topic website preview not working in Alfresco Archive

website preview not working

surendar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:25:20 GMT

Hi,I am very new to alfresco.I recently installed Alfresco 3 stable version.I created a webproject and imported C:\Alfresco\extras\wcm\alfresco-sample-website.war file.when I try to click on preview website link from MySandbox, I am getting an error 404 the webpage cannot be found.I have started Alf

Re: website preview not working

damonsmith — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:16:26 GMT

You haven't really provided enough info to know what the problem might be. Can you:
1. stop virtual-tomcat
2. remove your logs
3. start virtual-tomcat
4. check if there are any errors starting up and post them
5. preview your web app and see if there are any new exceptions and post those

You should also be able to click on "Browse Website" and see the web app structure in the base folder; a WEB-INF folder, and various other resources.

cheers,

Damon

Re: website preview not working

surendar — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:22:40 GMT

Hi Please find the below log.
please let me know it you need any other logs.

c:\Alfresco\virtual-tomcat\logs\catalina.2009-02-04.log

Feb 4, 2009 12:02:26 PM org.apache.catalina.core.AprLifecycleListener lifecycleEvent
INFO: The Apache Tomcat Native library which allows optimal performance in production environments was not found on the java.library.path: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_12\bin;.;C:\WINDOWS\Sun\Java\bin;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_12/bin;C:\Alfresco\bin;C:\ORACLE\Ora92\bin;C:\Program Files\Oracle\jre\1.1.8\bin;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\Program Files\Credant\CMG Shield;C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin;C:\Perl\bin;
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:26 PM org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11BaseProtocol init
INFO: Initializing Coyote HTTP/1.1 on http-8180
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:26 PM org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina load
INFO: Initialization processed in 1723 ms
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:30 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardService start
INFO: Starting service Catalina
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:30 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngine start
INFO: Starting Servlet Engine: Apache Tomcat/5.5
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:30 PM org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext prepareRefresh
INFO: Refreshing org.springframework.context.support.FileSystemXmlApplicationContext@fe748f: display name [org.springframework.context.support.FileSystemXmlApplicationContext@fe748f]; startup date [Wed Feb 04 12:02:30 PST 2009]; root of context hierarchy
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:30 PM org.springframework.beans.factory.xml.XmlBeanDefinitionReader loadBeanDefinitions
INFO: Loading XML bean definitions from URL [file:C:/Alfresco/virtual-tomcat/conf/alfresco-virtserver-context.xml]
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:31 PM org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext obtainFreshBeanFactory
INFO: Bean factory for application context [org.springframework.context.support.FileSystemXmlApplicationContext@fe748f]: org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory@288051
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:31 PM org.springframework.core.io.support.PropertiesLoaderSupport loadProperties
INFO: Loading properties file from URL [file:C:/Alfresco/virtual-tomcat/conf/alfresco-shared.properties]
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:31 PM org.springframework.core.io.support.PropertiesLoaderSupport loadProperties
INFO: Loading properties file from URL [file:C:/Alfresco/virtual-tomcat/conf/alfresco-virtserver.properties]
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:31 PM org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory preInstantiateSingletons
INFO: Pre-instantiating singletons in org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory@288051: defining beans [virtserver-properties,avmReauthenticatingAdvisor,reauthenticatingAdvice,clientTicketHolder,authenticationService,avmRemote,avmRemoteTransport,avmRemoteTransportRaw,attributeService,attributeServiceTransport,attributeServiceTransportRaw,jndiInfoBean,virtServerInfo,virtServerMBeanServer,virtServerRegistry,serverConnector,virtServerExporter,virtWebappRegistry,cacheControlInfo]; root of factory hierarchy
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:33 PM org.springframework.remoting.rmi.RmiRegistryFactoryBean getRegistry
INFO: Looking for RMI registry at port '50510'
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:34 PM org.springframework.remoting.rmi.RmiRegistryFactoryBean getRegistry
INFO: Could not detect RMI registry - creating new one
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:35 PM org.springframework.jmx.support.ConnectorServerFactoryBean afterPropertiesSet
INFO: JMX connector server started: javax.management.remote.rmi.RMIConnectorServer@d17ec3
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:35 PM org.springframework.jmx.export.MBeanExporter afterPropertiesSet
INFO: Registering beans for JMX exposure on startup
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:36 PM org.alfresco.catalina.host.AVMHost start
INFO: XML validation disabled
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:36 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHost start
INFO: XML validation disabled
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:40 PM org.alfresco.mbeans.VirtServerRegistrationThread registerVirtServer
INFO: Connected to remote Alfresco JMX Server
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:52 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationContext log
INFO: SSIFilter.init() SSI invoker started with 'debug'=1
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:53 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationContext log
INFO: SSIFilter.init() SSI invoker started with 'debug'=1
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:53 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHost start
INFO: XML validation disabled
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:54 PM org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappLoader start
INFO: Dual registration of jndi stream handler: factory already defined
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:56 PM org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11BaseProtocol start
INFO: Starting Coyote HTTP/1.1 on http-8180
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:56 PM org.apache.jk.common.ChannelSocket init
INFO: JK: ajp13 listening on /0.0.0.0:8109
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:56 PM org.apache.jk.server.JkMain start
INFO: Jk running ID=0 time=0/31 config=null
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:56 PM org.apache.catalina.storeconfig.StoreLoader load
INFO: Find registry server-registry.xml at classpath resource
Feb 4, 2009 12:02:56 PM org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina start
INFO: Server startup in 29522 ms

