Monday, March 26, 2012
Oracle Technologist's blog: Resolving Fusion OBIEE / EBS R12/ SQL Server Drive...
Oracle Technologist's blog: Resolving Fusion OBIEE / EBS R12/ SQL Server Drive...: Tip of the week: Environment: EBS 12.1.3, Oracle 11.2.0.3, Microsoft Windows 2008 R2, SQL-Server 2008 R2, Oracle Fusion BI 11g. ...
Resolving Fusion OBIEE / EBS R12/ SQL Server Driver Datetime field overflow errors
Tip of the week:
Environment: EBS 12.1.3, Oracle 11.2.0.3, Microsoft Windows 2008 R2, SQL-Server 2008 R2, Oracle Fusion BI 11g.
As we continue to scuffle through Fusion OBIEE / EBS R12 / SQLServer we came across yet another enthralling issue. Yes its enthralling especially when you have heterogeneous databases in such tightly integrated complex environments.
While trying to perform a full load first time with 12.1.3 adapter (OBI Analytics provides 12.1.3 adapter to ease migration from EBS 11i to R12.1.3) , we ran into an interesting error that we found in informatica powercenter workflow monitor‘s log events.
ERROR : (8840 | WRITER_1_*_1) : (IS | BIA_IS) : node01_server_name : WRT_8229 : Database errors occurred:
FnName: Execute -- [Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver]Datetime field overflow
FnName: Execute -- [Microsoft][ODBC Driver Manager] Function sequence error"
Looking further into the logs, we were able to figure out the exact record that was causing the failure. Interesting we found the error was due to a record with date 31-MAY-0201. Even though this error can be rectified in EBS(our source system) or try to locate where this error is occurring and fix the mapping to perform the operation with YYYY instead of just YY. Vital material to remember is SQLServer doesn't accept records outside of the date range January 1, 1753 - December 31, 9999. When we are so used to work on Oracle databases, such SQL Server limitation could be missed.
As you may know that you can skip errors in informatica using the property "Stop on Errors" to 0, which is set to 0. This is not the case with 12.1.3 adapter. Its set to 1 by default, which will force the job to fail on error. Of course, this is not applicable for fatal errors though.
Further tips on Fusion Oracle Business Intelligence / SQLServer environment @
http://oracletechnologistblog.wordpress.com/category/obiee-obia/
As always, thanks to contributors Ramke Ramakrishnan and Steve Meder.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Taking advantage of Oracle Premier Support’s PRU
Tip of the Week: Oracle Premier Support’s PRU
As we pay 20-25% of license cost on maintenance fee to Oracle, its prudent to take advantage of many benefits that we get out of Oracle Premier Support. Especially some advanced benefits add significant value to DBAs.
Many might be interacting with Oracle Premier Support (OPS) just to open services requests when problems occur or to search for potential fixes. Doing so will absolutely make us missing out key capabilities that could play a role in reducing organizations Oracle TCO . By understanding the capabilities of OPS further, it helps you achieve resolution faster; streamline and simplify your daily operations; reduce risks and maximize uptime, and lower organization’s costs through preventative maintenance. More importantly, it makes DBAs life significantly easier. Learned quite a few capabilities baked into OPS that help us to be more proactive than fighting fires.
Connection from our systems to OPS is a key enabler for advanced prevention, resolution and upgrade proactive capabilities. For EBS, Databases, OBIEE, Webcenter, IDM customers like us, connection is achieved by sharing configuration and diagnostic data through Oracle Enterprise Manager (recommended), Oracle Configuration Manager and Remote Diagnostic Agent.
What is OPS’s PRU?
Well, its nothing but Advanced Prevention, Resolution and Upgrade proactive capabilities. Lets discuss one at a time.
Prevent
Once your environment is OPS enabled, we use certain Health Recommendations automatically to evaluate systems status, identify any known issues. As OPS also provides fixes, and make recommendations to improve system health and increase up-time, it is highly advisable to understand the fixes as every environment is unique. Even though OPS portrays as it has one million customer configurations have been analyzed to date and recommendations are sturdy, its still advisable for us to understand the recommendations before applying those.
Resolve
If issues do occur, discover capabilities and tools to help you resolve issues and get your business back on track. Product based diagnostics provide setup, data collection, and health validations and will offer best practices to expedite resolution. For software issues, discover how to ‘CONNECT’ to Oracle Premier Support. A well formed service request with accompanying diagnostic data can dramatically streamline the service request process enabling Oracle Support Engineers to expedite troubleshooting.
