Environment
NetIQ Access Governance Suite
Situation
Is Operating System X Supported?
Resolution
*This document is in relation to the Access Governance Suite server component. Other components, like the IQService, may be more sensitive to the operating system platform and are not applicable to this KB article.
When the question as to, "Does Access Governance Suite support the [insert operating system here] platform?", the answer doesn't change:
Product documentation lists recommended platforms; that is, those platforms that NetIQ has found suitable for enterprise applications. Platforms not listed are not "unsupported", rather just unproven to be appropriate for the scale of Access Governance Suite. Supportability of a platform boils down to this:
Is the target Application Server a listed supported application server?
Does the Application Server support the target operating system?
Is the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) a listed Java Platform?
Does the JVM support the target operating system?
If the answer to all of these questions is "Yes", Access Governance Suite is supported on your operating system.
Additional Information
You may still have questions:
Q: What is the criteria NetIQ uses to put a platform on the recommended list?
Q: What is the criteria NetIQ uses to put a platform on the recommended list?
A: Listed platforms are used in our internal development and testing processes, including scale testing. Those that meet our scale testing requirements are included as a recommended platform.
Q: So if it's not a recommended platform, are you suggesting we don't go into production with it? What are the ramifications of doing so? When will you add my operating system to the list?
A: Local functional and scale testing are the best indicators as to whether you should proceed with a given operating system platform. Moving forward with a platform not on the recommended list often proves to be a non-issue, especially after having been through rigorous testing. Ramifications of moving forward with untested platforms are typically issues relating to large-scale performance constraints (memory consumption, cpu utilization, connection exhaustion, etc.). The recommended list is revised prior to each major version release. The inclusion of a new platform or platform version derives from a number of considerations including field requirements and internal resource prioritization. Thus, it's difficult to pinpoint a date when a given platform version will be included in the list.
Q: I want to install on platform [my OS] but it's not listed as a recommended platform. Will NetIQ test our install against that platform so that we can move forward?
A: No. However, enhancement requests may be submitted to add platforms to our recommended list. As with any other enhancement request, submission does not guarantee acceptance. The best approach for any deployment is to always (recommended platform or otherwise) perform your own functional and scale testing within your own environment prior to production deployment.
Q: I have a problem with an installation that is not installed on a recommended platform, will that be an issue with supportability?
A: No. If the application server is a supported version, Support will not turn you away or force you to reinstall over a new OS.
Q: Ok, you just said that if an appserver works on [my OS], then Access Governance Suite will work also. But I found an issue that only happens when Access Governance Suite is running on [my OS]. What now?
A: Our support staff will work with you to confirm your findings. In the end, issues will be addressed on a case by case basis and the resolution path will likely vary for each case. However, be aware that 99% of cases initially starting out as an apparent operating system based issue result in an incompatibility with the application server or JDK with that operating system. Those events were typically resolved by updating the application server, JDK, and / or operating system
Q: Based on these answers, it would seem the operating system is somewhat of a secondary requirement. I find that at odds with my past experience with other software applications. Why is that?
A: The Access Governance Suite server is a J2EE application that is hosted by a Java Virtual Machine. Therefore, compatibility with the JVM is paramount to any other layer. Likewise, Access Governance Suite is also sensitive to the version of many application servers as those application servers are bundled with a specific version of their own JVM. Interaction with the operating system is therefore done through the JVM and by extension, through the application server. This distinct separation between Access Governance Suite and the underlying operating system allows Access Governance Suite to be insensitive to the operating system platform, especially in regards to strict functionality. Where Access Governance Suite may find contention with the operating system is when the application server requires more resources than may be effectively served by the operating system. These situations are most often a result of large-scale utilization of Access Governance Suite when paired with an operating system that was not appropriately vetted for that type of activity. As previously mentioned,appropriate testing within your environment will prevent these issues.