Difference between revisions of "ACP Server License"

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Most ACP users run their models on a server managed by Lumina, whether as individual Analytica uses or with a Group Subscription. You may also purchase an ACP license to run on a server managed by your own organization. This can improve performance by letting you use a dedicated server computer instead of sharing a server with other ACP customers.  It also lets you apply higher level of security for confidential and proprietary models and data. Please contact sales@Lumina.com or call us at (+01)-650-1212 for more information.
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Below we provide an overview of the ACP architecture, security, installation process, and updates.
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===Server Requirements===
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The Analytica Cloud Player requires:
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* Windows Server 2003, 2008, 2012, XP, Vista, 7, or 8.
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* Internet Information Server (IIS), 7.0 or later preferred, with ASP.NET
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* Minimum 4GB RAM. 16GB+ recommended.
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* You will need a 64-bit Windows operating system if your model requires more than 3GB of memory to run.
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* (Optional) If you want to use HTTPS instead of HTTP, you need to have an SSL certificate installed.
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The Microsoft .NET framework 3.5 or later will also be installed if not already present during ACP installation.
 
===ACP Data Flow===
 
===ACP Data Flow===
  
ACP is played in a internet browser program (e.g. Internet Explorer, Fire Fox, Chrome ...) in a web pageThe browser must have Adobe Flash Player installed.  The web page loads ACP's ShockWave files (*.swf).  Both the browser directly and the ACP shockwave communicate with the server.  ADE can also optionally connect to databases that installed on the same server or remotely.  ADE using ODBC to access databases, so installing an ODBC server for your particular database software maybe necessary.
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End users access and run ACP models via a standard internet browser, such as Internet Explorer, Fire Fox, or Google Chrome, running on each client computerYour browser must have Adobe Flash Player installed.  The web page loads ACP's ShockWave files (*.swf).  Both the browser directly and the ACP shockwave communicate with the ACP server.   
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ACP runs on a Windows server computer running any recent edition of Windows Server Operating System.
  
 
[[image:ACP Data Flow.png|800x800px]]
 
[[image:ACP Data Flow.png|800x800px]]
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The ACP server has these software components, illustrated in the architecture diagram above:
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* IIS/ASP NET web server support
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* ACP Middleware DLLs using ASPX/ASPM.
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* The Analytica Decision Engine (ADE) which runs Analytica model files created using Analytica on a desktop computer.
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* Optionally, ADE may read from and/or write to a database or spreadsheet, which may be installed on the same server or another database server.  It accesses a database using the same ODBC and SQL language query functions supported in Analytica. In this case, you will need to install a database ODBC server, such as Microsoft Analysis Services, My SQL, or other standard database that supports ODBC.
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* Optionally, your models may access Excel spreadsheet files to read and/or write.  It uses the same spreadsheet access functions available in Analytica. To support this, you will need to install Microsoft Office with Microsoft Excel on the server.
  
 
===ACP Security===
 
===ACP Security===
  
You can configure ACP to run using HTTP or HTTPS.  The latter is secure and provides the industry standard for transferring data encrypted information over the internet.  It's the same protocol used for example for online banking.  Note, to use HTTPS, you will need to purchase and install the SSL certificate for your server first.   
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You can configure ACP to run using HTTP or HTTPS.  HTTPS provides industry-standard security for transferring data encrypted information over the internet.  It is the same protocol used for example for online banking.  To use HTTPS, you will need to purchase and install the SSL certificate for your server.   
  
You can also encrypt your model files if you want before uploading them to ACP.  This is a feature in Analytica.  Open your model in Analytica and from the File menu select 'Save a copy in...' menu item.  This will display the dialog shown here and you simply need to check the 'Lock and encrypt the copy' checkbox.
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You can also encrypt your model files before uploading them to ACP, using standard features in Analytica Enterprise and Optimizer.  Open your model in Analytica and from the '''File''' menu select '''Save a copy in...'''.  This will display this dialog:
  
 
[[image:Locked and encrypt.png]]
 
[[image:Locked and encrypt.png]]
  
