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* A platform compatible [http://www.globus.org/toolkit/docs/4.0/admin/docbook/ch03.html#s-platform GT requirements].
 
* A platform compatible [http://www.globus.org/toolkit/docs/4.0/admin/docbook/ch03.html#s-platform GT requirements].
  
* <code>J2SE 1.5.08 SDK</code> or greater. [http://java.sun.com/javase/ Sun's] reference implementation is recommended, but versions from [http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/java/jdk/ IBM], [http://h18012.www1.hp.com/java/ HP], or [http://www.bea.com/framework.jsp?CNT=index.htm&FP=/content/products/weblogic/jrockit/ BEA] should work equally well.
+
* <code>J2SE 1.6 update 4 SDK</code> or greater. [http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/ Sun's] reference implementation is recommended, but versions from [http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/java/jdk/ IBM], [http://h18012.www1.hp.com/java/ HP], or [http://www.bea.com/framework.jsp?CNT=index.htm&FP=/content/products/weblogic/jrockit/ BEA] should work equally well.
 
+
:* it has been reported that the default memory settings of gCore have some problems with version J2SE 1.5.0_16 SDK, therefore it is deprecated for gCore.
+
  
 
* <code>[http://ant.apache.org/ Ant 1.6.5+] </code> to build gCF sources or to develop services with it.
 
* <code>[http://ant.apache.org/ Ant 1.6.5+] </code> to build gCF sources or to develop services with it.
Line 27: Line 25:
 
* A [http://www.ntp.org/ ntp server] to synchronise the machine's clock for correct credential validation.  
 
* A [http://www.ntp.org/ ntp server] to synchronise the machine's clock for correct credential validation.  
  
* A host certificate and private key (owned by the user that runs the container) respectively in:
+
* A host certificate and private key owned by the user that runs the container and stored in an arbitrary position on the machine: the paths must be set in the ''global security descriptor'' file, as described in [https://gcube.wiki.gcube-system.org/gcube/index.php/GHN_Security_Configuration#Security_Configuration_provided GHN security configuration] section. In the most of cases the certificate and the key are stored respectively in:
 +
 
 
   <code>/etc/grid-security/hostpubliccert.pem</code> (please check that the certificate file has -rw-r--r-- permissions)
 
   <code>/etc/grid-security/hostpubliccert.pem</code> (please check that the certificate file has -rw-r--r-- permissions)
 
   <code>/etc/grid-security/hostprivatekey.pem</code> (please check that the private key file has -r-------- permissions).
 
   <code>/etc/grid-security/hostprivatekey.pem</code> (please check that the private key file has -r-------- permissions).
 +
 +
* The public keys of the certification authorities to be accepted by the GHN,owned by the user that runs the container and stored in:
 +
 +
<code>/etc/grid-security/certificates</code> (the permissions are -rw-r--r--)
 +
 +
for further information, please refer to [https://gcube.wiki.gcube-system.org/gcube/index.php/GHN_Security_Configuration gCube security configuration] section.
  
 
== Installation ==
 
== Installation ==
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| build tools, standard and deployed service interfaces and schemas.
 
| build tools, standard and deployed service interfaces and schemas.
 
|}
 
|}
 
 
  
 
== Third-party software ==
 
== Third-party software ==
Line 152: Line 155:
  
 
'''MISC'''
 
'''MISC'''
* javax.activation 1.1
 
 
* cglib 2.2
 
* cglib 2.2
 
* objenesis 1.1
 
* objenesis 1.1
Line 162: Line 164:
 
* kxml2 2.3.0  
 
* kxml2 2.3.0  
 
* log4j 1.2.15  
 
* log4j 1.2.15  
* SUN jaxb-api 2?
 
* SUN jaxb-impl
 
* SUN jaxb-xjc
 
* SUN jaxb1-impl
 
 
* jgss ?
 
* jgss ?
 
