Install Exalate for HP ALM/QC

    Warning: We are moving Exalate for HP QC/ALM into basic maintenance mode. This transition period will last until November 2024, after which support will be halted completely. For more information, please see https://exalate.com/blog/end-of-support-hp/.

    Exalate architecture requires installing one Exalate application for each instance.

    Since HP ALM/QC does not offer any integration option for plugins, you need to install a separate server to store the Exalate for HP ALM/QC application and configure it to communicate with your HP ALM/QC.

    System Requirements

    Please read All system requirements before installing the Exalate app for HP ALM/QC.

    Install Exalate for HP ALM/QC on CentOS 6

    Exalate Server for HP ALM/QC hosts the applications to translate the HP ALM/QC defect information to a common format and the way around.

    The application requires JAVA and PostgreSQL.

    Note: Exalate for HP ALM/QC supports HP ALM v. 11.05 - 12.55. Starting from version 5.0.11, Exalate supports HP ALM/QC version 15.0.

    Install and Configure the Database Server (PostgreSQL 9.6)

    Please follow the steps to install PostgreSQL on the exalate server as documented here https://wiki.postgresql.org/wiki/YUM_Installation
    Ensure that

    • the database server comes up when the server is booted
    • the data directories are included in the backup strategy

    Enable PostgreSQL to Accept Login with Password

    http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4328679/how-to-configure-postgresql-so-it-accepts-loginpassword-a...

    You need to modify /var/lib/pgsql/9.6/data/pg_hba.conf to require md5 for local IPv4 connections, such as at the end of the file it does look like

    # TYPE  DATABASE        USER            ADDRESS                 METHOD
    # "local" is for Unix domain socket connections only such as postgres
    local   all             all                                     trust
    # IPv4 local connections:
    host    all             all             127.0.0.1/32            md5
    
    

    Restart the Database

     systemctl restart postgresql-9.6.service 

    Installing OpenJDK

    Note:

    • You need to have Exalate for HPQC version 5.0 and higher
    • For versions lower than 5.0, please deploy Oracle Java version 1.8

    Commands extracted from https://www.liquidweb.com/kb/install-java-8-on-centos-7/

    #refresh repos
    yum -y update
    
    #install the openjdk - latest version in the 8 family
    yum install java-1.8.0-openjdk
    
    #ensure it is being used - choose the openjdk
    update-alternatives --config java
    
    
    #update the java home in your .bash_profile by adding (the openjdk path depends on what was installed)
    export JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.8.0-openjdk-1.8.0.242.b08-0.el7_7.x86_64
    export JAVA_JRE=$JAVA_HOME/jre
    export PATH=$PATH:@JAVA_JRE/bin/
    
    
    


    Install the Exalate server for HP ALM/QC

    Note: You can download the Exalate server for HP ALM/QC RPM from here.

    Install the latest version of the Exalate app for HP ALM/QC :

    # the version number will differ
    yum localinstall exalate-hpqcnode-5.0.13.noarch.rpm

    This creates these files:

    • /opt/hpqcnode/data -> Contains configuration files
      • /opt/hpqcnode/logs -> Contains log files
    • /opt/hpqcnode/install -> contains all the files (binaries) which are necessary for the application to run
    • /etc/init.d/hpqcnode -> Script which allows start, stop and restart hpqcnode application
    • /etc/sysconfig/hpqcnode -> System properties

    Copy dist files into prod files

    cp /etc/sysconfig/hpqcnode.dist /etc/sysconfig/hpqcnode
    cp /etc/init.d/hpqcnode.dist /etc/init.d/hpqcnode
    cp /opt/hpqcnode/data/hpqcnode.conf.dist /opt/hpqcnode/data/hpqcnode.conf
    cp /opt/hpqcnode/data/logger.xml.dist /opt/hpqcnode/data/logger.xml


    Adapt configuration files

    Adapt /etc/init.d/hpqcnode RUN_AS_USER variable to point to a valid user who is running the application

    ...
    #
    #
    
    # Script arguments (start, stop, restart or status)
    COMMAND=$1
    
    # ***********************************************
    # *************  Set these variables  ***********
    
    RUN_AS_USER=root // Set the user that would be running the application
    NAME=hpqcnode
    HOME_DIR=/opt/hpqcnode
    DATA_DIR=$HOME_DIR/data
    APP_DIR=$HOME_DIR/install
    SYSCONFIG=/etc/sysconfig/hpqcnode
    
    # ***********************************************
    
    # stop if no configuration available
    if [ ! -f "$SYSCONFIG" ]; then printf "no config present ... exiting\n"; exit 1; fi
    ...


