HCL DevOps Code ClearCase Integrates with Jenkins for Seamless Automation

Introduction:

Jenkins is a popular DevOps build automation tool. While open-source integrations have been available for years, this new integration was created by the HCL DevOps Code ClearCase development team and is officially supported by HCLSoftware.

The integration supports both freestyle jobs and pipeline jobs in Jenkins. Beyond the default, the HCL DevOps Code ClearCase integration adds the ability to initiate builds by Webhooks invoked from HCL DevOps Code ClearCase deliver completion triggers and by configuring a Jenkins job with the HCL DevOps Code ClearCase plugin to poll for changes on a stream.

1. Environment:

• HCL DevOps Code ClearCase 3.0.1 release.
• HCL DevOps Code ClearCase supports Jenkins LTS 2.332.x for Linux.
• RHEL, SLES, Ubuntu and Solaris.
  For more information refer to the System Requirements page.
• You must have a 64-bit Java Runtime Environment (JRE) specifically for Java 8 installed before you install Jenkins. If you do not have a JRE already, you can obtain one from Adoptium at https://adoptium.net/temurin/releases/?version=8.
  After you have installed Java:
  • Set the path for the Java:
    
  • Set the Java path as a system environment variable:
    

Steps:

2. HCL DevOps Code ClearCase Installation:

Before installing Jenkins on the Linux host, you must install HCL DevOps Code ClearCase first. You must install the HCL DevOps Code ClearCase Remote Client or HCL DevOps Code ClearCase also ensure that the system path includes /opt/hcl/ccm/HCL DevOps Code ClearCase/bin. In the below example snippet selected "HCL DevOps Code ClearCase Full Function Installation'' which includes a complete feature and if you want to use automatic view for Jenkins builds then you must select "Automatic Views” option during the installation.

Note: For VV 3.0.1 installation you still need to have Java 8 on the same host.

3. Installation and Configuration of Jenkins on Linux:

Use the following procedure to install Jenkins on Linux for the HCL DevOps Code ClearCase-Jenkins integration:

• Download the jenkins.war file from https://get.jenkins.io/war-stable/ and place it in the home directory.
  • mkdir JENKINS
  • chmod 700 JENKINS
  • cd JENKINS
  • cp ~user/jenkins-2.332.x.war .
  • ls to display the jenkins-2.332.x.war file.
• Run the following command:
  
• During the installation of Jenkins, logs and the initial password for Jenkins are created, as shown in the following example:
  
  By default initalAdminPassword can be found in the user's home directory. Example:
  
  Tip: Note the password because you need it to unlock Jenkins.

4. Unlocking Jenkins on Linux:

After completing the installation process, you must unlock Jenkins before you can customize and start using it for the HCL DevOps Code ClearCase-Jenkins integration on Linux.

• With this installation, Jenkins is hosted at port 8080. Open a web browser and go to http://hostname:8080
  Tip: To learn how to change ports in Jenkins, see https://phoenixnap.com/kb/jenkins-change-port.
• On the Unlock Jenkins dialog box, in the Administrator password field, enter the password that you got from Step 3 of Jenkins Installation section, or you can get the password from initialAdminPassword file and then click Continue.
  

5. Customizing Jenkins:

After completing the installation process for Jenkins and then unlocking it, you must customize it before you start using it for the HCL DevOps Code ClearCase-Jenkins integration on Linux.

Use the following procedure to customize Jenkins before you use it:

• On the Customize Jenkins dialog box, to have Jenkins automatically install the most frequently used plug-ins, click Install suggested plugins.
  
• After the plug-ins have been installed, enter the required information on the Create First Admin User dialog box and then click Save and Continue.
• On the Instance Configuration dialog box, confirm the port number that you want Jenkins to use and then click Save and Finish. This completes the initial customization.
• Click Start using Jenkins to move to the Jenkins dashboard.
• Copy HCL DevOps Code ClearCase-jenkins.hpi and cmapi-jenkins.hpi from
  HCL DevOps Code ClearCase-home-dir/java/lib/HCL DevOps Code ClearCase-jenkins.hpi and HCL DevOps Code ClearCase-home-dir/java/lib/cmapi-jenkins.hpi.
• Install the copied files HCL DevOps Code ClearCase-jenkins.hpi and cmapi-jenkins.hpi into the Jenkins server using the Jenkins management web pages as described in the next step.
• Select Manage Jenkins > Manage Plugins > Advanced tab and add the following plug-ins:
  • cmapi-jenkins.hpi
  • HCL DevOps Code ClearCase-jenkins.hpi

  a) On the left-hand side of Jenkins home page, you will find the "Manage Jenkins" option please select it.

  

  b) If you scroll down under System Configuration you will find "Manage Plugins".

  

  c) Select "Advanced" option under Plugin Manager.

  

  d) Scroll down and go to option "Deploy Plugin". Then select “Choose File” option to select two plugin files i.e., HCL DevOps Code ClearCase-jenkins.hpi and cmapi-jenkins.hpi then click on “Deploy”.

  

  e) Once the two plugin files are deployed you will see the below result.

  

  6. SSL/TLS configuration for Jenkins Server:

  • If you want to use SSL/TLS for your Jenkins server, consult the Jenkins documentation at https://www.jenkins.io/doc/book/installing/initial-settings/ to use other command line flags instead of the preceding mentioned command line flag.