* junit 3.8.1
 
* junit 3.8.1
Line 197: Line 195:
 
<pre><parameter name="logicalHost" value="..yourhostname..."/></pre>
 
<pre><parameter name="logicalHost" value="..yourhostname..."/></pre>
  
In the default configuration, the container typically requires the allocation of '''1GB''' of heap space to the JVM in which it runs. This is a production-level requirement and can be disabled or corrected by editing the script <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/bin/gcore-start-container</code> (<code>START_OPTIONS</code> variable). The values reported in this variable are prefixed to any other Java settings passed via command line. This means that any value sets here has the priority (due to the Java Virtual Machine behavior that, in case of duplicated setting, takes into account the first setting it finds).
+
In the default configuration, the container typically allocates '''1GB''' of heap space to the JVM in which it runs. This is a production-level requirement and can be increased by setting new parameters in the <code>$GCORE_START_OPTIONS</code> variable, either by editing the script <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/bin/gcore-start-container</code> or by adding it to the execution environment. If one wants to decrease the memory used, it is needed to edit the script, since, due to the Java Virtual Machine behavior, in case of duplicated setting, the higher setting is considered.
 +
 
 +
Moreover, any setting reported in the  <code>$GCORE_START_OPTIONS</code> variable is passed to the container process and evaluated by the JVM.
  
 
=== Configuring the gHN ===
 
=== Configuring the gHN ===
Line 204: Line 204:
  
 
The following gHN properties are available for configuration:
 
The following gHN properties are available for configuration:
 +
  
 
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
 
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
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| '''<code>securityenabled</code>'''
 
| '''<code>securityenabled</code>'''
 
| <code>true</code> if the gHN can operate in a secure infrastructure, <code>false</code> otherwise.
 
| <code>true</code> if the gHN can operate in a secure infrastructure, <code>false</code> otherwise.
 +
|-
 +
| '''<code>accountingenabled</code>'''
 +
| <code>true</code> if the gHN must account using the gcube accounting system on every call received, <code>false</code> otherwise.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| '''<code>mode</code>'''
 
| '''<code>mode</code>'''
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| '''<code>startScopes</code>'''
 
| '''<code>startScopes</code>'''
 
| a comma-separated list of VOs that the gHN joins.
 
| a comma-separated list of VOs that the gHN joins.
 +
|-
 +
| '''<code>allowedScopes</code>'''
 +
| a comma-separated list of VOs that the gHN will potentially join (upon VO Manager decision).
 
|-
 
|-
 
| '''<code>labels</code>'''
 
| '''<code>labels</code>'''
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| '''<code>GHNtype</code>'''
 
| '''<code>GHNtype</code>'''
 
| either '''<code>DYNAMIC</code>''' or '''<code>STATIC</code>''' depending on whether the gHN can or cannot be used as a target for dynamic deployment operations.
 
| either '''<code>DYNAMIC</code>''' or '''<code>STATIC</code>''' depending on whether the gHN can or cannot be used as a target for dynamic deployment operations.
|-
 
| '''<code>localProxy</code>''' [optional]
 
| the name of a file with credentials used by gHN when no delegated credentials are available. The file name must be relative to the <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/config</code> directory.
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
| '''<code>coordinates</code>'''
 
| '''<code>coordinates</code>'''
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| '''<code>location</code>'''
 
| '''<code>location</code>'''
 
| the name of the location.
 
| the name of the location.
 +
|-
 +
| '''<code>publishedHost</code>'''
 +
| the hostname to declare in the GHN and Running Instance profiles, if different from the actual one
 +
|-
 +
| '''<code>publishedPort</code>'''
 +
| the port to declare in the GHN and Running Instance profiles, if different from the actual one
 
|-
 
|-
 
| '''<code>updateInterval</code>'''
 
| '''<code>updateInterval</code>'''
Line 260: Line 270:
 
A running gCore container will produce extensive logs in accordance with the [http://logging.apache.org/log4j/ log4j] configuration directives container in <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/container-log4j.properties</code>.  By default, the container logs in a file called <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/logs/container.fulllog</code> with a <code>TRACE</code> level for all the gCF components, and in <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/logs/container.log</code> with a <code>INFO</code> level for all the gCF components. Local Services have also dedicated file loggers.
 
