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  • 1.  Can we have more detail on the TM1 Web architecture changes in 2.0.9.2 please

    Posted Wed July 29, 2020 06:38 AM
    Edited by System Fri January 20, 2023 04:43 PM
    Hi,

    With reference to this link in 2.0.9.2 we seem to have another significant change in the architecture.

    Historically, Pafe required "PMHub" one of the web components installed along side TM1 Web.
    Recently we moved to a hub less build where only TM1 DB and PAW were required to run Pafe. Much was made of this as a performance enhancement that was required to improve the Pafe and remove the bottle neck PMHub was creating.

    With 2.0.9.2 IBM now state that TM1 Web is required to run Pafe. Details are at this point very light, so several questions in order to understand the implications for our customers.

    If we assume no use of TM1 Web itself either directly or via PAW, i.e. to service Pafe only then.

    What are the hardware requirements for TM1 Web?
    Do these scale with user count?
    If you have 50 concurrent users what would the hardware requirements be?
    Where can we expect to see the performance benefits?
    What components of Pafe require the use of TM1 Web?
    There is a Linux version of TM1WEB but can it run on the same box as PAW, has this been tested, any special considerations?
    What are the implications for SSL certs and security in general?  (documentation here ) What is the upgrade path? 
    2.0.9 is supposed to be long term release, this now appears to contain a change to the architecture.  Is the 2.0.9.1 series going to be patched independently to the 2.0.9.2 series?
    Are there any licence implications w.r.t. PVUs and so forth.  Are the PVUs that TM1Web consumes in or out of the scope of the licence PVUs?

    Thanks in advance for the detail on this change.

    Edit -for downstream responses.

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    Steven Rowe
    Technical Director - InfoCat
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    #PlanningAnalyticswithWatson


  • 2.  RE: Can we have more detail on the TM1 Web architecture changes in 2.0.9.2 please

    Posted Wed July 29, 2020 09:01 AM

    There have been a few changes to how TM1 web and other components interact together based changes to TM1 server

     

    1. Conformance - https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-planning-analytics-microsoft-excel-conformance-requirements
    2. Hub-less - https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/using-planning-analytics-microsoft-excel-without-performance-manager-hub
    3. There are changes to web - https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSD29G_2.0.0/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.tm1_inst.2.0.0.doc/c_upgrade_tm1_web.html

     



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    paul YOUNG
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  • 3.  RE: Can we have more detail on the TM1 Web architecture changes in 2.0.9.2 please

    Posted Wed July 29, 2020 09:35 AM
    Thanks Paul, there is some new information on or near your link 3, i.e. there is a Linux version of TM1 Web but no mention of its usage on the same box as PAW.

    I can also see documentation on SSL certs there as well but it would be good to see some detail.
    We need a clear understanding and documentation of the upgrade path from original TM1 Web to Spread Sheet services.
    When the architecture of the product changes we need to have an understanding of the implications of this, currently there is pretty close to zero information that is any deeper than the fact it is changing.

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    Steven Rowe
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  • 4.  RE: Can we have more detail on the TM1 Web architecture changes in 2.0.9.2 please

    Posted Thu July 30, 2020 01:09 AM
    Steven, 

    Have you seen this FAQ that details changes to TM1Web? Many of your questions posed are addressed. 

    Also, can you think of any reasons as to why TM1Web would not be usable on a Linux server running PAW? Running a quick install test on a VM would answer that question. Based on my understanding, IBM's goal is to eventually containerize the spreadsheet service, which should be bundled with PAW as a single install. As a Technical Director, I'm sure you can appreciate that sometimes the way to find the answer is to try it out yourself and see what happens.

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    Cyrus Rashedi
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  • 5.  RE: Can we have more detail on the TM1 Web architecture changes in 2.0.9.2 please

    Posted Thu July 30, 2020 05:37 AM
    Hi Cyrus,
    Thanks for explaining what my role in my organisation is.  Given infinite resources we could of course do IBMs job for them.

    I'm fully aware of IBMs plan to move TM1 Web into the PAW environment, but this is not where we are now.

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    Steven Rowe
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  • 6.  RE: Can we have more detail on the TM1 Web architecture changes in 2.0.9.2 please

    Posted Thu July 30, 2020 01:05 PM
    Hi Steven,

    I totally understand the reasoning for your questions and potential concerns. But the important thing to keep in mind is that the Architecture has not changed, only the installer.

    Let me address your individual questions:

    What are the hardware requirements for TM1 Web?
    [RV] there's no change in our hardware requirements from the past. Our FAQ mentions the minimum requirements as previously mentioned in our conformance pages and it would depend on the usage and size of websheets.

    Do these scale with user count?
    [RV] there's no change from the past. We still work in a JVM container. More concurrency to your TM1Web may need you to increase your Java Heap memory configuration size.

    If you have 50 concurrent users what would the hardware requirements be?
    [RV] no change from previous versions. Older versions of windows used to have a limitation of 25 concurrent users and the reason why we needed to have multiple virtual aliases or even multiple TM1Web servers. Concurrency would mean users would take up 1 thread each but it also depends on the size of websheet they would be launching or exporting. The HD requirements depends on more than just the number of concurrent users. Same HD specs you have today would work the same with this new version and installer.

    Where can we expect to see the performance benefits?
    [RV] Only change is that TM1Web has its own installer.

    What components of Pafe require the use of TM1 Web?
    [RV] None! PAfE does not require TM1Web, it requires PAW. However, you need to run TM1Web if you want to use Websheets (PAfE and Perspectives workbooks on the Web). The FAQ indicates that there's a dependency and new features & capabilities which are being developed will require versions to be delivered in parallel.

    There is a Linux version of TM1WEB but can it run on the same box as PAW, has this been tested, any special considerations?
    [RV] Our Software Compatibility report indicates what operating systems is supported by this new version.

    What are the implications for SSL certs and security in general? (documentation here ) What is the upgrade path?
    [RV] this is also covered in the FAQ. The SSL configuration is automatically copied over during the install (windows only). New installs of TM1Web 2.0.55 on windows you would follow the normal process with WebSphere to setup SSL.

    2.0.9 is supposed to be long term release, this now appears to contain a change to the architecture. Is the 2.0.9.1 series going to be patched independently to the 2.0.9.2 series?
    [RV] The TM1 Server is a Long Term Support Release (LTS). TM1Web is not and will get new features (support for the new DQR report type). Also, the architecture didn't change! Just the installer. End users will see no difference.

    Are there any licence implications w.r.t. PVUs and so forth. Are the PVUs that TM1Web consumes in or out of the scope of the licence PVUs?
    [RV] No change in licensing that would impact customers (what they pay for or what they deploy). We have updated the license docs to name the Planning Analytics Spreadsheet Service as a software component to reflect the fact that we have a new installer.

    Also, keep an eye bookmarked on the FAQ as there may be regular updates.

    Kind Regards,

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    Robert Vautour
    Technical Advocate
    IBM Planning Analytics and Cognos
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  • 7.  RE: Can we have more detail on the TM1 Web architecture changes in 2.0.9.2 please

    Posted Thu July 30, 2020 01:51 PM
    Hi Robert,
    Great, thanks for the update, so basically and for the moment TM1 Web in 2.0.9.2 is the same as in 2.0.9.1 and we can upgrade with confidence.  Good to hear.  Thanks for providing the clarity.
    Cheers,

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    Steven Rowe
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