3DOrchestrate Installation and Administration

If you have the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and 3DSpace installed on premises, 3DOrchestrate is usually installed on the same network to communicate with the other system components. If you are not familiar with the entire 3DEXPERIENCE platform and its servers, see 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Installation Guide: Installation Roadmap.

3DOrchestrate communicates with simulation process client apps such as Process Composer and Performance Study. 3DEXPERIENCE platform database stores both the status of running jobs and their results.

3DOrchestrate Software Components

The 3DOrchestrate product includes three software components that you must install separately:

3DOrchestrate Distribution Server: The 3DOrchestrate Distribution Server is the main server application that accepts job execution requests from the client apps and distributes them to 3DOrchestrate Stations. It is a Java enterprise application that you can install on a separate server machine from the 3DSpace Main Collaboration Server (MCS).
3DOrchestrate Station: A 3DOrchestrate Station is a lightweight, stand-alone application that runs on individual computers on your network. Install a 3DOrchestrate Station on any computer or server that executes an application used in the process workflow. In addition, you can install the station software on any 3DEXPERIENCE platform client machines on which local execution is required; for example, if a user configures an OS Command adapter with the station set to localhost in Process Composer. For more information, see Installing and Starting a Public (Regular) Station.
3DOrchestrate Platform Services: The 3DOrchestrate Platform Services provides web services that allow the 3DOrchestrate Distribution Server to store results in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform database. Install this component into the existing 3DSpace MCS.

System Architecture and Deployment

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The 3DOrchestrate Distribution Server manages simulation process flows, job dispatching, distributed and parallel computing, and results processing. The simulation process client apps interact with the 3DOrchestrate Distribution Server by doing the following:

Submitting simulations or processes to run.
Querying job status.
Retrieving the contents of the job log (entire log or incremental updates from a given time).
Querying the status of the 3DOrchestrate system itself—active jobs, active stations, and queued work items.
Controlling the status of the 3DOrchestrate system—shut down, cancel a job, or stop a station.

3DOrchestrate Stations are computers on the network that have been registered with the 3DOrchestrate Distribution Server to handle the execution of simulation activities as defined in the simulation process. Each station can receive work items, use adapters, and return results. Adapters in the client apps execute a simulation application that is installed on a station machine. For example, your network might have Abaqus™ installed on one station and MATLAB® on another.

After a job has completed, the results are stored in the 3DSpace File Collaboration Server (FCS).

All communication between the client apps and the 3DOrchestrate Distribution Server and all calls from the 3DOrchestrate Distribution Server to 3DSpace (MCS and FCS) are performed by means of web services.

Important:

Firewalls interfere with communications between the various components of the 3DOrchestrate system. The 3DOrchestrate Distribution Server does not have any built-in capacity to work around or through firewalls. If your network has firewalls, you must open the appropriate ports to allow the 3DOrchestrate Stations to connect to the 3DOrchestrate Distribution Server. The client apps can communicate with the 3DOrchestrate Distribution Server through a web proxy.

The most common system configuration is a single 3DOrchestrate Distribution Server connected to a single 3DSpace server; that is, there is a shared security realm between the two servers and the 3DOrchestrate Stations on the network.

Installation Roadmap

The following table outlines the tasks required to install and configure 3DOrchestrate and the simulation process client apps.


Task	Details
Software Prerequisites	Ensure that you have the required prerequisite software installed on your network, including 3DSpace (MCS and FCS) and the DS License Server.
See the 3DEXPERIENCE Native Apps Installation Guide	Install the 3DEXPERIENCE platform native simulation apps on individual users' desktop and laptop computers. These apps include Process Composer and physics simulation apps such as Structural Validation and Structural Scenario Creation. The physics simulation apps require 3DOrchestrate for remote solver execution or remote visualization of any simulation.
Installing the 3DOrchestrate Platform Services	Install 3DOrchestrate Platform Services into the existing 3DSpace Service. Use the installation media SIMULIA_EEP.
See the Process Composer (Web) Administration Guide	Install the Simulation Process Automation web apps into the existing 3DSpace Service. Use the installation media X3D_Web_Simulation. These apps include Process Composer (Web), Performance Study, and Results Analytics.
Installing the 3DOrchestrate Distribution Server Deploying 3DOrchestrate in the Java Application Server	Install the 3DOrchestrate Distribution Server (EED) in a dedicated directory/folder, preferably on a separate server machine. Use the installation media SIMULIA_3DOrchestration. Use the 3DOrchestrate Java EE deployment utility to configure the database schema, build and deploy the EAR file, and (optionally) start the application server. You can also install a 3DOrchestrate Station on this machine.
Configuring Clients	Configure the 3DOrchestrate Distribution Server machine as a client for DS licensing. The 3DOrchestrate Distribution Server installer does not set up or configure any licensing.
Installing SIMULIA Cosimulation Services (CSS)	Optionally install the SIMULIA CSS. This component is required if the Co-Simulation Director adapter is used in Process Composer. Use the installation media SIMULIA_ComputeServices.
Installing and Starting a Public (Regular) Station	Install a 3DOrchestrate Station (EER) on any computer or server that executes a simulation application used in the process workflow. You can also install a station on any 3DEXPERIENCE user's client machine on which local execution is required. Use the installation media SIMULIA_3DOrchestration.
Configuring the Station's Applications in ApplicationInfo.xml Opening the Station Administration App	Register the simulation process applications available on each station computer. You can do this in two ways: 1) in the ApplicationInfo.xml file or 2) using the Station Administration app.
Testing a Server or Station	Test the server configuration using the Station Administration app. For more information, see Station Administration: Testing a Server or Station.