A running gCore container will produce extensive logs in accordance with the [http://logging.apache.org/log4j/ log4j] configuration directives container in <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/container-log4j.properties</code>.  By default, the container logs in a file called <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/logs/container.fulllog</code> with a <code>TRACE</code> level for all the gCF components, and in <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/logs/container.log</code> with a <code>INFO</code> level for all the gCF components. Local Services have also dedicated file loggers.
  
===Configure container security===
+
==== Configuring Access Logs purging====
  
:*Set the Security Descriptor of the underlying container in <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/etc/globus_wsrf_core/global_security_descriptor.xml</code>, using this [https://technical.wiki.d4science.research-infrastructures.eu/documentation/images/a/af/Global_security_descriptor.xml example] as a guide.
+
Starting from GHN v 3.7.0, the GHN distribution contains a mechanism to clean access log files from the system ( that in some cases can occupy a considerable amount of space).
  
::'''Note:''' Please include the configuration <code><context-timer-interval value="300000"/> to ease the effect of a well-known bug with the underlying technologies (as in the example above).
+
The script ''gcore-clean-accesslogs'' can be used to remove accesslogs older than 7 days ( configurable) and it can also be installed as cronjob via the ''gcore-clean-accesslogs-cron''. Both files are located under the $GLOBUS_LOCATION/bin folder of the GHN.
  
:* Add the following configuration in the <code><globalConfiguration></code> section of <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/etc/globus_wsrf_core/server-config.wsdd</code>:
+
In case of older versions of GHN distributions the files can be downloaded from:
+
:<pre><parameter name="containerSecDesc" value="etc/globus_wsrf_core/global_security_descriptor.xml"/></pre>
+
  
====Configure VOMS credentials====
+
* http://svn.research-infrastructures.eu/public/d4science/gcube/trunk/distributions/ghn-distribution-bundle/gCore/bin/gcore-clean-accesslogs
 +
* http://svn.research-infrastructures.eu/public/d4science/gcube/trunk/distributions/ghn-distribution-bundle/gCore/bin/gcore-clean-accesslogs-cron
  
VOMS credentials must be installed in the local system to verify VOMS assertions. To do this:
+
and installed under the $GLOBUS_LOCATION/bin folder.
  
:* Copy the certificates of trusted VOMS servers in <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/etc/grid-security/vomsdir</code>.
+
PLEASE NOTE : the scripts assume that the GLOBUS_LOCATION var is set inside the $HOME/.profile or $HOME/.bashrc
  
:: '''Note:''' Please check that certificate files have <code>-rw-r--r--</code> permissions.
+
===Configuring container security===
  
:* Create VOMS files in <code>/opt/glite/etc/vomses</code> using the following conventions:
+
//OUTDATED SECTION
 +
Detailed information about secure container configuration is provided in [https://gcube.wiki.gcube-system.org/gcube/index.php/GHN_Security_Configuration gCube security configuration] section.
  
::* file naming convention:
+
Detailed information about not default settings (for example, interoperability with secure external infrastructure or with a VOMS server, is availabled in [https://gcube.wiki.gcube-system.org/gcube/index.php/Security_Library#Extension_Security_Libraries Security Libraries] section of gCube wiki.
 +
//END OF OUTDATED SECTION
  
::<pre> <VO Name>-<VOMS SERVICE HOSTNAME></pre>
+
=== Supporting resource encryption/decryption ===
  
::* content convention:
+
If the gHN is foreseen to manage gCube encrypted resources, the [http://goo.gl/qTZO0j "AES symmetric key"] has to be downloaded and stored in the $GLOBUS_LOCATION/config folder.
 +
Alternatively a new compatible symmetric key could be generated by typing on linux shell the following:  
  
::<pre> "<VO Name>" "<VOMS SERVICE HOSTNAME>" "<VOMS SERVICE PORT>" "<DN of VOMS CERTIFICATE>" "<VO LOCAL NAME>"</pre>
+
<pre> openssl rand -out symm.key 16 </pre>
  
