The Digital InterPlot configuration consists of four components: the plot server, the web server, the database server, and the file server. Each component must be configured properly before you can use the product. A single computer can perform the functions of all four components, or these functions can be distributed across multiple computers. This technote is based on the Enterprise environment with each component on a different machine.
Note: While this technote assumes each component is on a different machine, it can be used for any case when only one, two, or three components are on a different machine. Refer to the appropriate section for that component.
Configuring the file server component
The file server is any computer housing file storage folders for archived data. The file storage folder specifies the base folder where the archived data will reside. File storage folders can reside on multiple file servers. The Digital InterPlot license includes one file server license. A Bentley Distributed File Server license must be purchased when using more than one file server.
Note: It is recommended that you create a specific account for use with Digital InterPlot that has permissions to access the file storage folder and web storage folder. This same account will be granted “Log on as a service” user rights on the plot server. This account will be referred to as the “DI user account” in this technote. Make sure this user is a member of the Administrator’s group.
The file storage folder must be a UNC share. Set the UNC share name in the Sharing tab of the Properties page for the file storage folder.
You will need to set share permissions on each file storage folder. Each file storage folder must be provided with a username from an account that has both Read and Write access to the share. The user account would be the DI user account recommended in the above note. Set the UNC share access permissions on the file storage folder in the Sharing tab of the Properties page for the folder.
Each file storage folder must be provided with a username from an account that has both Read and Write access to the folder. Set the folder access permissions on the file storage folder in the Security tab of the Properties page for the folder. You can configure Digital InterPlot to use a separate web storage folder from the file storage folder and you can use multiple file storage folders. If you use a separate web storage folder or multiple file storage folders, you must create a UNC share with read/write permissions for the web storage folder and each file storage folder.
In summary, on the file server, the following steps may be performed:
- Cretae the file storage folder
- Create UNC shares with permissions for the file storage folder
- Set the folder permissions for the DI user account
- Create the web storage folder
- Create UNC shares with permissions for the web storage folder
- Set the folder permissions for the DI user account
Note: If the web storage folder is a separate folder from the file storage folder, you must create a virtual directory alias on the web server for each file storage folder as well as the web storage folder. This step will be covered in detail in the Configuring the web server component section.
Configuring the database server component
The database server is the computer with the database system installed. During archive creation, the Enterprise setup option supports the Oracle (version 7, 8, 8i and 9i), Microsoft SQL Server (version 7 and 2000), and Microsoft Access databases. A single database is capable of storing multiple archives.
Oracle
You will need to create an Oracle user on the database server. Each user account should have the UNLIMITED TABLESPACE privilege or the DBA will need to set up a specific tablespace quota. This allows the archive user account to utilize all of the tablespace for archive storage. It is for this reason that the Oracle DBA may want to create a new tablespace for plot archives only. By default, Oracle creates a SYSTEM and a USERS tablespace. It is recommended that if the DBA does not create a specific tablespace for plot archives, that the USERS tablespace be used. The Oracle user will need to be granted connect and resource privileges.
Microsoft SQL Server
Create a Microsoft SQL database for use with the Digital InterPlot. It is the responsibility of the customer’s DBA to create a valid, working SQL database. Add a login to be used for creating the DSN.
Microsoft Access
Copy the template database file to the file storage folder. The template database file is located in Program Files\Digital InterPlot\webtemplate and is called ipsdbseed.mdb. You can rename this file once it is in the file storage folder to match the archive name but this is not required.
Configuring the web server component The web server is the computer with the necessary Microsoft Internet/Web management software components (i.e. Internet Information Server (IIS) 5.0 or later). The web server hosts web client connections that access the digital archives. The Digital InterPlot license includes one web server license. A Bentley Distributed Web Server license must be purchased when using more than one web server. You may need to load nternet Information Server (IIS) manually.
On Windows 2000, go to Start – Settings – Control Panel – Add or Remove Programs Select Add/Remove Windows Components Place a check by Internet Information Services (IIS) and select Next Complete the installation. Reboot.
On Windows 2003, go to Start – Control Panel – Add or Remove Programs Select Add/Remove Windows Components Select Application Server, then select Details. Place a check by Internet Information Services (IIS) and select OK. Then select Next and complete the installation. Reboot.
