How do I access the Cireson Portal from a PC?

Nancy

We would like to access the Cireson Portal from our PCs instead of directly from the server.  The server uses localhost which won't work from a PC. 

Do I need to enable form authentication?

Should I connect the portal to the SSL cert that is installed on the server?

Nancy

Shane_White

Hi @Nancy

You will need to configure the IIS for the website which you can either do during the installer or you can do this manually in IIS. If you are on ver 9.0.0+ you will also need to configure the Platform_Cache Config file if you do not configure the web site through the installer.

If you are using https then yes you will need an SSL certificate.

The below KB articles may help:

Installer for Portal to show where to configure the website - https://support.cireson.com/KnowledgeBase/View/1349#/
Difference between forms and windows authentication - https://support.cireson.com/KnowledgeBase/View/2439#/

Let me know if this helps
Thanks,
Shane.

Nancy

Thanks for the links.  However I can not currently access them.  We are doing a trial of the software.  

Shane_White

Ahh okay! Well in that case, when you run through the installer you will see on that on the configuration page 2 there will be website settings at the bottom underneath this:


Here you will also get to choose between windows and forms authentication if your Portal server is also a management server you will need to make sure it says local host otherwise you can specify the Service Manager Management Server. You will notice it forces this when using windows authentication.

Below this you will then see advanced web settings which is where you will then configure the SSL.

Thanks,
Shane.

Nancy

I have to run through the install again to change those settings?

Shane_White

Not necessarily it is just much easier to do it this way, alternatively you can go into IIS settings on the Web Server, configure the ports, the host name (if you are using one) and the SSL certificate (if you are using https).

Just bear in mind you will need to go into the following config file and make some changes:
C:\inetpub\CiresonPortal\Platform\Platform_Cache.config

In this file there will be "Urls": which you need to make match the bindings you have in IIS, so if you are running port 80 for http and port 443 for https this section would say:
"Urls":["http://*:80/Platform","https://*:443/Platform"]

You would then need to look for "SslCertificateThumbprint" and enter this information in. Depending on where you store you certificate you can get this thumbprint by using powershell and running the command Get-ChildItem cert:\LocalMachine\My

This particular one will show the certificates placed in the Personal folder on the local machine.

Thanks,
Shane.

Joe_Burrows

Nancy said:

We would like to access the Cireson Portal from our PCs instead of directly from the server.  The server uses localhost which won't work from a PC. 

Do I need to enable form authentication?

Should I connect the portal to the SSL cert that is installed on the server?

Nancy

Hi Nancy

You will need to enter the IP address of your server such as http://172.21.21.5, or create a DNS record to give it a more friendly name.

The details @Shane_White has posted should get you going with SSL but not a requirement (Though definitely recommended if your exposing publicly to the internet) 

Any questions let us know

Regards
Joe

Nancy

When I try http://dns:81 I get the following error message.

Can't reach this page.  Make sure that web address is correct.

Shane_White

@Nancy

Can you show us what you have set up in IIS? And your DNS Configuration please?

Thanks,
Shane.

Nancy

The DNS record points to the sccm1 server.  Both DNS records use the same IP address.

Nancy

Bindings - http - all unassigned IP addresses - port 81.

Shane_White

On the server itself are you able to browse to http://dns:81? Or is just from other machines?

Thanks,
Shane.

Nancy

I am able to access the http://dns:81 on the server but not on any other machines.

Nancy

Looks like I have to open up the port in firewall on the server.

Shane_White

Okay so that means it is working and setup correctly, it could be a firewall issue then or something you have internally preventing the machines access this.

Can you try from your machine to connect to http://IPAddressofserver:81

Thanks,
Shane.

Nancy

I added the ports to the firewall. I am not able to login from my PC.

Nancy

Does the login only work for username or can it be configured to work for e-mail address as well?

Shane_White

It will only work for username, I am not sure of anyway to change this to email address but that does not mean it is not possible!

Will it let you login with your username?

Thanks,
Shane

Nancy

I am able to log in via username.

Nancy

Is there any documentation on configuring the interface?  Such as adding a logo or HelpDesk phone numbers?

Shane_White

@Nancy

This is probably the best KB Article for what you are after!
https://support.cireson.com/KnowledgeBase/View/43?selectedtab=enduser#/

So are you all okay now?

Thanks,
Shane.

Nancy

I am not able to access the KB.  We are currently trying out the software.

Shane_White

Oh! In that case there is definitely a bunch of stuff on the Community about it and things people have implemented so that is worth a shout.

I did also find this that another company posted on their website which may help!
https://blog.ctglobalservices.com/service-manager-scsm/mme/customization-tips-to-the-cireson-portal/

Thanks,
Shane.

Nancy

Most of the links require me to log into my Cireson support account.

Shane_White

I would probably have a search on the Community then!

For changing the logo this post may help:
https://community.cireson.com/discussion/2294/changing-the-logo-on-cireson-portal

Thanks,
Shane