Rational Build Forge Standard Edition

IBM® Rational® Build Forge® Standard Edition automates software assembly

An adaptive execution framework that automates software assembly processes to help teams standardize repetitive tasks, improve software quality and manage compliance mandates.

  • Web console for centralized user and administration access provides a consolidated, real-time view to software assembly processes anytime, anywhere.
  • Job process optimization ensures that jobs are automatically run in the most efficient manner eliminating the need for imperfect human interaction.
  • Project configuration snapshots easily manage various project configurations.
  • Error log filtering and automated email notifications allow for rapid error detection and resolution.
  • Parallel execution of tasks, scheduling and efficient use of hardware enable fast build and release cycles.
  • A reliable and automated ‘Bill of Records’ facilitates faster problem resolution, better reproducibility and compliance management.
  • Integration with existing development technologies (languages, scripts, etc) makes use of existing investments and enables quick startup.

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Overview

IBM® Rational® Build Forge® Standard Edition is an adaptive execution framework that automates software assembly processes to help teams standardize repetitive tasks, improve software quality and manage compliance mandates.


FeatureBenefit
Web console for user access and administration Central, real-time access to software assembly processes from anywhere, anytime
Job process optimization Run jobs the smartest way possible – Rational Build Forge has the ability to analyze, sequence and optimize job runs
Project configuration snapshots Manage known good configurations and templates. Preserve historical process definitions
Compatible with existing scripts, batch files, development tools and processes Integrate into your current environment to leverage your existing investments and for quick start-up
IBM Installation Manager Provides the same installation experience on both Windows and UNIX
Integrations with leading IDEs Provides self service access to software assembly processes and allows you to work in your preferred environment
Role-based security and user authentication (including password encryption) Secure and controlled user access
Audit logging and complete ‘bill of materials’ report Facilitates faster problem resolution, better reproducibility and compliance management
Out of the box reports Improves visibility and identifies bottlenecks for improved operations over time
Add-on advanced reporting with IBM Rational Build Forge Quick Report Zero-footprint web client to quickly create, modify and run ad-hoc reports for custom views of software assembly information
Multiple scheduling options Meet individual project needs with both as-needed and scheduled jobs
Parallel execution, threading Run jobs concurrently for faster completion
Notifications Automatic notifications allow for quick identification and resolution of issues
Distributed, multi-platform support Seamlessly work across different environments enterprise-wide
Unicode support Support for international projects
Really Simple Syndication (RSS) data feeds Receive real-time, targeted information
Configurable User Interface (UI) Point to any other tool for clearer integration between tools, and easy and fast access
Out of the box adaptors Achieve an integrated project view with integrations to leading software configuration management, testing and software change management solutions
Add on easy integration with additional 3rd party and proprietary tools with IBM Rational Build Forge Adaptor Toolkit Broaden the vision and control with this expanding linking capability

System requirements

The following information lists the basic hardware and software requirements for using IBM® Rational® Build Forge®.


Operating SystemSoftwareHardware
Windows operating systems:
  • Windows Server 2008 (Intel)
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 (Intel)
  • Windows Server 2003: Service Pack 1 or later (Intel)
  • Windows Server 2003: Service Pack 2 (Intel)
  • Windows XP Professional: Service Pack 2 or later (Intel)

UNIX and Linux operating systems:
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 Server (Intel)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Server (Intel)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Server (Intel)
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 (Intel)
  • Solaris 9 and 10 (SPARC)
  • AIX® 5.3 and 6.1 (System p®, Power 5 and Power 6)
  • AIX 7.1 (System p, Power 7)
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10: Service Pack 2 (IBM System z®: S390x)
  • RedHat Enterprise Linux 4.6 and later (IBM System z: S390x)

Operating system requirements for the optional Eclipse client

Windows operating systems:
  • Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate (32 & 64 bit)
  • Windows Vista Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate (32 & 64 bit)
  • Windows XP Professional (32 bit)
  • Windows Server 2008 Standard and Enterprise (32 & 64 bit)
  • Windows Server 2003 Standard and Enterprise (32 & 64 bit)

Linux operating systems:
  • Red Hat Linux Desktop 5 (32 & 64 bit)
  • Red Hat Linux Desktop 6 (32 & 64 bit)
  • Red Hat Linux Enterprise Server 5 (32 & 64 bit)
  • Red Hat Linux Enterprise Server 6 (32 & 64 bit)
  • SUSE Linux Desktop 10 (32 & 64 bit)
  • SUSE Linux Desktop 11 (32 & 64 bit)
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 (32 & 64 bit)
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 (32 & 64 bit)
IBM Installation Manager requirements:
  • Installation Manager V1.4.4

Browser requirements:
  • Internet Explorer 8
  • Internet Explorer 7
  • Mozilla Firefox 4
  • Mozilla Firefox 3.x
  • Minimum resolution:
    1024 x 768.
  • Optimum resolution: 1280 x 1024 or higher

Java Requirements:
  • IBM Java SDK V6*
  • IBM Java SDK V5

*IBM Rational Automation Framework includes the Java SDK V6 that it requires on the framework server and on target systems.

The Rational Automation Framework web applications, rafservices and rafw, which include the Environment Generation wizard, are deployed on an application server that is supported by IBM Rational Build Forge. The supported application servers include IBM WebSphere® Application Server V6.1 (Java SDK V5) and WebSphere Application Server, V7.0 (Java SDK V6).

Rational Automation Framework users can write custom actions, which can include Java or Jython code. The Java requirements for custom actions are as follows:

  • Use Java SDK 5 to compile JAR files that are referenced as Ant tasks and executed only by Ant.
  • Compile JAR files that are executed by the wsadmin scripting client to use the lowest JDK version of the target system in which they run. For example, for wsadmin to run the Java program on a WebSphere V6.0 (JDK V1.4) target system, the program must be compiled by using JDK V1.4.

Software requirements for the optional Eclipse client

Java requirements:
  • Oracle or IBM Java JRE 1.6

Eclipse requirements
  • Eclipse SDK 3.6.2
Processor:
  • Intel Pentium processor at 500 MHz or faster
  • Intel EM64T or AMD Opteron
  • SPARC 32-bit or 64-bit
  • System p®, Power 5

Memory: Minimum 2 GB

Disk space:

Core product directories: The minimum space is 2 GB, which includes the space required for the provided Java software development kits (SDKs).

Media tree directory: The space required for the media tree varies for each product installation. The disk space required is equivalent to the size of the installation media that you copy to the media directory. The media tree can be on the framework server or on a shared network drive.

To estimate disk space requirements, include the space that is required by all products, product versions, and fix packs for each operating system that you plan to support. For help to determine space requirements, see IBM® WebSphere® product documentation.

Environments directory: The minimum is 1 GB. The actual space that is required is affected by the following factors:
  • The WebSphere cells that you define and the number of applications deployed per cell
  • The size of web application files, such as EAR files, shared libraries, and other files
  • The cell configuration files that are copied from WebSphere and saved to the RAFW_HOME/user/environments directory
To estimate space requirements for enterprise applications, see your WebSphere documentation.

IBM Installation Manager: The minimum space is 5 GB for the logs, metadata, and installation files.

Temporary directories: The minimum space is 1 GB for the logs, work, and user directories. To reclaim space, you can periodically delete the contents of the work and log directories.


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Rational Build Forge Standard Edition

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