Connection to SQL Server fails when the database server is configured to use TLS 1.2

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Problem:

When we try to connect to an SQL database with TLS1.2 on and TLS1.0 off, we get this error:

The test connection operation failed for data source x on server x at node <node> with the following exception:

java.sql.SQLException: The driver could not establish a secure connection to SQL Server by using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption.

Error: “SQL Server did not return a response. The connection has been closed.

ClientConnectionId:x”.

DSRA0010E: SQL State = 08S01, Error Code = 0. View JVM logs for further details.

 

Resolution:

TLS 1.2 and SQL Server require a fix from Microsoft to work.

 

To get the Content Store connection working:

– Ensure that the unrestricted jre policy files are added and in cognos configuration you add the SHA256 ciphersuites.

– Use the latest SQL Server jdbc driver (at least 7.0) for the java version that Cognos uses. You can find the latest SQL Server JDBC driver here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/jdbc/download-microsoft-jdbc-driver-for-sql-server?view=sql-server-ver15

– Edit install_location\bin64\startwlp.bat (Windows) to add the following lines after the line set JVM_ARGS=-Xmx4096m -XX:MaxNewSize=2048m -XX:NewSize=1024m %DEBUG_OPTS%:

set JVM_ARGS=”-Dcom.ibm.jsse2.overrideDefaultTLS=true” %JVM_ARGS%

NOTE: The startwlp.bat file no longer exists in 11.1.5 and higher. 

– Edit install_location\bin64\bootstrap_wlp_os_version.xml to add the following lines after the line <param condName=”${java_vendor}” condValue=”IBM”>-Xscmaxaot4m</param>:

<param>”-Dcom.ibm.jsse2.overrideDefaultTLS=true”</param>

– Edit install_location\bin64\cogconfig.bat (Windows) to add the following lines after the line set J_OPTS=%DD_OPTS% %J_OPTS%:

set J_OPTS=”-Dcom.ibm.jsse2.overrideDefaultTLS=true” %J_OPTS%

– If SQL Server has ‘Force Encryption’ set to ‘Yes’ (meaning that it is using an SSL certificate), you will need to import the SQL Server certificate into the Java cacerts keystore for your JRE. For example (using the Cognos JRE):

  1. Obtain the root Certificate Authority certificate that issued your SQL Server’s certificate (or the self-signed server certificate if it was not issued by a Certificate Authority), and copy to the computer where Cognos Analytics is installed. For example, copy the file sqlcert.cer to the root directory, c:\sqlcert.cer
  2. Type cd C:\Program Files\ibm\cognos\analytics\ibm-jre\jre\lib\security
  3. Type , for example, C:\Progra~1\ibm\cognos\analytics\ibm-jre\jre\bin\keytool -import -trustcacerts -file “c:\sqlcert.cer” -keystore cacerts -alias SQLCert

– Start Cognos Configuration using cogconfig.bat you modified in the previous step. Important: You must start IBM Cognos Configuration using cogconfig.bat

To get the SQL Server Native Client Connection:

Download a version of the Native Client that supports TLS 1.2 as per Microsoft’s KB Article: https://support.microsoft.com/en-ca/help/3135244/tls-1-2-support-for-microsoft-sql-server

To get the JDBC data source connection working:

– Go to Cognos Administration -> Configuration tab -> Dispatchers and Services
– Click on the dispatcher server to drill down to the services
– Beside the QueryService, click the Set Properties button
– Go to the Settings tab
– Add the following the Additional JVM Arguments for the QueryService setting

-Dcom.ibm.jsse2.overrideDefaultTLS=true

– Click OK
– Click on the Status tab
– Select System
– Click on the server to drill down to the services
– Beside QueryService, click the drop down arrow
– Select “Stop immediately”
– Wait 30 seconds for it to fully stop
– Click the drop down again and select “Start immediately”

 

You can also review the article from IBM:

https://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg22016796

Oliver Packaging Applies AI to Infor CloudSuite Industrial

Infor recently announced that Oliver Packaging & Equipment Co., a leading manufacturer of premium food equipment and meal packaging systems, is leveraging its integrated Infor CloudSuite Industrial and artificial intelligence (AI) solution to help provide critical food supplies to senior meals programs (including Meals on Wheels America), healthcare organizations, schools, grocery stores and more. Per the press release, Oliver Packaging integrated Infor Coleman AI services with Infor CloudSuite Industrial and implementing anomaly detection algorithms to identify abnormal customer orders and amounts quickly and more accurately. Further, daily processing of these anomalies, using machine learning, is delivered to the Oliver Packaging team in a user-friendly dashboard, where it reviews and analyzes the variances for sales and operations to make critical, real-time business decisions. Understanding their customers’ buying trends continually changing, Oliver Packaging knew there had to be a better way to detect these changes so that the right products were delivered at the right time — to improve the bottom line and customer experience.

