Installing PhixFlow

This topic is for system administrators. It describes how to install a new instance of PhixFlow.

Prerequisites

Your IT system must meet the PhixFlow Minimum system requirements.

If you are setting up an installation of PhixFlow for evaluation, or a platform for development or testing that requires minimal planning, you can go straight into the installation process below.

If you are installing a large and/ or long-running installation of PhixFlow, please complete the planning steps described in Planning your PhixFlow System and Infrastructure Planning and Delivery.

Summary Installation Instructions

The pages in this topic guide you through a complete PhixFlow installation. A summary of the steps is:

Required or recommendedPage with detailsSummary
RequiredInstall JavaDownload and install Java.
Required

Install Tomcat

Download and install the Apache Tomcat web-application (webapp) server.
Recommended

Install reverse proxy and configure HTTPS:

Set up a reverse proxy to help manage the load on the PhixFlow server, offer secure connections over HTTPS, and help with certificate management for multiple instances of PhixFlow.
Optional

Install LibreOffice

This is only needed if you want to generate PDF versions of files to export or send via email (Configuring PDF Conversion)
RequiredUnpack PhixFlow Release Package

If you do not already have the PhixFlow package to install, you can download it from our support FTP site. Please email support@phixflow.com.

Log on to the webapp host and unpack the release package.

RequiredInstall the PhixFlow Database Schema

Create a database user and tables. Populate the tables with initial configuration data and set the customer name. See also the details in Database URLs.

OptionalMS SQL Server Integrated AuthenticationEnable server support for integrated user authentication.
RequiredInstall the PhixFlow WebappCopy the PhixFlow webapp from the unpacked release package into Tomcat and configure it.
RequiredConfigure a Keystore and Aliases

Create a keystore for the database credentials and their aliases. Configure the following files to use the keystore:

  • phixflow-datasource.xml
  • phixflow-secret.xml
  • an environment variable (recommended).
RequiredStart PhixFlow and Configure

Check that the application is running by starting the client and logging in.

Pre-version 11

The following credentials can be used, we recommend getting up an administration user to replace this user.

username: startup

password: Startup


Post-version 11

The recommended minimum basic install will create a new user called admin. The password will be autogenerated and written to the ../tomcat/security.log file. It is strongly recommended that this password is changed immediately after installation.

username: admin

password: see security.log

After Installation

Once PhixFlow is installed, see Administration for details of the configuration steps required immediately after installation, as well as the ongoing configuration and maintenance tasks.