On Windows:
      - PostgreSQL is available as a download on the postgresql.org site.
  - Configure PostgreSQL
    - Server Connection
      - Launch the PG Admin application
      - In the Object Browser, navigate to and right click on Server Groups -> Servers -> PostgreSQL 9.1 (localhost:5432)
      - Click Connect and the enter the administrator password
    - Login Roles
      - In the Object Browser, right click on Login Roles and click New Login Role
        In the Properties tab, enter a Role name of "sspadmin" without the quotes
        In the Definition tab, enter a Password of "sspadmin" without the quotes
      - In the Object Browser, right click on Login Roles and click New Login Role
        
        In the Properties tab, enter a Role name of "ssp" without the quotes
        In the Definition tab, enter a Password of "ssp" without the quotes
      - Confirm the new Login Roles exist in the Object Browser
    - Database
      - In the Object Browser, right click on Databases and click New Database
        Enter "ssp" without the quotes as the database name
        Enter "sspadmin" without the quotes as the database owner
      - Confirm the new database exists in the Object Browser
- Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2
  - Server Connection
    - Launch the SQL Server Management Studio application
    - Enter your database connection info including administrator account credentials, and click Connect
  - Login Roles
    - Navigate to Security->Logins, and right click on New Login
      - Login name of "sspadmin" without the quotes
      - Select SQL Server authentication and enter a Password of "sspadmin" without the quote
      - Uncheck Enforce password policy
    - Right click on Logins again, and New Login Role
      - Login name of "ssp" without the quotes
      - Select SQL Server authentication and enter a Password of "ssp" without the quote
      - Uncheck Enforce password policy
    - Confirm the new users exist
  - Database
    - Navigate to and right click on Databases and click New Database
      - Enter "ssp" without the quotes as the database name
    - Confirm the new database exists
    - Run the following SQL to assign user permissions and configure the required database settings

...

Info

title	RDBMS Platform Flexibility

Currently SSP supports use of PosgreSQL and Microsoft SQL Server 2008, or 2008 R2. The project team develops and tests against PostgreSQL and Microsoft SQL Server.

Future support for Oracle and other RDBMS is planned.

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Anchor
SSP-Platform Build
SSP-Platform Build
Configure and Deploy SSP-Platform

The following configurations are required to build and deploy SSP-Platform.

1. Download the SSP-Platform Release

Zip Download
The source files can be downloaded in a zip file Download Location: SSP 12.20.0-b2 Unzip the file into the directory created in step 1 above (ie: C:\ssp)

2. SSP Configuration Files

Create a directory for the local SSP configuration files
- Example:
  - Unix/Linux/Mac example: /usr/local/ssp
  - Windows example: C:\ssp\ssp-local
- Make the directory only readable by the user that is running Tomcat
- Set an Environment Variable for the local configuration file location
  Tip
  SSP_CONFIGDIR=/path/to/your/local-configuration (ie: /usr/local/ssp/ssp-local or C:\ssp\ssp-local)

ssp-config.properties

The ssp-config.properties file must be modifed for database connectivity and email settings
File Location: github

Action: create the ssp-config.properties file in the local configuration directory (ie: C:\ssp\ssp-local)

- Configuration Values:
  Value Description Note
  system_id Unique identifier of the SSP instance
  db_

urljdbc

username	Values for connecting to the SSP database
db_password	Values for connecting to the SSP database
db_admin_username	Values for connecting to the SSP database
db_admin_password	Values for connecting to the SSP database
db_name	Value for the SSP database
db_url	jdbc connection syntax	For Microsoft SQL Server, either specify a port (the default is 1433) or ensure that the SQL Server Browser service is running because the SQL Server JDBC driver defaults to port 1434 which is the SQL Server Server Browser service default port. Depending on the server configuration, either may work, or you may want to explicitly specify the port and instance name, if applicable.
db_driver_class	jdbc database connectivity syntax
db_dialect	Hibernate dialect	Use of one of the `org.jasig.ssp.util.hibernate.ExtendedSQLServer*Dialects` is strongly encouraged if running against SQLSever. The default `ssp-config.properties`

has an example.)

db_username

Values for connecting to the SSP database

has an example.)
db_conns_max_active	Values for the database connection pool	The default value will need to be increased for test and product
db_conns_max_idle	Values for the database connection pool	The default value will need to be increased for test and product
db_conns_max_wait	Values for the database connection pool
db_conns_

passwordValues for connecting to the SSP database

- validation_query Values for the database connection pool
  db_liquibase_enabled Enables the liquibase script for database table management
  db_liquibase_changelog Location for the liquibase change log
  db

