1.2 Appliance Requirements

Ensure that your system meets the requirements in this section before you begin the installation of the PlateSpin Transformation Manager Appliance.

1.2.1 Appliance Host Server

You deploy the OVF file for the PlateSpin Transformation Manager Appliance on your virtualization host server.

Virtualization Host Server

PlateSpin transformation supports the following virtualization software:

  • VMware ESXi version 5.5 or higher. The ESXi host must have a VMware enterprise license.

  • VMware vSphere Client 5.x or higher. Use this tool to set up the hypervisor environment for the appliance VM.

Micro Focus recommends setting up NTP for the Appliance in accordance with the VMware Time Keeping Best Practices for Linux Guests (KB 1006427).

Virtual Machine

The OVF creates a virtual machine. This section describes the VM minimum requirements.

  • Memory: The host server must provide a minimum of 4 GB of memory for the virtual machine. This memory configuration is the appliance default.

  • Processor: The host server must provide a minimum of 2 vCPUs for the virtual machine. This processor configuration is the appliance default.

  • IP Address Information: During the deployment, you must provide the following IP address information for the appliance, including:

    • Static IP address

    • Network mask

    • Gateway IP address

    • DNS hostname associated with the IP address

    • IP address of a DNS server

    • IP address or DNS name of the NTP (Network Time Protocol) server

      Micro Focus recommends setting up NTP for the Appliance in accordance with the VMware Time Keeping Best Practices for Linux Guests (KB 1006427).

Virtual Storage

You must provide a boot disk and a data disk when you deploy the appliance:

  • Disk 1 Boot: The boot partition for the appliance stores the system files, including the guest operating system, all appliance-specific software, and the appliance system event logs that are stored in the /var directory. The default size is 20 GB.

  • Disk 2 /vastorage: The /vastorage partition stores the PlateSpin Transformation Manager software and PostgreSQL database, the appliance configuration information, and the Ganglia health metrics. You must create and add this virtual disk during the appliance installation. The required size is 20 GB or larger.

1.2.2 Appliance Management Console

Most of your management interaction with the PlateSpin Transformation Manager Appliance takes place through the browser-based PlateSpin Transformation Manager Appliance Management Console.

Supported Web Browsers

PlateSpin Transformation Manager supports the following web browsers for the Appliance Management Console:

  • Google Chrome (latest version)

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 11

  • Mozilla Firefox (latest version)

NOTE:JavaScript (Active Scripting) must be enabled in your web browser.

Appliance Management Ports and Firewalls

PlateSpin Transformation Manager communications use the following ports. They are opened by default for the appliance, as noted. Ensure that you open the following ports in all firewalls in your network between the PlateSpin Transformation Manager Appliance and the computers you use to access the appliance.

Table 1-1 Communications Ports for Appliance Management

Component

Port

Description

Appliance Management Console
  • 9443
  • (HTTPS, secure SSL)

Use this port to securely manage the appliance.

Transformation Manager Database (PostgreSQL)

5432

If you configure a remote PostgreSQL database for the appliance, this port is used by PTM to access to your remote database. PostgreSQL allows TCP traffic, incoming and outgoing. Secure traffic by enabling SSL in the postgresql.conf file on your remote PostgreSQL server.

This port is closed by default if the PostgreSQL is installed on the appliance.

SSH

22

You can use SSH to remotely access the appliance to start, stop, or restart it without using a VMware client.

SSH is disabled by default. See Section 3.4.1, Starting, Stopping, or Restarting System Services.

Ganglia

8649 (secure, default)

9080 (non-secure)

The Ganglia gmond daemon uses UDP port 8649 for communications.

The gmetad daemon uses TCP port 8649 for metrics data.

You can enable port 9080 to allow anonymous access to the Ganglia monitoring information. See Section 3.7.3, View Ganglia Metrics Directly Using Port 9080 (Not Secure).

1.2.3 PlateSpin Server Web Interface

User interaction with the PlateSpin Transformation Manager Server takes place through the browser-based PlateSpin Transformation Manager Web Interface.

Supported Web Browsers

PlateSpin Transformation Manager supports the following web browsers for the PlateSpin Server Web Interface:

  • Google Chrome (latest version)

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 11

  • Mozilla Firefox (latest version)

NOTE:JavaScript (Active Scripting) must be enabled in your web browser.

PlateSpin Server Ports and Firewalls

PlateSpin Transformation Manager communications use the following ports for the PlateSpin Transformation Manager Server. They are opened by default for the appliance, as noted. Ensure that you open the following ports in all firewalls in your network between the PlateSpin Transformation Manager Appliance and the computers you use to access the PlateSpin Transformation Manager Server.

Table 1-2 Communications Ports for the PlateSpin Server

Component

Port

Description

Web Interface
  • 8183
  • (HTTPS, secure SSL)
  • 8182
  • (HTTP, non-secure)

Port 8183 is enabled by default. It allows TCP and UDP traffic, incoming and outgoing.

NOTE:Micro Focus recommends that you use the secure port and SSL options for accessing the Web Interface.

For security reasons, port 8182 is disabled by default. If you enable it, allow TCP and UDP traffic, incoming and outgoing.