Installing OpenVista Server requires an investment of time, so if you just want to evaluate OpenVista, consider using the Public Demo Server or the OpenVista Appliance instead.  To help you decide between using the Public Demo Server, running the OpenVista Appliance, and installing OpenVista Server on your own, please refer to this document: How can my organization begin to evaluate and use OpenVista?

If you're sure you want to install OpenVista Server yourself, you have several options depending on your choice of server platform. OpenVista Server runs on an M engine, which in turn runs as an application on an operating system.  OpenVista CIS runs on end users' PCs and connects to OpenVista Server over the network.  For additional details, view an illustration of the technology stack.

Rough installation steps for each platform are provided below.  Exact steps will vary from system to system, so exact instructions are not provided - Vistapedia provides some more detailed documentation, as do other resources on the Internet.  Specific issues are discussed here on Medsphere.org.  Please feel free to edit this document to point to other good installation resources.

Windows

If you elect to run OpenVista Server on Windows, you will need to download a copy of Intersystems Cache.  Interesystems makes a free evaluation version available, but several users have reported running into issues with the evaluation copy not having enough licenses to support even a demo environment.  You can check how many licenses you have available by running W $system.License.LUAvailable() at the Cache terminal.  You need at least 3 available licenses to connect with CIS.

The rough installation steps on Cache are:

• Download and install Cache
• Create a namespace and database (suggested name: "OPEN")
• Map globals and routines
• Shut down Cache
• Download and unzip the Cache version of OpenVista Server (openvistaserver-VERSION-cache.zip)
• Replace the CACHE.DAT file in the OPEN database with the downloaded CACHE.DAT
• Restart Cache
• Start TaskMan
• Start the RPC Broker
• Connect with CIS

The exact steps will vary depending on the version of Cache you install it, where you install it to, what you name things, etc.

Linux

On Linux, you have a choice of two M engines: Cache or GT.M.  GT.M is Free and Open Source, and if you're running RedHat Enterprise Linux 5 (or CentOS 5), you can install GT.M from the RPMs provided by our OpenVista/GT.M Integration Project.  Alternatively, if you're running Ubuntu 9.04, you can install the .deb packages.  The RPM or .deb packages may work on other distributions -- your mileage may vary.

If you decide to go with Cache, the installation steps are roughly the same as above.  Before you start TaskMan, you may need to adjust some settings in your DEVICE file to account for path differences on Windows and Linux.

If you decide to go with GT.M and you're running on a platform supported by our GT.M integration project, the rough installation steps are listed below.  A screencast of an installation on Ubuntu 9.04 can be found here.

• Download the RPMs or .debs and install them
  
• Create an OpenVista instance with ovinstanceadd (suggested name: "open")
  
• Download the GT.M version of OpenVista Server (openvistaserver-VERSION-gtm.zip)
• Import the routines and globals into GT.M with ovimport
• If you're running OpenVista Server 1.5 Service Pack 1 or earlier, download and install the GT.M integration KIDS build.  OpenVista Server 1.5 Service Pack 2 and later have this build included already.
• Configure TaskMan, the RPC broker, and various other files.  If you're running OpenVista 1.5 Service Pack 2 or later, most of this configuration is already done for you.
  
• Start TaskMan and the RPC broker with the /etc/init.d/openvista script
  
• Connect with CIS

If you're not using a platform supported by our GT.M integration project, you can help us port the scripts and packages to your platform, or install GT.M manually and run the RPC broker out of xinetd.

• Download a binary distribution of GT.M and install it
• Create a Global Directory and empty database files
• Create scripts that set your environment properly
• Download the GT.M version of OpenVisat Server (openvistaserver-VERSION-gtm.zip)
• Unzip the routines to your routines directory and import the globals with mupip
• Configure TaskMan
• Start TaskMan
• Set up xinetd to run the RPC broker
  
• Connect with CIS