Starting WebSphere sMash on Windows 7. UnsatisfiedLinkError, ZSO could not be located ...arch=x86_64

( All opinions are my own and does not reflect my employer's point of view. There could be better ways of doing stuff than written below, but what I have written below got me working again)


The WebSphere sMash is an IBM Application server that helps in building web applications faster, and lets users concentrate on writing business logic. More on this can be found at http://www.projectzero.org/


Having been used to running this on Windows XP -32 bit, when I was working on sMash - I had to face some challenges when I migrated the WebSphere sMash to Windows7 ( yes, I got a new Laptop running Windows 7)
So, when I tried to start up WebSphere sMash - it would not come up.
That's when I realized that  I needed to do some digging up.

My blog here says about how to start the sMash on Windows 7 OS.
Basically,you need to be pointing to the 32 bit JVM in order to get this right.  Once you initialize and also reconfigure the resolved. properties -then the application  should start up fine.

Authoring fixlets - Some Search Patterns in Relevance.

( All opinions are my own, and does not reflect my employer.)
 Ramblings on how to create some fixlets on BigFix.

Background: Big Fix is an IBM application used to deploy patches, upgrade or install rules and can monitor servers/clients that needs this patch - It will automatically inform the client and the client will do a pull (versus a push of the patch from the server ) which is more effective.

Up until IBM bought this, it was called Big Fix and now it is Tivoli End Point manager.

A fixlet is a composition of Rules, Actions and Relevance that describes the patch or an install on the client.

Once this fixlet is deployed with the above, TEM will constantly monitor the clients and deploy them.
My blog here shows a sample on how to write fixlets using different relevance rules on TEM ( Tivoli End Point Manager -Previously called Big Fix )

Note : I am only showing the different relevance rules that can possibly be applied to check if the rpm is present.

Note : Here I am interested in "expect"

Snapshot shows how a relevance is written - that identifies the clients as Linux:

Picture :
One other way to deploy is to identify a specific server on which the package will be deployed.

Picture 3:

Picture 4: Once this is identified - User will write appropriate action scripts to deploy the package.

Creating a fixlet to identify deployment of NMA agent from Big Fix Server.

All opinions are my own and does not reflect that of my employers.

NMA is the network montoring agent - an agent developed by IBM that helps in detection of servers on the network and report on their characteristics.

Big Fix is an IBM Application that is being used to detect clients that need patches/ installation of software or bringing servers upto sync on new releases.
Big Fix is also called Tivoli Endpoint Manager after IBM bought it over.
So references to TEM or Big FixServer are one and the same.

In this blog I will briefly describe how to deploy the NMA agent on remote clients.
I'd assume that the the agent is already available on the Big Fix server and can be used to deploy.

Create New Fixlet. 

Creating the relevance rules - this means that the relevance rules have to be true in order for the agent to be deployed.

 
Create a script that will be executed on the remote client once the relevance rule is satisfied.

A sample Relevance Rule to check if the Tivoli NMA agent is installed or
not in Big Fix.
Relevance:

Action :

How to Unistall and Install Big Fix Server on Windows.

References to Big Fix means - IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager.

Here I talk about my experiences on removing and reinstalling the Big Fix Server that was already installed on the Windows platform and things I learnt in the process.

Very Important - Just do not remove the Big Fix from the Add/Remove programs - how ever... Uninstall both the Big fix and the Microsoft SQL server folders and application from the Add/Remove programs.

One other thing I noticed was, the Tivoli Endpoint Manager (Big Fix Server) after installation did not recognize the older Clients ( in my case  the Unix clients) that were recognized before the removal, so I had to uninstall the clients manually in order for the TEM server to recognize them.
rpm -e BESAgent and let the TEM Server rediscover it again.

Picture : Uninstall of the application in progress:

 

Picture :
Removal of the folder/directory structure - in other words - cleaning out.
 

 


Since I was experimenting with this - I had to select the Evaluation Version.

 

 

I accepted the defaults - no changes here.

 

Picture :
Set password for the TEM administrator.

