Unable to access E-Recruiting Start Pages Externally

Question

Hello,
I’m hoping for some assistance with an E-Recruiting issue (standalone system; Version 3.0).  We are currently only able to access the start pages while inside of our network, and receive a “page cannot be displayed” message while outside of our network.  This is with the exception of the candidate registration page.  We can successfully register, and then pass on to the main E-Recruiting start page for an external candidate.
The hrrcf_start_int bsp/service is used to call the start page for registered internal candidates, recruiters, and administrators (different view for each).  The hrrcf_start_ext bsp/service is used to call the start page for registered external candidates.  And, the hrrcf_cand_reg bsp/service is used to access the external candidate registration page. 
The URL’s for the start pages were created using program RCF_GENERATE_URLS.   We are requiring all traffic be routed through our WebDispatcher, and all traffic be HTTPS, so the URL’s start out with https://recruiting....  Our E-Recruiting system is actually “careers”, but again, we want all traffic to go through our WebDispatcher, which is “recruiting”.
We have created external aliases in transaction SICF for all three URL’s, and using the alias, I can successfully login to all pages within our network.   When I test the external aliases within SICF, I get an internal error (The user is not assigned a candidate or an employee) for the hrrcf_start_int and hrrcf_start_ext services.  When I test the external alias for hrrcf_cand_reg, it is successful.
When I test the hrrcf_start_int  service within SICF, I get the logon page, but after logging on, I get message “Name of logical port’&&lp_named” is invalid”.  When I test the hrrcf_cand_reg service, it is successful. 
When I test the hrrcf_start_int and hrrcf_start_ext BSPs in SE80, I receive an Internet Explorer “cannot display page” message.   The same is true for the hrrcf_cand_reg.  However, it is trying to access http://recruiting instead of https://recruiting.  I can see that URL address in the application.do Controller, but have no idea where to change it, because it is greyed out (any help with this would be appreciated as well.)
We have created internal users using program RCF_CREATE_USER, and when I look at transaction BP, I see that it is creating a business partner for each user.
We have had SAP tell us that it is not a WebDispatcher issue, and we have also confirmed that it is not a firewall issue.
It seems interesting to me that we can only get to the one page that does not first require authentication.  If anyone has any information that would be helpful, I would appreciate your time.
Sorry for such a long message, but I was just trying to be as clear as possible.
Thank you,
Leeanna Travis

Answer 1

Hello Leeanna,
quite a lot of topics and doing remote analysis for netwok issues is difficult.
Some ideas:
- starting hrrcf_start_ext / hrrcf_start_int via SICF or SE80 will never be successful as these applications need parameters. The message you got when testing startpage from SICF is classical for invalid startpage Id
- if you do not reach pages from outside, check network traffic / access rights in firewalls. Usually the sap server name cannot be resolved through a dns for an outside call as you companies dns is not visible for internet users. You will need a relay.
- check that full qualified server name is set on the server
- check eeb infrastructure that it allows the access protocoll. If ICF service says http but firewall only allows https you won't get a responde. Sometime switching protocolls within the request produces problems.
- WebDispacher is known for eating parameters / url parts. Try to get your hands on the traces of the requests which really reach the server.
- if possible supply some more information on release & support package level. E.g. there is a support package which has an error that if you activate 'do not show https warning' in an icf service it does not only hide the warning but the whole logon screen :o(
Hope that helps, if not just reply - perhaps w/ focus on one special point.
Best Regards
Roman Weise