Creating an instance using Configuration Manager

Every WebSphere Commerce installation requires at least one instance to function. Create an instance; then create and deploy stores to your WebSphere Commerce server.

WebSphere Commerce supports the creation of multiple WebSphere Commerce instances. However, you cannot create more than one instance at a time. Attempting to create multiple instances at the same time can cause errors.

WebSphere Commerce instances have global security enabled by default during the instance creation process.
Important: WebSphere Application Server administrative security is enabled, but application security is by default disabled for performance reasons. The primary administrative user is a user from the built-in file registry. The instance creation process creates the user by initially taking the credentials you used to login to the WebSphere Commerce Configuration Manager. You can change the primary administrative user in the WebSphere Application Server administrative console.
When you need to stop the WebSphere Commerce application, you must use the user name and password. For example, if you are using the stopServer script, you must provide the -username and -password arguments.
You are not required to create the WebSphere Application Server profile before creating your WebSphere Commerce instance. The Configuration Manager automatically creates the WebSphere Application Server profile that is used by the WebSphere Commerce instance.

You can use the following table to record your instance information so that you have the information handy.


Object		Instance variable	New instance variable
WebSphere Commerce instance name		`WC_instance`
IP address		xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
Host name		`host`
Domain name		`domain`
Fully qualified host name		`host.domain`
WebSphere Commerce database name		`WC_db`
WebSphere Commerce data file name		`Oracle_datafile`
WebSphere Commerce database user ID		`Oracle_user`
WebSphere Commerce table space name		`WC_instance`TBLSPC

If you have an existing instance, you do not have to modify any of the parameter values for that instance in order to add an instance. You might want to modify some parameters of your original instance in order to better organize your multi-instance environment.

Before you begin

Review the information in the following topic:
If you are using a remote Configuration Manager client, it must be at the same level as the Configuration Manager server.
If you plan to start the Configuration Manager from a remote Configuration Manager machine, disable the firewall on the Configuration Manager server machine.
If your web server is remote from your WebSphere Commerce server, you must create a directory to hold the web server configuration files and log files:
1. Although any directory name can be used, it is recommended that you create the following directory: WC_installdir\instances\instance_name. WC_installdir/instances/instance_name. WC_installdir/instances/instance_name./QIBM/UserData/CommerceServer70/instances/instance_name.
  Note: When creating your instance through the WebSphere Commerce instance creation wizard, the path must be entered in the Remote Configuration Directory field of the Web server panel.
  Where:
  
  instance_name
  
  This variable represents the name of the WebSphere Commerce instance with which you are working (for example, demo).
2. Your FTP and NFS users must have write permissions for these locations.
The systems on which you are starting the Configuration Manager server and the Configuration Manager client use a supported locale. Ensure that the locale of the non-root user with which you are starting the Configuration Manager server and the Configuration Manager client use a supported locale.
Ensure that you have started your WebSphere Commerce database server.
Ensure that the DB2 Fenced user group is assigned to the DB2 user ID.
Ensure that you apply the most recent WebSphere Commerce fix pack. See the swg27007361.
The non-root user must be added to the db2_instance_group on the client side. Verify that your non-root user is part of the DB2 instance group by running the following commands:
```
id non-root-user
```
The db2 instance group should be in the list. If not, run the following command to fix it:
```
WC_installdir/bin/wcnonroot.sh
```
If you are using a remote database, make sure that the non-root user is part of the db2 instance group on the WebSphere Commerce node.
Ensure that the WebSphere Commerce non-root user is part of the DB2 user group
If you want to use an Oracle database, ensure that Oracle HTTP service is stopped before you create your instance.
If you want to configure your IBM i system to use a remote database instead of a local database, complete the following steps.
1. Start the DDM TCP/IP server on the remote IBM i system by completing one of the following steps:
  - In the System i Navigator on your remote IBM i system, use the Network option.
  - Run the following command: STRTCPSVR SERVER(*DDM)
  Note: When using the DDM server and the native JDBC driver, the QCCSID system value must be a valid CCSID other than 65535.
2. Ensure that the DDM server is running on your IBM i system. To do so, check for job QRWTLSTN in subsystem QSYSWRK.
3. Ensure that there is an entry for the remote database where the schema for your instance will be created. To do so, on the IBM i system where WebSphere Commerce is installed, run the WRKRDBDIRE command.
4. On the IBM i system where WebSphere Commerce is installed, run the following command:
```
RUNJVA CLASS(com.ibm.db2.jdbc.app.DB2PackageCreator) PARM('database_name' 'user' 'password')
```
  Where:
  
  database_name
  
  The name of the database where the schema for the instance will be created. On this remote system, use the WRKRDBDIRE command and record the Relational Database value defined as *LOCAL.
  
  user
  
  A profile with authority to create new objects on the remote IBM i system.
  
  password
  
  The password associated with the user.
  