The following steps must be performed on the web server:
- If the web folder is located on the web server, create the web storage folder using Windows Explorer.
- Create the Virtual Directory Alias (VDA) for the web storage folder and any file storage folders. Start Internet Information Services.
On Windows 2000, select Start – Settings – Control Panel Select Administrative Tools Select Internet Services Manager Internet Information Services dialog will display.
On Windows 2003, select Start – Administrative Tools – Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager dialog will display.
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Expand the list. Right-click on Default Web Site, select New – Virtual Directory. The Virtual Directory Creation Wizard dialog will display.

If the web server is a different machine than the plot server, create a System Data Source Name (DSN) for the database. Make sure the DSN on the plot server and the web server have the same DSN names.
Start ODBC Data Source Administrator
On Windows 2000, select Start – Settings – Control Panel. Select Administrative Tools Data Sources (ODBC).
On Windows 2003, select Start – Administrative Tools – Data Sources (ODBC). The ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog will display. Select the System DSN tab.
Select Add to create a DSN. The Create New Data Source dialog will display.
Oracle
Select Microsoft ODBC for Oracle from the driver list. Enter the data source name and a description. The User Name will be the Oracle user created on the database server. The Server is the name of the Oracle service created when the Oracle software was installed.
Microsoft SQL
Select SQL Server from the driver list and select Finish. Enter the data source name and a description. Select the SQL Server to connect to. This should be (local) if the DSN is being created on the database server or select the name of the SQL Server from the dropdown list if the DSN is being created on a remote computer. Select Next to continue.
Select With SQL Server authentication using a login ID and password entered by the user. Check the box next to Connect to SQL Server to obtain default settings for the additional configuration options and then enter the Login ID and Password of the SQL Login account created on the database server for this DSN. Select Next to continue.
Leave the default settings and select Next.
Leave the default settings and select Finish to continue.
Test Data Source…to test the connection.
Select OK to return to the previous dialog.
Select OK to continue.
- Install the Digital InterPlot software.
Note: When installing Digital InterPlot 8.5.2, the installation will check to make sure Microsoft XML Core Services (MSXML 4.0) is installed. If this product is not loaded, you can select OK and continue with the Digital InterPlot installation. After the Digital InterPlot installation has completed, load MSXML 4.0.
- Update the license file to point to the SELECTserver license server.
Modify licbroker.lic file in Program Files\Common Files\Bentley Shared\LicenseBroker to point to the SELECTserver containing the Digital InterPlot license. Replace INSERT_SELECT_SERVER_NAME_HERE with the name of the SELECTserver. Make sure to press the ENTER key after typing the SELECTserver name. Save the file.
On Windows 2000, select Start – Settings – Control Panel – Administrative Tools – Services
On Windows 2003, select Start – Administrative Tools – Services.
Double-click on the Bentley License Broker Service. Select Start. If the service is already started after modifying the licbroker.lic file, restart the service.
- Configure the file server and web server license.
On Windows 2000, select Start – Programs – InterPlot Utilities – Digital InterPlot Configure.
On Windows 2003, select Start – All Programs – InterPlot Utilities – Digital InterPlot Configure. The Digital InterPlot Configure dialog will display.
Select Licenses. The Digital InterPlot – Licenses dialog will display. Select File Server License. The Digital InterPlot – File Servers License dialog will display. Select accept. The Digital InterPlot – File Servers Configuration Utility will display. Select Add Server. The Digital InterPlot – Add Server dialog will appear. Enter the name of the file server. Select OK. The Digital InterPlot – File Servers Configuration Utility will display with the new computer listed as a licensed file server.
Select Close. Perform the same steps for the web server. Each Digital InterPlot license provides a license for one file server and one web server. A Bentley Distributed File Server license must be purchased when using more than one file server. A Bentley Distributed Web Server license must be purchased when using more than one web server.
- Run dcomcnfg
dcomcnfg is a Microsoft delivered utility which enables administrators to configure DCOM security on the computer for all applications which do not set security. Running the dcomcnfg utility is necessary for Archive Explorer to perform operations like viewing remote Enterprise archives, searching for remote plot sets and sheets, and populating an Enterprise archive from remote machines. To run the dcomcnfg utility, select Start – Run and key in dcomcnfg.
