Setting up the minimal environment

Use Kubernetes to deploy the basic HCL Commerce+ environment with the default configuration provided by HCL.

About this task

The fastest way to get started is to create a local testing environment using Kubernetes. Use the following steps to generate this environment.

Note: These steps assume familiarity with Kubernetes cluster management for test and production environments. For production deployments, consult your IT team to assess and adapt configurations based on specific business requirements, such as performance, scalability, and security needs.

Procedure

  1. Prepare the Kubernetes Cluster. The default Kubernetes namespace used by HCL Commerce+ is hcl-commerce.
  2. Obtain the Commerce+ Helm chart. For instructions on downloading software, see Downloading HCL Commerce+ software.
  3. Add the Commerce+ Helm repository in Kubernetes using the helm repo add command.
  4. Install the prerequisite software:
    1. Deploy PostgreSQL with the Commerce+ schema.
    2. Install Vault and add default Commerce+ secrets (such as the required spiuser password).
    3. Install Redis.
    4. Deploy Elasticsearch and Zookeeper only if you are using Elasticsearch-based search.

    For detailed information about required software and its supported default settings, see Supported software levels, fixes, and settings for Commerce+.

  5. Create a copy of the values.yaml configuration file to use as your customized values file. Give it a new name, for example, my-values.yaml. Update it with your database and Vault details as described in the Commerce+ Helm chart reference, but do not change any other values in this default file unless you are familiar with everything it affects.
  6. Configure Gateway API, which is used to allow external access to applications deployed within the Kubernetes cluster. Deploy Gateway API using its default settings for Commerce+ URLs.
  7. Deploy HCL Commerce+ using the following command. 
    helm install hcl-commerce hcl-commerce/hcl-commerce -f my-values.yaml
  8. Validate the deployment. You can check your pods using the following command. 
    kubectl get pods -n hcl-commerce
  9. Test your connections to the Commerce Lab, store and other components.
    Commerce Lab:
    https://host_name:7443/tooling/login
    Where host_name is the fully qualified host name of HCL Commerce+ (for example, wcserver.mydomain.hcl.com is fully qualified).

Results

You have created a minimal HCL Commerce+ environment suitable for testing and development. You can use this environment to help you design and implement a full production version.