:: '''Example:''' <code>"devsec" :grids01.gcore.org" "15001" "/C=IT/O=INFN/OU=Host/L=GCORE/CN=grids01.gcore.org" "devsec"</code>
+
== Verify the Installation ==
  
:: '''Note:''' The VO name <code>devsec</code> should be associated to the VOMS service running on <code>grids01.gcore.org</code>. This will assure to properly validate assertions contained in proxy credentials.
+
To verify the installation, firstly start the container with the script <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/bin/gcore-start-container</code> in a not secure infrastructure, or <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/bin/gcore-start-secure-container</code> in a secure infrastructure. So, assuming <code>PATH</code> is set as recommended above:
  
====Install <code>voms-proxy-init</code> command for local testing (optional) ====
+
<pre>gcore-start-container</pre>
 +
or
 +
<pre>gcore-start-secure-container</pre>
  
:* Download the required [http://dlib.sns.it/bscw/bscw.cgi/108734 rpm and configuration file].
+
will suffice. Any instance of the container which is already running should be automatically ''kill''-ed.
 +
By default, the commands above start the container on the port <code>8080</code> in a not secure infrastructure, <code>8443</code> in a secure infrastructure. To switch on another port, use the <code>-p <port></code> option.
  
:* Install rpms in the order in which they appear in the download page.
+
Then, two steps can be performed to verify that the container is locally working fine:
  
:* Copy the configuration file to the directory <code>/etc/glite/profile.d/</code>
+
# the new instance should log the list of deployed services in <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/nohup.out <code> and detailed information about the startup of local services in <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/logs/container.log</code>.  Lack of visible errors in both files indicates a successful gCore installation and startup.
 +
# stopping the container, which is an action that contacts the container itself. For this, use the appropriate stop command, according to your configuration:
 +
<pre>gcore-stop-container</pre>
 +
or
 +
<pre>gcore-stop-secure-container</pre>
  
:* Modify the configuration file in accordance with with the local values of the environment variables <code>JAVA_HOME</code> and <code>GLOBUS_LOCATION</code>.
+
Finally, for a full exploitation of the container (e.g. remote management and deployment, and having your services contacted), the host and port must be public and reachable from outside.
  
== Verify the Installation ==
+
== Troubleshooting ==
  
To verify the installation, start the container with the script <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/bin/gcore-start-container</code>. Assuming <code>PATH</code> is set as recommended above:
+
=== gHN with a high number of invocations ===
  
<pre>gcore-start-container</pre>
+
If a gHN hosts a service instance subjects to a high number of invocations, it might happen that the gContainer stops to serve  callers' requests. This is due to mistaken usage of the "id" command of the underlying technology. Soon, the process will fall into a "too many files open" state and it basically does nothing from that moment on.
 +
 
 +
When such a condition is predictable, we suggest to create a temporary folder for the system commands, remove the "id" command from there and use that folder in the PATH instead the "official" one.
 +
 
 +
The complete workaround is the following:
 +
 
 +
* create a folder where to collect the system commands:
 +
 
 +
<pre>
 +
mkdir fakebin
 +
cd fakebin
 +
find /usr/bin -type f -exec ln  {}  \;
 +
find /usr/bin -type l -exec cp -a {} . \;
 +
rm id
 +
</pre>
 +
 
 +
* remove the /usr/bin folder from the PATH
  
will suffice. Any instance of the container which is already running should be automatically ''kill''-ed and the new instance should log the list of deployed services in <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/nohup.out <code> and detailed information about the startup of local services in <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/logs/container.log</code>.
+
* add the new fakebin folder to the PATH
Lack of visible errors in both files indicates a successful gCore installation and startup.
+
  
:'''Note:'''By default, the command above starts the container on the port <code>8080</code>. To switch on another port, use the <code>-p <port></code> option.
+
Of course, this could have impact on the other processes, therefore the new patched environment must be used only for the gContainer process.

Latest revision as of 11:45, 4 August 2017

This Guide covers the installation, configuration, and maintenance of gCore.

