Akhilesh's Blog: Could not make a connection to the IBM HTTP Administration server on node

Hi all,

I am currently using IBM Http Server v8.0 and configured it with a standalone WebSphere Application Server.I created a web server using WebSphere Application Server (WAS) v8.5 administrative console. And now I am unable to start or stop the IHS web server as well as not getting configuration file (Path :Server >Server Type >Web Server >webserver1 >configuration file ) from the WAS admin console. And getting the error “Could not make a connection to the IBM HTTP Administration server on node ” while trying this.

Cause:

When you Install the IBM HTTP server, same time it is necessary to configure the IHS Admin Server on the same system.. For previous versions of IBM HTTP Server (IHS), including v7.0 and prior, when you installed IHS it would automatically configure the IHS Admin Server. IHS Admin server working as the communication agent between IHS ans WAS. When you are using IHS on a WebSphere Node (part of a WAS ND Cell), it is not necessary to use the IHS Admin Server, because the WAS node agent does the administration but in case of standalone Websphere application server we need to configure it.

When you install IHS v8.0 it does NOT automatically configure the IHS Admin Server. So, you must do this yourself using one of the following methods. You can use the new Plug-in Configuration Tool (PCT) which is part of the new WebSphere Customization Toolbox (WCT) or you can use the htpasswd.bat in command line Interface.

Note: The cause may be you are configured it properly but the windows services IBM HTTP Administration for Websphere Application server is not started, so first confirm it and then go forword.

I have done this on the Windows operating system using WebSphere Customization Toolbox (WCT) with following steps :

Prerequisite:

When we use an administrative user for installation on a Windows operating system, a Windows service is automatically created to autostart the application server or for that the installer user account must have the following user rights:

Act as part of the operating system
Log on as a service

For this click on Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Local Security Policy > Local Policies > User Rights Assignments and set the advanced options and then.

Install IBM Installation Manager.
Install your WebSphere Application Server product.
Install IBM HTTP Server or another supported web server.
Install the web server plug-ins.
Install the WebSphere Customization Toolbox.

Procedure:

Open the Websphere Customization Toolbox, and launch the Web Server Plug-ins Configuration Tool.

Select a Web Server Plug-ins runtime location. If the location of a previously installed web server plug-in that you want to use is not in the list Click Add. Enter a name for the web server plug-in location.
Enter the location or Click Browse, find the location, and click OK.
Click Create.
Select the type of web server that you are configuring, and click Next.
Click Browse to select the configuration file, verify that the web server port is correct, and then click Next when you are finished. Select the file and not just the directory of the file. Some web servers have two configuration files and require you to browse for each file.

For IBM HTTP Server: IHS_root/conf/httpd.conf
Select Setup IBM HTTP Server Administration Server. Specify a port number on which the IBM HTTP administration server will communicate and Optionally, select Create a user ID for IBM Server Administration Server authentication and enter a user ID and password to authenticate to the IBM HTTP Server administrative server from the administrative console.Click Next.
Specify the system user ID and group to have write permission to IBM HTTP Server, the IBM HTTP administrative server, and the web server plug-in configuration files. And Set up the IBM HTTP Server Administration Server to run as a Window service if you want. Click Next.
Specify a unique name for the web server definition, and click Next.
In Select the configuration scenario click Browse, find the installation location of WebSphere Application Server (app_server_root), and click OK. Click Next.
Select the profile to configure with the current web server plug-in, and click Next.
Review the summary information, and click Finish.
If a problem occurs and the installation is unsuccessful, examine the logs in the plugins_root/logs directory. Correct any problems and re-configure.
If all goes properly, point your browser to http://Host_name_of_Web_server_machine/snoop to test the web server plug-in.