RBNB WebTurbine - Getting Started

There are a few basic steps to getting started with the RBNB WebTurbine package:
  1. Install WebTurbine
  2. Launch Servlet Engine
  3. Share Data
  4. Customize Your Setup

Install WebTurbine

Visit the RBNB Web site at http://rbnb.creare.com , and download the latest release of the RBNB V2 software.  Run the delivered InstallAnywhere package to install the software to your computer.

If you are curious, browse the delivered software files.  You will find two main collections of software:

You can launch and run the RBNB pieces through direct Java command line directives.  But it is easiest and most powerful to use the servlet engine to do this for you, as described in the next step.

Launch Servlet Engine

To launch the servlet engine through which your browser communicates with the WebTurbine, click the delivered WebTurbine desktop icon (Windows) or startup script (Unix).  Connect to the "home page" of your local computer using the default Catalina port 8080, as in:
http://localhost:8080
You should now see a Web page containing the default startup applications and documentation.

Share Data

You are now ready to put the system to work!  First, launch a local RBNB server using the rbnbServer application link from your home page. Through this, you can send data to and from a local RBNB.  Route to a "Parent" RBNB on startup to extend your access to a distributed peer-to-peer network of RBNBs.

As a way to get started, publish a local directory of files using the "Folder" PlugIn.  On the "View RBNB Channels" page, review links to your local RBNB channels, including the files you published.  These URLs are available to any Web browser (with access to your network and computer).

Customize Your Setup

Now you can begin use the full power of RBNB and the Web Access system.  Explore combinations of the delivered PlugIns.  For example, use the Virtual Source PlugIn to process vector data from rbnbSource to PNG graphics images (using the PNGPlugin).

Use the RBNB V2 API to develop your own applications and PlugIns, from Java, 'C', or directly from packages like Matlab. WebTurbine provides a "WebCentric" hook to the power of RBNB data distribution.