Installing the ACL Connector for Analytics Exchange server component

Install this optional server component to manage ODBC connections between ACL Connector for Analytics Exchange clients and AX Server. You can configure the server component to support SSL encryption and customize the port used for communication.

How it works

The ACL Connector for Analytics Exchange uses Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) to connect to analytic results data on AX Server.

When a connection from a client machine is initiated, the server component accepts the request and retrieves the requested data from AX Server. It then sends the response, including the requested data, back to the client machine from which the request originated.

Before you begin

Before you install the ACL Connector for Analytics Exchange server component, you must install AX Server and verify that it is running. For more information, see Installing AX Server.

You must also decide if you want to support SSL encrypted connections. If you intend to encrypt connections between client machines and the server component, you must generate and install the necessary security certificate files on the AX Server machine before you complete this installation. To support SSL encryption, you require a Server Key file (*.pem, *.crt, or *.cert) and a Server Certificate File (*.pem, *.crt, or *.cert) when running the installer.

For more information, see Installing security certificates for the ACL Connector for Analytics Exchange.

Download the installer

1. Sign in to Launchpad (www.accounts.highbond.com) and click Analytics Exchange.

   An email with sign in instructions is sent from notifications@highbond.com to your company's ACL account administrator. If you are unable to sign in to your Launchpad account, contact your company’s ACL account administrator or ACL Support Services for assistance.

2. From the Select software package to download list, select the installer you want to download.

   Note

   Ensure that you download the correct edition (non-Unicode or Unicode) as all installed applications must use the same edition.

3. Click Download <Version> and save the installer to the computer that you plan to install the application on.

Install the server component

1. Double-click the installation package and on the Welcome page, click Install.
2. In the Server Setup page, click Next and then accept the License Agreement and click Next.
3. On the Destination Folder page, specify the folder where the service will be installed, and click Next.
4. In the Port field, enter the port you want the server component to listen on or use the default setting.
5. From the SSL Type list, select the encryption level that you want the server component to support:
   • Disabled connections are never encrypted
   • Enabled the server component supports both encrypted and unencrypted communication and the client machine determines whether or not to use SSL when configuring the connection
   • Required client machines must use SSL communication on every connection
6. If you are using the Optional or Required SSL type, do the following:
   1. In the Server Key File field, click Browse and select the Server Key file you installed on the AX Server machine.
   2. In the Server Certificate File field, click Browse and select the Server Certificate file you installed on the AX Server machine.
7. To finish the installation, click Install and after the installation completes, click Finish.

Verify the service is running

1. On the AX Server machine, navigate to Administrative Tools > Services.
2. In the Services window, in the Status column, check that the ACL Connector for Analytics Exchange Server service is running.

   Note

   There is a separate service called Analytics Exchange Connector. This service is unrelated to the ODBC connector and is not the service you just installed.

If the service has not started, right-click the service name and select Start. If the service still does not start, check the log file to determine the cause of the problem or contact ACL Support Services.

Once you verify that the service is running, you can install the ACL Connector for Analytics Exchange on client machines. For more information, see Installing the ACL Connector for Analytics Exchange ODBC driver.

Additional configuration

Restricting the supported SSL protocols

By default, the ACL Connector for Analytics Exchange Server server component allows the following TLS version for communicating with AX Server:

• TLSv1.2
• TLSv1.1
• TLSv1

You can restrict or modify the supported protocols in the axdsiiconfig.xml file located at ACL\App\axodbc on the AX Server machine:

<entry key="sslEnabledProtocols">TLSv1.2,TLSv1</entry>

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