WorldVistA on Ubuntu

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WorldVistA consists of two parts: a database server and a collection of client modules. The server runs in Linux, whereas the clients are generally Windows-based (at this time). The first step is to install the WorldVistA server. It can be installed on the operating system of a stand-alone computer or on the guest operating system of a virtual machine (usually running on the same computer as the client modules).

When the VistA server is run within a virtual machine on the same computer as the client modules, a fully self-contained WorldVistA EHR is created on a single computer.

  • If you will run the WorldVistA server within a virtual machine, then install the Ubuntu Server edition (virtual machine minimal install) into a virtual machine first. See these instructions.

Then proceed in a similar fashion (in each type of operating system installation) for the subsequent installation of Astronaut VistA.

Preparing your server

  • The Astronaut installer uses an emerging standardized installation framework for VistA derivatives (WorldVistA and OpenVistA currently). These instruction reflect this framework, with modifications I have used in setting up my system on Ubuntu.
  • Port 9260 is used for communications with the VistA server. The server should have a static IP address on your LAN, and your LAN should forward port 9260 traffic to the VistA server's IP address. Make sure your firewall allows port 9260 traffic.

It is easiest to set this up before using the Astronaut installer, since the Astronaut server installer autodetects IP address settings.

Installation

WorldVistA is the largest and most robust CCHIT-approved electronic health record platform in the public domain. It is is based on the US Veterans Administration health record system and is GPL licensed. The database and server can be installed on a standalone server (which would then be accessed over a network by clients on other computers) or can be installed in a virtual machine on a computer which also contains the clients (creating a self-contained EHR on a single computer). There are several installation packages. The original WorldVistA site is here.

  • Apache2 is required. It can be installed individually (sudo apt-get install apache2) or as part of a LAMP (Linux, Apache2, MySQL5, PHP) installation:
sudo tasksel install lamp-server

sudo tasksel install openssh-server
  • If you are installing on a Server edition without a desktop, you will also need:
sudo apt-get install wget iptables nano
  • Install prerequisites:
sudo apt-get install xinetd update-inetd whois apache2-suexec
  • Astronaut VistA is made for a 32-bit operating system. If you are using a 64-bit Ubuntu operating system, then also install ia32-libs:
sudo apt-get ia32-libs
  • Obtain and install Astronaut WorldVistA:
wget -O astronaut-wv-server-current.deb http://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/worldvistaautoi/Astronaut%20WorldVistA%20Server%20Installers/astronaut-wv-server-beta-0.9-3.deb?use_mirror=superb-sea2
sudo dpkg -i astronaut-wv-server-current.deb

Note: It is recommended to install WorldVistA on a dedicated server. Apache and other server settings will be altered by the installation, which may alter your ability to run other servers on the same machine.

  • Open incoming port 9260 in your firewall. If behind a router, make sure this port is forwarded to the IP address of the computer acting as the WorldVistA server.
  • Note: This installation installs the WorldVistA database and server in an Ubuntu Linux OS (that resides either on a standalone computer or in a virtual machine). The CPRS user client for WorldVistA is written in Delphi for Windows (and works imperfectly in Wine). The CPRS client is therefore usually installed onto a Windows-based PCs (or onto USB flashdrives). These CPRS clients connect through the network to the WorldVistA server on a Ubuntu Linux-based server PC, or directly to the virtual machine.

Installation Notes

  • The MUMPS database (GT.M) is installed into /opt/lsb-gtm/V5.3-004A_i686.
  • The WorldVistA EHR program is installed into /opt/worldvista/EHR.
  • m2web is installed into /opt/worldvista/EHR/web/m2web.
  • A startup file is installed as /etc/init.d/vista-EHR.
  • The listener port for clients like CPRS is 9260.
  • The listener port for m2web is 80.

The following default actions where done: 

gtm Mumps interpreter installed in: /opt/lsb-gtm/gtm
Default user id created: worldvistaEHR in /home/worldvistaEHR
textEHR user id created.
VistA software installed in: /opt/worldvista/EHR
Started port listener on port: 9260
Open port: 9260

NEXT STEPS: Log in as user: worldvistaEHR with default password: vista!123 You will be prompted to immediately change the password. Use a strong password. Full disk encryption of your Linux is strongly recommended.

Write down the IP address of this machine and port: 

IP address of this machine:
192.168.0.24
Port: 9260

(Obviously, use the IP address of your own server.)

Installing on a Server edition

If you are installing on a Server edition without a desktop/package manager installed, you may need to install as root: 

sudo -s
sudo dpkg -i astronaut-wv-server-current.deb
sudo apt-get -f install

Note: The command "apt-get -f install" finds and installs unmet dependencies. This is only needed for Server editions in which a package manager is not installed.

Installing WorldVistA Server in a Virtual Machine

There are two methods for doing this.

  • Install the Ubuntu Server edition (virtual machine minimal install) into a virtual machine (like VirtualBox) and then install Astronaut WorldVistA on top of this. See these instructions.
  • The WorldVistA EHR Personal Toaster is a self-contained appliance for Windows that includes a bundled QEMU virtual machine, a Damn Small Linux operating system, and a WorldVistA server (it does not use the Astronaut format). All are installed in a one-step process.

Another example solution is demonstrated in this YouTube video.

Use a static IP address for the server

It will be difficult for the WorldVistA clients to locate the WorldVistA server if the IP address of the server is always changing (i.e. repeatedly assigned a new dynamic IP address by the router/network DHCP server). It is best, therefore, to assign a static IP adress to the server.

The network administrator must assign the static IP address on the LAN for use by the server (especially if a DNS nameserver is in use on the network). Let's say the LAN has a router/gateway address of 192.168.1.1, a static IP address range of 192.168.1.125 - 192.168.1.253, and the server is assigned an IP address of 192.168.1.135. Then the Ubuntu Server can be configured to use this static IP address.

  • When the Ubuntu Server OS is running, edit the /etc/network/interfaces configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces
  • Make sure the settings are similar to:
# The loopback network interface
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
#
# The primary network interface
auto eth0
#iface eth0 inet dhcp
#
iface eth0 inet static
address 192.168.1.135
broadcast 192.168.1.255
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 192.168.1.1
  • Reboot the Ubuntu OS again so that the new IP address is used.
sudo reboot

Connect with a CPRS client

Using the VistA Configuration Utility

Using the VistA Clinical Scheduling utility

The Clinical Scheduler from the Indian Health System's RPMS system has been imported as one of the modules included with an Astronaut VistA installation.

Configure access to the VistA server from the Internet through a virtual server

Other resources

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