 

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5 Tips For Overcoming The Challenges Of ERP Implementation

An enterprise resource management (ERP) can be the catalyst to lead your business to success. However, just having one implemented but not utilized to its potential doesn’t do much. It all starts at implementation and whether or not you have given  your team enough time and training to adapt to the changes with the new system. Forbes Council Member and CTO at Unit4 Claus Jepsen shares five ways to increase your chance of a successful ERP implementation.

  1. Define Your Goals. “You need to understand your current position and desired destination before determining the best way to get there. Examine your current ERP’s ‘as-is’ state compared to the desired ‘to-be’ capabilities, considering your business environment and strategy. This stage should involve assessing current business processes, technology infrastructure and employee skills.”
  2. Choose The Right Technology For Your Organization. Your solution should cater to your business model and industry. Seek a vendor that understands the intricacies of your business or sector, enabling them to hit the ground running, introduce best practices and help you achieve a faster return on investment. Remember to consider post-implementation running costs.”
  3. Get Your People Involved. “Even the best ERP system will fail without user adoption. Transitioning to a new ERP system entails a transformation for your entire organization, necessitating a clear change-management strategy and plan.”
  4. Test And Validate Your System. “Testing your new ERP system is essential to identify any potential issues or errors before going live. It will help minimize risks such as system failures, data corruption and other potential problems that could disrupt operations. Testing also provides an opportunity to make sure it is correctly integrated with other relevant systems.”
  5. Train Your People. “You can’t roll out a new ERP system without first teaching your people how to use it. Although your vendor can provide training material, it will be based on the standard software. They will configure the system to fit your industry and organization’s needs, which means that your final setup will differ slightly. For this reason, it’s essential to speak to your vendor about creating training material specific to your circumstances.”

Implementing an ERP system is a complicated project, but yields great results for your organization – if don’t correctly. Investing time and resources, as Jepsen emphasizes from his 5 tips, then you can ensure a smoother implementation process and more effected ERP system to help with your company’s success.

 

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RptMap error on GL batch jobs

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Sometimes when a batch job in GL goes into recovery, you may get the following exception or error on your screen: “OpenFixedRptMap Can not create LAWDIR/pdl/obj/RptMap”. Fear not, this is a quick and easy fix! To get past this screen, you will need to make sure that the batch user has full access to the LAWDIR/pdl/obj directory. This will dismiss the error for the batch recovery. After you confirm the batch user has full access, at this point you can then recover the batch job. You should not get the error again. You can look at the screenshot below for reference.

Chichester Park Hotel Checks in to the Cloud with Infor

Chichester Park Hotel recently deployed Infor Hospitality Management Solution (HMS) and Infor Sales & Catering (SCS), a fully integrated, event management software solution. The new cloud systems, according to the press release, have streamlined and amalgamated key processes, laying the foundations for continued business growth. The 86-room hotel in the heart of historic Chichester, England chose Infor’s two systems simply for the ease-of-use of the solutions and their ability to integrate seamlessly with each other, as well as other solutions and technologies. Since implementation, Infor HMS and SCS delivered numerous benefits for the business, securing valuable efficiency savings and providing more insightful and accessible data than with the previous solutions. “Infor HMS and SCS are built to meet the exacting demands of the hotel industry,” comments Paul Griffiths, Infor hospitality business development manager for UK and Ireland. “Our flexible and scalable solutions deliver quantifiable business benefits, automating core processes to deliver that all-important quality experience for guests and staff alike. The efficiencies and valuable insights that our solutions deliver make them the ideal choice for hotel businesses keen to pursue ambitious growth strategies, boosting customer satisfaction as well as profitability.”

 

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How to check if a Lawson portal form is customized

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Login to portal an admin user.

Preferences >> User Options

Set Data Area to LOGAN and APPLY then OK

 

Go to form RD69.1 and click next to cycle through forms and if you see the one you’re looking for, look for the Isdefault flag. If it is set to 0, it means it’s not the default form when users search it.

