Deploying custom extensions

Overview

In the vast majority of situations, extensions are automatically managed by CAST Imaging, i.e. they are downloaded from either CAST Extend  or Extend Local Server and then installed. However, it may be necessary to install a custom extension that is not available on CAST Extend - the instructions below explain how to do this.

Step 1 - Obtain the custom extension

First obtain the custom extension in .nupkg format - if you receive a .zip or other archive file, ensure you unpack it to find the .nupkg within.

Step 2 - Upload .nupkg file

The .nupkg file must be placed in the following “shared” location so that it is available to all analysis-node components:

Microsoft Windows - defined by SHARED_FOLDER variable:

c:\cast-node\common-data\extensions

Docker/Podman- defined by INSTALL_DIR variable:

/opt/cast/shared/common-data/extensions

Kubernetes:

kubectl cp -n castimaging-v3  .\com.castsoftware.myextension.1.0.nupkg console-analysis-node-core-0:/opt/cast/shared/common-data/extensions/

Step 3 - Ensure CAST Imaging is showing your custom extension

CAST Imaging will poll for new extensions every 2 hours, after which the extension will be visible in the Extensions Strategy admin panel and in the Application analysis configuration - Extensions panel.

If you need to manage the extension immediately, you can use the Refresh button in either of the panels mentioned previously:

If you are still experiencing issues accessing the custom extension, you can restart all analysis-node components to force a refresh:

Microsoft Windows:

Restart the CAST Imaging Analysis Node Windows service on each machine where an analysis-node is installed.

Docker/Podman:

cd /opt/cast/install/imaging-node
sudo docker compose down
sudo docker compose up -d

Kubernetes:

Util-ScaleDownAll.bat|sh
Util-ScaleUpAll.bat|sh

Step 4 - Locate extension in UI

Use the Available Extensions panel to find and select the custom extension for installation and inclusion in your application: