How to setup a RAS (Reusable Asset Service)? [solved]

[Shegit Brahm]

Hi,

this RAS feature sounds nice. So my object is to find out - what is possible, which (technical) limits exist etc.
(Have EA Enterprise 13.5 at hand)

I started reading on Sparx' page to get started (setting up) http://www.sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/13.5/model_repository/setup_asset_service.html

My problem starts in the second sentence of the first step (identify registry):
- The Registry server holds the Storages of the Reusable Asset Service.
- It will have been previously configured by your system administrator, to be accessed through a Cloud Connection.

Because - I am in that case the system administrator and - I struggle to find any "next" page what I need to do to get a "registry" up and running.

I have a server, where the Sparx EA service is running.
I can create a database (MySQL), initialize it as an EA repository.
Take the connection details, open an local EA on a client machine and connect. And model my way through.


So my first question is:
- Which components must be up and running to create a registry server? (And how do I connect to it?)

I am able to open the RAS view on my local EA, right now it is empty.

Than there is the second part:
http://www.sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/13.5/model_repository/set_up_registry_password.html also notes that I should do it on the Registry Server
- How do I get there?

After anything is up and running, I guess this is more easy:
- Do I create a storage from my local machine? The part of "Create Storages" implies it.

Many thanks,
Shegit

[Shegit Brahm]

Was easier than expected.

the "registry server" is nothing more than a simple EA cloud connection with a model stored as real DBMS instead eap.

That means:

• set up a cloud based EA model.
• have your second model at hand (with sufficient rights)
• go to Publish -> (model Exchange) -> Reusable Assets-> Registry: select the EA model set up in first step
• now you are connected to the central registry server

That said - I can't tell you right now the sufficient rights to do what inside RAS etc.

Assets can become what I create locally and "register"=export them into the cloud model.
And importing from cloud model creates local copies.

As far as I digged until now: GUIDs will be "central" at the cloud model and whereever you import from there, EA will (try to) set the central GUID.
Which implies: can't tell you now what happens if I have a local GUID for a different element and the import it from cloud.

HTH,
Shegit

[Graham_Moir]

This is helpful Shegit. 
It would help even more if you posted further to this thread as you work through the practical use of RAS

[Shegit Brahm]

@Graham_Moir: thanks for your encouragement.

I digged deeper and will post some major "ah"-moments.

assets:

• smallest unit: empty package
• => package is general unit
• => no single element can become an asset
• latest version is the highest version number EA says - not always the newest
• change an asset?  - make a new version!
• merge: only from baseline (e.g. one asset version) into local model - there is partial / elementwise merge=import possible (local delete as well)
• access different version: the dropdown does appear only if you know to look in the version column
• same guid? - "crashes/ mixes up" more or less like an xmi import with same guid on different elements

dependencies

• will be treated as separat assets - and dependent version will be saved, too

storage:

• password(s) can be set - once all passwords are gone / never set => no new password(s) can be set
• as long as you have access to a storage, you can easily copy it
• lost password? guess this is the encrypted version (xmi export):

Code: [Select]

<code header1="dY1h8mpERIOE5cRGig3Leiq+RWBnsPe1BbwouUEf6TE=" header2="dY1h8mpERIOE5cRGig3Leiq+RWBnsPe1BbwouUEf6TE="/>

be careful

• you update two assets and the second is dependency of the first and you register new version of first asset?
  
  • please avoid using "use latest version in registry"
  • that would ignore your current local changes of second asset
  • untick it and register second asset with a new version from local project
  [li] take a look, if the "latest version" is really the newest - the dropdown has them in created-order

BUG

• the version name permits these characters <>;:“/\|‘,?*
• well, it checks in advance to registering on these only
• it DOES NOT check on any non-english characters BEFORE saving into registry server
• it does realize this error few seconds later while the storage got reloaded to show changes
• that crashes entire registry server regarding read and write (all storages)
  
  • I was lucky and could just delete the storage in registry server ea model (because nothing else was in it)

HTH, Shegit