Setting CGI configuration options

If you are installing the Helix ALM CGIs, you must select a location to install the CGI scripts and HTML files and set the Helix ALM Server address and port number. When web client users log in, or an external source control provider attaches files to items in a project, the web server calls the appropriate CGI, which communicates with the Helix ALM Server.

We strongly recommend configuring HTTPS for the CGIs on the web server. Login credentials sent from web clients to the CGIs are not encrypted, even if encryption is enabled on the server. See your web server documentation for information about configuring and using HTTPS.

Web server types

Microsoft IIS and Apache web servers are supported. See Supported Web Servers for supported versions.

Default HTML file installation directories

Select the directory to install the HTML files used by Helix ALM web clients.

If you are upgrading, you may be prompted to overwrite existing HTML files during installation. You should always overwrite these files to ensure that Helix ALM works correctly after the upgrade is complete.

Web server	Platform	Default HTML files directory
IIS	Windows	C:\inetpub\wwwroot
Apache	Windows	C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache <version>\htdocs
Apache	Linux	/var/www/html

Helix ALM Server address and port

Enter a static IP address or domain name and port number of the Helix ALM Server computer. The Helix ALM CGIs use this information to communicate with the server. You are only prompted to enter this information the first time you install Helix ALM.

Platform	Default server port
Windows	99
Linux	1566

Default CGI installation directories

Select the directory to install the CGI scripts. The web server must have access to this directory.

Web server	Platform	Default logical CGI directory name	Default CGI scripts directory
IIS	Windows	scripts	C:\inetpub\scripts
Apache	Windows	cgi-bin	C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache <version>\cgi-bin
Apache	Linux	cgi-bin	/var/www/cgi-bin

If you are installing the Helix ALM License Server Web Admin Utility, you must set a location to install the CGI scripts and HTML files. See Setting Helix ALM License Server configuration options.

Linux installation notes

Specific system libraries are required to run Helix ALM applications on different Linux distributions. You must install these libraries before using the applications to make sure they work correctly. See Checking for Missing System Libraries on Linux for information.
If CGIs are installed on Linux distributions with SELinux security policies, you must enable network requests from CGI executables before you can use Helix ALM web clients. See CGIs on Linux Cannot Connect to the Helix ALM License Server and Helix ALM Server for information.