Upgrade
Oracle Premier Support’s integrated methodology provides tools, and capabilities to help guide you through the upgrade process. Lifecycle Advisors demonstrate how to tackle upgrades, patches, and more through structured steps and processes. Patching and Maintenance Advisors help you plan and execute a viable patching and maintenance strategy which includes a complete project patch plan specific to your environment. Upgrade Advisor provides information from various sources using best practices and step-by-step instructions to allow you to upgrade with confidence. Upgrade Planner will enable you to move from one release to the next. Furthermore, another benefit that we realized was it helps to create a complete plan of all the necessary software and patches required to complete the upgrade.
Reference documents:
https://support.oracle.com/CSP/main/article?cmd=show&type=NOT&doctype=ANNOUNCEMENT&id=432.1&sf3255015=1
https://blogs.oracle.com/supportportal/
QR code to get to OPS info documents.
As we pay 20-25% of license cost on maintenance fee to Oracle, its prudent to take advantage of many benefits that we get out of Oracle Premier Support. Especially some advanced benefits add significant value to DBAs.
Many might be interacting with Oracle Premier Support (OPS) just to open services requests when problems occur or to search for potential fixes. Doing so will absolutely make us missing out key capabilities that could play a role in reducing organizations Oracle TCO . By understanding the capabilities of OPS further, it helps you achieve resolution faster; streamline and simplify your daily operations; reduce risks and maximize uptime, and lower organization’s costs through preventative maintenance. More importantly, it makes DBAs life significantly easier. Learned quite a few capabilities baked into OPS that help us to be more proactive than fighting fires.
Connection from our systems to OPS is a key enabler for advanced prevention, resolution and upgrade proactive capabilities. For EBS, Databases, OBIEE, Webcenter, IDM customers like us, connection is achieved by sharing configuration and diagnostic data through Oracle Enterprise Manager (recommended), Oracle Configuration Manager and Remote Diagnostic Agent.
What is OPS’s PRU?
Well, its nothing but Advanced Prevention, Resolution and Upgrade proactive capabilities. Lets discuss one at a time.
Prevent
Once your environment is OPS enabled, we use certain Health Recommendations automatically to evaluate systems status, identify any known issues. As OPS also provides fixes, and make recommendations to improve system health and increase up-time, it is highly advisable to understand the fixes as every environment is unique. Even though OPS portrays as it has one million customer configurations have been analyzed to date and recommendations are sturdy, its still advisable for us to understand the recommendations before applying those.
Resolve
If issues do occur, discover capabilities and tools to help you resolve issues and get your business back on track. Product based diagnostics provide setup, data collection, and health validations and will offer best practices to expedite resolution. For software issues, discover how to ‘CONNECT’ to Oracle Premier Support. A well formed service request with accompanying diagnostic data can dramatically streamline the service request process enabling Oracle Support Engineers to expedite troubleshooting.
Upgrade
Oracle Premier Support’s integrated methodology provides tools, and capabilities to help guide you through the upgrade process. Lifecycle Advisors demonstrate how to tackle upgrades, patches, and more through structured steps and processes. Patching and Maintenance Advisors help you plan and execute a viable patching and maintenance strategy which includes a complete project patch plan specific to your environment. Upgrade Advisor provides information from various sources using best practices and step-by-step instructions to allow you to upgrade with confidence. Upgrade Planner will enable you to move from one release to the next. Furthermore, another benefit that we realized was it helps to create a complete plan of all the necessary software and patches required to complete the upgrade.
Reference documents:
https://support.oracle.com/CSP/main/article?cmd=show&type=NOT&doctype=ANNOUNCEMENT&id=432.1&sf3255015=1
https://blogs.oracle.com/supportportal/
QR code to get to OPS info documents.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Transition from AMEX KR1025 to GL1025 in Oracle EBS R12
Defusing complexities in process improvements and standardizations are
among the key competencies that help to achieve accelerated
globalization. One drop in that ocean is choosing to have a single
credit card provider to provide the corporate cards for employees
globally. In Oracle / American Express terms, it’s so called Global Card Program.
A global card program consists of a number of company accounts defined under that card program each of which can be uniquely identified through a set of per-determined fields. The company account normally equals to an operating unit, a regional section of the company, or a cost center. Corporate Cards are issued under each company account.
