Unable to use Flexsim Web Server.

[shashanksiddapur]

[ FlexSim 19.1.2 ]

1.png

I am trying to make use of Flexsim Web Server. I have downloaded the set up for web server & installed the application. But when I am trying to open the application it is giving me some errors. Snapshot attached. Anyone who has successfully connected to web server and ran model, can you please help ?Thanks in Advance.

@Ben Wilson I saw one of your answer https://answers.flexsim.com/questions/69011/is-it-possible-to-run-flexsim-models-on-aws-with-o.html?....

I do have pretty similar requirement. Do you have any help file or document which can help me configuring the server. Really appreciate the help.

[Ben_WilsonADSK]

Hi @Shashank S, a quick glance at your error message suggests a port conflict - the server can't start on port 80. Are you running any other servers on port 80?

There is a file "flexsim webserver configuration.txt" that you can edit to make sure the directories are pointing to the correct locations, to change the port you're serving on, etc. Double check all the info there, perhaps try another port number, save the file, then try again starting the web server.

Comment back to let us know the results.

[shashanksiddapur]

Hi, @Ben Wilson . Thank you for your quick reply.

I will surely let you know once I try the suggestions by you.

[Ben_WilsonADSK]

Hi @Shashank S,

Were you able to figure out the problem? Can you let us know the solution? Or are you still trying to figure it out? What have you tried so far?

[shashanksiddapur]

Hi @Ben Wilson,

I am still working on this with our IT team, will let you know once I try implementing your suggestion regards. Need to go through some procedures before that.

[shashanksiddapur]

Hi @Ben Wilson, Sorry for the delay in response.

I could not get the required help from the IT team for making port 80 available for Flexsim Web Server.

Things I have tried so far are, changing the configuration file as per your directions, changing the port number in the config file. When I change the port number to anything apart from port 80, I get different error, snapshot attached. error1.png flexsim-webserver-configuration.txt

Please guide me how should I proceed further from here. Really appreciate the help.

[Ben_WilsonADSK · Accepted solution]

@Shashank S

Your error-1.png is not actually an error, it is the correct behavior indicating that your web server is running.

You need to visit http://127.0.0.1:8080 to view what is being served, assuming that port 8080 is still the port you have set in your most current "flexsim webserver configuration.txt" as it is in your attached example. Putting the ":8080" at the end of the local IP address 127.0.0.1 is the key to viewing what is being served on port 8080.

[shashanksiddapur]

@Ben Wilson Thank you for the clarification. I need to work on my IT basics, seems so.

Ben, I am trying to understand the advantages of using Flexsim Web Server over using normal Flexsim instance, but cannot think of any at this point. Can you please give me couple of points to start with ? So I can explore it further from there.

Sorry for asking so many questions and thanks in advance.

[Ben_WilsonADSK]

@Shashank S,

For regular model building and running, it is definitely better to just use a normal FlexSim instance.

If you develop model that you need others to be able to open and run, perhaps allow them to change a few parameters, and you don't want them to have to install the software or know how it works, that is one use case where the webserver is a valuable asset. In this case the model builder can create the simulation model and host it on a FlexSim webserver. The modeler can create a custom interface allowing the users to change basic things about the model. The users can log in via their web browser, open the model, customize their model settings, run the model, see the animation, get the outputs, etc.

There may be other use cases, but that is the main one.

[shashanksiddapur]

@Ben Wilson Thanks a lot. I am finally able to make the web server run the models, upload models to it.

Now I Need your help in Hosting the Web Server part as well. How should I go ahead with this ? Does it have any standard process ? Like may be some document.

Does it attract any extra cost if I am sharing my models through web server ?

Sorry for so many basic questions, I am trying to enter in this area for the first time.

[Ben_WilsonADSK]

Hi @Shashank S,

FlexSim (the company) is not a hosting provider. Users interested in running the FlexSim webserver will need to analyze their use case to decide what will be best for them. Users will need to provision, install, configure, and maintain their own web server. You might be able to self host, or you may want to look at some 3rd party like Amazon, Microsoft, etc, to host for you. There are pros and cons of each choice, it just comes down to your individual needs.

The important part is that the server hardware and operating system need to meet FlexSim's system requirements (VMs are not tested or supported, so if you want to try on a VM, you'll be on your own). Nvidia graphics are known to be more successful in streaming the 3D video, so the best FlexSim webserver will have a recent Nvidia GeForce or Quadro card, along with up-to-date drivers. Also, if multiple users are going to be running models simultaneously, your hardware requirements will multiply accordingly.

Your FlexSim webserver will need FlexSim installed (obviously 🙂 and licensed (if you want it to run fully featured). On the FlexSim side of things, if you already have a license, there is no additional cost. Your server hosting choice may have its own costs.

Please be aware of FlexSim's end user license agreement as far as sharing or loaning the software. Your license is sold to your organization and use of your FlexSim webserver is not meant to be rented, etc.

[shashanksiddapur]

Hi @Ben Wilson Thanks a lot for patiently answering all the questions.

This clarifies all my doubts regarding Flexsim Web Server 🙂

And regarding the last point, yes I am fully aware about the license terms and conditions.

[shankar_narayan]

Hi @Shashank S / @Ben Wilson

is it possible to post a step by step guide for newbies trying to play with the Flexsim webserver and Flexsim 19.1.x version and above? We have similar use cases for sharing models between teams and end users.

Thanks

[shashanksiddapur]

Hi @Ben Wilson another question in the same feed, we do have enterprise licenses for Flexsim, do we need to have any different license (for server installation) for hosting Flexsim Web Server ? If yes, can you please give me the details for the same.

And if I configure my server with one license, does it have any cap on number of users who can access the model from web server ?