Prerequisites

The following are prerequisite for the installation of gCore:

  • J2SE 1.6 update 4 SDK or greater. Sun's reference implementation is recommended, but versions from IBM, HP, or BEA should work equally well.
  • Ant 1.6.5+ to build gCF sources or to develop services with it.
  • an SVN client to install gCore from the SVN repository.
  • GNU tar to install gCore from archived distributions.
  • sudo privileges on the shell.

The following are pre-requisites for the operation of gHN in any infrastructure:

  • A static IP address and preferably a DNS name.

The following are pre-requisites for the operation of gHN in a secure infrastructure:

  • A ntp server to synchronise the machine's clock for correct credential validation.
  • A host certificate and private key owned by the user that runs the container and stored in an arbitrary position on the machine: the paths must be set in the global security descriptor file, as described in GHN security configuration section. In the most of cases the certificate and the key are stored respectively in:
 /etc/grid-security/hostpubliccert.pem (please check that the certificate file has -rw-r--r-- permissions)
 /etc/grid-security/hostprivatekey.pem (please check that the private key file has -r-------- permissions).
  • The public keys of the certification authorities to be accepted by the GHN,owned by the user that runs the container and stored in:

/etc/grid-security/certificates (the permissions are -rw-r--r--)

for further information, please refer to gCube security configuration section.

Installation

Once downloaded, gCore can be installed in a directory of choice (the gCore location). In either case, proceed to the installation as a a non-privileged user with read and write permissions on the gCore location. Due to some technical constraints, the current version of gCore requires that different installations must run under different users, i.e. the same user cannot configure and execute more than one container.

The structure of the installation is the following:

|-bin
|
|-config
|
|-endorsed
|
|-etc
|
|-lib
|
|-libexec
|
|-logs
|
|-share

Some folders are of immediate interest to administrators and developers alike:

bin executables.
config gHN configuration files.
etc configuration files of container's and deployed service.
lib standard and deployed service libraries.
logs Log files for gHN, Local Services, and legacy technologies.
share build tools, standard and deployed service interfaces and schemas.

Third-party software

gCore ships a number of third party products. The source material is copyright of the original publishers and software are governed by the terms and conditions of the third-party software.

Here it is a complete list grouped by provider.

Apache Software Foundation (AFS) ANT

  • ant-launcher 1.6.5
  • ant 1.6.5
  • antlr 2.7.6

ASF AXIS

  • addressing 1.0
  • axis 1.2RC (globus patched)
  • saaj 1.2RC
  • jaxrpc 1.2RC
  • axis-url 1.2.6
  • wsdl4j 1.2RC

ASF XML

  • resolver 1.1.1
  • xercesImpl 2.6.2
  • xml-apis 2.6.2
  • xmlsec 1.2.1
  • xalan 2.6

ASF COMMONS

  • commons-beanutils 1.6.1
  • commons-cli 2.0
  • commons-collections 3.0
  • commons-digester 1.2
  • commons-discovery 0.2dev
  • commons-io 1.2
  • commons-lang 2.4
  • commons-logging 1.1.1

Tomcat 4.1

  • naming-java 4.1
  • naming-resources 4.1
  • naming-factory 4.1
  • naming-common 4.1

GLOBUS 4.0.x

  • cog-axis
  • cog-jglobus
  • cog-tomcat
  • cog-url
  • puretls 0.9b4
  • cryptix-asn1 ?
  • cryptix.jar ?
  • cryptix32 3.2.0
  • bootstrap ?,
  • globus_usage_core
  • globus_usage_packets_common
  • globus_wsrf_mds_aggregator
  • globus_wsrf_mds_aggregator_stubs
  • globus_wsrf_servicegroup
  • globus_wsrf_servicegroup_stubs,
  • wsrf_common
  • wsrf_core
  • wsrf_mds_index_stubs
  • wsrf_mds_usefulrp
  • wsrf_test
  • wsrf_tools
  • wsrf_mds_usefulrp_schema_stubs
  • wsrf_provider_jce
  • wsrf_core_stubs
  • wsrf_mds_index

