Visual Expert Web Installation Guide

Target Architecture

Setting up the Web client is quite straightforward, starting from an existing Visual Expert client-server configuration:

The Visual Expert instance that currently parses the source code on the server side remains unchanged, with analyses stored in the same VE repository.

In essence, you will have to configure a new VE web server, running in IIS, provided with the new version of Visual Expert (2024.10 and above).

Once the VE web server is up and running, users can simply enter a URL to use the Visual Expert features in their web browser, and to access all the VE projects existing in the VE repository.

Visual Expert Web Client Architecture

Visual Expert Web Client Architecture

If you wish, you can also keep using a desktop client that will connect directly to the repository, in addition to the web clients that connects to the web server.

Installation Guidelines

Step 1: Install Visual Expert Desktop

  • Before installing Visual Expert Web, ensure you have installed and configured the Visual Expert Desktop (Enterprise or Professional Edition is mandatory) executable on the server.
  • You can check the System Requirements for all Visual Expert editions, including Basic, Professional & Enterprise, and VE Web.

Step 2: Download and Install .NET Core Hosting Bundle

  • Includes the .NET Core Runtime 6.0 and .NET Core Library.
  • Download the hosting bundle (dotnet-hosting-6.0) from the official Microsoft website: Hosting Bundle.

Step 3: Download the ASP.NET Core Module

  • Required for hosting ASP.NET Core applications on IIS.
  • Download from the official Microsoft website: ASP.NET Core Module.

Step 4: Download and Install .NET 6.0 Desktop Runtime

  • Install the .NET 6.0 Desktop Runtime.
  • Download from the official Microsoft website: Desktop Runtime.

Step 5: Install Internet Information Services (IIS)

IIS is a web server software package designed for Windows. It’s used for hosting websites and other content on the web. You can install it through the “Turn Windows features on or off” menu in the Control Panel. The below screenshot shows which functions should be checked and vice versa.

  • Go to the Control panel → Programs & Features → Add roles & features.
  • For Windows 10 and 11, click on Turn Windows features On or Off → follow the instructions and check in the required features.
    IIS Folders Windows

Step 6: Create an Application Pool and Site

  • Application Pool → Right-click on Application Pool → Add Application Pool → Enter Name → Set the .NET CLR version to No Managed Code → click [Ok].
    Add Application Pool
  • Navigate to Application Pools → Select your Application → Open Advanced Settings → Locate the Process Model section → Ensure Load User Profile is set to [True].
    Enable Load User Profile
  • Right-click on Sites → Enter Site name → Select the Application Pool you created → Specify the physical path (preferably C:\inetpub\wwwroot\[name of the folder you have created]) → Adjust the port number if necessary → click [Ok].
    Create Application Pool and Site

Step 7: Enable Windows Authentication

  • Select the Site → Under the IIS section → Open Authentication → Enable Windows Authentication.
    Open VE Web Authentication
    Enable VE Web Windows Authentication

Step 8: Restart IIS

  • Restart IIS to ensure the changes take effect.
  • Open a command prompt as an administrator.
  • Run the command iisreset.
  • Confirm the restart upon receiving a confirmation message.
    Restart IIS Command Prompt

Step 9: Verify the Installation

  • Open a command prompt.
  • Run the command: dotnet --list-runtimes.
  • Check the displayed versions to confirm that the .NET SDK and ASP.NET Core Runtime are correctly installed.

Step 10: Install Visual Expert Web

  • Once IIS, .NET Core SDK, and ASP.NET Core Runtime are installed, proceed with the Visual Expert WebConsole installation following the provided instructions.

Visual Expert Web Installation Steps

The Visual Expert Web needs to be installed on your server. Follow these steps to install the Visual Expert Web:

  • Run the setup as administrator from the command prompt.
    Run VE Web Setup
  • Follow the setup wizard. Click [Next] to start the installation.
    VE Web Setup Wizard
  • Accept the license agreement and proceed.
    VE Web Setup Wizard
  • Customize site settings as per your configuration and click [Next].
    Configure Site and Application Pool
  • Confirm the installation settings and click [Next].
    Confirm VE Web Installation
  • Wait for the installation to complete.
    Start VE Web Client Installation
  • Once installation is finished, you will see a success message. Click [Close] to exit the installer.
    Complete VE Web Client Installation

Learn more about Visual Expert Web features for remote code analysis, collaboration, project management, team efficiency and security.

 

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