ACP users' credentials are setup the same way as ACP on AnalyticaCloud.com.  ACP maintains an internal database with the users' credentials stored.  the internal database is actually an Analytica model file.  The passwords are encrypted using a one-way encryption algorithm.  The encryption algorithm was written as an Analytica user defined function by Lonnie Chrisman here at Lumina.  What this means is that the passwords are encrypted and can be only used by ACP to see if sign-in credentials are correct, but cannot be viewed. If a user forgets their password they must use the 'Reset Password' feature to create a new one.
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Check the '''Lock and encrypt the copy''' checkbox to save a model in encrypted form. Analytica and ADE can run encrypted models, but there is no way to decrypt the source file. So, make sure to retain an unencrypted version of any model.
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ACP users' credentials are setup the same way as ACP on AnalyticaCloud.com.  ACP maintains an internal database with the users' credentials stored.  the internal database is actually an Analytica model file.  The passwords are encrypted using a one-way encryption algorithm.  What this means is that the passwords are encrypted and can be only used by ACP to see if sign-in credentials are correct, but cannot be decrypted or viewed. If a user forgets their password they must click '''Forgot your password?''' to be emailed information to let them create a new one.
  
 
[[image:Forgot password acp.png]]
 
[[image:Forgot password acp.png]]
  
ACP is currently not setup to use other authentication systems like Windows or Kerberos authentication.
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ACP does not currently support other authentication systems like Windows or Kerberos.
 
 
=Server Requirements=
 
 
 
The Analytica Cloud Player requires:
 
 
 
* Windows Server 2003, 2008, 2012, XP, Vista, 7, or 8.
 
* Internet Information Server (IIS), 7.0 or later preferred, with ASP.NET
 
* Minimum 4GB RAM. 16GB+ recommended.
 
* You will need a 64-bit Windows operating system if your model requires more than 3GB of memory to run.
 
* (Optional) If you want to use HTTPS instead of HTTP, you need to have an SSL certificate installed.
 
 
 
The Microsoft .NET framework 3.5 or later will also be installed if not already present during ACP installation.
 
  
=Installing ACP=
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==Installing ACP==
  
 
Installing ACP on your server involves a few steps.  This section is mainly for you or people in your organization that may have questions about the ACP installation.  Typically the ACP installation is done via remote desktop connection by someone at Lumina along with you or a member of your organization with admin privileges on the server.  
 
Installing ACP on your server involves a few steps.  This section is mainly for you or people in your organization that may have questions about the ACP installation.  Typically the ACP installation is done via remote desktop connection by someone at Lumina along with you or a member of your organization with admin privileges on the server.  
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===1. Install and Configure ADE===
 
===1. Install and Configure ADE===
  
The first step is to install Analytica Decision Engine (ADE).  You can download the ADE installer from the Lumina at http://lumina.com/support/downloads/  Usually you will want to use the ADE 64 bit edition.  However if your server is 32 bit (rare these days) then you will need to use ADE 32 bit.
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The first step is to install Analytica Decision Engine (ADE).  You can download the ADE installer from the Lumina at http://lumina.com/support/downloads/  Usually you will want to use the ADE 64 bit edition.  If your server is 32 bit (rare these days) then you should download ADE 32 bit instead.
  
 
[[image:ADE Download.png]]
 
[[image:ADE Download.png]]

Revision as of 01:27, 4 September 2015

Most ACP users run their models on a server managed by Lumina, whether as individual Analytica uses or with a Group Subscription. You may also purchase an ACP license to run on a server managed by your own organization. This can improve performance by letting you use a dedicated server computer instead of sharing a server with other ACP customers. It also lets you apply higher level of security for confidential and proprietary models and data. Please contact sales@Lumina.com or call us at (+01)-650-1212 for more information.

Below we provide an overview of the ACP architecture, security, installation process, and updates.

Server Requirements

The Analytica Cloud Player requires:

  • Windows Server 2003, 2008, 2012, XP, Vista, 7, or 8.
  • Internet Information Server (IIS), 7.0 or later preferred, with ASP.NET
  • Minimum 4GB RAM. 16GB+ recommended.
  • You will need a 64-bit Windows operating system if your model requires more than 3GB of memory to run.
  • (Optional) If you want to use HTTPS instead of HTTP, you need to have an SSL certificate installed.

The Microsoft .NET framework 3.5 or later will also be installed if not already present during ACP installation.