    Adapt /etc/sysconfig/hpqcnode parameters:

    # ---------
    # Data Base specifics
    DHPQCNODE_PG_USER=idalko
    DHPQCNODE_PG_PWD=idalko
    DHPQCNODE_PG_HOST=localhost
    #DHPQCNODE_PG_HOST="localhost:5432"
    DHPQCNODE_PG_DB=hpqcnode
    # ---------
    # OS User Name
    # Name of the OS User to run the app with
    DHPQCNODE_SYS_USER=root
    # ---------
    # Port specifics
    DHPQCNODE_PORT=9000
    # ---------
    # SMTP specifics
    DHPQCNODE_SMTP_HOST_NAME=mail.server.com
    DHPQCNODE_SMTP_PORT=465
    DHPQCNODE_SMTP_FROM=admin@admin.com
    DHPQCNODE_SMTP_USER=admin
    DHPQCNODE_SMTP_PASS=1234567
    DHPQCNODE_SMTP_SSL=true
    # ---------

    Start the application

    /etc/init.d/hpqcnode start


    Troubleshooting

    Problems during the installation using yum

    If you have problems during the installation of the Exalate server for HP ALM/QC using yum, you can find logs describing possible problems inside /tmp The name for this file is generated randomly automatically by the OS but you should be able to find the file based on the creation date.

    In case of 'yum list postgresql*' please see Problems during Installation using Yum .

    Problems while running the Exalate server for HP ALM/QC

    Logs are generated under the directory: /opt/hpqcnode/data/logs. Refer to these logs to get more information about possible problems and communicate with our support if you need any assistance.

    Run Exalate for HP ALM/QC on Docker

    Note: You need to install Docker. Check the docker documentation for more details.

    1. Create directory and create docker-compose.yml file

    Create a directory to hold the docker-compose file:

    cd ~
    mkdir exalate-hp-qc

    Create the docker-compose.yml file in it:

    cd exalate-hp-qc
    touch docker-compose.yml
    cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
    version: '2'
    
    services:
      database:
        restart: always
        image: postgres:12.19
        volumes:
          - voldatabase:/var/lib/postgresql/data
          - ./createdb.sh:/docker-entrypoint-initdb.d/init-user-db.sh
        environment:
          - DB_NAME=hpqcnode
          - DB_USER=idalko
          - DB_PASS=idalko
        networks:
          - database
    
      hpqcnode:
        restart: always
        ports:
          - 9000:9000
        image: idalko/hpqcnode:latest
        depends_on:
          - database #wait for postgres to be started, not for ready
        volumes:
          - volhpqcnode:/opt/hpqcnode/data
        environment:
          - HPQCNODE_PG_DB=hpqcnode
          - HPQCNODE_PG_USER=idalko
          - HPQCNODE_PG_PWD=idalko
        networks:
          - database
          - default
    
    volumes:
      voldatabase:
      volhpqcnode:
    
    networks:
      database:
        driver: bridge
      default:
        driver: bridge
    EOF

    2. Ensure that a correct database is setup using a createdb.sh

    Create or download a createdb.sh file (referenced from docker-compose.yml):

    Note: Click createdb.sh to download the file.

    The file should contain the following information:
    touch createdb.sh
    cat > createdb.sh << 'EOCREATEDB'
    #!/bin/bash
    
    TEST=`psql -U postgres <<-EOSQL
       SELECT 1 FROM pg_database WHERE datname='$DB_NAME';
    EOSQL`
    
    echo "******CREATING DOCKER DATABASE******"
    if [[ $TEST == "1" ]]; then
        # database exists
        # $? is 0
        exit 0
    else
    psql -U postgres <<-EOSQL
       CREATE ROLE $DB_USER WITH LOGIN ENCRYPTED PASSWORD '${DB_PASS}' SUPERUSER;
    EOSQL
    
    psql -U postgres <<-EOSQL
       CREATE DATABASE $DB_NAME WITH OWNER $DB_USER ENCODING 'UNICODE' LC_COLLATE 'C' LC_CTYPE 'C' TEMPLATE template0;
    EOSQL
    
    psql -U postgres <<-EOSQL
       GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON DATABASE $DB_NAME TO $DB_USER;
    EOSQL
    fi
    
    echo ""
    echo "******DOCKER DATABASE CREATED******"
    EOCREATEDB


    Ensure that the volumes are included in your backup strategy:

    • voldatabase
    • volhpqcnode

    3. Set Environment Variables if necessary

    Please note the environment variables used for hpqcnode container. All of them are optional, and in the given example, we've overridden HPQCNODE_PG_DB, HPQCNODE_PG_USER and HPQCNODE_PG_PWD just to explicitly how can different credentials be passed to the Exalate application.