 

Picture:
 

 

Picture below : If this happens it means the Microsoft SQL Server was not removed completely, this leads to the TEM failure. So in this case I'd go back and clean out the SQL installation - both from the Add/Remove and also clean out the SQL directory folder structure and then restart all over.
 ( Do not abort the installation , however finish this installation - remove, clean out and reinstall )

 

 

Hope this helps who is going thru similar situation.

Big Fix Server and deploying Fixlets.

Big Fix is an IBM Product  that specializes in keeping track of clients downstream, that need patches/updates and does it as and when required.

In other words, Big Fix maintains a list of clients ( or as I like to call them 'servers downstream' ) and tracks them periodically and when a user wants to deploy a new patch or an install , then Big Fix looks at a few things like Relevance, and performs some actions and sees to it that the remote servers get the patches.

Several attractive features of the Big Fix makes this operation smooth and simple and requires no manual intervention. The One I found interesting is the "Relevance" feature, which is a rule (or a set of rules ) that tells things like what type of a server, what type of an OS and what range of IP address and things like that . Once these conditions in the rule are met - then Big Fix Server issues a UDP request to the clients ( or servers downstream) that the patch/update is required.
The client(s) then initiate a request and pulls down the patch or an update, and completes the operation.

Some snapshots can be seen in next blog.

How to Install Groovy Plugin in Eclipse.

Here I have Eclipse 3.5 - so I'm installing the Groovy 3.5.

Go to

http://groovy.codehaus.org/Eclipse+Plugin

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Follow steps in this page for creating the Groovy Project and Groovy
Script.

Run As - > Groovy Script.

IBM's One UI

IBM's One UI standard is a Theme based interface in Dojo for rendering data on the browser.
This theme includes Dojo 1.7.0. A latest version will be released in 1Q 2012.
The standard includes a "one ui "theme that users can use by including the "body class=oneui".
Advantages : ( to be continued )

How to Uninstall Speedbit in Firefox

Speed bit is a search engine - that gets installed when you install some Open Source or Utilities on the net.
This gets installed as the default search engine for both IE and Firefox.It may be a good and bad thing at times depending on what you are searching. It replaces the default browser search engine like Google or Yahoo. So, it maybe frustrating each time to select Google or your default search engine and do searches.
The remedy in that case is to remove this search engine.,
Here I describe how to remove it from FireFox.

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Click on dropdown and search for speedbit.
In the dropdown - select the last item - " Manage Search Engine"
Click on Speedbit - click on "Remove " button, and click OK. Restart
Firefox.
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Loose lips sinks ships.

This is an American phrase for 'beware of unguarded talk'.  The context is the recent deportation of 2 English nationals who said something over twitter that was not taken light by the host country US.

So, social media has to be used very carefully so as not to offend others and be sensitive to others when using media like twitter/micro blogging sites and also writing stuff on the net.. even if the intent was not to harm others - there can be instances that across cultural barriers this can lead to misunderstandings.

How to advertise yourself when looking for a new job.

(Opinions are my own)

Companies are asking employees to show how much exposed are they to social media - and their presence so that they can determine if the employee will fit in.

Is this how we are going to start looking for a new job ?

Read this article from WSJ on this topic.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/no-more-r%C3%A9sum%C3%A9s--say-some-firms.html;_ylt=AgnHrbPa8WU6z3v45RBqpNaiuYdG;_ylu=X3oDMTQ0MXBvcW82BG1pdANGUCBQZXJzb25hbCBGaW5hbmNlBHBrZwM0NTBlODA3YS1hZmZmLTNlODUtOGI4OC02NGYxYzZlZjA5YmYEcG9zAzUEc2VjA01lZGlhU2VjdGlvbkxpc3QEdmVyAzczMzJjOGQ2LTRiNzMtMTFlMS1hMDc1LTc4ZTdkMWZhYTM4Yw--;_ylg=X3oDMTFvdnRqYzJoBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3?mod=pf-series-a-article

Cloud Vision for 2020 - an article in NY Times.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/30/here-come-the-cloud-cartels/
The cloud computing is coming quicker than thought.
A forrester report.

Wikipedia and others going on blank -did make an effect.

