Configuring websphere to work with lawson

Man, I need to give lawson more benefit of doubt. Found some websphere specific sections in the lsfctig pdf, reading through those now...

File this one under "didn't rtfm"

Getting the installation correct for Lawson can be tricky for Websphere. Many details are located in the Lawson Core Technology LCT manual, but Lawson also has internal documents that are only available to Lawson and partners.

I highly recommend a certified LCT installer.

Unless you have multiple endpoints, SSL, or some other slightly advanced
architectural design (WAS cluster is not advanced), then the manual has
everything you need for this one. Call me before wasting money on a Lawson
"certified" installer. ;-)

On Wed, Jun 27, 2012 at 4:01 PM, wrote:

> [image: LawsonGuru.com Logo] <https://www.lawsonguru.com/> S3 Systems
> Administration Forum Notification A message was posted to a thread you
> are tracking. *RE: Configuring websphere to work with lawson* Posted
> by: *Phil Romov*
> 06/27/2012 02:57 PM Man, I need to give lawson more benefit of doubt.
> Found some websphere specific sections in the lsfctig pdf, reading through
> those now...
>
> File this one under "didn't rtfm"
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> https://www.lawsonguru.co...to-work-with-lawson/
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I am a certified installer and from my perspective, one would be at a disadvantage without having the appropriate training when trying to complete an installation based solely on the manual. 

Organizations can also run into support issues from Lawson if they are not using a certified installer / partner for installations.  I have been asked several times by support who installed the environment when submitting a case for an environment / performance issue.

If you are able to complete a successful installation on your own, that's great and is obviously your choice.

Brian,
I agree. Generally speaking, you always want to have a certified installer do your isntallations, and we have done this in the past and will do so in the future.

However, this is a small upgrade, and I'm doing this on a test machine just figuring out websphere for myself.

Now, I've got everything set up regarding the lsfctig, and it seems I got one last problem (famous last words...)

Basically, when I try http://server/servlet/What or servlet/SSOConfig etc, I get "File does not exist:
/lawp/webdocs/sso" in my HTTPServer error log, which I know means HTTPServer is looking in the wrong place. My classpaths and variables and such are all set up in websphere. But I must have missed something to set up HTTPServer to look in the right place for the servlet calls. I thought it would be httpd.conf, but can't find anything.

Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks
Phil

Figured it out.

httpd.conf was pointing to the wrong plugin-cfg.xml

Everything is up and running now.

Again, to echo what Brian Allen said - unless you are a huge techno-nerd like I am and got time to burn, I suggest investing in a certified installer.

Phil,  Glad that you figured it out. 

Best regards, Brian

Brian,

I appreciate your perspective. There is no doubt that a certified
installer would have been privy to insights and experience-based best
practices documentation not necessarily available on the support site. I
don't recall the full thread of this of this conversation, but if I
remember correctly, this was for a 9.0.0 -> 9.0.1 LSF upgrade. Lawson does
not require certified installer for this. Unless someone is adding
something else to the mix (e.g. hardware upgrade, WAS upgrade, etc...) the
9.0.0 ->9.0.1 LSF upgrade can be an "upgrade-in-place", not unlike applying
an ESP.

To suggest that certification is required for this, is somewhat
disingenious. There are plenty of non-certified technical consultants who
can, and do offer this "upgrade" service. Contracting technical services
should be based on based on whether or not the potential resource has the
experience (not necessarily the certification) to accomplish the task in a
reasonable amount of time, and can they beat the price of an equally
satisfactory alternative resource for the specific task at hand. I've seen
actual Lawson Consultants come on site and not have a clue what their
doing, take too long getting things done, and then leave a client with
garbage. But hey, they worked for Lawson or some "partner", so the client
thinks they must be the best.

There are good and bad consultants, both certified and not, both
independent and not.

We could probably fill this board and functional boards as well with horror
stories about how a "certified" resource came in and screwed things up.
Usually the client goes away happy for a year or so, until they learn
enough about Lawson to understand how the consultants lack of a broad range
of experiences ends up pigeon holing the client into a cookie cutter
implementation that the client now has to figure out how to unwind. I've
seen this across the board on the functional side, as well as the technical
side (security is a great example).

