Configure the FastViewer Webconference Server to Host the Web Console (Connect)

The prerequisite is a SQL Server with full-text search enabled. For new installations, SQL Express Advanced 2022 is included in the setup, and CU18 for SQL 2022. If an existing version of the webconference server less than 4.3 is used, the existing SQL Server must be configured accordingly before the update.

For new installations, you must first complete all configurations from the Server Installation Guide.

To configure the server for the use of the web console, there are the following new entries in the settings.ini file:

[Monolith]

•  Set this to true to enable the webconsole:
  Enabled=true
• WebAppListenAddress=https://Change2YourServer/web/: This is where the server listens, to host the web app.
• ExternalWebAppAddress=https://Change2YourServer/web/: This is where the web app is hosted, as viewed by a consumer.
  It should only differ from WebAppListenAddress if you are using a load-balancer that rewrites paths.
• SQLConnectionString=: This defaults to the normal SQL Connection string set in the general section, but with the database name (initial catalog) connect instead of fastviewer. Only set this if you want the connect database to be somewhere else.
• AdhocWebAppListenAddress=https://Change2YourServer/adhoc/: This parameter lets you adjust the listener URL for AdHoc installation.
• ExternalAdhocWebAppAddress=https://Change2YourServer/adhoc/: Only adjust this parameter if you are using a load-balancer that rewrites paths.

[Database]

PerformConnectDatabaseUpdate=true

You must configure an SMTP, which is necessary for email address verification when creating users and for password reset.

[Email]
SMTPHost=
SMTPPort=
SMTPUser=
SMTPPass=
SMTPEnableSSL=true
SenderAddress=

Update Existing Servers

You must first upgrade your SQL server instance so that it has the full-text feature enabled. If you install a new instance with SQL Express 2022 advanced, you also need CU18 for SQL 2022.

If you update an existing server, copy/paste and configure the following entries:

[Monolith]
Enabled=true
WebAppListenAddress=https://Change2YourServer/web/
;ExternalWebAppAddress=https://Change2YourServer/web/  
;SQLConnectionString=

[Database]
PerformConnectDatabaseUpdate=true

[Email]
SMTPHost=
SMTPPort=
SMTPUser=
SMTPPass=
SMTPEnableSSL=true
SenderAddress=

Configure the FastViewer Webconference Server to Host the AdHoc Packages

By default, the AdHoc Packages are downloaded from the FastViewer CDN. If you want to host them yourself, first download the latest AdHoc package bundle from the FastViewer Portal:

The downloaded ZIP Archive contains a packages folder, which needs to be extracted directly to the installation folder of your webconference server.

To use this package folder, you also need to adjust the settings.ini file as follows:

• PackagesURL=https://Change2YourServer/packages/: Add this to the main section at the top of your settings.ini file.
• AdhocWebAppListenAddress=https://Change2YourServer/adhoc/: Adjust the listener URL for your AdHoc installation.
• ExternalAdhocWebAppAddress=https://Change2YourServer/adhoc/: Only adjust this parameter if you are using a load-balancer that rewrites paths.

Migrate from an Existing On-Premise Server Solution

Before you start: 

• Create a Snapshot for each of your OnPremise Servers.
• If your SQL database runs on a separate machine, create a Snapshot as well.
• In SQL: Create a backup of your fastviewer database.
  If you use SQL Express, you need to update to "Advanced" with full-text enabled.
• Make sure the SQLServer2022-KB5050771-x64 cumulative update package is installed.

If you manually update the WebConference Server Folder to the latest 4.3 version: 

• The connect database for the WebConsole Monolith will be created during the first connection.
  Tunnelserverlog: Important General Performing database update for monolith …

 Additional Notes: 

• The FastViewer Desktop Users in your UserManager &  and in your Client Folder Structure is a completely separate system from the WebConsole. 
• Your Remote Agents can be accessed from both Systems: M42 FastViewer Desktop and M42 FastViewer WebConsole.
• Your Administrator user login is the email and password of your license's root user.
  If you change your password, you can update the information by importing the license again using C:\Program Files (x86)\WebConferenceServer\ServerAdmin.exe > Import License.

Important Notes

• Restart the webconference service after any changes in settings.ini.
• Check tunnelserver.log in the installation folder, if the server starts without errors.
• Now you can log in with your email address and password (found in the license email).