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Trials and Tribulations with my latest Cognos 8.4.1 Install (64-bit 2003 R2)

Started a new Install this week, Cognos 8.4.1 BI, Planning and Metrics upgrade on a Windows 2003 R2 64-bit machine. Thought I would document and share a few of my notes here.

First I did a little research -

http://download.boulder.ibm.com/ibmdl/pub/software/data/cognos/support/en/products/Cognos84_64-bit_Jan2009.pdf

http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/info-agility/taking-a-bigger-byte-of-bi-win64-cognos-bi-experiences-tips-39279

http://sebastianmai.blogspot.com/2009/08/ibm-cognos-84-bi-64-bit-vs-32-bit.html

Then I downloaded and unzipped (with 7-zip) the 64-bit Cognos Installers -

I checked that IIS 6.0 64-bit was installed as well as Java being up to date -

Next I Installed the BI Server. My impulse with Cognos Installing is to go with the defaults initially just to get it up and running quickly, then change things later. One of the defaults here being including the Cognos Content Store database -

Funny thing was, that after installing it, I went to test it in Cognos Configuration (Note, the default password and user name are Cognos, Cognos) and I received this error message -

Content Manager failed to connect to the content store.

The connection string is 'jdbc:derby://localhost:1527/cm'.

So like most people these days, I did a query online for the error and pulled up this page which surprising had the answer for me -

http://businessintelligence.ittoolbox.com/groups/technical-functional/cognos8-l/cognos-content-database-1913803

Reply from xtedx on 4/23/2008 2:05 AM

Hi Arjun

The first time you install it, the cognos content database service is not set up yet. So just start the services using Cognos Configurator, no need to click test.Then it will show you that it registers "Cognos Content Database" Service and starts it.When this service is up and running, you can click test if you want, it will pass the test.

I had somehow missed the step where you select the 'IBM Cognos Content Database' in Cognos Configuration and click start prior to testing the connection.

So now everything works so far and next I'm going to configure the web server...

Cognos Metrics Studio Scorecard User Overview

This is a  presentation I made recently for some executives to give them a first taste of what IBM Cognos Metric Studio Scorecard application can do for them. It is an overview of the interface and basic user features.

Cognos scorecard overview

View more presentations from Marie T.

BTW, http://www.slideshare.net is a great way to embed your powerpoint slide shows into your blog.

Setting up the Cognos Metrics Manager Samples - Part 2

Part 2: Set up connections to the databases in Cognos.

This next part is quick, it is just setting up three connections to the databases in Cognos Connection. There is also a step at the end where you initialize the metric store and create a new metric package.

Step 1 - Set up connections to the sample databases GOSALES, GOSALESDW

Open up Cognos Connection go under Launch in the far right and select Cognos Administration.

Go under Data Source Connections and click on the New Database icon.

 

Enter great_outdoors_sales in the name field and click Next.

 

Of course choose Microsoft SQL Server as the Type of connection.

Then put in the SQL Server name, the Database name, the Signon info and test the connection.

Do the same thing for the great_outdoors_warehouse.

Then do the go_metrics Data Source connection.

When this one gets to the finish screen check off the Create a Metric Package box.

 

Enter the name GO Metrics.

Choose the Default Deployment and on the next screens the Standard Calendar with Years, Quarters and Months.

 

Enter the date as shown and click Initialize.

Hopefully it all works out and you get to this screen where I checked off the open in Metric Studio option.

Next is Part 3: The Metric Studio content.

Setting up the Cognos Metrics Manager Samples - Part 1

Part 1: Create and populate the databases in SQL.

Well, setting up the samples is not so easy, simply because the directions are not very clear. Here is the path I followed to get it going -

Step 1 - Set up the sample databases GOSALES, GOSALESDW

I'm using SQL Server 2005 so I go to SQL Server Management Studio, right click New Database, then enter the name GOSALES or GOSALESDW and click okay.

Then I right mouse click on the Database name and select Tasks -> Restore -> Database. I choose the Restore from File option and click Add.

Making sure I select the All Files File type from the drop down, I choose my unzipped GOSALES sample file and click okay.

I put a check mark next to the Restore check box.

And head over to the Options page where I check off the Overwrite the existing database option.

 

Hopefully this part at least is an easy success.

 

Step 2 - Create the GOMETRICS Metric Store.

Now, I don't know why Cognos tells you to create the metric store database in SQL using the command line prompt versus the SQL Server Management Studio, but I am just going to shut up, not ask too many questions and do it their way ;-).

I have to close SQL Server Management Studio and open it again to refresh it so I can see the new database.

Installing Cognos 8.3 BI is easier than ever.

Installing all the Cognos BI components on my work laptop has gotten oh so much easier than when I first started out 10 years or so ago. I remember in 1999 when Upfront and IWR were a hassle getting them to work together on my laptop let alone on the server. Now things like making sure your Hard drive is NTFS or the cognos.com is in the domain properties, is all in the past as it should be. There were times when it would take me several days to get things working. Now it takes only a few hours.

Tonight I started my install of Cognos 8.3 on my Windows XP laptop at 7PM. First thing I did was make sure I had my IIS installed. 

 

Then I put on SQL Server 2005.

 

I choose the Default instance, the Local System Account and the Mixed Mode options.

When that all finishes I set up my Content Store database in SQL Server Management Studio.

Then I install the Cognos installers with the BI Server being first and by accepting all the defaults and allowing the creation of all new directories. I expand the options and make sure they are all checked off such as with the BI Server Install, the Content Database (even though I delete this later).

 

I didn't bother installing the Composite Server or Transformer this time but I do install the Samples.

Then I configure my Virtual Directories in IIS (cognos83, cgi-bin, images). I choose Read, Run and Browse for Cognos83 and cgi-bin. For images I choose just Read and Browse.

Then I start up Cognos Configuration and Delete the Cognos content database.

And I add my SQL Server Cognos Content Database.

Then I click on the small pencil icon and enter my SQL user name and passcode (e.g sa).

 

Right click to test, then click at the top Local Configuration and choose Save, then Run.

Hopefully you get a success message.

Then you can open your browser and type http://localhost/cognos83

I'm going to do another blog post in the next few days with the steps of setting up Metrics Manager samples.

If there is anyone out there reading, give me a shout!

Night Night!

In memory of former Cognoid Nancy Hensley

Unfortunately I was not able to attend the funeral of Nancy last Wednesday but I have thought about her daily since her passing two weeks ago. She was one of my favorite teachers/mentors/bosses and a fun co-worker and friend. She helped me adjust to the transition I made in 98 moving to DC to work for Cognos. She taught me my first class in Impromptu (I believe it was 3.5). It is shocking to hear of her passing at the young age of 40 on February 5, 2009 in Roswell, Georgia. Here is a link to her Obituary in the Arizona Paper:

http://obits.nj.com/AZCentral/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=124124827

And here are a few of the photos I have of her:

Find more photos like this on Unofficial Cognos Alumni Network