Configuring the Natural Web Interface

This section provides information on how to configure the Natural Web Interface. If you are not familiar with a specific product, refer to the corresponding product documentation for more information.

This section covers the following topics:

Supported HTTP Servers
Configuring RPC and RPC Server
Configuring the DCOM Server
Configuring the Web Interface
Configuring the Web Interface for Apache 2.4.x (64bit)
Configuring an HTTP Server
Communication with Natural Security

The latest documentation updates are published on Software AG's documentation site at http://documentation.softwareag.com/ (Empower login required).

Supported HTTP Servers

Operating System	HTTP Server
Windows (Intel)	Microsoft Internet Information Server Version 6.0/7.5 Apache Version 2.0.x Apache Version 2.2.x Apache Version 2.4.x (64bit)
(*)	Apache Version 2.0.x Apache Version 2.2.x Apache Version 2.4.x (64bit)

Configuring RPC and RPC Server

In the following configuration description, ETB255 is the name of a Broker and NATWEB1 the name of an RPC Server used for the examples.

For the installation and configuration, refer to the Natural RPC, Entire Net-Work, and EntireX Communicator documentation.

The following topics are documented below:

General RPC Configuration Setting for All Platforms using SYSWEB3
Current Version of Natural for Mainframes, UNIX or Windows
EntireX Communicator / EntireX Developer´s Kit

General RPC Configuration Setting for All Platforms using SYSWEB3

ACIVERS Settings

You are recommended to set the profile parameter ACIVERS to a value of 6 or above. Refer to Set the API Version in the Natural RPC documentation for further details.

MAXBUFF and MAX-MESSAGE-LENGTH Settings

You are recommended to set the profile parameter MAXBUFF on the Natural RPC server to a value of 1024 or above. This also requires setting the value of MAX-MESSAGE-LENGTH to 1048576 or above on the EntireX Broker that is included in EntireX Communicator.

Current Version of Natural for Mainframes, UNIX or Windows

On Windows and UNIX Systems using SYSWEB3

To change your NATPARM file so that two additional steplibs can be accessed in the RPC environment:

In the Natural Execution Configuration parameter group, add the two steplibs SYSWEB3 and SYSEXT to the steplib parameter subsection.

In a Mainframe Environment using SYSWEB

If Natural Security is installed:

Define the steplibs SYSWEB and SYSEXT for your library.

If Natural Security is not installed:

Modify the Natural program WEB-STLB in library SYSWEB by entering the DBID and file number of the associated FNAT system file of the libraries SYSWEB and SYSEXT. If required, you can add additional steplibs.
STOW the program.
The STACK parameter for your RPC server should have the following value: STACK=(LOGON SYSWEB;WEB-STLB)

EntireX Communicator / EntireX Developer´s Kit

On Windows Systems

Setting the environment variables is not required.

On UNIX (All Platforms)

All EntireX-relevant environment variables must be passed by the HTTP server.

Configuring the DCOM Server

To install and configure the DCOM server, proceed as described in the NaturalX documentation.

In the following configuration description, NATWEBEXT is the name of an external DCOM Server and NATWEB is the name of a local DCOM Server.

This section covers the following topics:

NaturalX Server

NaturalX Server

For all servers supporting the Natural Web Interface, add the libraries SYSWEB3 (or SYSWEB) and SYSEXT as steplibs, as described above in the section Current Version of Natural for Mainframes, UNIX or Windows.

Configuring the Web Interface

The following topics are covered below:

Natural Web Interface
Natural Web Server Extensions for RPC
Natural Web Server Extensions for DCOM
Natural Web Server Extensions for MOD

Natural Web Interface

For mainframe, Windows and UNIX environments no configuration is required.

Natural Web Server Extensions for RPC

Adjust the configuration file using an external editor:

RPC_ETB_ID_NAME=ETB255
RPC_SERVER_NAME=NATWEB1

With a Natural RPC Server Running in a non-ASCII Environment

The parameter NWW_OUT_CSS_TRANSLATE must be set in the Configuration File. Its value depends on the code page used.

Natural Web Server Extensions for DCOM

Local DCOM (All Platforms)

No adjustments are required for local communication.

External DCOM (All Platforms)

For external communication, see the NaturalX documentation for registry changes, or adjust the configuration file using an external editor:

DCOM_SERVER_NAME=NATWEBEXT

On Windows (Internet Information Server)

If you use the Internet Information Server, the username for anonymous logon, e.g. NATWEB, is used. NATWEB must belong to the group USER, or the GUEST account must be enabled.

On Windows (Apache)

If you use the Apache Server, the default settings for User/Group specified at httpd.conf can be used:

# User/Group: The name (or # number) of the user/group to run httpd as User nobody Group #-1

Using an RPC Server

Install the Natural Web Server Extensions

Open the ..\conf\httpd.conf file of the HTTP Server and add the the following new lines for the RPC Interface:

For Apache 2.0.x

...
LoadModule nww3_module modules/nww3mod2.dll
<Location /nww3/mod>
  AllowOverride None
  NWWiniFile "<yourRoot>/nww3/nww3mod.ini"
  SetHandler nww3
</Location>
...

