Product Documentation
Abstract
The following list includes frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Decision Server Rules (formerly WebSphere Decision Server Rules) to help you troubleshoot potential problems and enhance your use of the product.
Content
Note: As of March 2015, this FAQ is no longer updated. To find answers to your Operational Decision Manager questions, see the developerWorks Answers site at https://developer.ibm.com/answers/smartspace/odm/ or follow the ibmodm tag. To learn more about how to connect with the Operational Decision Manager community and get support, see https://developer.ibm.com/odm/home/connect/.
Do you have ideas for other FAQ about Decision Server Rules? Give us your feedback in the Rate this page section.
Additional FAQ documents are available are available in the Related information section.
FAQ table of contents
Installing
Where can I find the software and hardware requirements for Decision Server Rules?
How should I install Decision Server Rules, and which component do I need?
Why do I get MD5 checksum errors during the installation of Operational Decision Manager?
Why does the launchpad hang when I click Typical Installation?
How do I install the product from from the DVD?
What do I do if the install fails because Business Space isn't recognized?
Migrating
How do I migrate from JRules to WebSphere Operational Decision Management?
Usage
Where can I find information about using Decision Server Rules?
Where is the Rule Studio for Java?
How do I get started using Decision Server Rules?
How do I check for null values in rules?
How do I repackage the .rar archive of the execution unit (XU)?
How do I configure Ant tasks to connect to Rule Execution Server over HTTPS?
How do I configure timestamps in z/OS log files for zRule Execution Server (zRES)?
How do I use spaces as valid input values in a Decision Validation Services (DVS) Excel spreadsheet?
Troubleshooting
Where can I find support information about Decision Server Rules?
Why can’t I run a DVS test after I install the 7.5.0.1 fix pack?
How do I improve rule execution and Rule Execution Server (RES) performance?
How can I improve the performance of DVS and Decision Warehouse?
How can I improve the performance of Rule Designer?
What can I do when an unexpected ruleset version is executed?
After I install Decision Server, why can't I access Rule Execution Server console?
Why can't I retrieve the HTDS description file for a ruleset on Rule Execution Server console?
Why do I get an error starting Eclipse in headless mode?
FAQ questions and answers
Installing
The following problems and answers refer to installation.
FAQ: Where can I find the software and hardware requirements for Decision Server Rules?
Answer: See IBM Operational Decision Manager detailed system requirements.
FAQ: How should I install Decision Server Rules, and which component do I need?
Answer: Before starting the Decision Server Rules installation, review Understanding your Operational Decision Management installation.
FAQ: I am using a machine with a 64-bit operating system and I have a Launchpad and a Launchpad64. Which launchpad should I use?
Answer: The type of launchpad does not determine whether you install a 64-bit Decision Server. The type of launchpad determines whether the launchpad runs in 64 bits. The launchpad installs a 32-bit JVM and Eclipse for the Rule Designer. In custom mode, you can select whether you want to install WebSphere Application Server for the sample as a 32-bit or a 64-bit operating system. In typical mode, the WebSphere Application Server installation is silent and chooses the version that matches the operating system.
FAQ: Why do I get MD5 checksum errors during the installation of Operational Decision Manager?
Answer: Errors can occur if you extract the installation TAR file by using the WinZip product. When WinZip extracts a TAR file, it converts UNIX and Linux formatted files into Windows format. As a result, the text files in the Operational Decision Manager TAR file are modified during the extraction and are found to have an incorrect MD5 checksum.
To resolve this issue, configure WinZip:
1. Open WinZip.
2. Click Options > Configuration, and click the Miscellaneous tab.
3. Clear the TAR file smart CR/LF conversion check box.
4. Extract the TAR file.
For more information about using WinZip, see the item about TAR file smart CR/LF conversion in the WinZip Knowledge Base at http://kb.winzip.com/help/help_config_misc.htm.
Alternatively, you can extract the installation TAR file by using a different product, such as 7-Zip.
FAQ: Why does the launchpad hang when I click Typical Installation?
Answer: See the following technote: The Typical Installation option is extremely slow on Windows.
FAQ: How do I install the product from the DVD?
Answer: See the following technote: Installing WebSphere Operational Decision Management V7.5 using DVDs.
FAQ: What do I do if the install fails because Business Space isn't recognized?
Answer: See the following technote: WODM 7.5 installer can not recognize business space.
Migrating
The following problems and answers refer to migration.
FAQ: How do I migrate from JRules to WebSphere Operational Decision Management?
Answer: See the following technote: Migrating from JRules to WODM.
Usage
The following problems and answers refer to using this product.
FAQ: Where can I find information about using Decision Server Rules?
Answer: See the online documentation.
FAQ: Where is the Rule Studio for Java?
Answer: The Rule Studio for Java has been renamed Rule Designer. It is still based on Eclipse technology but now requires Eclipse V3.6. For more information, see What's new in Decision Server Rules.
FAQ: How do I get started using Decision Server Rules?
Answer: See Getting started with business rules.
FAQ: How do I check for null values in rules?
Answer: See Check for null values in rules.
FAQ: How do I repackage the .rar archive of the execution unit (XU)?
Answer: In V7.x and V8.x, by using the res-setup Ant task, you can repackage the XU archive and update some of its properties. For more information, see the section "Decision Server Rules > Reference > Rule Execution Server reference > Ant tasks > Ant tasks for Rule Execution Server setup > res-setup" in the documentation.