Most of the companies use American Express as their corporate card provider. In KR1025 world, it a cumbersome process to have multiple files for multiple regions. American Express introduced corporate card transaction files in the global format called GL1025, which enables companies to receive one file to include all global transactions. Until EBS 12.1.3, integrating GL1025 with Oracle i-Expense module is a tedious process with the limited integration capabilities. With Oracle E-Business Suite 12.1.3, Oracle Internet Expenses now enables companies that use American Express corporate cards to receive corporate card transaction files in the global format GL1025. In fact in EBS 12.1.3, a new concurrent program is introduced to upload and process GL1025 format files. Additionally, another concurrent program is introduced to upload and process GL1025 format files.
To shed more light, Oracle has changed the card program form to include a new region named ‘Global Card Program Details’. This is the name that should be defined by the company to represent the relationship with the corporate card provider in the application.
Additionally Market code has been added to the program. This field is assigned by Amex to represent a region or a section of the region. When it comes to downloading the GL1025 files, Oracle has included a new row called Global to the data file transfer page.
As moving from KR1025 to GL1025 apparently, just a program change form away. With EBS 12.1.3, Oracle provides the needed toolkit to implement/migrate to GL1025. It is significantly improved OOTB process that helps companies with global presence.
Nonetheless, its highly recommended to migrate KR1025 format to GL1025 at least for couple of reasons.
MOS article : Support For American Express Global Card Program – Credit Card Format GL1025 [ID 1119813.1
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E18727_01/doc.121/e12795/T434884T434890.htm#SRS_APXAMEXTRX
A global card program consists of a number of company accounts defined under that card program each of which can be uniquely identified through a set of per-determined fields. The company account normally equals to an operating unit, a regional section of the company, or a cost center. Corporate Cards are issued under each company account.
Most of the companies use American Express as their corporate card provider. In KR1025 world, it a cumbersome process to have multiple files for multiple regions. American Express introduced corporate card transaction files in the global format called GL1025, which enables companies to receive one file to include all global transactions. Until EBS 12.1.3, integrating GL1025 with Oracle i-Expense module is a tedious process with the limited integration capabilities. With Oracle E-Business Suite 12.1.3, Oracle Internet Expenses now enables companies that use American Express corporate cards to receive corporate card transaction files in the global format GL1025. In fact in EBS 12.1.3, a new concurrent program is introduced to upload and process GL1025 format files. Additionally, another concurrent program is introduced to upload and process GL1025 format files.
To shed more light, Oracle has changed the card program form to include a new region named ‘Global Card Program Details’. This is the name that should be defined by the company to represent the relationship with the corporate card provider in the application.
Additionally Market code has been added to the program. This field is assigned by Amex to represent a region or a section of the region. When it comes to downloading the GL1025 files, Oracle has included a new row called Global to the data file transfer page.
As moving from KR1025 to GL1025 apparently, just a program change form away. With EBS 12.1.3, Oracle provides the needed toolkit to implement/migrate to GL1025. It is significantly improved OOTB process that helps companies with global presence.
Nonetheless, its highly recommended to migrate KR1025 format to GL1025 at least for couple of reasons.
- American express de-support of KR1025 is on the horizon.
- Oracle EBS 12.1.3 provides seamless migration from KR1025 to GL1025.
MOS article : Support For American Express Global Card Program – Credit Card Format GL1025 [ID 1119813.1
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E18727_01/doc.121/e12795/T434884T434890.htm#SRS_APXAMEXTRX
Monday, February 6, 2012
Attaining Nirvana with Oracle Database Security
A recent study from Forrester states, a
comprehensive database security strategy should focus on proactively
protecting data from internal and external attacks, minimizing data
exposure to privileged IT users, and securing all databases, including
production and non-production. As most enterprises often focus on perimeter-based network security, offering the first line of defense, low importance has been given to database security.
Stunning statistics that force us to re-think database security
In order to address several of the above threats, Oracle provides a number of options to secure the database environment. Its extremely important for DBAs, security architects to understand these capabilities and implement appropriately. But remember, not all these options come without additional price.
Where do I start?
Recently, I attended a DB security session by Tom Kyte that helped me to draft a better enterprise db security strategy. An important first step is to understand where all our sensitive data resides, do we even know our data is breached, are we aware of all regulatory mandates, what best practices are we following, where do we see any security holes? I can’t agree more enough with Tom on these questions. Even though these seems pretty obvious, I guess working collaboratively with appropriate teams to get comprehensive answers to those questions will certainly put a better perspective to an upbeat db security strategy. Its very interesting how Oracle put the pieces together to get a categorical overview of Oracle DB security.