  The command opens a Java Shell Display. The following message displays after the command completes: Java program completed
5. Create a user profile on the remote system. The user profile must have the same name as the WebSphere Commerce instance that you are creating. Configure the user profile so that the language settings match the language you intend to choose as the default language for your WebSphere Commerce instance.
  Note: The password for the user profile must be the same as on the *LOCAL system (the machine where WebSphere Commerce is installed). This is the password that will be entered in the Instance Logon Password field of the Schema page while using the Configuration Manager to configure your instance.
6. Ensure that the user profile for the instance you just created has authority to access the *SQLPKG objects in library QGPL. To do so, run the following command:
```
GRTOBJAUT OBJ(QGPL/*ALL) OBJTYPE(*SQLPKG) USER(instance_name) AUT(*CHANGE)
```
If you configured your IBM i system to use a remote database, ensure that you have installed the Remote WebSphere Commerce Management Utilities on a Windows PC.

About this task

Important: You should modify only the following web server properties, and any WebSphere Commerce related properties, through the Configuration Manager GUI (and not through the web server GUI nor the WebSphere Application Server administrative console):

SSL (enabling or disabling)
Web server instance name or port number
SSL port number
System IP address (Payments server host)

This will ensure that all configuration files, not just the web server configuration files, are updated properly with the correct information.

Procedure

Ensure that you are logged as the WebSphere Commerce non-root user.
Start Configuration Manager.
Expand WebSphere Commerce > hostname > Commerce; then right-click Instance List.
From the resulting menu, select Create Instance. The Instance Creation wizard starts.
Complete each panel of the Instance Creation wizard.
For more information about the Instance Creation wizard, see WebSphere Commerce Configuration Manager online help by clicking Help.
Note:
- Avoid including a dash (or hyphen) in the instance_name. For some WebSphere Commerce features, such as content versioning, the instance_name is used by default to specify the database schema in which applicable database objects are created. Some Oracle Java APIs have problems with the presence of dashes or hyphens in the schema name.
- You must go to panels by clicking Next or Previous. Clicking the tab is not recommended. If you click the tab, your data might not be validated, which might cause an instance creation failure.
When you complete the necessary information in the panels, the Finish button is enabled. Click Finish to create the WebSphere Commerce instance.
The time required to create an instance depends on the speed of your system. You can also verify the progress of the instance creation by checking the following log file:
```
WC_installdir/instances/instance_name/logs/createInstanceANT.log 
```
When instance creation is complete, a dialog box opens that contains a summary like the following example:
```
Commerce instance demo is created under WebSphere Application 
Server profile demo. The WebSphere Application Server administrative console 
port is 9060. Restart your web server to apply the changes to your web server 
configuration file.
```
Review the summary and record the port number listed. This port is required to access the WebSphere Application Server administrative console. Click OK to close the dialog box. Other dialog boxes might open that contain additional instructions, ensure that you review the contents of the dialog boxes before dismissing them.
Exit Configuration Manager by selecting Console > Exit.
Consider changing the WebSphere Application Server default isolation level.

Important: By default most WebSphere Commerce code runs database queries at specified isolation levels that are within safe tolerances for those individual queries. You can ensure optimal performance of your site by setting the default isolation level for WebSphere Application Server to Cursor Stability. For more information about how to set the default level of isolation for WebSphere Application Server, see Changing the default isolation level for non-CMP applications and describing how to do so using a new custom property webSphereDefaultIsolationLevel.

What to do next

AIX Verify instance creation.

Linux Verify instance creation.

Solaris Verify instance creation.

Windows Verify instance creation.

For IBM i OS operating system Verify instance creation.