If you need to repackage the XU with additional classes, such as to define a custom plug-in or ruleset cache implementation, you must repackage the archive manually. To do so, use a .zip compression tool. Do not use JAR tools because they might alter the metadata of the archive. RAR is a format for compressed archives, but RAR tools are not compatible because the XU .rar file is a JAR file, not a compressed RAR archive.
FAQ: Why does the message "The host appears to be running but port '-1' does not respond" appear when testing a connection to Rule Execution Server from Decision Center?
Answer: See "The host appears to be running but port "-1" does not respond. " error when testing connection to Rule Execution Server from Decision Center.
FAQ: How do I configure Ant tasks to connect to Rule Execution Server over HTTPS?
Answer: See Configure ANT tasks to connect to Rule Execution Server and Decision Center over HTTPS.
FAQ: How do I configure timestamps in z/OS log files for zRule Execution Server (zRES)?
Answer: See How to configure timestamps in z/OS log files for zRule Execution Server (zRES).
FAQ: How do I use spaces as valid input values in a Decision Validation Services (DVS) Excel spreadsheet?
Answer: See Spaces as valid input values in a Decision Validation Services (DVS) Excel spreadsheet.
Troubleshooting
The following problems and answers refer to troubleshooting.
FAQ: The installation failed with an WAS\AppServer\java\docs\autorun.inf (access is denied) error. How can I resolve this problem to install Decision Server Rules?
Answer: This error occurs if you try to install Decision Server Rules on a drive that is not C and you have an anti-virus software, such as Symantec Endpoint Protection, installed. To protect your system from attacks, some anti-virus security policies prevent tools from writing autorun.inf files on drives other than C. To complete the installation, install Decision Server Rules on C or disable this policy temporarily. For more information about disabling the policy, see your anti-virus software's documentation or speak with your IT department.
FAQ: Where can I find support information about Decision Server Rules?
Answer: See WebSphere Operational Decision Management Support.
FAQ: I have an installation of WebSphere Application Server 7.0, update 15 or later, that I want to reuse with Decision Server Rules; however, Installation Manager does not recognize the WebSphere Application Server installation and cannot install Business Space.
I receive the following error:
The installation package 'IBM Business Space powered by WebSphere' requires components supplied by other packages. The required components might be supplied by the following installation packages:
Package: WebSphere Application Server 7.0.0.15
How can I continue the installation?
Answer: Most likely, you did not use Installation Manager to install your instance of WebSphere Application Server and, therefore, Installation Manager is not aware of this installation. You must import the installation into Installation Manager. In the main menu of Installation Manager, click Import and follow the instructions in the wizard. For more information, see Import installed packages in Installation Manager.
FAQ: Why can’t I run a DVS test after I install the 7.5.0.1 fix pack?
Answer: In the 7.5.0.1 fix pack, one of the Decision Server library files has a new name. Any Decision Validation Services (DVS) launch configuration that was created in 7.5.0.0 cannot find the renamed file and the DVS test fails.
To correct this problem, do one of the following tasks:
- Recreate the DVS Excel launch configuration.
- Replace the JAR reference in the DVS Excel launch configuration by doing the following steps:
- In Rule Designer, click Run > Run Configurations.
- Expand DVS Excel File and click your configuration.
- Click Classpath and click ILOG_EXECUTION_SERVER_HOME/lib/icu4j-4.2.1.jar.
- Click Remove.
- Click Advanced, click Add Classpath Variables, and click OK.
- Click ILOG_EXECUTION_SERVER_HOME and click Extend.
- Expand lib, click icu4j-4.2.1-patched.jar, and click OK.
- Click Apply.
- In Rule Designer, click Run > Run Configurations.
FAQ: How do I improve rule execution and Rule Execution Server (RES) performance?
Answer: The document Improve performance of rule execution and Rule Execution Server (RES) addresses how to improve rule execution and RES performance.
FAQ: When I run the diagnostics in the Rule Execution Server console, why does the test "Rule Session Second Execution" fail with a "java.lang.IllegalStateException: Not all XUs have been updated with the new ruleset" error?
Answer: See Rule Execution Server diagnostics failure.
FAQ: How can I improve the performance of DVS and Decision Warehouse?
Answer: The document Improve Performance of Decision Validation Services (DVS) and Decision Warehouse addresses how to improve performance when you are conducting DVS tests and using Decision Warehouse.
FAQ: How can I improve the performance of Rule Designer?
Answer: The document Improve Performance of Rule Designer (WODM) and Rule Studio (JRules) addresses how to improve the performance of Rule Designer.
FAQ: What can I do when an unexpected ruleset version is executed?
Answer: See An unexpected ruleset version is executed.
FAQ: After I install Decision Server, why can't I access Rule Execution Server console?
Answer: See Cannot access Decision Center or Rule Execution Server console (ODM).
FAQ: Why can't I retrieve the HTDS description file for a ruleset on Rule Execution Server console?
Answer: See Cannot retrieve the HTDS Description File for a ruleset on Rule Execution Server console (ODM).
FAQ: Why do I get an error starting Eclipse in headless mode?
Answer: See Error starting Eclipse in headless mode when working with ODM.
Related Information
Product Synonym
IBM WebSphere Decision Server Rules
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Document Information
Modified date:
23 July 2021
UID
swg27023696