Linux is an excellent choice for an IBM Rational Clearcase
Server installation.
A Unix/Linux platform is the universal Clearcase server which clients
of all platforms can connect.
This is NOT true if Microsoft Windows is chosen as your Clearcase
Server platform. If Microsoft Windows is chosen as your Clearcase
server platform, then only Microsoft Windows clients may connect to the
server.
The Clearcase Server installation is very specific as to which
versions of Linux are supported. Currently only Red Hat Enterprise
Linux and SuSE Enterprise Linux are supported.
The installation PERL scripts check the contents of /etc/redhat-release or /etc/SuSE-release
for the appropriate contents. The installation is so specific and tied
to the specific kernel of that release.
I attempted to install on versions much like the intended release but
differences in the kernel data structures being passed to the Clearcase
mvfs loadable module prevented a sucessful install.
I recommend that one avoid pain by installing on the approved release
of Linux.
Dynamic views: Dynamic views employ the Clearcase MVFS file system which allow
users to imediately view changes made by other users once files (or directories)
are checked in.
This is the prefered method of using Clearcase and the installation detailed in this tutorial.
Snapshot views: These are used by ClearCase LT and are created by Clearcase
by copying directories and files to the user's local platform.
Changes can not be viewed until an update is performed on the local files.
RHEL4: Clearcase 6.0 comes with a precompiled loadable module for RHEL4 so no compiling of kernel modules is required.
RHEL4 also includes source (See: /usr/src/kernles/2.6.XXX) with the binary release of the kernel.
SuSE Notes:
For SuSE, there are two kernel-source RPMs.
One RPM resides on the "Source" DVD-2 and the other resides on the "Installation" DVD-1.
Use the kernel-source RPM found on the "Installation" DVD-1.
This one will register in the RPM database and creates the directories
expected by the Clearcase installation program.
Check with the command: rpm -q kernel-source
The SuSE kernel-source RPM will not produce a
".config" file for the kernel compilation.
Produce this by:
zcat /proc/config.gz > /usr/src/linux/.config
Prepare kernel source: (not required for RHEL3, RHEL4)
cd /usr/src/linux make oldconfig make clean make bzimage
Test to see if kernel source compiles but do not install. (not necessary, just a test)
Create user "vobadm" in group "devel" (use group appropriate for your environment)
cd /usr
Create release area: mkdir clearcase_rls
This directory is used to unpack the Clearcase tar archive and for
applying patches to this area. It can then be an exported file system
for use in client Clearcase installations so the installation files and
patches do not have to be redeployed on each and every client.
chown vobadm:devel clearcase_rls
Installation:
As user "vobadm"
Use working directory for Clearcase server release:
cd /usr/clearcase_rls
(Discretionary. i.e. /opt/rational/clearcase_rls or anything you want.)
Copy Clearcase server software and patches from CD:
cp /media/cdrecorder/* .
chmod +w *
uncompress C54UDNA.tar.Z
Note:
This tar archive is good for installing Clearcase server and
Clearcase client. It is the options chosen during installation and
configuration which differentiate a server installation from a
client installation.
Red Hat: uncompress command is included in the "ncompress" RPM
SuSE: uncompress command is included in the "gzip" RPM
tar xf C54UDNA.tar
Create patches directory: (if it doesn't exist)
mkdir 2003.06.00/rhat_x86/clearcase/patches
cd /usr/clearcase_rls/2003.06.00/rhat_x86/clearcase/patches/clearcase_p2003.06.00-29/clearcase/install
./apply_patch
Configure installation:
cd /usr/clearcase_rls/2003.06.00/rhat_x86/clearcase/install
service ypbind stop
./site_prep
service ypbind start
Interaction with install program site_prep:
Site default Clearcase license host: [Unknown] ccserver
Site default Clearcase registry host: [Unknown] ccserver
Site default Clearcase registry data backup host: [Unknown] ccserver
Site default Clearcase registry region: [Unknown] devel
Would you like to change the existing host data for setuid operation [no]
Would you like ClearCase Remote Administration to be enabled on clients [no]
Port on which Rational Web Platform listens for HTTP requests: [81]
Account name for Rational Web Platform server: [nobody]
Group name for Rational Web Platform server: [nobody]
Note:
View all the options: site_prep -help
The region separates MS/Windows and Unix/Linux systems into two identifiable platform types.
Different region names have to be chosen for the two platform types. i.e.:
Unix: dev or unix
MS/Windows: dev_mswin or mswin
[Potential Pitfall]: Turn off the NIS service "ypbind" if you get the following error:
ERROR: The albd_server is not correctly registered in the services file of the Network Information database.
This results when the installation expects the services file to be fed by NIS
and ignores the /etc/services file you edited and the added port albd/371.