Mitigate Database bypass
Securing the data with proper authentication and encryption is significant in mitigating database bypass. Since there are several ways to bypass the database and still access the sensitive data via other means, paying attention to Oracle’s Advanced Security Option’s Transparent Database Encryption (TDE), provides significant value to transparently apply encryption within the database without impacting existing applications. TDE provides the benefit of encryption without the overhead associated with traditional database encryption solutions that typically require expensive and lengthy changes to applications, incl. database triggers and views. More so, TDE works perfectly with RMAN and other database backup tools. In RMAN’s case, it decrypts, compress, and re-encrypt the tablespaces. TDE doesn’t have any restrictions even when using DataGuard, Streams or even Golden Gate. Performance impact is well below 5 % and thus should not be a concern.
Prevent Applications bypass
As organizations have multiple roles with in DBAs such as Security DBA, Application DBA, Production support DBA, etc. segregation of DBA duties becomes significantly important. Oracle’s Database Vault comes in handy to protect application data from the DBA and other powerful users as well as implementing robust controls on access to the database and application. With ODV, realms restrict access to sensitive data. Enforce controls over whom, when and how the data can be accessed using rules and factors.
Consolidate auditing and compliance reporting
As its becoming inevitable for organizations to understand data accessibility, its imperative to have a report pool to get needed accessibility data. Moreover, when it comes to DB security, many of us rush to conference rooms to work on postmortem analysis on breaches as oppose to taking pro-active approaches. In such scenarios Oracle Audit-Vault comes in handy. It works even with non-Oracle databases too. Interestingly, Oracle Audit Vault includes dozens of out-of-the-box reports. Reports related to Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA), and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) can be easily accessed from the Oracle Audit Vault dashboard.
Nonetheless, Oracle Audit Vault enables security alerts to be pro-actively issued, providing early notification of potential threats. Oracle Audit Vault continuously monitors inbound audit data, generating alerts based on rules defined inside Oracle Audit Vault.
Monitor Database traffic and block threats
Even though Oracle EM helps in monitoring and even blocking certain threats, Oracle Database Firewall is a nice fit to further secure Oracle DB environment. Oracle Database Firewall acts as a first line of defense for databases, providing real-time monitoring of database activity on the network. Oracle Database Firewall is installed on the network either on a bridge or a span port and monitors every SQL transaction request. It even integrates with F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager using a plug-in connector. It protects against application bypass, SQL injection and similar threats. Simply put, Oracle Database Firewall is easy to deploy but the benefits are simply great. One best practice, 'prevent all DDL in production by default', can be prevented using db firewall.
Production databases Protection
Finally, a product that can help without puncturing corporate balance sheets. Since OEM scans databases against 400+ best practices and industry standards, OEM can play a significant role in securing database life-cycle strategy and can be core part of your enterprise database security. It becomes even more vital tool for automated patching and secure provisioning.
Non-Production database Protection
When we scrumming to protect production database, we pay far less attention in protecting non-production databases. At times, organizations try to address non-production db protection most with custom hand-crafted solutions or re-purposed existing data manipulation tools within the enterprise to solve this problem. Oracle Data Masking is yet another option to be considered to mask sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers can be replaced with realistic values, allowing production data to be safely used for development, testing, or sharing with out-source or off-shore partners for other non-production purposes. Oracle Data Masking supports masking of sensitive data in heterogeneous databases such as IBM DB2 and Microsoft SQLServer through the use of Oracle Database Gateways.
Even though this article sounds like a marketing propaganda for Oracle’s Database security tools, I personally wanted to understand the tools and capabilities that Oracle provides to secure our enterprise database environment. Before making any viable security enhancement decisions, I wanted to ensure that we have a full picture in play. Especially in Oracle shop such as ours, its obvious that we look for a strong natural security integration at lower TCO but can come mostly from a single vendor such as Oracle to avoid cobbling together point solutions.
This article has been written from what I learned from DB security sessions presented by Tom Kyte, research articles from Forrester, Oracle MOS, etc. Thanks Tom for all the valuable information.
Reference documents library
Oracle provides several advanced security tools at a price. But its highly recommended that you complete at least the below basic checklist.
