Note: This version of the VDT (1.2.3) is no longer supported. Feel free to look through the documentation and install it, but we cannot guarantee support for it. The current stable release is 2.0.0.

Configuring Database Back-end for RLS Server

Globus RLS server software is installed by default with installation of the VDT. In order for it be fully functional, however, it needs to be configured to communicate with a MySQL database. The configuration involves setting up IODBC/MyODBC to talk to the correct database and creating tables necessary for RLS data storage.

Note: We recommend using MySQL database for RLS. If you would like to configure RLS server to work with a different database system (e.g. PostgreSQL), please see RLS documentation for details.(http://www.globus.org/rls).

We recommend installing a fresh copy of MySQL from VDT, even if you already have MySQL installed on your system. This is recommended because it will ensure version compatibility and make the configuration and subsequent administration much easier. MySQL installed through VDT will be completely contained within the VDT installation directory and will never conflict with your existing MySQL installation(s). VDT 1.2.3 comes with MySQL 4.0.18

To summarize, in order to make the RLS server fully functional, you need the following three components

Globus-RLS (installed as part of the full VDT)
MySQL (you can use your own external installation, but it's recommended that you install MySQL from VDT)
Globus-RLS-Server-Setup-MySQL (this installs and configures IODBC, and sets up the necessary users and tables)

Installing MySQL

Before you install MySQL it is recommended that you create mysql user (if one already does not exist on the system). MySQL software prefers running as mysql user. This user does NOT need to have log-in permissions to the machine. If MySQL is installed as root, this user account will be created automatically by the installation script. If MySQL is installed as non-root, it will use the account of the user installing.

pacman -get MySQL

This will install a fully-functional MySQL into $VDT_LOCATION/mysql directory. Note:The process may take a while (~20 mins).

Configuring MySQL for RLS

After MySQL installation is complete, you should then configure RLS to use it, by installing Globus-RLS-Server-Setup-MySQL.

pacman -get Globus-RLS-Server-Setup-MySQL

You will be prompted for several MySQL-related directories and MySQL passwords. If you've installed MySQL from VDT, just press Enter in response to all questions.

Note:If anything goes wrong in the process, check the log files (vdt-install.log and mysql/var/mysql.log), correct the problem(s) and re-run the RLS configuration script:

$VDT_LOCATION/vdt/setup/configure_rls.sh

Configuring RLS to work with existing database

If you would prefer to configure RLS to use a pre-existing MySQL installation, then you can skip the step of installing MySQL from VDT. Simply install Globus-RLS-Server-Setup-MySQL. by itself. In the process you will be prompted for the location of your external MySQL installation.

Changing the Database used by RLS

If you would like to reconfigure RLS to "point" it to a different database, simply run

cd $VDT_LOCATION/vdt/setup/
configure_myodbc.sh
configure_rls.sh

. This will prompt you for the paths to a new MySQL installation and user password, create the necessary tables and configure RLS server to use this database. Your existing RLS data will NOT be copied from the old database.

Notes

In the process of configuring MySQL for RLS, MySQL creates two large tables (approx 2GB) each. This is the ideal configuration for RLS. Thus you should ensure that you have on the order of aprrox. 5 GB of space before initiating this process.