Turn off ypbind:
RHEL: service ypbind stop
SuSE: /etc/init.d/ypbind stop
Interaction with install program install_release:
1. Local Install: Install occurs on the local host. 2. Remote Install: Install occurs on a single remote host. 3. Multiple Remote Installs: Install occurs on a set of remote hosts. 4. Local Deinstall: Deinstall occurs on the local host. Method of installation>> 1
1. Standard: Regular installation, allowing links to this release area. 2. Full-copy: Regular installation, with no links to this release area. 3. Mounted: Host install via mounted or pre-populated /opt/rational/clearcase or CLEARCASEHOME. 4. Link-only: Host install via a symbolic link to this release-area. 5. Deinstall: Deinstall software from the local installed host. Model of installation>> 1
1 : ClearCase Minimal Developer Installation * 2 : ClearCase Server-only Installation * 3 : ClearCase MultiSite Full Function Installation * 4 : ClearCase Web Interface Server * 5 : ClearQuest Integration with Clearcase 6 : ClearDDTS Integration with Clearcase 7 : Clearcase Mainframe Connectors 8 : Clearcase MultiSite Shipping Server-only Installation * 9 : ClearCase Full Function Installation a : Select all - Chooses 1 - 9
f : Finish selection
x : Toggle expanded descriptions
r : Reset selections
q : Quit
Selection number(s)>> f
ClearCase License Server Host[ccserver]: ClearCase Registry Server Host[ccserver]: ClearCase Registry Backup Host(s)[ccserver]: ClearCase Registry Region[devel]: WARNING: Install was unable to find a prebuilt vnode module for this system. You will have to rebuild your vnode module.
Do you want to rebuild the vnode module when install is complete (yes, no, quit, help)[yes]: Default is [/lib/modules/2.6.8-24-default/build]:
Extended VOB support files in the VOB database to grow beyond 2 Gigabytes. Install this feature? (yes, no, quit)[no]:yes
Port on which Rational Web Platform listens for HTTP requests [81]: Enter account name for Rational Web Platform use [nobody]: Enter group name for Rational Web Platform use [nobody]: Continue installation?(yes, no, quit)[yes]: Do you want to SPTOP the installation (yes, no, quit, help)[yes]:no
Building /lib/modules/fs/mvfs.o and /lib/modules/fs/vnode.o See supported kernel modules: /opt/rational/clearcase/etc/conf/linux* ERROR: /var/adm/rational/clearcase/mvfs/vnode_src See README.txt
Note:
An error free install will start the clearcase service.
Selecting "a : Select all" will select options 1 through 9.
The region is for a common set of clients. The Unix and
Linux systems will be in a separate "region" than the MS/Windows
systems. i.e. use devel (unix) and devel_win MS/Windows.
If installation fails, run again and choose option "4. Local Deinstall".
Then you are ready to perform a fresh install.
The server installation installs the license server.
[Potential Pitfall]:
If the release file is not that expected by the installer, then the installer
aborts.
RHEL4 Kernel 2.6: ls -l /lib/modules/2.6.8-24-default/kernel/fs/mvfs/
Result: mvfs.ko vnode.ko
RHEL3 Kernel 2.4: ls -l /lib/modules/fs
Result: mvfs.o vnode.o
Notes from attempt to install on SuSE Professional Linux 9.3/2:
First I could not do it. Use an approved release.
Previous to kernel 2.6.9 the Linux kernel used the macro
"EXPORT_SYMBOL_NOVERS()".
After Linux kernel 2.6.9, the macro was renamed to "EXPORT_SYMBOL()".
(as with SuSE 9.3 and kernel 2.6.11.)
This kernel macro "EXPORT_SYMBOL_NOVERS()" is used in the
Clearcase source file
/var/adm/rational/clearcase/mvfs/vnode_src/mvfs_param.c
and thus incompatible. Editing the file only lets you find the next error.
The argument list uses an argument that is not declared in the kernel
header: /var/adm/rational/clearcase/mvfs/vnode_src/mvfs_linux_mvops.c
'wait' undeclared in function mvop_linux_lockctl
err = posix_lock_file(realfp, lock_p, wait);
Solution: Remove argument 'wait'???
There is now a mismatch in the definition of the data structure
cl_timeout.
Removing reference to cl_timeout.to_current allows compilation
but the kernel will not load the module! I failed.
USE RHEL4 and avoid the pain! (or a clone like Centos or Whitebox)
[Potential Pitfall]: SuSE systems -
One of the last steps of the install tries to put the init script
in a Red Hat init script directory which does not exist on SuSE.
Perform this manually.
ERROR: Unable to copy /var/adm/rational/common/rwp/conf/rwp_shutdown to /etc/rc.d/init.d/rwp_shutdown
Note: SuSE uses the init directory /etc/init.d/
Cleanup:
If it all fails and you want to wipe your system clean, run
install_release again and choose option "4. Local Deinstall"
or manually perform a cleanup as follows:
rm -Rf /lib/modules/2.6.8-24-default/kernel/fs/mvfs/*
or
RHEL3 kernel 2.4.XX:
rm -Rf /lib/modules/fs/*
rm -Rf /var/adm/rational
rm -Rf /opt/rational
Post Install:
As user "root"
Assign a registry password: /opt/rational/clearcase/bin/rgy_passwd
You will be asked to supply a password.