_admin_username

Values for connecting to the SSP database

db_admin_password

Values for connecting to the SSP database

db_name

Value for the SSP database

_liquibase_set_mssql_snapshot_isolation	Parameter for configuring a MSSQL database	IMPORTANT The default value is 'true'. Set this value to 'false for MSSQL. The liquibase changeset 000014.xml will be ignored. The sql above configures the database correctly.
db_liquibase_strip_journal_comment_markup	Parameter to enable a script to convert HTML Journal Entries to plain text
db_

conns

- liquibase_

max_active

Values for the database connection pool

The default value will need to be increased for test and product

db_conns_max_idle

Values for the database connection pool

The default value will need to be increased for test and product

db_conns_max_wait

Values for the database connection pool

db_conns_validation_query

Values for the database connection pool

db_liquibase_enabled

Enables the liquibase script for database table management

db_liquibase_changelog

Location for the liquibase change log

db_liquibase_set_mssql_snapshot_isolation

Parameter for configuring a MSSQL database

IMPORTANT

The default value is 'true'. Set this value to 'false for MSSQL. The liquibase changeset 000014.xml will be ignored. The sql above configures the database correctly.

db_liquibase_strip_journal_comment_markup

Parameter to enable a script to convert HTML Journal Entries to plain text

db_liquibase_strip_tuition_paid_is_y

True value will delete the existing values forced into the database in v1.2.0, False will leave the existing values alone

This only applies to implementers who installed v1.2.0 or earlier AND populated the external_registration_status_by_term.tuition_paid field with external data

strip_tuition_paid_is_y	True value will delete the existing values forced into the database in v1.2.0, False will leave the existing values alone	This only applies to implementers who installed v1.2.0 or earlier AND populated the external_registration_status_by_term.tuition_paid field with external data
db_liquibase_convert_external_term_timestamps	True value in external_term.start_date and external_term.end_date will be interpreted in ${db_time_zone_legacy} and re-written in ${db_time_zone_legacy}.	True usually makes sense for both upgrades and fresh installs. Would only set to false if for some reason these fields have already been converted to ${db_time_zone) via some external process.
db_batchsize	The number of records to process for database transactions.	The default value is 300. Use of the parameter can increase performance of queries writing large sums of data into the database. This is primarily used in the Caseload Re-assignment

tool.

tool.
cacheLifeSpanInMillis	This property will dictate how long lived a cache will be only external courses uses a cache	default is 86400000 = 1 day
db_time_zone_legacy	Parameter to set the timezone for data migration	Used for migrating persistent timestamps. Prior to work on SSP-1002, SSP-1035, and SSP-1076, timestamps were stored in the JVM default timezone. After that the application assumes they are stored in ${db_time_zone}. In order to correctly migrate existing data, though, the app needs to know the original timezone. This is almost always going to be the current JVM default timezone, hence the default value here, which is a special value instructing the app to lookup and inject that timezone into this config property. In the rare event you need to change that value, you can do so here. This would likely only be necessary if, for whatever reason you change the JVM default after the migrations run, which would result in a Liquibase checksum error. To avoid that, just set the relevant timezone here when and if you make that change. Default is CURRENT_JVM_DEFAULT
db_time_zone	Timezone ID for the JVM	JVM-recognized TimeZone ID for the zone in which persistent date/time values should be interpreted. Should rarely if ever need to be overridden. If overridden, should always be set to a TimeZone that does not observe Daylight Savings Time unless trying to cope with legacy data that was stored in a DST-aware TimeZone. Once set, should never be changed else date/time values in the database will be interpreted incorrectly. (SSP does not store timezone data on persistent date/time values and implements no logic for detecting and/or handling changes to this configuration option.) Default is UTC
smtp_username	Value for email relay
smtp_password	Value for email relay
smtp_host	Value for email relay
smtp_port	Value

for email relay

smtp_password

Value for email relay

smtp_host

Value for email relay

smtp_port

Value for email relay

ssp_admins_email_addresses

Recipient of system generated messages

scheduled_coach_sync_enabled

Parameter to enable coach sync process

per_coach_sync_transactions

Parameter to enable the sync process to run per coach instead of one large transaction for all coaches

for email relay
smtp_protocol	Protocol for email	Default is smtp
ssp_admins_email_addresses	Recipient of system generated messages
scheduled_coach_sync_enabled	Parameter to enable coach sync process
per_coach_sync_transactions	Parameter to enable the sync process to run per coach instead of one large transaction for all coaches
scheduled_task_cleanup_wait_millis	Max amount of time, in milliseconds, the app will wait during shutdown for any background tasks to abandon their work.	Default is 10000
uportal_session_keep_alive_timeout	Length of time for uPortal sessions KeepAliveFilter
spring.profiles.active	Deployment options	dev-standalone: completely free of uPortal standalone: as the only portlet in a uPortal instance uPortal: as one of many portlets in a uPortal instance
ssp_main_use_minifed_js	Parameter to determine the javascript file used in the deployment	When set to true, ssp-main.jsp will include a minified js called app-all.js When set to false, ssp-main.jsp will include the non-minified app.js

