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Installation & Basic Settings

Overview

Welcome to ManageEngine DeviceExpert!

This section provides information on how to install DeviceExpert solution in your system. This section also deals with the system requirements for DeviceExpert, how to install the solution, how to start and shutdown the product, the ports occupied by DeviceExpert and licensing information.

Prerequisite Software

There is no prerequisite software installation required to use DeviceExpert. The standard system (hardware and software) requirements as mentioned below plus an external mail server (SMTP server) are essential for the functioning of DeviceExpert server, to send various notifications to users.

System Requirements

Following table provides the minimum hardware and software configuration required by DeviceExpert:

Components of DeviceExpert

The ManageEngine DeviceExpert consists of the following components:

• The DeviceExpert server consisting of server and database

• Built-in TFTP server running on port 69

• Built-in syslog server running on port 514

• JRE 1.6.0 bundled with DeviceExpert

• PostgreSQL 9.2 bundled with DeviceExpert

Installing DeviceExpert

In Windows

• Download and execute ManageEngine_DeviceExpert.exe. The installation wizard will guide you through the installation process

• Choose an installation directory - by default, it will be installed in C:/ManageEngine/DeviceExpert; Henceforth, this installation directory path shall be referred as "DeviceExpert_Home".

• While installing DeviceExpert, you have the option to install DeviceExpert as a service. Just uncheck the checkbox, in case, you do not wish to install it as service

• In the final step, you will see two check-boxes - one for viewing ReadMe file and the other one for starting the server immediately after installation; if you choose to start the server immediately, it will get started in the background. As unpacking of jars will be done during the first startup, it will take sometime to fully start.

• If you choose to start the server later, after installation, you can start it from the Start >> Programs >> DeviceExpert menu. From the Start Menu, you can perform other actions such as stopping the server, installing it as service, removing as service, viewing help document, uninstalling the product etc.,

In Linux

• Login as root user

• Download ManageEngine_DeviceExpert.bin for linux

• Assign executable permission using command  chmod a+x  <file-name>

• Execute the following command: ./<file_name>

• Follow the instructions as they appear on the screen

• DeviceExpert is installed in your machine in the desired location. Henceforth, this installation directory path shall be referred as "DeviceExpert_Home".

Starting & Shutting Down DeviceExpert

In Windows

In Linux

• To Start the server

• Open a console and navigate to <DeviceExpert_Home>/bin directory (as root user)
• Execute the script "sh deviceexpert.sh start"

• To Stop the server

• Open a console and navigate to <DeviceExpert_Home>/bin directory
• Execute the script "sh deviceexpert.sh stop"

• To reinitialize the DB

• Open a console and navigate to <DeviceExpert_Home>/bin directory
• Execute the script "sh deviceexpert.sh reinit" 
• Warning: When you reinitialize the DB, all the data would be lost including the device configuration done by you. You need to start afresh from adding devices

• Installing the DeviceExpert server as a startup service

• Login as root user

• Open a console and navigate to <DeviceExpert_Home>/bin directory

• Execute "sh deviceexpert.sh install"
• To uninstall, execute the script "sh deviceexpert.sh remove" 

• To start DeviceExpert as a service in Linux

• Login to the system as super user

• Execute /etc/rc.d/init.d/deviceexpert-service start

• DeviceExpert server runs in the background as service

• To stop DeviceExpert Server started as service in Linux

• Login to the system as super user

• Execute /etc/rc.d/init.d/deviceexpert-service stop

• To check if the ports required by DeviceExpert are free

• Login to the system as super user

• navigate to <DeviceExpert_Home>/bin directory

• Execute "deviceexpert.sh portcheck"

Ports Used by DeviceExpert

DeviceExpert uses the following three ports:

• TFTP port : 69  

• SSHD Port : 22 [for binding SCP server]

• Syslog Server : 514

• PostgreSQL port : 43306 [configurable through <DeviceExpert_Home>/conf/database_params.conf  file]