When asked "Advertise existing directory [no]" answer "yes".
Test Clearcase storage locations: cleartool lsstgloc
This will list the full paths of the "vobstore" and "viewstore" locations.
Create the VOB:
cleartool mkvob -region region-name -tag /vob/PROJECT -stgloc vobstore -public
You will be asked to enter the registry password assigned with the rgy_passwd command.
View VOB info: cleartool -ver
Shows VOB db schema version. The current Clearcase schema version for 2003.06.00 is 54.
cleartool setview vobadm_proj
Create main directory:
Optional - make sub-directories: cleartool mkdir subdir-name
Or import (clearfsimport) as shown below.
cd /vob/PROJECT
Show VOBs: cleartool pwv
Show Views: cleartool lsview
Show Regions: cleartool lsregion
Show VOBs: cleartool lsvob
Show Configspec: cleartool catcs
Import files and directories:
cleartool setview your_view
clearfsimport -recurse -identical -preview /source/directory/path/* /vob/PROJECT/path
(Preview option shows what will happen when command executes)
clearfsimport -recurse -identical /source/directory/path/* /vob/PROJECT/path
(Perform actual import)
Add option "-follow" to follow symbolic links.
[Potential Pitfall]: The
command line option "-identical" should only be used for the initial
import and NOT for later revisions as file date differences will force
new entries even though the files may be identical.
The "slocate" command is run each day to create a
database of all files on the system. It ignores NFS mounted file
systems (thus Clearcase clients need not worry) but will search your
Clearcase server storage areas which have Clearcase file storage names
and not the ones you see when in a view. Configure this cron job to
ignore Clearcase repositories.
Note the addition of mvfs to the file system types to be ignored and /path-goes-here/viewstore, the viewstore directory to be ignored.
ClearCase Web Access: ccweb
Clearcase Web Access uses Linux system authentication which uses md5 encrypted passwords.
This requires Clearcase patches 19, 37 and 38 in adition to 28 and 29 as shown in the installation above.
Access via the URL:
http://clearcase-server-name/ccweb
https://clearcase-server-name/ccweb
Pam authentication configuration: Clearcase web uses the
system PAM login authentication. The configuration is identical to
"login". Thus:
cp /etc/pam.d/login /etc/pam.d/clearcase
[Potential Pitfall]:
The init service "rwp_startup" (Rational Web Process)
may hang on system boot. The last visible
message on the screen is "Enabling Swap Space".
The system then hangs indefinitely.
The only fix is to enter "Interactive Mode" during the boot process by
entering the letter "I". Read the boot messages and enter the mode when
the oportunity is displayed in the boot messages by entering "I".
Accept all init services by pressing the "Enter" key to take the yes [y]
default. When presented with the option to launch "rwp_startup", enter the
letter "N" for no, and skip this process.
To fix CCWeb and enable it to work, remove a broken link: rm /opt/rational/common/rwp/conf/include/msweb.conf
(Yes, IBM left a dead link in it's Linux installation which points to a configuration file used on Microsoft Windows servers.)
Note: I have been running both the native Apache server which
was issued with RHEL4 on port 80 and the Clearcase web server on port
81 with no apparent problems.
Connecting MS/Windows clients:
Steps to support MS/Windows clients:
On Clearcase server:
Create a region for use by MS/Windows clients: cleartool mkregion -tag devel_win
Show Regions: cleartool lsregion
There are two methods of exporting the filesystems from the Clearcase server:
Export the Clearcase filesystem system using NFS and use an
NFS client on the MS/Windows client to mount the exported filesystem.
This is fast and free of many MS/Windows authentication hagups.
Export the Clearcase filesystem using SAMBA.
2) Use SAMBA to export two shares:
vobstore
viewstore
Using MS/Active Directory with "Unix services for Windows" NIS server for
authentication, configure the Linux Clearcase server's SAMBA authentication
as follows:
Software Configuration Management Strategies and IBM(R) Rational(R) ClearCase(R) : A Practical Introduction
by David E. Bellagio, Tom J. Milligan
ISBN #0321200195, IBM Press May 23 2005
The Art of ClearCase(R) Deployment : The Secrets to Successful Implementation
by Christian D. Buckley, Darren W. Pulsipher
ISBN #0321262204, Addison-Wesley Professional (July 13, 2004)
Software Configuration Management Strategies and Rational ClearCase: A Practical Introduction
by Brian White
ISBN #0201604787, Addison-Wesley Professional; 1st edition (August 25, 2000)
Books:
