We had a task to install a business intelligence application Business Objects Enterprise on demo machine. After going through prerequisites we found that it reqired a database server and web application server which required configuring before hand.
We installed SQL Server 2005 and Java Web Application servers. Going through notes I had to develop a new empty database with login id and password as required.
Started with the installation and immediately message that it could not execute some file. I had to copy the contents of the disk onto the C: drive and run the files from there. After installation we could not log in to the application. It was asking for server name, login id, password and authentication. After comprehensive study of the installation notes it was found out that during application a default administrator and user account are created. We used those credentials to log in now. Every thing seemed fine until Stuart came back that he could not do anything when not networked and because the laptop was meant for giving demonstrations it had to work without a network. Then after some difficulties we manged to find out what could be the problem.
The application used Java web application server which always requires an IP address. When the system is not networked it would not have an IP address. So we created a network connection called loopback which has a private IP address and allows to make your own mini network.