Introduction
Simian Portal is where your Simian Web Apps are managed and deployed to the end-user.
The Admin Portal allows for application configuration and application instance management.
The User Portal provides an overview of available applications the user is authorized to access, as well as a list of instances the user is working on. Instances can be left and restarted at a later time to continue the work.
The frontend application served to the browser by Simian Portal is identical for all supported languages which provides identical look and feel. The end-user will not tell the difference.
Benefits
Simian portal provides means to authenticate and authorize users.
Authentication is managed via integration with LDAP or AzureAD, or using the built-in user management for stand-alone operation.
Authorization is based on user groups and can be configured for each app individually.
Simian Portal is able to serve multiple front-end versions simultaneously.
This allows you to keep older apps running without any changes, whilst developing new apps using the latest greatest.
Simian Portal can serve apps from multiple back-end servers simultaneously.
Once an app has been deployed on the back-end server, you only need to tell the portal where to find it and what to call it.
Additionally, you can provide contact information, documentation links, etc.
Simian portal is available as a Docker image that can be deployed on-premises, or in the cloud.
The image is fully configurable from the outside and should get you up and running in no time.
Users in the admin group can configure apps and upload front-end versions without needing permissions on the host.
This empowers the development team to perform recurring app management tasks without long procedures and interdepartment communications.
The user portal is the central landing page where you find all your apps.
Getting started is just one click away. Select the app that you want and a new instance starts.
Simian Portal supports uploading and downloading of files.
This allows you to upload a file as input for the app running on the back-end server, and later to download the results.
Simian Portal stores the latest status of open apps.
This allows you to leave and close your browser, even when calculations are running. When you come back and log in again, the results are waiting for you. Even on another device.
Solution
Admin
Deploy your app on the back-end server of your choice. Multiple back-end servers of different types can be in use at the same time.
Add the app to the portal by setting up a configuration in the Simian Admin Portal, specifying its back-end location, display name, authorized user groups, documentation, etc.
After saving the app is now available to the authorized users.
User
Log in to the Simian Portal with your user credentials. The list of available apps awaits you.
Start an app from the list and do your job. Start that long running calculation.
Go to that important meeting, lunch, home, anywhere. Just close the browser, the portal keeps track of your work.
When you log in again, your previous session is still there. Just one click and you are right back at it.