Windows 2000 DCOMCNFG
On Windows 2000, the Distributed COM Configuration Properties dialog will display. Select DPRArchServ and select Properties.
The DPRArchServ Properties dialog will display. Select the Security tab.
Select Use custom access permissions and select Edit. Add Everyone and set Allow Access. Select OK.
Select Use custom launch permissions and select Edit. Add Everyone and set Allow Launch. Select OK.
Select Use custom configuration permissions and select Edit. Add Everyone and set Read. Select OK.
Select the Identity tab. Enter the DI user created earlier that has access to the file storage folders. Select This user and enter the appropriate username/password.
DCOMCNFG does not validate the user and password information. It is important that you type the user and password correctly. The user account must also have read/write access to each file storage folder. Entering a domain user which is also a local user may cause conflicts when launching DPRArchServ. For best results, make sure the domain account you enter is unique.
Windows 2003 DCOMCNFG
On Windows 2003, the Component Services dialog will display. Expand the following: Component Services – Computers – My Computer – DCOM Config
Select DPRArchServ and right-click Properties. The DPRArchServ Properties dialog will display. Select the Security tab.
Under Launch Permissions, select Customize and select Edit. Add Everyone and set Allow. Select OK.
Under Access Permissions, select Customize and select Edit. Add Everyone and set Allow. Select OK.
Under Configuration Permissions, select Customize and select Edit. Add Everyone and set Read. Select OK.
Select the Identity tab. Enter the DI user created earlier that has access to the file storage folders. Select This user and enter the appropriate username/password.
DCOMCNFG does not validate the user and password information. It is important that you type the user and password correctly. Remember this user account must also have read/write access to each file/web storage folder. Entering a domain user which is also a local user may cause conflicts when launching DPRArchServ. For best results, make sure the domain account you enter is unique.
- Create a System DSN for the database. Make sure the DSN on the plot server and the web server have the same DSN names. See Configuring the web server component section for more information on creating the System DSN.
- Grant User Rights to “Log on as service”.
The user account for the file storage folder must have User Rights to “Log on as a service” on the plot server. To grant this user right, do the following:
On Windows 2000, select Start – Settings – Control Panel. Select Administrative Tools. Select Local Security Policy.
On Windows 2003, select Start – Administrative Tools – Local Security Policy.
The Local Security Settings dialog will display. Expand Local Policies and select User Rights Assignments.
Double-click on Log on as a service. On Windows 2000, the Local Security Policy Setting dialog will display. Add the user account that has read/write access to the file/web storage folder.
On Windows 2003, the Log on as a service Properties dialog will display.Add the user account that has read/write access to the file/web storage folder.
- Create the archive.
On Windows 2000, select Start – Programs – InterPlot Utilities – Archive Explorer. On Windows 2003, select Start – All Programs – InterPlot Utilities – Archive Explorer. The Archive Explorer dialog will display.
Select My Computer. Select Tools – Create Archive. The Create Archive Wizard will display. Select Enterprise.
Enter the name of the archive to be created and a description. Select Next.
Enter the name of the web server, the VDA created for the web storage folder and the UNC share name. Select Next.
Use the Select button to browse to the System DSN.
For Oracle, enter the Tablespace name for the database and the corresponding Password for the Oracle user. For MicroSoft SQL Server, enter the corresponding Password for the SQL user. A username/password is not required for the MicroSoft Access database.
The File Storage Setup dialog will display. Select Add to specify the file storage folder.
Enter the path to the file storage folder, the VDA for the file storage folder, and the username/password that has read/write access to the file storage folder.
You can add additional file storage folders if desired.
Next, the File Formats dialog will display. Select the appropriate options.
Next, the Optional Formats dialog will display. This dialog will allow any additional formats to be stored with the archive. Optional formats can be added to the archive definition at a later time if desired. Optional formats are not required to populate and view an archive.
The Plot Set Attributes dialog will display. Set the desired plot set attributes for the archive.
The Sheet Attributes dialog will display. Set the desired sheet attributes for the archive.
The View Hierarchy dialog will display.
The Review dialog will display.
Select Finish to complete the archive creation. The new archive will display in Archive Explorer.