Re: website preview not working

pmonks — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:03:26 GMT

One immediate problem is that you have the crusty old JRE v1.1.8 from Oracle in your PATH - that can cause all sorts of problems.

Cheers,
Peter

Re: website preview not working

surendar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:12:23 GMT

Hi,
I have deleted C:\Program Files\Oracle\jre\1.1.8\bin; from system environment path variable.
but still problem not solved. I stopped and started both alfresco and virtual servers.

The log after virtual server has been started:
C:\Alfresco\virtual-tomcat\logs\catalina.2009-02-04.log

Feb 4, 2009 8:56:51 PM org.apache.catalina.core.AprLifecycleListener lifecycleEvent
INFO: The Apache Tomcat Native library which allows optimal performance in production environments was not found on the java.library.path: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_12\bin;.;C:\WINDOWS\Sun\Java\bin;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_12/bin;C:\Alfresco\bin;C:\ORACLE\Ora92\bin;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\Program Files\Credant\CMG Shield;C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin;C:\Perl\bin;
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:51 PM org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11BaseProtocol init
INFO: Initializing Coyote HTTP/1.1 on http-8180
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:51 PM org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina load
INFO: Initialization processed in 1125 ms
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:52 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardService start
INFO: Starting service Catalina
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:52 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngine start
INFO: Starting Servlet Engine: Apache Tomcat/5.5
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:52 PM org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext prepareRefresh
INFO: Refreshing org.springframework.context.support.FileSystemXmlApplicationContext@1b4fad5: display name [org.springframework.context.support.FileSystemXmlApplicationContext@1b4fad5]; startup date [Wed Feb 04 20:56:52 PST 2009]; root of context hierarchy
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:52 PM org.springframework.beans.factory.xml.XmlBeanDefinitionReader loadBeanDefinitions
INFO: Loading XML bean definitions from URL [file:C:/Alfresco/virtual-tomcat/conf/alfresco-virtserver-context.xml]
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:53 PM org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext obtainFreshBeanFactory
INFO: Bean factory for application context [org.springframework.context.support.FileSystemXmlApplicationContext@1b4fad5]: org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory@5e179a
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:53 PM org.springframework.core.io.support.PropertiesLoaderSupport loadProperties
INFO: Loading properties file from URL [file:C:/Alfresco/virtual-tomcat/conf/alfresco-shared.properties]
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:53 PM org.springframework.core.io.support.PropertiesLoaderSupport loadProperties
INFO: Loading properties file from URL [file:C:/Alfresco/virtual-tomcat/conf/alfresco-virtserver.properties]
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:53 PM org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory preInstantiateSingletons
INFO: Pre-instantiating singletons in org.springframework.beans.factory.support.DefaultListableBeanFactory@5e179a: defining beans [virtserver-properties,avmReauthenticatingAdvisor,reauthenticatingAdvice,clientTicketHolder,authenticationService,avmRemote,avmRemoteTransport,avmRemoteTransportRaw,attributeService,attributeServiceTransport,attributeServiceTransportRaw,jndiInfoBean,virtServerInfo,virtServerMBeanServer,virtServerRegistry,serverConnector,virtServerExporter,virtWebappRegistry,cacheControlInfo]; root of factory hierarchy