The so called bills (laws ) SOPA and PIPA  placed before the US Congress, are now being reconsidered after major online presence companies like Wikipedia, Facebook , Google and others objected to the law as it encouraged lawsuits/ site shutdowns and other distractions to the business.
Now the congress is going to give it another look and rethink before placing the bills.

Hope, that the revised bills will have enough debate and an amicable law will be in place.

Why WIKIPEDIA went blank !!! US bill to protect Intellectual property on web sites.

( Opinions are my own and does not reflect anybody who employs me or my current employer )

So , Wikipedia and others major web sites who host content ( some of theirs and some are links ) went blank for a day !!!

Why ?
So, this is what the new US bill that is being tabled is about.

The US govt wants to protect IP ( Intellectual property ) and also have more control on the content being rendered on internet giants like Yahoo and Google. In this regard they are bringing out 2 new bills ( or laws ) to protect IP and remove or disassociate those who have links on their web sites by telling advertisers - not to do business with them and also putting sanctions on them.

The bills are SOPA and PIPA
SOPA ( Stop Online Piracy Act )  - tabled in the Senate.
PIPA - Protect Intellectual Property - tabled in the House ( more on what a senate and house means later )

What will happen if this comes in place :
- It will enable any body who owns Intellectual property OR the US govt to demand search engines to shutdown  or delete links, since they found it was having links to sites that are violating copyrights.
e.g: if a major online presence company has a link to a site that has violated or has content that has copyright infringements , then the US govt or the individual who owns the IP finds this out - then he/she or the Govt can demand to shutdown or pose legal challenges.
That's what the companies like Wikipedia and others are worried about.
So, what exactly is Wikipedia worried about........... that it can be sued ( at least that's what I assume ), and it cannot  be policing every entry in the portal - since there are individual /authors /editors who write stuff and create links  (which some may not know are copyright violated ), So now all of a sudden Wikipedia is responsible for it. That is what the concern is about.

Also, it could threaten or wipe out the editors innovation since the editors are not sure if the content or the link has violated IP and these things could take away the motivation to present or write such material.

Sources :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/news/internet/Part-of-web-goes-dark-in-protest-against-anti-piracy-bills/articleshow/11541849.cms



--
What's his house and senate ? ( In the US - there are two chambers in the US congress)

1.A house is a set of elected representatives who are elected by limited citizens in a certain geography in each state and is closely representing the govt.
3. Senate - A set of elected individuals ( also called as senators ) will think of the nation as a whole and not the certain geography he comes from.

By creating the difference here the founding fathers of the US constitution ensured that the legislation would consider both the short and long term implications of the country and the region.

So, essentially for every state - there is an elected representative.  (one or more -depending on the density)
and likewise there is a Senator (one or more ) for every state in the US.

For a legislation or a bill to be passed - both the 'US House of Representatives' and the Senate ( consisting of senators ) have to debate before enacting it into a bill.

Back to the topic - the PIPA is in the Senate, and the SOPA is in the house where it is being  debated.

Sources:
Senate and House of Representatives

IBM's 5 on 5. predictions for 2012 - My vote is on "Closing the Digital Divide"

http://w3.ibm.com/news/w3news/top_stories/2011/12/chq_5in5_announcement.html

You need an appropriate login permission to login to the link above and here they talk about the different possibilities that might catch on - during 2012.

The multiple predictions are
1 . Energy -
2. Security - where you wil not need to enter your password again
...and so on. But my vote is  "Closing the Digital Divide"  using the tablet computer generation.
Back then I had a palm pilot and then on to the new Visor - it was handy and would fit in my pocket and in most cases replaced contents that I stored in my wallet and I had my data at my fingertips.
Although I did not have internet connected to this device - I had all my personal details stored and I miss it so much.
Well, I dropped it one day after 3 or + years and had to let it go -
The bad thing was changing the batteries - once or twice a week. After that I long for one such device .. the tablets that are out today are good -but big and I cannot carry around..... So this device (smart phone or a tablet) will become a popular device shortly, especially with internet and camera connected.

Welcoming 2012 !

So, let's just say that the world will come to an end in 2012 - ( but when !  - is it beginning of the year or end of the year ).

