On Premise Remote API Service

Click here for a video demo of this feature.

On Premise Remote API Service allows non-APC (Abacus Private Cloud) customers to take advantage of the Client Portal as well as the AbacusLaw Mobile application, provided they are licensed for those options. The service is a collection of 3 Windows services (AbacusNextDataAccessAPIService, AbacusNextOAuthService, and AbacusNextOTXClientService) and the web site AbacusNextRestAPI.

A separate installer was created to install the service.

Pre-Installation Considerations

Customers need to decide whether to install the On Premise Remote API Service (a) on the AbacusLaw server or (b) on a machine connected to the AbacusLaw server. This will be a personal preference for each organization. For example, if the AbacusLaw server is overused, an organization might need to use a new machine.

Requirements

Share the AbacusLaw install directory so that it is accessible via the local network.

Install on Windows 10 Pro machine or Windows 2019, 2016, or 2012 R2 server.

If you are not installing on the AbacusLaw server, ensure that the machine you are installing on is networked to the AbacusLaw server.

Know the Windows machine name and the IP address of the server you are installing on.

Ensure that the latest Windows updates have been installed.

Pre-Installation: Feature Installation Requirements for IIS and Net Components

Select the Windows button and search for Server Manager. Click Server Manager to open.
From the Server Manager select Manage > Add Roles and Features.
Highlight Server Selection.
Highlight Server Roles.
Under Application Development, ensure that .NET Extensibility 4.6, ASP.NET 4.6, ISAPI Extensions, and ISAPI Filters are checked. Under Management Tools, ensure that IIS Management Console is checked.
Click Next until the Install button is enabled and click Install.

Select the Windows button and search for Server Manager. Click Server Manager to open.
From the Server Manager select Manage > Add Roles and Features.
Highlight Server Selection.
Highlight Server Roles.
Under Application Development, ensure that .NET Extensibility 4.7, ASP.NET 4.7, ISAPI Extensions, and ISAPI Filters are checked. Under Management Tools, ensure that IIS Management Console is checked.
Click Next until the Install button is enabled and click Install.

Open Control Panel and select Programs and Features. Select Turn Window features on or off.
On the Windows Features window, do the following:

Under Internet Information Services > Web Management Tools, ensure that IIS Management Console is checked.
Under Internet Information Services > World Wide Web Services > Application Development Features, ensure that .NET Extensibility 4.7, ASP .NET 4.7, ISAPI Extensions, and ISAPI Filters are checked.
Click OK to save the changes.

Installing On Premise Remote API Service

Start the installer program. Enter your customer ID and firm name (if necessary). Click Next.

Check to accept the license agreement. Click Next.

Leave Destination Root Folder and Data Directory as is. If you change the data directory, it must be a UNC (not a mapped drive letter).

Note that installed files will be stored in a folder called v23\RemoteAPI under the destination root folder you choose.

Click Next.

Enter the server machine number and IP address. If installing on the AbacusLaw server, IP address can be 127.0.0.1. Enter the host name from the URL to be used to reach the Client Portal. For example, if your Client Portal URL is https://mylawoffice.portal.legal, then the Host Name is mylawoffice.portal.legal.

Click Next.

A confirmation message appears after the installation is finished.

If the service was installed on a Windows 2012 R2 server, Windows IIS (Internet Information Services) and the ASP.NET framework must be installed manually.

Install IIS on Windows 2012 R2

Install ASP.NET Framework

Click Finish.

From the Control Panel, open Administrative Tools. Double-click the IIS Manager to open it.

Under Sites, there is an item called Default Web Site. If you have a web site listed under Default Web Site then DO NOT STOP IT. However, if nothing is listed under Default Web Site, stop it by highlighting Default Web Site and then clicking Stop in the Manage Website panel on the right.

If your database is encrypted, the AbacusNextDataAccessAPIService needs to be started manually. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del), highlight AbacusNextDataAccessAPIService, right-click, and click Start.

Post-Installation: IIS Verification Requirements

Select the Windows button and enter Server Manager. Click Server Manager to open.

Highlight IIS.

Right-click the server name and click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

In the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manger, highlight AbacusNextRestAPI.

Under Edit Site, select Bindings.

Ensure that the site bindings look like this:

Under Edit Site select Basic Settings.

In the Edit Site window, select Connect as.

Ensure that Application user is selected.

Double-click Authentication.

Ensure that Anonymous Authentication is enabled. (To enable, highlight and click Actions > Enable.) Then, highlight Anonymous Authentication and click Actions > Edit.

In the Edit Anonymous Authentication Credentials window, ensure that Specific user is selected and set to IUSR.

To test your connection, click the link under Browse Website.

The following confirmation message (which opens in an Internet browser) indicates that the connection is successful.