ACP Data Flow

End users access and run ACP models via a standard internet browser, such as Internet Explorer, Fire Fox, or Google Chrome, running on each client computer. Your browser must have Adobe Flash Player installed. The web page loads ACP's ShockWave files (*.swf). Both the browser directly and the ACP shockwave communicate with the ACP server.

ACP runs on a Windows server computer running any recent edition of Windows Server Operating System.

ACP Data Flow.png

The ACP server has these software components, illustrated in the architecture diagram above:

  • IIS/ASP NET web server support
  • ACP Middleware DLLs using ASPX/ASPM.
  • The Analytica Decision Engine (ADE) which runs Analytica model files created using Analytica on a desktop computer.
  • Optionally, ADE may read from and/or write to a database or spreadsheet, which may be installed on the same server or another database server. It accesses a database using the same ODBC and SQL language query functions supported in Analytica. In this case, you will need to install a database ODBC server, such as Microsoft Analysis Services, My SQL, or other standard database that supports ODBC.
  • Optionally, your models may access Excel spreadsheet files to read and/or write. It uses the same spreadsheet access functions available in Analytica. To support this, you will need to install Microsoft Office with Microsoft Excel on the server.

ACP Security

You can configure ACP to run using HTTP or HTTPS. HTTPS provides industry-standard security for transferring data encrypted information over the internet. It is the same protocol used for example for online banking. To use HTTPS, you will need to purchase and install the SSL certificate for your server.

You can also encrypt your model files before uploading them to ACP, using standard features in Analytica Enterprise and Optimizer. Open your model in Analytica and from the File menu select Save a copy in.... This will display this dialog:

Locked and encrypt.png

Check the Lock and encrypt the copy checkbox to save a model in encrypted form. Analytica and ADE can run encrypted models, but there is no way to decrypt the source file. So, make sure to retain an unencrypted version of any model.

ACP users' credentials are setup the same way as ACP on AnalyticaCloud.com. ACP maintains an internal database with the users' credentials stored. the internal database is actually an Analytica model file. The passwords are encrypted using a one-way encryption algorithm. What this means is that the passwords are encrypted and can be only used by ACP to see if sign-in credentials are correct, but cannot be decrypted or viewed. If a user forgets their password they must click Forgot your password? to be emailed information to let them create a new one.

Forgot password acp.png

ACP does not currently support other authentication systems like Windows or Kerberos.

Installing ACP

Installing ACP on your server involves a few steps. This section is mainly for you or people in your organization that may have questions about the ACP installation. Typically the ACP installation is done via remote desktop connection by someone at Lumina along with you or a member of your organization with admin privileges on the server.

1. Install and Configure ADE

The first step is to install Analytica Decision Engine (ADE). You can download the ADE installer from the Lumina at http://lumina.com/support/downloads/ Usually you will want to use the ADE 64 bit edition. If your server is 32 bit (rare these days) then you should download ADE 32 bit instead.

ADE Download.png

When installing ADE you will need a valid Activation Code which Lumina will provide you. Important, if your models use Analytica's Optimizer functions then you need an Activation Code for ADE with Optimizer.

ADE Installer Activation Key.png

Once ADE has been installed, you need to configure the server to allow IIS to launch ADE. From the windows start menu, run dcomconfig.exe and then give the IIS user name (usually DefaultAppPool) permission to launch ADE. Here's an screenshot from a Windows 2008 Server illustrating the process.

ACP dcomcnfg.png

2. Configure IIS

Internet Information Servcies (IIS) is the Window's web server and ACP is installed as an "application". Here's an example of doing this on Windows 2008 Server with IIS 7.

ACP IIS Add Application.png

3. Install ACP Bundle

The ACP files required are distributed as a "bundle" which is typically a compressed archive like a "zip" file. The bundle will be made for your particular server. When configuring IIS, a folder for installing ACP was chosen. You will extract the zip files into that folder.

4. Set Windows Security

Usually, you will need to set access permissions for users to the folder in which you have installed ACP. Here is an example of setting up access permission in Window's Explorer, to give all Users access to the ACP folder:

ACP explorer security.png

Updating ACP for a New Release

Lumina periodically issues new releases for ACP with new features and bug fixes. For as long as you have active maintenance and support (included free for 12 months when you purchase an ACP license or subscription), Lumina will provide you free updates. We will provide instructions on how to perform each upgrade. Generally, the update consists of a few files to be copied into the ACP directory.

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