topic Re: Multiple installation of Web AppBuilder ( Developer Edition ) in ArcGIS Web AppBuilder Questions

Multiple installation of Web AppBuilder ( Developer Edition )

ReginaldoPaderon — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 07:20:42 GMT

I have installed WAB successfully in my PC. I am not aware of the technology behind then, i.e. you need to run a batch file every time you start using WAB. ( read this can be converted into a windows service )

Anyways, everything is okay. I was able to create an WAB application and deployed in our web server successfully.

Now, my Boss wants the WAB service installed in one of our servers , either in our server with Portal or the server in ArcGIS for server.

I do not want to proceed lest it might mess up either of the servers.

Question is , Is it okay or even possible to have multiple installation of WAB Developer Edition ( question about appid crosses my mind ) ?

Appreciate any inputs.

Many thanks.

Re: Multiple installation of Web AppBuilder ( Developer Edition )

deleted-user-CQZbjNeBXm49 — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 08:08:57 GMT

Hi Reginaldo,

Have you taken a look at Deploying your server via IIS using this instruction https://developers.arcgis.com/web-appbuilder/guide/xt-deploy-app.htm? with this you won't need the .bat file to run at all.....

Baba

Re: Multiple installation of Web AppBuilder ( Developer Edition )

RebeccaStrauch__GISP — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 16:04:12 GMT

It is not usually recommended to install on a server, and as Baba pointed out, you will want to deploy to the server (or you local web IIS, etc) for others to see the results. There have been many discussions about sharing one install, but since the install .bat is typically tied to a "named user" AppID, this gets a little tricky. Below is a snippet from my /blogs/myAlaskaGIS/2015/01/15/tips-and-observations-for-getting-web-appbuilder-developer-edition-installed?sr=search&searchId=436781df-1096-4503-bf66-8ec1190f10b1&searchIndex=1‌

My observations:
- The AppId when first starting is the most confusing, and finding clear instructions for setting up the AppId ahead of time (including mine) are hard to find.
- I’m not exactly sure what registering the WAB with the AGOL application and AppID really does, although I know it ties it too AGOL. Also, it control whether a computer has permission, via registration with the AGOL application. I know it has to do with OAuth2, but I’m not a security expert.
- I asked the question Is it better to share "application" registered in AGOL between WAB-dev edition developers, or separate? and have decided:
  - A WAB folder (and startup.bat file) are pretty much linked to on AppID – although there are ways to shift or change which one.
  - Each user should have their own application/AppID created by them, in their own My Content
  - Multiple machines for one user can be registered to the same AppID, if desired. The WAB stores the applications being created in the local drive, so these are not necessarily shared between machines…although I think they could be setup to work that way.
  - One machine could be registered to more than on AppID, if desired and if multiple WAB startup folders exist.

you may also want to look thru my /blogs/myAlaskaGIS/2016/03/09/web-appbuilder-developer-edition-customization-resource-list?sr=search&searchId=436781df-1096-4503-bf66-8ec1190f10b1&searchIndex=0‌ for other links and tips. A bit overwhelming (still needs better formatting), but lots of information there.

More: btw, you can use your AppID for multiple installs of WAB dev edition on the same machine (just call the folder a different name and have the .bat tied to it) or on multiple machines. It's tied to you however, not multiple people.

Re: Multiple installation of Web AppBuilder ( Developer Edition )

ReginaldoPaderon — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 06:08:58 GMT

Thanks Baba for your reply.

Actually, I have no issues in deploying my application in a webserver ( IIS ). I have a couple of apps developed from my machine where the WAB was installed and deployed in our webserver ( another machine ) already up and running using that link you gave as my guide.

Just that, my Boss wants the WAB Developer Ed to be installed in another machine/server wherein the startup batch file can be always left running.

I have doubts if it is possible without any complications with the new installation because of the appids attached to the initial installation.

Re: Multiple installation of Web AppBuilder ( Developer Edition )

ReginaldoPaderon — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 06:17:50 GMT

Thank you Rebecca for sharing your valuable observations. I will try to look into it. Perhaps, I can try to install it another ordinary machine ( not AGS or Portal servers ) and see how it behaves.