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:54 PM org.springframework.remoting.rmi.RmiRegistryFactoryBean getRegistry
INFO: Looking for RMI registry at port '50510'
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:55 PM org.springframework.remoting.rmi.RmiRegistryFactoryBean getRegistry
INFO: Could not detect RMI registry - creating new one
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:55 PM org.springframework.jmx.support.ConnectorServerFactoryBean afterPropertiesSet
INFO: JMX connector server started: javax.management.remote.rmi.RMIConnectorServer@d56b37
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:55 PM org.springframework.jmx.export.MBeanExporter afterPropertiesSet
INFO: Registering beans for JMX exposure on startup
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:55 PM org.alfresco.catalina.host.AVMHost start
INFO: XML validation disabled
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:55 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHost start
INFO: XML validation disabled
Feb 4, 2009 8:56:58 PM org.alfresco.mbeans.VirtServerRegistrationThread registerVirtServer
INFO: Connected to remote Alfresco JMX Server
Feb 4, 2009 8:57:10 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationContext log
INFO: SSIFilter.init() SSI invoker started with 'debug'=1
Feb 4, 2009 8:57:11 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationContext log
INFO: SSIFilter.init() SSI invoker started with 'debug'=1
Feb 4, 2009 8:57:11 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHost start
INFO: XML validation disabled
Feb 4, 2009 8:57:11 PM org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappLoader start
INFO: Dual registration of jndi stream handler: factory already defined
Feb 4, 2009 8:57:12 PM org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11BaseProtocol start
INFO: Starting Coyote HTTP/1.1 on http-8180
Feb 4, 2009 8:57:12 PM org.apache.jk.common.ChannelSocket init
INFO: JK: ajp13 listening on /0.0.0.0:8109
Feb 4, 2009 8:57:12 PM org.apache.jk.server.JkMain start
INFO: Jk running ID=0 time=0/62 config=null
Feb 4, 2009 8:57:12 PM org.apache.catalina.storeconfig.StoreLoader load
INFO: Find registry server-registry.xml at classpath resource
Feb 4, 2009 8:57:12 PM org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina start
INFO: Server startup in 21250 ms

Re: website preview not working

pmonks — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:16:06 GMT

That log is showing that the virtualisation server is starting correctly. Can you post the preview (virtualisation server) URL that's returning the 404? One possibility is that you're trying to preview a folder and don't have a mapping for that configured in your web application.

Cheers,
Peter

Re: website preview not working

surendar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 06:20:17 GMT

Hi,
This is the url when I click on preview website from my sandbox:
http://admin.alfrescosimple.www--sandbox.127-0-0-1.ip.alfrescodemo.net:8180/

I also tried previewing the file index.jsp:
http://admin.alfrescosimple.www--sandbox.127-0-0-1.ip.alfrescodemo.net:8180/index.jsp

both are returning the same 404 error.

Re: website preview not working

damonsmith — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 08:07:06 GMT

and just to rule out any dumb reasons, can you click browse website and make sure there actually are any files in the web project? An index.jsp for starters?

Re: website preview not working

ben — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 08:40:37 GMT

Also, are you connected to the internet on that box? Can you ping alfrescodemo.net?