If the Isdefault is set to 1, when users search PA17.1, they would be brought to the custom form above (but its set to 0 so it wouldn’t apply here).

 

Alternatively, users could still be using a custom form even if Isdefault is 0 if it was setup in a bookmark or favorites tab within portal.

 

Good luck!

4 Ways Technology Has Made Healthcare Safer and More Efficient

It’s no surprise that the healthcare industry is thriving on the newest technological advancements. Technology is everywhere in the medical field – from artificial intelligence to telehealth to 3D printing and robotic surgical assistance. Jacob Kupietzky, president of HCT Healthcare Executive Interim Management & Consulting, shares an article on Newsweek of four major components in healthcare that have rapidly advanced thanks to technology.

Collecting Information. “The proliferation of smartphones and wearable trackers like Fitbits have made it possible to monitor and record patient activity and vital signs remotely, without the need for constant medical supervision. It also allows physicians to access objective, reliable data with which they can make informed medical decisions.”

Diagnosis. “A diagnosis is a professional judgment based on available data. That leaves lots of room for human error, be it from unreliable patient self-reports to misinterpreting data to insufficient measurement. Now, machine learning and artificial intelligence can identify trends within large data sets that lead to faster and more accurate diagnoses. This allows for more sensitive testing and more successful interventions.”

Treatment. “Traditionally, treatment would require in-person, doctor-to-patient interventions that risked human error and unforeseen complications. Now, while no medical intervention is truly foolproof, technological improvements have made treatments safer and more available, and in some cases can even preclude disease. Telemedicine has made certain low-risk interventions more convenient and broadly accessible by making them remote.”

Running And Building Your Practice.  “Making sure your practice remains up to date can not only keep it from feeling stale — it can also help ensure you’re providing the modern health services your community needs. That not only increases convenience — it creates better outcomes. Machine learning helps with analytics, and virtual appointments and electronic prescriptions help with telehealth patients.”

The digital age of advanced technology has greatly revolutionized the healthcare industry, and will continue to play a critical role for years to come.

 

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Cueros Vélez Optimizes Logistic Operations with Infor WMS

Infor recently announced that Cueros Velez, a Colombian leather goods company, implemented Infor WMS as part if its digital transformation to manage warehouse operations with successful results. The solution was sold and implemented by Cerca Technology, Infor´s channel partner. Per the press release, Cueros Velez’s strategy was to redesign its supply model, and one of the main activities was to implement a modern warehouse management solution. Since implementing, Cueros Vélez has had over 150% increase in productivity in height picking and classification process, better inventory visibility, service and customer satisfaction to name a few successes. Further, Cueros Vélez deployed the project in two stages. The first to implement and consolidate Infor WMS. Once it was live and indicators improved, the second stage was to integrate WMS with other existing solutions.

 

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MSCM Receiving Delivery Documents

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PROBLEM

How do I suppress Back-Office PO Receiving (PO30) Receiving Delivery and Putaway (PO134) delivery tickets when the Mobile Supply Chain Management (MSCM) Delivery Documents are all that is needed.

 

RESOLUTION

One way to disable the Back-Office PO Receiving (PO30) Receiving Delivery and Putaway (PO134) delivery ticket is to remove* the printer from PO Receiving (PO30) or create a dummy printer to stop the back-office delivery ticket from printing.

*Removing the printer from PO Receiving (PO30) only works if the user does not have a default printer assigned to them. After being removed, the default printer will simply populate back in the field upon clicking change.

Additionally, an enhancement to PO Company Setup (PO01) was added which provides a flag called “Delivery and Putaway Ticket Print” which allows disabling the delivery ticket printing at the company level.

 

 

 

HAVI Leverages Advanced Warehouse Operations Capabilities and Efficiencies with the Infor Cloud

HAVI Group, a global company that innovates, optimizes and manages the supply chains of leading food service brands, recently deployed Infor WMS warehouse management system in the cloud. The company plans to implement Infor WMS at more than 50 of its distribution centers across Europe and Japan by the end of 2026 to contribute to continuous improvements in service, efficiency and operational resilience from these locations. Per the press release, HAVI selected Infor WMS for its cutting-edge technology architecture, ensuring the highest IT security standards, round-the-clock service availability, optimal operational efficiency, and the safety and traceability of food across the supply chain. Additionally, HAVI looks to leverage the solution’s advanced warehouse operations management and resource planning capabilities, which include 3D visualization and a more data-driven approach to execution..

 

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