    Here's the full list of environment variables

       
    Variable name
    Default value
    Example
    Description
    HPQCNODE_PG_HOSTHPQCNODE_PG_HOST=databaseHPQCNODE_PG_HOST=localhosttells Exalate where is the Postgres database to connect to host
    HPQCNODE_PG_DBHPQCNODE_PG_DB=hpqcnodeHPQCNODE_PG_DB=exalatetells Exalate what is the Postgres database name for the exalate application
    HPQCNODE_PG_USERHPQCNODE_PG_USER=idalkoHPQCNODE_PG_USER=exalatetells Exalate what is the Postgres database user name for the exalate application to perform queries with
    HPQCNODE_PG_PWDHPQCNODE_PG_PWD=idalkoHPQCNODE_PG_PWD=secrettells Exalate what is the Postgres database user's password for Exalate to perform queries with
    HPQCNODE_PORTHPQCNODE_PORT=9000HPQCNODE_PORT=80

    tells what which is port to start Exalate on. Note that this is the port within the exalatehpqc_hpqcnode_1 container, thus if this variable is changed (for example to 80), the

        ports:
          - 9000:9000

    should also be changed to

        ports:
          - 80:80


    HPQCNODE_SMTP_HOST_NAMEHPQCNODE_SMTP_HOST_NAME=mail.server.comHPQCNODE_SMTP_HOST_NAME=smtp.gmail.comis used to send email notifications about errors blocking synchronization
    HPQCNODE_SMTP_PORTHPQCNODE_SMTP_PORT=465HPQCNODE_SMTP_PORT=587is used to send email notifications about errors blocking synchronization
    HPQCNODE_SMTP_FROMHPQCNODE_SMTP_FROM=admin@admin.comHPQCNODE_SMTP_FROM=my.name@gmail.comis used to send email notifications about errors blocking synchronization
    HPQCNODE_SMTP_USERHPQCNODE_SMTP_USER=adminHPQCNODE_SMTP_USER=my.nameis used to send email notifications about errors blocking synchronization
    HPQCNODE_SMTP_PASSHPQCNODE_SMTP_PASS=1234567HPQCNODE_SMTP_PASS=secretis used to send email notifications about errors blocking synchronization
    HPQCNODE_SMTP_TLSHPQCNODE_SMTP_TLS=trueHPQCNODE_SMTP_TLS=trueis used to send email notifications about errors blocking synchronization. Can be set to false, but then the HPQCNODE_SMTP_PORT should be set to the port, that accepts non-SSL and non-TLS connections

    4. Start the Application

    cd ~/exalate-hp-qc
    docker-compose up -d

    How to Manage the Application on the Docker

    Run queries to the application's database

    cd ~/exalate-hp-qc
    docker exec -it exalatehpqc_database_1 bash
    su postgres
    psql -A $DB_NAME

    One can find all the tables using psql's \dt+ command:

    \dt+

    All the postgres SQL queries are permitted

    To exit the application's DB:

    \q
    # \q exits the psql 
    exit
    # exits the postgres user session
    exit
    # exits the exalatehpqc_database_1 bash session

    Inspect the application's filesystem

    cd ~/exalate-hp-qc
    docker exec -it exalatehpqc_hpqcnode_1 bash

    Remove the application

    cd ~/exalate-hp-qc
    docker-compose rm

    Remove the application data

    Warning:  do this only if you want to delete all the synchronization information, including the current synchronizations enqueued to be performed and synchronization status. Make sure that the remote side (you exalate issues with) knows that you're stopping synchronization and are ready to handle synchronization errors.

    cd ~/exalate-hp-qc
    # docker volume ls | grep exalatehpqc_vol |  awk '{ print $2 }' | xargs docker volume rm
    docker volume rm exalatehpqc_voldatabase
    docker volume rm exalatehpqc_volhpqcnode

    Configure Exalate to Communicate with HP ALM/QC Instance

    To configure Exalate:

    1. Open Exalate for HP ALM/QC.

    2. Configure General Settings.

    Field descriptions

    3. Click Save.

    4. Fill in your contact details in the Registration screen.

    Exalate uses this info to:

    • Verify your instance.
    • Activate an evaluation license.
    • Create an admin account to receive error notifications.

    5. Click Agree and submit.

    After clicking Agree and submit, you get an email to complete a security check.

    Note: After clicking Agree and submit, you accept our End User License Agreement (EULA). It is also available here:

    https://static.idalko.com/legal/eula-addons.pdf

    6. Open your email and click Verify Exalate instance.

    You are redirected back to your Exalate console.

    7. Click Continue.

    After clicking Continue, you complete the verification procedure, so you can log in to the Exalate admin console.

    8. Log in to your Exalate admin console.

    Input the Username and the Password of the proxy user to log in.

    Troubleshooting

    Problems during the installation of Exalate for HP ALM/QC

    If you have problems during the installation of the Exalate app for HP ALM/QC, you can find logs describing possible problems inside /tmp. The name for this file is generated randomly automatically by the OS but you should be able to find the file based on the creation date.

    Problems while running Exalate for HP ALM/QC

    Logs are generated under the directory: /opt/hpqcnode/data/logs. Refer to these logs to get more information about possible problems and communicate with our support if you need any assistance.

    Support

    Please read our Support options.

    Exalate needs to exchange information with the HP ALM instance.  After Exalate for HP ALM/QC is deployed on the server, you need to establish the connection between the Exalate app for HP ALM/QC and HP ALM/QC instance.