I am not saying that all "certified" implementations are bad. There are
just as many happy customers as unhappy. What I am saying is, this
particular upgrade (LSF 9.0.0 -> LSF 9.0.1) is not too difficult for even a
mildly self-motivated low-level Lawson admin to attempt, and Lawson does
not require a certified installer for this.

Sincerely,
Non-certified, perfectly capable, experienced, me. ;-)

For some reason on this day, (pehaps it's because of what SCOTUS just did)
I can't seem to put this to rest. The idea that only certified installers
should be used for Lawson tech work is just like saying that I must find a
barber licensed by the state to cut my hair. BOGUS. The license doesn't
make a person a better hair stylist. There a plenty of great certified
techs, but I bet there are just as many non-certified and we all know some
of the people I'm talking about. In fact, some are so good, most people on
here assume they are certified when they are in fact not.


On Thu, Jun 28, 2012 at 8:40 AM, wrote:

> [image: LawsonGuru.com Logo] <https://www.lawsonguru.com/> S3 Systems
> Administration Forum Notification A message was posted to a thread you
> are tracking. *RE: Configuring websphere to work with lawson* Posted
> by: *Brian Allen*
> 06/28/2012 07:30 AM I am a certified installer and from my perspective,
> one would be at a disadvantage without having the appropriate training
> when trying to complete an installation based solely on the manual.
>
> Organizations can also run into support issues from Lawson if they are not
> using a certified installer / partner for installations. I have been asked
> several times by support who installed the environment when submitting a
> case for an environment / performance issue.
>
> If you are able to complete a successful installation on your own, that's
> great and is obviously your choice.
> ------------------------------
>
> To view the complete thread and reply via your browser, please visit:
>
> https://www.lawsonguru.co...to-work-with-lawson/
>
> You were sent this email because you opted to receive email notifications
> when someone posted and/or responded to a message on this forum.
> To unsubscribe to this thread please visit your user profile page and
> change your subscription options.
>
> Thank you,
> LawsonGuru.com
>

Speaking of becoming certified. Does anyone know of a way for a consultant to become certified without having to be a partner? I'd like to become an independent consultant, but I'm currently working for a Lawson customer and have no way of getting a certification.

When I was certified you had to be with a certified partner or work for Lawson to attend the 3 week LSF certification training.  Not sure if this has changed under Infor. 

Mark Deutsch with Lawson Professional Services manages the certification program and could confirm the current requirements.  Good luck.

Just to add to Brian's comment re becoming certified, "be with a certified partner" did not necessarily mean that you had to be a full-time W2 employee. You could have been an independent contractor and have a partner sponsor you to become certified. Generally this meant that you agreed to provide x-number of hours service for the partner in exchange for the certification they paid for you to earn. Individual certifications were bestowed upon the individual, not the partner per se. The certs followed the individual when they left the partner. At least that's how it was before. :-o

What I was referring to related to certification is a new install or major upgrade. 

Most system admins are very capable and could certainly tackle the smaller upgrades and should be fine from a support perspective. 

Lawson also offered a one week LSF9.0.0 to 9.0.1 workshop that was open to customers that provided the information and experience to manage this smaller upgrade. 

There's no magic in certification, but it does provide a degree of assurance that the installer has been trained and has proven the he / she can effectively complete an installation (as required during the final install week). 

There is another option which has not been mentioned. We do all our own upgrades and installs, then we have them certified by a certified installer. It usually takes only a half day or so to have an install certified.

Awesome Chris.

On Fri, Jun 29, 2012 at 9:21 AM, wrote:

> [image: LawsonGuru.com Logo] <https://www.lawsonguru.com/> S3 Systems
> Administration Forum Notification A message was posted to a thread you
> are tracking. *RE: Configuring websphere to work with lawson* Posted
> by: *Chris*
> 06/29/2012 08:16 AM There is another option which has not been
> mentioned. We do all our own upgrades and installs, then we have them
> certified by a certified installer. It usually takes only a half day or so
> to have an install certified.
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>
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>