BI mobile for Dummies (2 of 3)

[james_lim]

We reviewed basic concept of mobile solutions of SAP in my last post.
Let's see how to implement BI mobile and explorer solution for Ipad in this post.

Here is the overall architecture of BI mobile solution.

As you can see, it needs SAP Business Object BI Enterprise solution as a server.

If you have SAP BOE BI platform, only thing you need to do is install Web App servers using WAR files.
If you don't have SAP BOE BI platform, you need to check the PAM (Product Availability Matrix) in the SAP service market place.
Here is the screen shot where you can find the PAM. It will help you find other solutions of SAP product.

You can find detail information in the PAM but here is the short summary of prerequisites for running BI mobile.

     <SAP BOE Server>
            Version: BI 4.0 SP02 or XI 3.1 is SP4 or higher

            *NOTE: A couple of BI mobile functions will not be supported with XI 3.1.

     <Application server with Webserver>
            SAP Web Application Server v7
            Tomcat v5.5 or higher version.
            Websphere v6.1.0.7

It may not be suitable to explain how to install SAP BOE platform in this post but if you install it in a single sandbox using installation file,it will be easy to do.
(I did it myself using installation file in windows server and it is REALLY easy to do!)

Here are some things that you need to keep in mind If you install SAP BOE platform in Windows server, 

1. IIS web service should be disabled. BI mobile is using Tomcat webserver so if you want to use basic port for service, it should be disabled.

2. Need to install .NET 3.5 and Windows installer (Microsoft KB959209 and KB967190 needs to be installed.)

3. When you install .NET 3.5 into Windows 2008 R2, you may get below error message.

   This error message can be solved using Windows 2008 R2 server manager (start -> administrative tools -> server manager)
   Then add .NET 3.5 features as below screen shots.

   

   

Ok, let's assume you have SAP BOE platform. what is the next step?
You need to install WEB APP application for BI mobile.

Here is a one big thing that you need to know, As of version 4.1 of BI mobile server, it only can be installed on Windows server.
Of course, SAP BOE platform can be installed other O/S like Unix or Linux but Mobile WEB APP server only can be installed on Windows server.

Installing WEB APP application is really easy because only thing you need to do is deploying WAR files in the Tomcat web application folder.

Here are steps that you should do.

     1. Stop tomcat service
     2. Find WAR file from BO installed folder
     3. Copy it to WebApps folder of tomcat
        

     4.Verify configuration as below screen shot
        

     5. Restart tomcat service

     6. Verify mobile app server is running using below URL.If everything was setup properly, you will get 'Success' message as below screenshot.
         http://server:port/MobileBIService/MessageHandlerServlet?message=GetVersion

              

Now you installed BI mobile APP Web server so it is time to download BI mobile application from Apple's app store.
after you go to app store, just type "SAP" and select "SAP BusinessObject Mobile" apps.
Icon should be same as below screen shot.

In addition, you can download 'Explorer' app at the same time.

Here is a thing that you need to keep in mind.
As we saw in the first picture of this post, 'Explorer' needs additional service in the server.
Therefore, you should install additional 'Explorer' server on top of SAP BOE platform.
Installation is a kind of piece of cake because it is an additional component so only thing you need to do is
just click setup.exe under DATA_UNITS\Explorer_win folder and provide password and select correct SIA service.
(SIA: Server Intelligence Agent; user can distinguish each different server node using this.)

Note: Unlike the mobile WEB APP server, Explorer server can be installed on Unix O/S.

For installing on Unix server, please check "xi4_exp_install_en.pdf" document in the SAP Service Market place.

Here are some screen shots for installing Explorer Server on windows server.

Ok, now we have done everything for using BI mobile and Explorer.
We will review how we can create Webi report and explorer for mobile device in my next post.