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Apache-based Server Preparations for Linux

Apache-based servers running on Linux operating environments require the following preparations before installing a CA SiteMinder® agent:

  1. Verify that the required patches are installed.
  2. Verify that the required libraries are installed.
  3. Verify that the required tools are installed.
  4. Compile the Apache-based web server.
  5. Verify the presence of a logs subdirectory.
Required Linux Patches

The following Linux patches are required:

For Web Agents running on 64-bit Linux systems
Required Linux Libraries

Certain library files are required for components operating on Linux operating environments. Failure to install the correct libraries can cause the following error:

java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError 

If you are installing, configuring, or upgrading a Linux version of this component, the following packages are required on the host system:

Red Hat 5.x:
Red Hat 6.x:

Additionally, for Red Hat 6.x (64-bit):

All the RPM packages that are required for 64-bit Red Hat 6.x are 32-bit packages.

Linux Tools Required

Before installing a CA SiteMinder® Agent on a Red Hat Apache 2.2 web server running on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating environment, install all the items included in the Red Hat Legacy Software Development tools package.

Compile an Apache Web Server on a Linux System

For the CA SiteMinder® Agent to operate with an Apache web server running Linux, you have to compile the server. Compiling is required because the Agent code uses pthreads (a library of POSIX-compliant thread routines), but the Apache server on the Linux platform does not, by default.

If you do not compile with the lpthread option, the Apache server starts up, but then hangs and does not handle any requests. The Apache server on Linux cannot initialize a module which uses pthreads due to issues with Linux's dynamic loader.

Follow these steps:

  1. Enter the following:
    LIBS=-lpthread
    export LIBS
    
  2. Configure Apache as usual by entering the following:
    configure --enable-module=so --prefix=your_install_target_directory
    make
    make install
    
Verify Presence of a Logs Subdirectory with Permissions for Apache-based CA SiteMinder® Agents

For agents running on Apache-based web servers (including IBM HTTP Server), a logs subdirectory must exist under the root directory of the Apache-based web server. This subdirectory needs Read and Write permissions for the user identity under which the Apache child process runs.

If the logs subdirectory does not exist, create it with the required permissions.

Note: This configuration requirement applies to any Apache-based web server that writes log files outside the Apache root directory.