Configure Your GeoEvent 10.3 Connector to Use a Secure GeoRSS Feed
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05-26-2015 05:12 AM
GeoRSS is a standard way of tagging an RSS feed so that applications can use embedded location information in each post. Using the GeoEvent Extension for ArcGIS Server, you can monitor a GeoRSS feed in real time and use it to update the applications and common operational pictures used by your colleagues. Should you encounter a secured GeoRSS feed that you would like to use, there is no standard connector that allows you to pass credentials. However, it is possible to configure a connector (without programming) that will allow you to access a GeoRSS service secured with basic HTTP authentication.
Secure feeds may be input from an Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) system, tracking company assets, or any secure GeoRSS service provided by a third party that you wish to consume and track with the analytic and processing capabilities of the GeoEvent Extension for ArcGIS Server 10.3.
We are going to walk through the steps to configure a GeoRSS input connector that allows you to pass credentials to a secured GeoRSS feed. Let's start by making a copy of the existing RSS connector in the GeoEvent Manager.Please note that these connectors only work with GeoRSS feeds, not standard RSS feeds, and that some custom fields are not supported.
Once you are logged in to the GeoEvent Manager, click on Site > Connectors and search for “RSS”.
Let’s make a copy of the Receive RSS connector. Click the Copy button, and rename a few fields to ensure we don’t get mixed up later. I’ve highlighted the changes I’ve made (click the image to see the text), and if you’re following along, I recommend making these changes to simplify your use of the secure RSS connector we’re creating.
Next, we’ll configure the properties to match the original RSS feed’s properties, but since we are using basic authentication, we now have the option for a Username and Password. Let’s move the properties around a bit, hiding a few that we won’t use, and allowing for the option of configuring some more advanced ones in an organized way. Your properties should look like this when you’re done:
Now we are going to overwrite a few of the default settings in these properties to include the defaults necessary to support an RSS feed. First we’ll deal with the Shown Properties section, because we only have to update one of these properties: the Frequency (in Seconds).
Click on Frequency (in seconds) and select the Edit button on the left-hand side of the Shown Properties box. Check the box for Overwrite Default Value, ensure the Default Value is set to 10, and click Save.
Now we’ll move on to the Advanced Properties section.
Got them both done? You’re sure? These are really important. Double-check them both. Great. We’re almost done.
Edit the HTTP Method property. Overwrite the default value, and ensure that it is set to “Get”.
Next, update the property definition for the Receive New Data Only property, check the overwrite box, and make sure that this is set to “True”.
Moving on (and on…) to the Mode property, let's overwrite its default value and ensure it is set to “Client”.
Overwrite the default value for Use URL Proxy and set the default value to False.
Do the same for HTTP Timeout (in seconds), and set the default value to 30.
We’re finally done configuring the Advanced Properties section, and lucky for us, none of the Hidden Properties need to be modified. Press the Save button in the upper right-hand corner.
Now we can add a new Input using the Receive RSS (Basic Authentication) input connector we just created. Configure it with your login credentials and the GeoRSS feed URL.
Once this is saved, you should see the count increase on the Monitor page by however many points are currently in your feed. This lets you know you have successfully logged in and started receiving input from the feed.
This connector is now tested and ready to be used in your GeoEvents and projects. For more information about consuming GeoRSS feeds in the GeoEvent Extension, the GeoEvent team has written an excellent tutorial explaining what is and isn't supported in GeoRSS. The tutorial is available here.
Jerry C. - Server Support Analyst
Secure feeds may be input from an Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) system, tracking company assets, or any secure GeoRSS service provided by a third party that you wish to consume and track with the analytic and processing capabilities of the GeoEvent Extension for ArcGIS Server 10.3.
We are going to walk through the steps to configure a GeoRSS input connector that allows you to pass credentials to a secured GeoRSS feed. Let's start by making a copy of the existing RSS connector in the GeoEvent Manager.Please note that these connectors only work with GeoRSS feeds, not standard RSS feeds, and that some custom fields are not supported.
Once you are logged in to the GeoEvent Manager, click on Site > Connectors and search for “RSS”.
Let’s make a copy of the Receive RSS connector. Click the Copy button, and rename a few fields to ensure we don’t get mixed up later. I’ve highlighted the changes I’ve made (click the image to see the text), and if you’re following along, I recommend making these changes to simplify your use of the secure RSS connector we’re creating.
Next, we’ll configure the properties to match the original RSS feed’s properties, but since we are using basic authentication, we now have the option for a Username and Password. Let’s move the properties around a bit, hiding a few that we won’t use, and allowing for the option of configuring some more advanced ones in an organized way. Your properties should look like this when you’re done:
Now we are going to overwrite a few of the default settings in these properties to include the defaults necessary to support an RSS feed. First we’ll deal with the Shown Properties section, because we only have to update one of these properties: the Frequency (in Seconds).
Click on Frequency (in seconds) and select the Edit button on the left-hand side of the Shown Properties box. Check the box for Overwrite Default Value, ensure the Default Value is set to 10, and click Save.
Now we’ll move on to the Advanced Properties section.
The Acceptable MIME Types, for both Server and Client Mode, will be modified the same way. Edit both properties with the Edit button closest to the Advanced Properties box, check the Overwrite Default Value box, and copy and paste the following text from the original RSS connector into the default value.
text/xml,application/rss+xml,application/atom+xml,application/xml,text/plain
It should look like this:
Got them both done? You’re sure? These are really important. Double-check them both. Great. We’re almost done.
Edit the HTTP Method property. Overwrite the default value, and ensure that it is set to “Get”.
Next, update the property definition for the Receive New Data Only property, check the overwrite box, and make sure that this is set to “True”.
Moving on (and on…) to the Mode property, let's overwrite its default value and ensure it is set to “Client”.
Overwrite the default value for Use URL Proxy and set the default value to False.
Do the same for HTTP Timeout (in seconds), and set the default value to 30.
We’re finally done configuring the Advanced Properties section, and lucky for us, none of the Hidden Properties need to be modified. Press the Save button in the upper right-hand corner.
Now we can add a new Input using the Receive RSS (Basic Authentication) input connector we just created. Configure it with your login credentials and the GeoRSS feed URL.
Once this is saved, you should see the count increase on the Monitor page by however many points are currently in your feed. This lets you know you have successfully logged in and started receiving input from the feed.
This connector is now tested and ready to be used in your GeoEvents and projects. For more information about consuming GeoRSS feeds in the GeoEvent Extension, the GeoEvent team has written an excellent tutorial explaining what is and isn't supported in GeoRSS. The tutorial is available here.
Jerry C. - Server Support Analyst