Re: Multiple installation of Web AppBuilder ( Developer Edition )

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 13:11:49 GMT

Reginaldo,

Just that, my Boss wants the WAB Developer Ed to be installed in another machine/server wherein the startup batch file can be always left running.

So in that case it sounds like you need to install WAB as a Windows Service:

Run as a Windows service—Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS (Developer Edition) | ArcGIS for Developers

Re: Multiple installation of Web AppBuilder ( Developer Edition )

TimHayes1 — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 15:28:01 GMT

Robert, sorry for a dumb question, but if I have the WAB DE installed locally on my PC. All I need to do is double click the WAB DE icon and I am good to go. I can create, massage, and bake my apps on my local PC before deploying them to my Server Machine. To deploy the app to my Server Machine, in WAB DE I download-zip and copy it over, then unzip in the inetpub folder and I am good to go. Easy-peasy.

What is the advantage of running the WAB DE as a Windows Service?

Re: Multiple installation of Web AppBuilder ( Developer Edition )

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 16:04:57 GMT

Tim,

The only advantage is that you don't have to double click the startup.bat you just enter the URL in the browser or click the bookmark and you are good to go.

Re: Multiple installation of Web AppBuilder ( Developer Edition )

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 23:02:29 GMT

Tim,

I use the WAB as a service for the current version of WAB (using the different port numbers) and that way I can launch the last version of WAB using the startup.bat and the default port numbers.

Re: Multiple installation of Web AppBuilder ( Developer Edition )

JunshanLiu — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 01:57:13 GMT

Here is the guide about how to run WAB as a window service: Run as a Windows service—Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS (Developer Edition) | ArcGIS for Developers . As long as there is no port conflict, there is no problem to install WAB with other server on the same machine.

To install multiple WAB as window services, you need to use different port and different service name (modified in server/package.json).

For the app id, it's not recommended to share the app id between multiple WABs, but you can share it if you want. Any WAB server that the server domain matches the redirect URI in the app's registration info, the app id can be used in that WAB.

Re: Multiple installation of Web AppBuilder ( Developer Edition )

ReginaldoPaderon — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 06:02:19 GMT

Thanks Robert.

I did read in the documentation about this but I never thought the advantage of having it as a windows service.

Actually, the main reason I asked is because I am going for vacation and since WAB was installed in my PC, WAB has to be up and running always. Even if I keep it ON before leaving for vacation, sometimes all our PC are forcefully restarted remotely by our Sys Adm from some updates. In this case, I have to provide them my password from them to start the batch file , which I dont like 🙂 .. That's why the idea of installing it in other machines came.

Now, since it is a windows service, they just have to make sure my PC is on, WAB is working fine for my colleagues to use. No need for mulitple installation 🙂

Re: Multiple installation of Web AppBuilder ( Developer Edition )

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 13:48:46 GMT

Reginaldo,

It sounds like you are having people use the url that go to your machine so that they can access a WAB app you built.

Something like: http://gislap183:3344/webappbuilder/apps/23/ If that is the case then you really need to change that. Once you have used WAB to build and configure your app you then need to deploy it to a web server:

Deploy your app—Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS (Developer Edition) | ArcGIS for Developers

Re: Multiple installation of Web AppBuilder ( Developer Edition )

ReginaldoPaderon — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 05:05:20 GMT

Robert,

Actually, not really to use the app that I have developed but to develop their own app using WAB. Thats why I have to keep WAB service up and running during my vacation. I have registered and shared it to our Portal.

I have deployed all the apps I have done to our web server successfully. And incidentally, I think 80% percent of the widgets I use are widgets that you have developed. These are basic and essentials for a simple Web Mapping apps. Even a none developer like me, I am basically a GIS guy, I came up with a very useful Web Mapping app . Thanks to you Robert 🙂

Have a nice day ..

Re: Multiple installation of Web AppBuilder ( Developer Edition )

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 14:06:28 GMT

Reginaldo,

Ahh, I see. I did not think about using a machine as a WAB app Server.