1. How to configure http – redirection
- The following instructions are created for the Comarch BI Point program for instances that are set up on a port other than the default port (80).
To ensure the configuration proceeds correctly, there are two solutions if the program is installed on port 80 (default):
- Move the BI Point program to another port (e.g., 81) if it is installed on port 80.
- Create a “site” on a port other than 80 during the subsequent configuration stage (however, in this solution, after logging into the site, it is required to enter www.website.com:port)
Required components when configuring using IIS (Internet Information Services):
In order to redirect the newly installed BI Point to another port, it is possible to use the IIS functionality. For this purpose, install the Microsoft Application Request Routing 3.0 add-on. Next, configure the config.json file available under: C:\Program Files (x86)\Comarch\BI Point\instances\Instance_name\bipoint\config.json as shown in the figure below:
If you want to allow connections to BI Point through a specific domain/subdomain, you must appropriately modify the “AllowedHosts” entry.
Windows
"AllowedHosts": "bipoint.example.com"
Linux
bipoint:
(...)
environment:
- AllowedHosts=bipoint.example.com;another.example.com
(...)
If you want to define more than one host, separate them with a semicolon:
;
To ensure the analytics engine functions correctly, you must add to AllowedHosts the host specified in the engine’s ApiUrl. The default container name bipoint is automatically added, but if the BI Point container name has been changed in docker-compose.yml on Linux, you must appropriately update AllowedHosts.
The change must also be applied in BI Point database in the table dbo.settings for BIPointUrl. In SET_CustomValue, enter a website name that matches the website address by which BI Point will be hosted.
For instances that use the analytical engine, enter the address (same as the one provided in dbo.Settings) in the appsettings.json available under:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Comarch\BI Point\instances\Instance_name\engine\appsettings.json
For “ApiUrl”: “” entry
Next, add a website in IIS. To do so, after starting the Internet Information Services Manager, go to the Sites folder and then select the option Add Website… .
Depending on the address on which you want to host BI Point, complete the website name (in the presented case, BI Point must be available at the address bipoint101.pl) and the host name. The physical path is discretionary. It is recommended to specify a physical path to an empty folder.
Save the entered settings with the OK button.
Next, add a server farm. This option becomes available upon installing first the ARR add-on and restarting the IIS. In order to create a farm server, select the option Create Server Farm as shown in the figure below.
In the Server Farm Name field, enter any name (a typed name should clearly indicate the application/website to which it applies).
In the advanced settings of the server farm, select the port (in the httpPort field) on which the BI Point you want to rewrite is installed. In the presented case, BI Point is installed on the port 81, therefore, this port is entered in the httpPort field. Type localhost in the Host Name field and 127.0.0.1 in the Server Address IP.
Once all the fields are completed, select the button Add to confirm and then the button Finish.
After specifying the server, you will be asked whether to create a rule. Confirm the displayed message:
The message confirmation status is presented in the IIS home > Url rewrite tab. The added rewrite rule should be displayed in the selected location after starting the URL Rewrite, as shown in the figure below:
In the rule edition window, the following view is displayed:
Tag a pattern in the Match URL tab with “*” symbol unless a named instance is configured (see How to configure HTTP with URL prefix)
In the Conditions tab, select the option Add. The window below will then open:
Set the condition input to {HTTP_HOST} and the pattern to the address at which BI Point is to be available (you can also use * indicating any address). You can use the option Test pattern to verify whether the entered pattern covers the target URL address of BI Point:
After saving the address configuration, it may be necessary to restart IIS / BI Point or refresh the website several times. The BI Point instance should then be available at the configured address. If the selected website is not available from an external network (there is no public address specified), add the website address also into the host file (C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts). In case of the described installation, complete the host file as shown in the figure below:
After the website is added, BI Point should be available at the added website link:
2. How to configure HTTPS
In order to configure HTTPS, you need to configure the above and select a SSL certificate. Next, right-click on the created website for which you want to configure https and then select Edit Links.
In the opened window, define a new link with https configuration. Select also an appropriate https certificate.
Next, go to the website home, select SSL Settings
and then the parameter Require SSL. Back in the IIS home, select URL Rewrite and then the option View Server Variables:
Select Add and type HTTP_X_FORWARDED_PROTO as the server variable name. Next, go back to the rule added in chapter 1:
And we add in the ‘Server Variables’ tab:
After restarting again the IIS, BI Point should be available under https.
HSTS header settings
When using HTTPS connection, enable the HSTS header setting. This option forces the browser to use HTTPS. In the application configuration, set the UseHsts flag to true and specify also the https port by setting https_port.
Settings in config.json
To properly view the page, set the UseForwardHeaders flag to true in the config.json file under C:\Program Files (x86)\Comarch\BI Point\instances\Instance_name\bipoint\.
3. How to configure HTTP with URL prefix
If other websites are configured in the IIS as Default Web Site, then it is possible to configure BI Point with a URL prefix (i.e., the URL address has then the following form: demo-xl.comarch.pl/bipoint). For this purpose, create an application under Default Web Site website as part of configuration.
First, modify the config.json file that can be found at:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Comarch\BI Point\instances\Instance_name\bipoint\config.json
In the file, add the instance name as shown below (the instance in the described example is bipoint).
Next, in the IIS, add the application as shown in the figure below:
When adding the application, type the instance name (in the example, it is bipoint) and select the path to the empty folder.
Then, add a server farm. This feature becomes available after installing first the ARR add-on and restarting the IIS. In order to create a farm server, select the option Create Server Farm as shown in the figure below:
In the Server Farm Name, type any name (a typed name should clearly indicate the application/website to which it applies).
In the advanced settings of the server farm, select the port (in the httpPort field) on which the BI Point you want to rewrite is installed. In the presented example, BI Point is installed on the port 81, therefore, this port is entered in the httpPort field. Type localhost in the Host Name field and 127.0.0.1 in the Server Address IP.
Once all the fields are completed, select the button Add to confirm and then the button Finish.
After specifying the server, you will be asked whether to create a rule. Confirm the displayed message:
The message confirmation status is presented in the IIS home > Url rewrite tab. The added rewrite rule should be displayed in the selected location after starting the URL Rewrite, as shown in the figure below:
In the rule edition window, the following view will be displayed:
In the Pattern field, type an expression that will cover only the BI Point instance and not the other websites. In the above example, the pattern has the form *bipoint*.