About additional tasks for configuring the Enterprise

As part of the process of configuring a Siebel Enterprise, the Siebel Configuration Wizard prompts us to select up to three additional configuration tasks that are related to different features of Siebel CRM. These additional tasks are:

• Setting up the Enterprise Network Security Encryption Type
• Providing Chart Server Settings
• Entering parameters that enable Siebel Data Quality Products and Connectors

The screenshot below shows the Siebel Configuration Wizard prompting for selection of additional tasks:

When we select any of these choices, the Siebel Configuration Wizard displays additional dialogs to solicit values for parameters. This is rarely used during an initial installation but can be helpful when—at a later stage of the project—one of these additional features has to be set up. Even if we could set the respective parameters manually, we should use the wizard as it provides input validation and creates log files that allow us to track changes and troubleshoot problems if any arise.

If we choose the Enterprise Network Security Encryption Type option, the next dialog allows us to set the SISNAPI (Siebel Internet Session Network API) encryption type, which controls how network packets exchanged between the Siebel Web Server Extension and the Siebel Server processes are encrypted.

When we choose Chart Server Settings, the wizard prompts for the chart server hostname and the image format to be used for the rendered charts (GIF, JPG, or PNG). The chart server feature relies on the VisualMining NetCharts server, a third-party product shipped with the Siebel CRM installation archives. Installation of the chart server will be discussed in a separate chapter.

With the third option (Data Quality Products and Connectors) selected, we can tell the configuration wizard whether we want to use Siebel Data Matching (based on a third-party product) or not. The wizard will then set the respective parameter accordingly.