Instructions for Creating VM in Nebula

  1. Create a Windows VM in Nebula.
    1. Choose the instance boot source to be "Boot from image (create new volume option)". 
    2. Choose appropriate VM flavor to get sufficient disk size and number of CPUs
    3. Choose appropriate security and networking
    4. Launch instance
    5. Associate a Floating IP address
    6. Login to the VM and enable remote desktop connection

Install the Extractor

1. Install python

instructions: https://docs.python.org/2/using/windows.html

make sure “C:\Python27\” is on path (start->right click on “computer”->properties->advanced->environment variables), edit PATH if necessary

For now, use Python 2.7 instead of Python 3.x for compatibility reasons.


2. Install pip

download file “get-pip.py” from https://pip.pypa.io/en/latest/installing.html#id7

open cmd as admin

python get-pip.py

after install is done, type pip in the cmd prompt, if “not recognized” error, add “C:\Python27\Scripts" to path (like described in 1)

 

3. Install pika, requests

pip install pika

pip install requests

 

4. Install pyclowder

clone from the repo: https://opensource.ncsa.illinois.edu/bitbucket/projects/CATS/repos/pyclowder/browse

 python setup.py install

If you need to make any changes to pyclowder during development, you will need to rerun setup.py install.


5. Install any additional software/packages required

 

6. Ensure Clowder and RabbitMQ are running

In clowder\conf\play.plugins, 9992:services.RabbitmqPlugin should be enabled (line 3 may be commented out by default).

RabbitMQ needs a topic exchange called clowder - this can be created via RabbitMQ browser UI (default is http://localhost:15672/)

The extractor config.py should include the rabbitmqURL (default is "amqp://guest:guest@localhost:5672/%2f")

 

7. Test that the extractor works 

Run it from the cmd prompt and watch the outputs to be sure it is working properly. Also advised to upload some files to Clowder and observe that the extractor is receiving, processing and uploading the results back correctly.

Build Windows Service:

1. Prepare a simple bat file to run extractor, like:

 c:

 cd C:\Program Files\ExtractorServices\cellprofiler

 python cellprofiler_extractor.py

 

2. Convert bat file to exe file

For that can bat_to_exe_converter can be used: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000435.htm

 

3. Get svrany.exe 

It can be found on Windows server 2003 resource kit tools: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17657

 

4. Use install.bat to build a Windows Service:

install.bat can be found here: https://opensource.ncsa.illinois.edu/stash/projects/CBI/repos/cyberintegrator-2/browse/edu.uiuc.ncsa.cyberintegrator.server.feature/root/service

It assumes srvany.exe is on a subdirectory called service (create this subdirectory and copy srvany there)

Edit install.bat file changing NAME, DESC and EXE to reflect the name, description and executable file of your service

 

5. Check that the correspondent queue was created on the rabbitmq server that the extractor connects to:

Delete queue first if already exists and no one else is using

If not working, try checking log errors in the event viewer (find it by typing eventviewer on the start search box) under windows logs, in system or in application and filtering for errors (filter current log on right panel, check box for “Error”) which have “event sources”=Service control manager. (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1067531/are-there-any-log-file-about-windows-services-status)

 

6. Change windows service configuration to “delayed start”

Open “services” from win start menu (type services on the start search box and click enter)

Right click on the extractor->properties

Change startup type to "automatic (Delayed Start)"

 

7. Restart VM

Do not login and see if the queue was created in the rabbitmq; it will take a couple of minutes because of the “delayed start”

Delete queue first if it already exists to be sure the extractor service can create the queue if necessary