ALM Service Fault Code 203 Error When Logging into the GT HP ALM Service Connector in Agile Requirements Designer

Products

• CA Agile Requirements Designer

Issue/Introduction

When using the GT HP ALM Service Connector in Agile Requirements Designer, I am receiving the following error message:
ALM Service Fault received.
ALM service reported the following error: Service call:startSession. Error message:Fault code 203:
Error transferring http://<ServiceAddress>:8095- server replied: Not Found

Actions Taken:
1. Enter in ALM URL and Service Address into the ALM Service Config Editor. Verify connection details are valid.

2. Start ALM Service. Verify it is running.

3. In Agile Designer, click on the GT HP ALM Service Connector option.

4. In the Connectors Dock, click on the Login button.

5. Login to ALM using the Service Address URL. Hit the OK button.

Result:

Environment

ARD all releases
CA Agile Requirements Designer
GT HP ALM Service 

Cause

The Service Address being used in Agile Designer when logging into ALM is incorrect.
Assuming the service base address is set to 'http://*:8095/' or 'http://ServerName:8095/' (either is valid) in the ALM Service Config Editor, the address we should use in Agile Designer should be 'http://ServerName:8095/ALMService'. 

Below is further documentation on using the GT HP ALM Service with Agile Designer:

• Integration with Lifecycle Tools: https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/ca-enterprise-software/devops/agile-requirements-designer/3-1/integrations/integration-with-lifecycle-tools.html
• Connect to HP ALM (GT HP ALM Service): https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/ca-enterprise-software/devops/agile-requirements-designer/3-1/integrations/integration-with-lifecycle-tools/integrate-with-hpe-alm-gt-hpe-alm-service.html

 

Resolution

To resolve this issue you need to verify that you are using the correct URL in the GT HP ALM Service Connector login window and in the ALM Service Configuration Editor.
To see what GT HP ALM Service URL and Service Address you need to be using, please do the following:

1. Copy the Service Address from the ALM Service Config Editor. It should look like this: 'http://ServiceName:8095/'
2. On the machine that you have ARD installed on, open a browser. 
3. Paste the Service Address into the browser.
   • If your Service Address in the config editor says 'http://*:8095/', then use the server name rather than the star in the browser.
   • You do not need to change it in the config editor.
   • For example, 'http://*:8095/' in the config editor would be 'http://servername:8095/' in the browser.
     
     
4. You will be taken to the 'ALMService Service' page. 
5. Click link next to 'svcutil.exe'. 
   
   

   

6. You will be taken to a page with XML. Scroll down and find the <wsdl:service name="ALMService">. 
7. Under this you should see a soap address like <soap:address location="http://test.test.ca.com:8095/ALMService"/>.
   This is the URL you need to use for the GT HP ALM Service URL inside ARD when logging into the GT HP ALM Service connector. 
   
   

   

Now that you know the correct Service Address to use in ARD, follow the steps below to finish setting up the GT HP ALM Service configuration and login process:

1. Go to the ALM Service Configuration Editor. By default, this is located at C:\Grid-Tools\GTHPALMService\GTHPALMService_ConfigEditor\ALMServiceConfigEditor.exe when you install TDM.
   
   

   

   
   
   
2. In the 'Service Configuration' tab, you need to verify you are using the correct 'ALM URL' format and the correct 'Service Address' URL. 
   • ALM URL: 'http://AlmURL:port/qcbin/'
   • Service Address: 'http://ServiceName:8095/'
     
     

     

3. Click the 'Save' button to save your changes.
   
   
4. Click the 'Verify' button and check the message box for any error messages. The ALM URL should be accessible. 
   
   

   

5. In the same window, click on the 'Status' tab. 
   
   
6. You may need to create a task and enable group policy at this point if you have not previously configured this.
   • Directions on how to configure this are listed here: https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/ca-enterprise-software/devops/agile-requirements-designer/3-1/reference/install-hpe-alm-service.html 
     
     
7. Click the 'Start Service' button. If already running, stop the service first, then restart it.
   • If you get errors pertaining to the task not existing or group policy not being enabled, please see our documentation on configuring this: https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/ca-enterprise-software/devops/agile-requirements-designer/3-1/reference/install-hpe-alm-service.html  
     
     

     

8. Check the message box for any errors. The GT ALM Service should be running. 
   
   

   

9. Launch Agile Requirements Designer. 
10. Under the 'Project' window on the left-hand side of the screen, click on the 'Connectors' tab to expand all the options. 
11. Click on the 'GT HP ALM Service' connector. 
    
    

    

12. Under the 'Connectors Dock' on the right-hand side on the screen, you will see a message of 'This view is disabled - please login to ALM'. Click the 'Login' button.
    
    

    

    

13. In the 'Log In To ALM' window, enter the following information, and click the 'OK' button once done.
    • GT HP ALM Service URL: 'http://ServiceName:8095/ALMService' (You will have the /ALMService in this URL, but not in the Configuration Editor)
    • User Name
    • Password
    • Click the 'Remember password' check box.
      
      

      

      
      
      
14. If successful, you will not see an error message and be prompted to choose your 'Domain' and 'Project' for your ALM instance. 
    
    

    

15. Once completely logged in, you will see your ALM projects in the 'Connectors Dock' on the right-hand side of the screen.