Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Qlik Sense on Single or Multi-Node Architecture Using the Qlik PostgreSQL Installer

Installing Qlik Sense is pretty much straight forward process but sometimes it can lead to complications so here I would like to document the complete process of Qlik Sense installation using Qlik PostgreSQL Installer also known as QPI alongside simple straight forward deployment of Qlik Sense without the QPI with only its executable installation file of Qlik Sense mostly used on single node architecture. 

With that being said before moving  forward with the installation steps lets just keep in mind some important prerequisites which includes the user should have admin privilege (best practice), 

framework  4.8 or higher should be installed beforehand

Qlik PostgreSQL Installation:

Note: Any previous instance of PostgreSQL should be removed in order to run the QPI package keeping in mind to take the backup of necessary files.

 

Set the password for database and make the necessary changes to the default port number, max connection, IP ranges and repository user name.

💡Bits of Knowledge 

In PostgreSQL, a superuser is a user with unrestricted access, bypassing all permission checks. They can execute commands that have the potential to destabilize or crash the database server

In the next step add the path to the database data folder keeping in mind the user must have permissions to access the folder.

 

Permissions can be granted by right clicking on the folder from properties> security > add user

📌   Note: Keep a record of the configuration details present before install button for future references.

After completing the installation run the Qlik Sense Setup on the Central Node as an administrator 

Since it is the central node Select Create Cluster 

Add the Full Computer name / hostname where the central node is being installed

Select the "Connect to existing PostgreSQL database" since we already installed using QPI, PostgreSQL can be on the localhost or on the different server but port should be opened across the servers.

 

📌Note: The service account that you mention here should have the access to the PostgreSQL repo we created earlier 

Now we create a shared folder that contains app data and includes subfolders such as DataPrepAppCache, which stores QVD files for caching loaded data, and a server-named subfolder that is automatically created when apps are imported from the QMC.

📌This shared folder should have access to the service account used for running Qlik services.

📌It would be better to select to include object bundles since it has latest visualization objects 

👉After proceeding to the next steps, which are the final steps in the installation process, press "Install" and wait for it to finish. It might take some time.

Two new icons will appear on the desktop 

Open QMC (Qlik Management Console) at first 

Enter the license key provided by Qlik, and voilà! You have Qlik Sense up and running on the central node. However, this applies only to a single-node or standalone server setup.

💡Bits of Knowledge 

 In a failover scenario, where the central node stops working, one Failover candidate assumes the role of central node. This solution eliminates the risks associated with the central node as a single point of failure.

Since this tutorial is for a multi-node setup with an architecture consisting of one central node and one failover node, let's proceed with the second phase of our setup.

For  failover node on a different server proceed with the similar steps of installation as above apart from the step where it asks for creating a cluster of joining a cluster.

Select Join a Cluster

 

When you try to open QMC on the failover node the following error pops up, since the certificates from the central node are not configured.

OPEN QMC ON CENTRAL NODE > START> NODES > CREATE NODE Enter the details of failover server

Printing service is optional for failover node 

Something similar to the below image will pop up which has URL and Password for the failover node registration.

Go to the failover node and proceed with the URL and enter the password  for authorization.

Try logging in again in the failover node QMC with  the domain username and password.

  

Note: Before opening Sense Hub on the central node the user must have Professional license Allocation/ Analyzer license as per the requirement from License Management in QMC. Similarly when trying to open the Qlik Sense hub on Failover node the following error might occur

Open QMC in the failover node > START> VIRTUAL PROXIES

Select the FAILOVER VP > EDIT and select the Load Balancing from properties

  

Click “ADD NEW SERVER NODE” > CENTRAL > APPLY To connect to the central node.

💡Bits of Knowledge 

In a multi-node site, each node regularly checks the central node for a heartbeat. If after 10 minutes (the default timeout period is 10 minutes) there is no response from the central node, the site will automatically fail over to the failover candidate node.

Try opening Qlik Sense Hub again which will be accessible from the failover node. 

In this way we are done with the complete setup of Qlik Sense Installation on multi node architecture having one failover and central node.