uportal_session_keep_alive_timeout

Length of time for uPortal sessions KeepAliveFilter

spring.profiles.active

Deployment options

dev-standalone: completely free of uPortal
standalone: as the only portlet in a uPortal instance

uPortal: as one of many portlets in a uPortal instance

logback.xml

The logback.xml controls the log location and level
File Location: github
Action: create the logback.xml file in the local configuration directory (ie: C:\ssp\ssp-local)
Configuration Values: property file

...

Additional configuration options
- Adjust the log levels for each log appender as necessary
- Enable the smtpAppender (disabled by default)
- Further details regarding managing the logback.xml are included in XML comments within the file

3. Modify SSP-Platform Configuration Files

build.properties
- The build.properties.sample file is copied or renamed in the current directory. The parameter defines the location of Tomcat.
- File Location: (uPortal-ssp-1-1-0)
- Configuration Values: server.home parameter

...

pom.xml (For Microsoft SQL only)

JDBC driver for SSP-Platform if not using PostgreSQL

Warning
The pom.xml should only be changed with extreme care. The Microsoft SQL Server jdbc driver needs to be identified in the build. The parameter defines the location of the driver in the local repository.

File Location: (uPortal-ssp-1-1-0)
Configuration Values: parameters

Action: modify the existing parameters defined for PostgreSQL

Code Block

title	JDBC driver identified in the pom.xml

        <!-- The JDBC Driver used by SSP -->
        <jdbc.groupId>net.sourceforge.jtds</jdbc.groupId>
        <jdbc.artifactId>jtds</jdbc.artifactId>
        <jdbc.version>1.2.4</jdbc.version>

local.properties

The local.properties file must be modifed for database connectivity and email settings
File Location: (uPortal-ssp-1-1-0)/filters
Configuration Values:

Value	Description
environment.build.hibernate.connection.driver_class	jdbc driver file
environment.build.hibernate.connection.url	jdbc connection syntax
environment.build.hibernate.connection.username	jdbc connection database username
environment.build.hibernate.connection.password	jdbc connection database password
environment.build.hibernate.dialect	jdbc connection dialect

4. Build SSP-Platform

Use the following command to build, deploy, and initialize the SSP-Platform project:

...

Warning

title	For Microsoft SQL Server ONLY

Follow steps 2 & 3 from the following page to update appropriate database tables for SSP-PLATFORM

Restart Tomcat

5. Test Deployment

Start Tomcat and point your browser to http://localhost:8080/ssp-platform
Click Sign In, and use the credentials user: admin password: admin

6. Production Deployment Tips

Warning

title	Delete Demo Users

If you are deploying to a production environment, you should delete or change the passwords for the uPortal users created for demonstration purposes, including the admin user. This can be done through the user interface: Manage Users -> Find an Existing User -> [Enter user ID from list below] -> [Click result] -> Delete or Edit, then change password. Demo users:

admin

advisor0

ken

student0

student1

...

Versions Compared

Old Version 4

New Version Current

Key

Step by step instructions for building and deploying the SSP

2.0-b2 release.

Anchor
Software Pre-reqs
Software Pre-reqs
Software Prerequisites

Anchor
SSP-Platform Build
SSP-Platform Build
Configure and Deploy SSP-Platform

1. Download the SSP-Platform Release

2. SSP Configuration Files

3. Modify SSP-Platform Configuration Files

4. Build SSP-Platform

5. Test Deployment

6. Production Deployment Tips

validation_query	Values for the database connection pool
db_liquibase_enabled	Enables the liquibase script for database table management
db_liquibase_changelog	Location for the liquibase change log
db

Page Comparison

Versions Compared

Old Version 4

New Version Current

Key

Step by step instructions for building and deploying the SSP

2.0-b2 release.

AnchorSoftware Pre-reqsSoftware Pre-reqsSoftware Prerequisites

AnchorSSP-Platform BuildSSP-Platform BuildConfigure and Deploy SSP-Platform

1. Download the SSP-Platform Release

2. SSP Configuration Files

3. Modify SSP-Platform Configuration Files

4. Build SSP-Platform

5. Test Deployment

6. Production Deployment Tips

Anchor
Software Pre-reqs
Software Pre-reqs
Software Prerequisites

Anchor
SSP-Platform Build
SSP-Platform Build
Configure and Deploy SSP-Platform