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/security/twp-security-checklist-database-1-132870.pdf
MOS article: Security Check List: Steps to Make Your Database Secure from Attacks [ID 131752.1]
http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/analystreports/infrastructure/forrester-thlp-db-security-1445564.pdf
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/security/twp-transparent-data-encryption-bes-130696.pdf
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/database-firewall/bwp-oracle-database-firewall-257258.pdf
http://www.oracle.com/webapps/dialogue/ns/dlgwelcome.jsp?p_ext=Y&p_dlg_id=11074310&src=7319468&Act=892
Stunning statistics that force us to re-think database security
In order to address several of the above threats, Oracle provides a number of options to secure the database environment. Its extremely important for DBAs, security architects to understand these capabilities and implement appropriately. But remember, not all these options come without additional price.
Where do I start?
Recently, I attended a DB security session by Tom Kyte that helped me to draft a better enterprise db security strategy. An important first step is to understand where all our sensitive data resides, do we even know our data is breached, are we aware of all regulatory mandates, what best practices are we following, where do we see any security holes? I can’t agree more enough with Tom on these questions. Even though these seems pretty obvious, I guess working collaboratively with appropriate teams to get comprehensive answers to those questions will certainly put a better perspective to an upbeat db security strategy. Its very interesting how Oracle put the pieces together to get a categorical overview of Oracle DB security.
Mitigate Database bypass
Securing the data with proper authentication and encryption is significant in mitigating database bypass. Since there are several ways to bypass the database and still access the sensitive data via other means, paying attention to Oracle’s Advanced Security Option’s Transparent Database Encryption (TDE), provides significant value to transparently apply encryption within the database without impacting existing applications. TDE provides the benefit of encryption without the overhead associated with traditional database encryption solutions that typically require expensive and lengthy changes to applications, incl. database triggers and views. More so, TDE works perfectly with RMAN and other database backup tools. In RMAN’s case, it decrypts, compress, and re-encrypt the tablespaces. TDE doesn’t have any restrictions even when using DataGuard, Streams or even Golden Gate. Performance impact is well below 5 % and thus should not be a concern.
Prevent Applications bypass
As organizations have multiple roles with in DBAs such as Security DBA, Application DBA, Production support DBA, etc. segregation of DBA duties becomes significantly important. Oracle’s Database Vault comes in handy to protect application data from the DBA and other powerful users as well as implementing robust controls on access to the database and application. With ODV, realms restrict access to sensitive data. Enforce controls over whom, when and how the data can be accessed using rules and factors.
Consolidate auditing and compliance reporting
As its becoming inevitable for organizations to understand data accessibility, its imperative to have a report pool to get needed accessibility data. Moreover, when it comes to DB security, many of us rush to conference rooms to work on postmortem analysis on breaches as oppose to taking pro-active approaches. In such scenarios Oracle Audit-Vault comes in handy. It works even with non-Oracle databases too. Interestingly, Oracle Audit Vault includes dozens of out-of-the-box reports. Reports related to Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA), and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) can be easily accessed from the Oracle Audit Vault dashboard.
Nonetheless, Oracle Audit Vault enables security alerts to be pro-actively issued, providing early notification of potential threats. Oracle Audit Vault continuously monitors inbound audit data, generating alerts based on rules defined inside Oracle Audit Vault.
Monitor Database traffic and block threats
Even though Oracle EM helps in monitoring and even blocking certain threats, Oracle Database Firewall is a nice fit to further secure Oracle DB environment. Oracle Database Firewall acts as a first line of defense for databases, providing real-time monitoring of database activity on the network. Oracle Database Firewall is installed on the network either on a bridge or a span port and monitors every SQL transaction request. It even integrates with F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager using a plug-in connector. It protects against application bypass, SQL injection and similar threats. Simply put, Oracle Database Firewall is easy to deploy but the benefits are simply great. One best practice, 'prevent all DDL in production by default', can be prevented using db firewall.
Production databases Protection
Finally, a product that can help without puncturing corporate balance sheets. Since OEM scans databases against 400+ best practices and industry standards, OEM can play a significant role in securing database life-cycle strategy and can be core part of your enterprise database security. It becomes even more vital tool for automated patching and secure provisioning.
Non-Production database Protection
When we scrumming to protect production database, we pay far less attention in protecting non-production databases. At times, organizations try to address non-production db protection most with custom hand-crafted solutions or re-purposed existing data manipulation tools within the enterprise to solve this problem. Oracle Data Masking is yet another option to be considered to mask sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers can be replaced with realistic values, allowing production data to be safely used for development, testing, or sharing with out-source or off-shore partners for other non-production purposes. Oracle Data Masking supports masking of sensitive data in heterogeneous databases such as IBM DB2 and Microsoft SQLServer through the use of Oracle Database Gateways.