For Apache 2.2.x

...
LoadModule nww3_module modules/nww3mod22.dll
<Location /nww3/mod>
  AllowOverride None
  NWWiniFile "<yourRoot>/nww3/nww3mod.ini"
  SetHandler nww3
</Location>
...

Specify additional files at the /nww3 directory, if not only one service or broker are to be used.
If a static read of the .ini file is wanted (this influences the performance), add the line shown in italics to your obj.conf.

Using a DCOM Server

Install the Natural Web Server Extensions.

Open the ..\conf\httpd.conf file of the HTTP Server and add the the following new lines for the DCOM Interface:

For Apache 2.0.x

...
LoadModule nww3d_module modules/nww3dmod2.dll
<Location /nww3d/mod>
  AllowOverride None
  NWWiniFile "<yourRoot>/nww3d/nww3dmod.ini"
  SetHandler nww3d
</Location>
...

For Apache 2.2.x

...
LoadModule nww3d_module modules/nww3dmod22.dll
<Location /nww3d/mod>
  AllowOverride None
  NWWiniFile "<yourRoot>/nww3d/nww3dmod.ini"
  SetHandler nww3d
</Location>
...

Specify additional files at the /nww3d directory, if not only one service or broker are to be used.
If a static read of the .ini file is wanted (this influences the performance), add the line shown in italics to your obj.conf.

Using a SPoD Server

Install the Natural Web Server Extensions.

Open the ..\conf\httpd.conf file of the HTTP Server and add the the following new lines for the SPoD (PAL) Interface:

For Apache 2.0.x

...
LoadModule nww3p_module modules/nww3pmod2.dll
<Location /nww3p/mod>
  AllowOverride None
  NWWiniFile "<yourRoot>/nww3p/nww3pmod.ini"
  SetHandler nww3p
</Location>
...

For Apache 2.2.x

...
LoadModule nww3p_module modules/nww3pmod22.dll
<Location /nww3p/mod>
  AllowOverride None
  NWWiniFile "<yourRoot>/nww3p/nww3pmod.ini"
  SetHandler nww3p
</Location>
...

Specify additional files at the /nww3p directory, if not only one service or broker are to be used.
If a static read of the .ini file is wanted (this influences the performance), add the line shown in italics to your obj.conf.

Configuring the Web Interface for Apache 2.4.x (64bit)

This functionality is currently only applicable in conjunction with RPC (see also Configuring RPC and RPC Server).

In order to use the SYSWEB3 functionality, the MOD approach or the CGI approach can be chosen. MOD means that the module provided by Software AG is linked to the Apache Web Server libraries in order to speed up performance. The following sections show what modifications are necessary in the configuration file httpd.conf to allow the MOD and the CGI approach.

Using MOD
Using CGI

Using MOD

Add the module nww3mod24 to the module list:

LoadModule nww3_module modules/nww3mod24.dll

Add the location section, where also the path to the required .ini file is specified.

For example:

<Location /nww3mod>
  AllowOverride None
  NWWiniFile "<yourPath>/nww3mod24.ini"
  SetHandler nww3
</Location>

Copy the file nww3mod24.ini to <yourPath>.
Copy the module nww3mod24.dll to the module folder of the Apache installation.

This module enables RPC access to the SYSWEB3 libraries.
In the browser the following link is then valid:

http://<yourApacheServer>/nww3mod/sysweb3/nat-info

Using CGI

Add the script alias. For example:

ScriptAlias /nww3cgi "cgi-bin/nww3cgi64.exe"

Copy the CGI module nww3cgi64.exe into the cgi-bin folder of the Apache Installation.

This module enables RPC access to the SYSWEB3 libraries.
In the browser the following link is then valid:

http://<yourApacheServer>/nww3cgi/sysweb3/nat-info

Configuring an HTTP Server

Windows (Internet Information Server 6.0 and 7.5)

If you use the Internet Information Server, the username for anonymous logon, e.g. |USR_NATWEB, is used. |USR_NATWEB must belong to the group USER, or the GUEST account must be enabled.

Communication with Natural Security

The new version of the EntireX Developer´s Kit supports the usage of two passwords and user IDs.

The first user ID is used to get access through EntireX Security and the second for Natural Security.

The HTTP Server Security is involved as a third security system.

HTTP Server Security

Restrict the access of the NWW interface at your HTTP Server. For details, refer to your HTTP server documentation.

EntireX Security

In the configuration file the NWW_USER_ID and NWW_PASSWORD have to be specified.

Natural Security

A second User ID/Password (RPC_USER_ID, RPC_PASSWORD) has to be set.

If the parameter USE_REMOTE_USER is activated, the RPC_USER_ID will be set/overwritten. The RPC_PASSWORD remains unchanged.

It is necessary to set up Natural Security with "AUTO=ON" to pass security without password. If no RPC_USER_ID/RPC_PASSWORD pair is set, the NWW_USER_ID/NWW_PASSWORD will be used to ensure compatibility with the existing implementation.