If not, you will have to drop a line into your hosts file.

Ben.

Re: website preview not working

surendar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:42:18 GMT

Hi,
When I browse website there are lot of folders including WEB-INF and META-INF, and also index.jsp file.

I have no clue how to debug this preview issue.

Re: website preview not working

surendar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:44:24 GMT

Hi Ben,
Yes I am connecting to internet on the same server.
when I ping alfrescodemo.net, I am not able to connect.

Re: website preview not working

damonsmith — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:33:55 GMT

Are you looking at the preview from the same box you're running alfresco from?

Re: website preview not working

surendar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:28:34 GMT

Yes, I am previewing from the same box where alfresco, virtualization servers were installed.

Re: website preview not working

pmonks — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 04:50:43 GMT

when I ping alfrescodemo.net, I am not able to connect.

This is likely to be your problem - alfrescodemo.net is the DNS server for "virtualised" preview URLs (you can see this in the preview URLs themselves - by default they're all in the "alfrescodemo.net" domain - http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Virtualization_Server_FAQ goes into a fair degree of detail about the why's and wherefore's of this technique).

The upshot is that if you can't ping alfrescodemo.net, then none of the preview URLs will be resolving to your local IP address and hence preview won't work.

Can you post the output of the following commands:


ping alfrescodemo.net
nslookup alfrescodemo.net
ping 64.251.22.145
‍‍‍‍‍

64.251.22.145 is the IP address of alfrescodemo.net, so if you're unable to ping it then it's more than just a DNS problem.

Cheers,
Peter

Re: website preview not working

vilaskokate — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:31:07 GMT

I was also facing the same problem but i have just added the website url into the host file and the website is displayed into the browser.
host file is situated into the <install dir>:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc
so add this line
127.0.0.1 admin.alfrescosimple.www–sandbox.127-0-0-1.ip.alfrescodemo.net

I am not confirm in your case but it is working for me.

Re: website preview not working

pmonks — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:45:22 GMT

While that approach is ok for "kicking the tyres", it's not appropriate for most Alfresco installations because it has some pretty basic scaling problems. More specifically:

The list of sandboxes (hence virtual hostnames, hence entries in the hosts file) in a given Web Project changes all the time; eg.
- Whenever a new user is invited to the Web Project
- Whenever a user is ejected from a Web Project
- Whenever a change set is submitted to workflow (the change set gets stored in a temporary "workflow sandbox" for the duration of the workflow - this sandbox is given a system generated name and while not normally visible via the UI, it is visible via workflow tasks and can be previewed just like any other sandbox)
Changes to the hosts file have to be rolled out to each and every content contributor / reviewer who's using Alfresco - if that's anything more than a small number of people this can become a time consuming process.

So while I'd be all for this as a short term workaround, for anything beyond that we need to try to figure out why surendar is unable to resolve alfrescodemo.net.

Cheers,
Peter

Re: website preview not working

surendar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:50:38 GMT

Hi,
This isthe output.

C:\>ping alfrescodemo.net

Pinging alfrescodemo.net [64.251.22.145] with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 64.251.22.145:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\>nslookup alfrescodemo.net
Server:  <domain name>
Address:  <ip address>

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:    alfrescodemo.net
Address:  64.251.22.145


C:\>ping 64.251.22.145

Pinging 64.251.22.145 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 64.251.22.145:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Re: website preview not working

pmonks — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:06:07 GMT

From that we can see it's not a DNS issue, since you're able to resolve "alfrescodemo.net" to the correct IP address. However it is some other kind of connectivity issue since you're unable to ping alfrescodemo.net via either its hostname or IP address. What happens if you run:

tracert alfrescodemo.net‍

?

Cheers,
Peter

Re: website preview not working

maha — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:38:28 GMT

Hi,

I am also facing the same issue. Please help me.

Re: website preview not working

pmonks — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:19:03 GMT

Did you follow all of the troubleshooting steps listed above? If so, what were the outcomes?

Cheers,
Peter