gLite

  • glite-security-util-java 1.3.4

MISC

  • cglib 2.2
  • objenesis 1.1
  • bcprov-jdk14 1.2.2
  • jce-jdk13 1.2.5
  • concurrent ?
  • SUN servlet.jar 2.3/1.2(JSP)
  • opensaml 1.0.1 (globus patched)
  • kxml2 2.3.0
  • log4j 1.2.15
  • jgss ?
  • junit 3.8.1
  • wss4j ?
  • SUN jsr173_api ?
  • BEA commonj 1.1
  • Jaxen XPath library - jaxen-1.1-beta-9.jar

Configuration

Configuring the installation can be roughly distributed across the following steps: configuring the environment, the container, the gHN associated with a running instance of the container, and the operation of the gHN in a secure infrastructure.

Configuring the Environment

  • Define an environment variable GLOBUS_LOCATION and point it to the gCore location. Assuming a bash shell:
export GLOBUS_LOCATION=absolute path to your gCore location
  • (optional) Add $GLOBUS_LOCATION/bin to the value of your PATH environment variable.:
export PATH=$PATH:$GLOBUS_LOCATION/bin
  • (optional) If building gCF-compliant services, define an environment variable BUILD_LOCATION and set it to the location from which ant will be invoked and where temporary build structures and artefacts will be located:
export BUILD_LOCATION=absolute path to your build location

Configuring the Container

Specify the hostname of your machine as the value of logicalHost parameter in the container's configuration file $GLOBUS_LOCATION/etc/globus_wsrf_core/server-config.wsdd:

<parameter name="logicalHost" value="..yourhostname..."/>

In the default configuration, the container typically allocates 1GB of heap space to the JVM in which it runs. This is a production-level requirement and can be increased by setting new parameters in the $GCORE_START_OPTIONS variable, either by editing the script $GLOBUS_LOCATION/bin/gcore-start-container or by adding it to the execution environment. If one wants to decrease the memory used, it is needed to edit the script, since, due to the Java Virtual Machine behavior, in case of duplicated setting, the higher setting is considered.

Moreover, any setting reported in the $GCORE_START_OPTIONS variable is passed to the container process and evaluated by the JVM.

Configuring the gHN

The configuration of the gHN that relates to its operation within the infrastructure and can be found in $GLOBUS_LOCATION/config/GHNConfig.xml. The file $GLOBUS_LOCATION/config/GHNConfig.client.xml can be used to dedicate a separate configuration to a gHN that operates in client mode.

The following gHN properties are available for configuration:


securityenabled true if the gHN can operate in a secure infrastructure, false otherwise.
accountingenabled true if the gHN must account using the gcube accounting system on every call received, false otherwise.
mode either CONNECTED or STANDALONE depending on whether the gHN does or does not publish information in the infrastructure.
infrastructure the name of the infrastructure in which the gHN operates. (e.g. gcube, d4science,...).
startScopes a comma-separated list of VOs that the gHN joins.
allowedScopes a comma-separated list of VOs that the gHN will potentially join (upon VO Manager decision).
labels the name of the file that includes custom labels to characterize the gHN. These are added to those automatically derived by gCore and published in the gHN profile. The file name must be relative to the $GLOBUS_LOCATION/config directory.
GHNtype either DYNAMIC or STATIC depending on whether the gHN can or cannot be used as a target for dynamic deployment operations.
coordinates a pair of comma-separated values for the latitude and longitude of the gHN. Coordinates for some popular locations are available here.
country the two-character ISO code of the Country where the gHN is located.
location the name of the location.
publishedHost the hostname to declare in the GHN and Running Instance profiles, if different from the actual one
publishedPort the port to declare in the GHN and Running Instance profiles, if different from the actual one
updateInterval how often the gHN must has to refresh its profile on the IS (in seconds).
portRange [optional] a dash-separated pair of numbers that identify a range of free ports, if any.
testInterval [optional] how often the monitoring Probes have to perform local test on the gHN

For example, the configuration required to join the gHN to the /gcube/devsec and /gcube/testing VOs is the following:

 infrastructure = gcube 
 startScopes = devsec,testing

For an in-depth coverage of scope and scope-related parameters (infrastructure and startScopes) see the Developer Guide.