And what's that go to do with writing this blog in this theme - nothing ....   but I just had to write something to get this started.......and I digress

Here in this blog, I'm interested about trends in the industry that will take shape this year,
1. Data Security/ or talking about creating the awareness to the consumer on how the data is protected - or personal stuff - don't get snooped upon in a Cloud environment.

2. Other things I can think of for the upcoming year that is going to get importance - or will be in spotlight - is data integration - Moving data from a Cloud environment to an environment which is behind a safe zone - a firewall or a private network, exposing only parts that is related to people who either work on the cloud ( like salesmen/ or people on the field )

3. The Social Mobile environment - that reach ability - one can count on in a business environment where you need the support of other business infrastructure ( or reach out to colleagues or business partners ) to get them engaged in supporting your business needs.
4. Standardization of the Tablet environment - all running somewhat similar Operating Systems - where the apps run on all platforms - (currently the major OS used in the Tablets are Android, QNX and also the one from Apple ) that most apps are running.

Hybrid Cloud computing with the Cast Iron Appliance.

( Views and opinions are my own, and does not reflect IBM's point of view )
Cast Iron XH40 is an appliance hosting the IBM's application server. This appliance can be used for connecting the On premise Applications like Tivoli and Off Premise agents on the cloud.
This appliance would act as a Gateway between the Cloud on one end , and the On Premise apps on the other.
This model is the Hybrid cloud, where the CastIron Appliance acts as an Interface between the two ends.

For this to happen -some cloud integration is required on the Cast Iron Appliance.
(I will try not to get into the Appliance, but will focus on the Integration here.)


First the definitions:
On Premise Applications : meaning the Tivoli Enterprise Management Server, Tivoli Enterprise Portal Server that are situated behind the firewall in the Company's/Business's infrastructure.

Off Premise : meaning the entities on the Cloud, ( it could be either the Tivoli Network Monitoring Agents on the IBM Cloud, or the Amazon Cloud.)

Appliance : this is the IBM's technology web server on the Cast Iron Appliance, It could be a virtual Appliance, or a real piece of hardware where the WebSphere is installed.

Agents: Tivoli Network Monitoring Agents installed on the Off Premise agents sitting on the servers to collect network monitoring data.

The Hybrid model :
To get the data from the network monitoring agents on the Off Premise (Agents on the cloud), the Cast Iron App has to be configured to get the data from the Off Premise.

Only one agent on the Off premise cloud will be configured to listen to the CastIron appliance.
Other agents on the cloud will point their TEMS (Tivoli Enterprise Monitoring Server) to the lead server.
The lead server (on Off-Premise)will have firewall enabled to listen to CastIron.

The Cast Iron Appliance will have the Tivoli monitoring agent with capabilities to punch thru the firewall ( configured in gateway.xml) [since the CastIron is sitting behind the firewall ] and get across to the Off-Premise agent on the lead server and collect the data.

The integration is the GUI Interface that the user will configure pointing the source (i.e the TEMS ) and the destination (i.e the lead server on the Off Premise ) which is a simple operation where the user selects the default ports to communicate to and activates the Tivoli Monitoring Agent on the Cast Iron.

This interface is a WebSphere plugin that the user has to install in order to collect server network monitoring.

Once the CastIron Appliance gets the data with the help of the Monitoring agent running on it, it will send it to the Tivoli Enterprise Monitoring Server and which in turn will feed to the Tivoli Enterprise Portal Server thereby rendering the Network Data on the Portal.

This completes the integration with no coding !

Tivoli Service Automation Manager and Blue Nimbus

The new offering from IBM ( to maybe just the regional users in India ) is called the Blue Nimbus.

https://bluenimbus.in.ibm.com/SimpleSRM/login.jsp

One has to enter the Official Intranet user id and password to login.
Once you are in - the Tivoli Service Automation manager console comes in.
Just for kicks I tried to configure a server.. and below is the snapshot and approx charges one can expect.

Looks like a neat tool to provision servers for some one who dont want to invest into infrastructure and maintenance.




This certainly, opens up users who are in the India region to use/configure or provision servers.

The other offerings I found in this site are .....



More, when I provision servers and start using it.