Rest API against DSA Server

Usage and Config
1

I want to ensure I can run Rest API calls against our DSA server in case of failover. When testing this call:

https://<bigfix_server>:52311/api/query?relevance=(ids of it, last report time of it) of bes computers

I get the following error:

Cannot perform relevance query evaluation at this time because there is no reachable BigFix Explorer and/or BigFix Web Reports instance collecting data from this Server.

What step am I missing to allow this? Do I simply need to Add New Datasource (the DSA server) in web reports?

2

Is the WebReport service currently installed and running?

No, not required!

3

Yes, the report server is up and running. Rest API calls are successful when using the root server. But i get the previous mentioned error when using the DSA server. I only have 1 report server in my environment currently (planning to add a second soon). Also, when attempting to launch web reports from Tools–>Launch Web Reports on the DSA server from the console, i get this message:

image

4

What is the intention of the failover ? Simulate Root Server failure, or entire data center failure ?
If an entire data center failure and you lose the single web reports, then you will lose API capability (or at least anything that requires a query) on the DSA.

5

for now, simulate root server failure.

6

I’ve never tried to add a DSA as another Web Reports data source, as it’s essentially the same database. If you do try that check the DSA copy of BFEnterprise and verify if the web reports server shows in the dbo.aggregatedby table.
Not sure if anyone else can post if trying that is a good or bad idea.

7

Of course each web reports server will have its own independent besreporting database, so that adds constraints in itself.

8

that’s a valid point. Sounds like my best course of action is to provision a new web report server in the same network as the DSA server. This will be my first time doing this. When installing the report server i’m assuming the only differences would be to select “Replicated Database” and when specifying db connection details to use the same DB engine the DSA Server is using. Is that accurate?

image

9

Yes that’s correct.

I’ve run REST API against separate DSA servers, but each has its own dedicated Web Reports server aggregating from it.

10

Thanks Jason, new report server is up and running and rest api calls are working as expected. Follow up question… is there a way of doing a mass export/import of custom reports?

11

I can’t say I’ve much dug into it, and won’t be able to anytime soon, but
The webreports database isn’t digitally signed like most of the bfenterprise database is.
I’d expect to be able to restore a backup of your original server, over the top of the new server, and then change the data source setting on it. But better to try on a test environment first.

12

Thanks Jason, appreciate the help. I’ll look into it.