Configuring Logging

A running gCore container will produce extensive logs in accordance with the log4j configuration directives container in $GLOBUS_LOCATION/container-log4j.properties. By default, the container logs in a file called $GLOBUS_LOCATION/logs/container.fulllog with a TRACE level for all the gCF components, and in $GLOBUS_LOCATION/logs/container.log with a INFO level for all the gCF components. Local Services have also dedicated file loggers.

Configuring Access Logs purging

Starting from GHN v 3.7.0, the GHN distribution contains a mechanism to clean access log files from the system ( that in some cases can occupy a considerable amount of space).

The script gcore-clean-accesslogs can be used to remove accesslogs older than 7 days ( configurable) and it can also be installed as cronjob via the gcore-clean-accesslogs-cron. Both files are located under the $GLOBUS_LOCATION/bin folder of the GHN.

In case of older versions of GHN distributions the files can be downloaded from:

and installed under the $GLOBUS_LOCATION/bin folder.

PLEASE NOTE : the scripts assume that the GLOBUS_LOCATION var is set inside the $HOME/.profile or $HOME/.bashrc

Configuring container security

//OUTDATED SECTION Detailed information about secure container configuration is provided in gCube security configuration section.

Detailed information about not default settings (for example, interoperability with secure external infrastructure or with a VOMS server, is availabled in Security Libraries section of gCube wiki. //END OF OUTDATED SECTION

Supporting resource encryption/decryption

If the gHN is foreseen to manage gCube encrypted resources, the "AES symmetric key" has to be downloaded and stored in the $GLOBUS_LOCATION/config folder. Alternatively a new compatible symmetric key could be generated by typing on linux shell the following:

 openssl rand -out symm.key 16 

Verify the Installation

To verify the installation, firstly start the container with the script $GLOBUS_LOCATION/bin/gcore-start-container in a not secure infrastructure, or $GLOBUS_LOCATION/bin/gcore-start-secure-container in a secure infrastructure. So, assuming PATH is set as recommended above:

gcore-start-container

or

gcore-start-secure-container

will suffice. Any instance of the container which is already running should be automatically kill-ed. By default, the commands above start the container on the port 8080 in a not secure infrastructure, 8443 in a secure infrastructure. To switch on another port, use the -p <port> option.

Then, two steps can be performed to verify that the container is locally working fine:

  1. the new instance should log the list of deployed services in $GLOBUS_LOCATION/nohup.out <code> and detailed information about the startup of local services in <code>$GLOBUS_LOCATION/logs/container.log. Lack of visible errors in both files indicates a successful gCore installation and startup.
  2. stopping the container, which is an action that contacts the container itself. For this, use the appropriate stop command, according to your configuration:
gcore-stop-container

or

gcore-stop-secure-container

Finally, for a full exploitation of the container (e.g. remote management and deployment, and having your services contacted), the host and port must be public and reachable from outside.

Troubleshooting

gHN with a high number of invocations

If a gHN hosts a service instance subjects to a high number of invocations, it might happen that the gContainer stops to serve callers' requests. This is due to mistaken usage of the "id" command of the underlying technology. Soon, the process will fall into a "too many files open" state and it basically does nothing from that moment on.

When such a condition is predictable, we suggest to create a temporary folder for the system commands, remove the "id" command from there and use that folder in the PATH instead the "official" one.

The complete workaround is the following:

  • create a folder where to collect the system commands:
mkdir fakebin
cd fakebin
find /usr/bin -type f -exec ln  {}  \;
find /usr/bin -type l -exec cp -a {} . \;
rm id
  • remove the /usr/bin folder from the PATH
  • add the new fakebin folder to the PATH

Of course, this could have impact on the other processes, therefore the new patched environment must be used only for the gContainer process.