Matlab web app server, is that necessary to be secured https connection?

Trying launch web app with one of the examples provided by matlab.

https://www.mathworks.com/help/compiler/webapps/simple-mortgage-calculator-web-app.html

I have installed MATLABWebAppServer, in windows machine and copied the .ctf file to the following path,

C:\ProgramData\MathWorks\webapps\R2020b\apps

This is all for testing purpose and i want to test it on default server setting.

So is this possible to run the web application without configuring the SSL connection. thanks in advance.

attached the error message, while launching the application.

Answer 1

[Sanchari]

Hello Kishore,

Yes, it is possible to run MATLAB Web App Server applications without configuring an SSL connection, especially for testing purposes on a local network or on your own machine. The SSL configuration is primarily for securing communication between the client (browser) and the server when deploying web apps in a production environment or over the internet.

Given the error message you encountered, it doesn't necessarily indicate an issue with SSL configuration. This error can result from various issues ranging from problems with the web app itself, issues with the MATLAB Web App Server configuration, or compatibility issues between the app and the server version.

Here are some steps to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

1. Check MATLAB Web App Server Logs: Please check the MATLAB Web App Server logs for any error messages that could indicate what went wrong. The logs are typically located in a directory like “C:\Program Files\MATLAB\MATLAB Web App Server\R2020b\logs”. Look for error messages that occurred around the time you tried to launch the web app.

2. Verify Compatibility: Ensure that the version of the MATLAB Compiler SDK used to compile the web app is compatible with the version of the MATLAB Web App Server you are running. Incompatibilities between versions can lead to issues running the app.

3. Review the Web App and Server Configuration:

1. Ensure that the .ctf file was placed in the correct directory and that the MATLAB Web App Server has been restarted after placing the file.
2. For testing purposes without SSL, ensure that your browser is allowing connections to the server, especially if it's a self-signed certificate or an insecure connection. Modern browsers tend to block or warn about insecure content.

4. Disable Browser Extensions: Sometimes, browser extensions can interfere with web apps. Try disabling extensions or using an incognito/private browsing window to see if the issue persists.

5. Network Configuration: If you are running the web app on a local network and trying to access it from a different machine, ensure that there are no firewall or network settings preventing access to the port on which the MATLAB Web App Server is running.

Please refer to the following links to know further about related queries:

1. Set up MATLAB Web App Server (Mathworks documentation): https://in.mathworks.com/help/webappserver/ug/set-up-matlab-web-app-server.html?searchHighlight=Web%20App%20Server%20SSL&s_tid=srchtitle_support_results_3_Web%20App%20Server%20SSL#:~:text=Specify%20a%20user,as%20generate%20logs.
2. Can I use an HTTPS proxy URL with Web App Server without enabling SSL (ML Answer): https://in.mathworks.com/support/search.html/answers/2076446-can-i-use-an-https-proxy-url-with-web-app-server-without-enabling-ssl.html?fq%5B%5D=asset_type_name:answer&fq%5B%5D=category:compiler/web-apps&page=1
3. Install the Development Version of MATLAB Web App Server in MATLAB Compiler (Mathworks documentation): https://in.mathworks.com/help/compiler/webapps/install-matlab-web-app-server.html
4. Potential Risks: https://in.mathworks.com/help/webappserver/ug/potential-risks.html
5. Server Startup Failures: https://in.mathworks.com/help/webappserver/ug/server-startup-failures.html

Hope this helps!