Software requirements

Software requirements vary according to the operating system and features of Netcool Configuration Manager that you want to use.

Note: If you use Netcool Configuration Manager as part of a solution, you must also check the compatibility of the versions of all component products in the solution documentation. For example, if you use Netcool Operations Insight, check the instructions for downloading components for your version of Netcool Operations Insight at https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSTPTP.
Table 1. Netcool Configuration Manager supported operating systems
Item Requirement
AIX
7.2 and 7.3 iSeries and pSeries
Important: The GNU version of TAR must be installed before Netcool Configuration Manager, or else the installation will fail.
Linux

SuSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 11.0 (x86-64) SP2 and SP3

SuSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 12.0 (x86-64)

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 9.1 (x86-64), 9.2 (x86-64) and 9.3 (x86-64).

Linux on System z

SuSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 12 SP5 (s390x)

Restriction:

Netcool Configuration Manager Version 6.4.2 fix pack 3 and fix pack 4 can only be deployed on Linux on System z as a stand-alone solution deployed on a worker server. Deployments that include Tivoli Common Reporting or the use of the DASH portlets are not supported on zLinux.

Netcool Configuration Manager Version 6.4.2 fix pack 4 allows the use of Cognos Analytics to view ITNCM Reports on zLinux platforms. Such installations are, however, limited to single-server, stand-alone deployments, with no integration or use of the DASH portlets.

See the Cognos Analytics on zLinux table entry for more information, including a list of prerequisites and limitations.

Table 2. Netcool Configuration Manager database requirements
Database Version supported
Note: For all database types and versions, use the latest fix pack, unless otherwise specified.
DB2

10.1

10.5

11.1

Fix Pack 14:
11.5

Oracle

11g R2 (11.2.0.1.0)

12c

19c

Note: When you install Netcool Configuration Manager, choose the option Oracle 11 if you are using Oracle 11, or the option Oracle 12 if you are using Oracle 12 or 19.
Tip: Netcool Configuration Manager supports Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC). If a failover occurs within a single RAC cluster, you do not need to restart Netcool Configuration Manager. If a failover to a separate RAC cluster occurs, you must restart Netcool Configuration Manager on all servers.
Note: The database must be installed before Netcool Configuration Manager. Ensure a minimum 8kb block size per instance.
Table 3. Requirements for other products
Item Notes
IBM WebSphere Application Server Before installing the product, you must install IBM WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5.24 or V8.5.5.25.
Jazz for Service Management

Use Jazz for Service Management V1.1.3.20 and V1.1.3.21.

IBM Installation Manager

Use IBM Installation Manager 1.9.2.6, 1.9.2.7 or 1.9.28.

DASH

DASH is required by Netcool Configuration Manager - Base for both integrated and stand-alone installations, whether installed with or without Tivoli Common Reporting. Various DASH services such as the reporting service are required by WebSphere to run a Netcool Configuration Manager - Base presentation server. DASH is not required for a worker-only installation.

Tivoli Common Reporting

Use Tivoli Common Reporting Version 3.1.2.1.

Important: Tivoli Common Reporting prerequisites should be installed on all servers before any other software is installed.

Review the requirements for Tivoli Common Reporting to make sure you meet your performance requirements. For detailed information on software and hardware requirements, see the Tivoli Common Reporting information center at the following URL: http://www-01.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSEKCU/welcome

Restriction: ITNCM-Reports must be installed in a separate instance of DASH, and cannot reuse that of the Presentation Server if they are being installed on a single server.
Note: If you are using JazzSM V1.1.3.11 or later versions, Tivoli Common Reporting is not supported. For more information, refer to https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6210342.
Restriction: Neither ITNCM-Reports nor DASH are supported on Linux on System z.
Cognos Analytics on zLinux
A deployment of Cognos Analytics on zLinux has the following requirements:
Table 4. Netcool Configuration Manager client software requirements
Item Requirement
Web Browser support

Chrome 116, 122

Microsoft Edge 116, 122

Firefox ESR 102.4 ,115

Note: A web browser should be installed on the client before any other software is installed.
Java Runtime Environment

As of Fix Pack 9, Netcool Configuration Manager supports only JRE 1.8 for the NCM client GUI. You can use the Oracle JRE or the IBM JRE. You can download the IBM JRE from Passport Advantage.

Check the JRE requirements of your version of any integrated products such as Network Manager.

Note: ITNCM GUI clients are supported only on Windows.
Table 5. Other Netcool Configuration Manager requirements
Item Notes
Unlimited Strength policy files

In order to support communications with greater than 128 bits of encryption, Netcool Configuration Manager requires Unlimited Strength policy files.

Netcool Configuration Manager Fix Pack 9 and above includes these files. If you have installed Netcool Configuration Manager Fix Pack 8 or below, follow these instructions to download and install the files: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6173229

BouncyCastle

In order to support more complex encryption algorithms, Netcool Configuration Manager requires the Bouncy Castle JCE.

Install Bouncy Castle only for ITNCM v6.4.2 Fix Pack 10 and previous versions to support these algorithms. If you have already installed Bouncy Castle for ITNCM v6.4.2 Fix Pack 11 and later versions, then revert those changes. The BouncyCastle security provider must be listed first in the ncm_install_dir/jre/jre/lib/security/java.security file.

Follow these instructions to download and install the latest version of the BouncyCastle provider jars: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6173331

FTP, TFTP, Tar, Unzip, gunzip This should be installed on all servers before any other software is installed.
Network time protocol (NTP) This should be installed and configured on all servers before any other software is installed.
DB2 Runtime Client
Note: Required only for the following scenarios:
  • Installations of Netcool Configuration Manager that are not integrated with Network Manager, exercise the option to install Tivoli Common Reporting, and utilize a DB2 database.
  • Installations of Netcool Configuration Manager that use a DB2 database and are integrated with Network Manager using a different database.
  • Deployments of Cognos Analytics on zLinux
logrotate This should be installed to run the logcleaner.cnf script to perform housekeeping on log files.