• Web client port : 6060 [configurable through  <DeviceExpert_Home>/conf/server.xml]

A Note on the Usage of MySQL Server

DeviceExpert comes with PostgreSQL 9.2 bundled with the installation. However, if you are running any other MySQL and if you wish to use the same as backend database, you need to carry out the following configuration change before starting the product:
 

• In <DeviceExpert_Home>/conf/Persistence/persistence-configurations.xml, change the value for the configuration parameter "StartDBServer" to 'false' as shown below: (default value 'true')

<configuration name="StartDBServer" value="false"/>

• Also, in your MySQL, create a database with the name "deviceexpert".

Use the following Commands for creating database

Windows
 

• mysqladmin -u root -P 43306 create <databasename>

(Here, 43306 denotes MySQL port in DeviceExpert)

Linux

• Go to <DeviceExpert_HOME>/mysql/bin directory
  
  mysqladmin -u root -S ../tmp/mysql.sock create <databasename>
  
   

Note: Prior to v 5850, MySQL was bundled with DeviceExpert installation. If you are running prior versions of DeviceExpert and if you wish to use the MySQL bundled with DeviceExpert itself, shutdown the already running MySQL in the machine before starting DeviceExpert.

Using MSSQL Database

DeviceExpert supports PostgreSQL, MySQL and MSSQL databases as backend. PostgreSQL database is bundled with the product and by default, it is configured to run with PostgreSQL. In  case, you wish to use MSSQL databases, follow the steps detailed below:

Important Note

• MSSQL backend is supported from DeviceExpert version 5500 only. Earlier versions do not have provision to run with MSSQL

• At present, data migration from MySQL to MSSQL is not supported. You need to start afresh only. That means, if you already using MySQL and wish to switch to MSSQL, the current configurations, settings and other data cannot be migrated to MSSQL

Steps to Change to MSSQL

1. Stop DeviceExpert Server, if running

2. Open a console and navigate to <DeviceExpert_Home>/bin directory (as root user)

3. In Windows, execute the batch file "ChangeDB.bat". In Linux, execute the script "sh ChangeDB.sh"

4. The DB Configuration window pops up. Select MSSQL option. Configure the following information:

• DB Host: The name or the IP address of the machine where MSSQL is installed.

• Port: The port number in which DeviceExpert must connect with the database. Default is 1433.

• User Name and Password: The user name and password with which DeviceExpert needs to connect to the database.

• Click 'OK'

5. Start DeviceExpert. It will run with MSSQL.

Moving DeviceExpert installation to another machine or Moving to a different location within the same machine

If you want to move the DeviceExpert installed in one machine to another or to a different location within the same machine, follow the procedure detailed below:

Prerequisite

1. Do not remove existing installation of DeviceExpert until the new installation works fine. This is to ensure backup, to overcome disasters/data corruption during the movement.

Procedure

If you are using MySQL as backend database

• Stop DeviceExpert server / service, if running
• If you have installed DeviceExpert to run as a startup service, remove it as service before proceeding further. See the table below for the procedure to remove it as service.  
• Take a zip of the entire DeviceExpert installation folder; move the zip to a different machine or to a different location in the same machine as required
• Then, install it to run as service.

Note:

• In this option, you will not be able to uninstall the program through windows Add/Remove programs console. If you want to uninstall anytime, just delete the entire installation folder.

• You need not reapply the license after moving the installation

If you are using the PostgreSQL database bundled with DeviceExpert

• Take backup of the current database Install the same version of DeviceExpert (as the one you are currently running) in the new machine

• Restore the backup data in the new installation

Licensing

There are three license types:

• Evaluation download valid for 30 days capable of supporting a maximum of 50 devices

• Free Edition - licensed software allows you to manage up to 2 devices, valid forever

• Professional Edition - need to buy license based on the number of devices to be supported

• For more information and to get license, contact sales@manageengine.com

Acknowledgement: This product includes software developed by SSHTools (http://www.sshtools.com/).

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