Even though this article sounds like a marketing propaganda for Oracle’s Database security tools, I personally wanted to understand the tools and capabilities that Oracle provides to secure our enterprise database environment. Before making any viable security enhancement decisions, I wanted to ensure that we have a full picture in play. Especially in Oracle shop such as ours, its obvious that we look for a strong natural security integration at lower TCO but can come mostly from a single vendor such as Oracle to avoid cobbling together point solutions.
This article has been written from what I learned from DB security sessions presented by Tom Kyte, research articles from Forrester, Oracle MOS, etc. Thanks Tom for all the valuable information.
Reference documents library
Oracle provides several advanced security tools at a price. But its highly recommended that you complete at least the below basic checklist.
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/security/twp-security-checklist-database-1-132870.pdf
MOS article: Security Check List: Steps to Make Your Database Secure from Attacks [ID 131752.1]
http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/analystreports/infrastructure/forrester-thlp-db-security-1445564.pdf
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/security/twp-transparent-data-encryption-bes-130696.pdf
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/database-firewall/bwp-oracle-database-firewall-257258.pdf
http://www.oracle.com/webapps/dialogue/ns/dlgwelcome.jsp?p_ext=Y&p_dlg_id=11074310&src=7319468&Act=892
Monday, January 30, 2012
Oracle Technologist's blog: Managing Integration issues with IPM, Weblogic, AD...
Oracle Technologist's blog: Managing Integration issues with IPM, Weblogic, AD...: While IPM works with Active Directory , understanding the limitations is imperative. When it is configured as part of a security realm in ...
Managing Integration issues with IPM, Weblogic, AD and more.
While IPM works with Active Directory, understanding the limitations is imperative. When it is configured as part of a security realm in Web Logic Server, IPM can only utilize the provider that is listed at the top of the security realm.
This is a major issue especially with users in multiple domains. Such
IPM limitation is an issue even with the latest version of Webcenter imaging 11gR1 (11.1.1.5).
Oracle’s foremost suggestion is due to the is to implement yet another product called Oracle Virtual Directory,
which is a part of Oracle Identity Management 11g. One of the core
capabilities of this product is to objectify user identity across
multiple directories. If Identity Management is setup, then a provider
can be created within WebLogic server which uses OVD, which would in
turn be used by IPM.
As
many companies may not want to shell big $s just to satisfy the issue
on hand, a feasible option is, in one of the domains to create all the
groups to be used for IPM and add users from the other domains into
those groups. For example, in XX.net domain, create all groups and then
add users from the other domains into the respective groups.
More
realistically, we can get IPM working against multiple domains by
creating separate service account in each domain for Weblogic and ensure
it can connect to Active Directory and read user account information.
You
can test this by modifying the provider that we were configuring. For
eg. Changed the host name to XX.company.net and changed the principal
(user account) to be the DN of Weblogic-XX. After doing so and
restarting the ECM_domain_AdminServer service, you should be able to read the list of user accounts successfully.
Also,
a suggestion I made to use SAMAccountName as the User Name Attribute as
opposed to cn as this more closely represents what users are accustomed
to logging in with.
Oracle I/PM Security Overview
Thanks to the contributors, Ed Copelin and Dave Sagendorf.
Reference documentation
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E17904_01/admin.1111/e12782/c02_security.htm#CDDICJBGTuesday, January 17, 2012
Oracle EBS R12.2 - Key Features - Revisited
As the dates get closer and closer on EBS 12.2, I have to revisit my
earlier post on R12.2 key features to ensure its up to date. Here are
some of the stand-out feature set that may help you to get a quick
glimpse at.
Native Technology Stack Installation
• Now tech. stack has better integration with Oracle Universal Installer
• Another big one. Yes, Faster Technology Stack Installation. At least 25% much faster.
• Silent-mode calls to install and configure Oracle Database 11.2, WebLogic Server (WLS) and Oracle HTTP Server (OHS)
• AutoConfig is tightly integrated with native technology stack installation
Database RMAN Restore
• Simplifies Integration with Grid Infrastructure.
• Seamless integration with different storage methods (OCFS2, NFS, etc)
• Faster integration with Automatic Storage Management (ASM)
Dual File System
• I would say, this is huge as dual file system capability is instrumental for 12.2’s Online Patching feature that allows users to continue using the application while patching.
• Dual File System allows replacing files with minimum downtime that leads to improved High Availability
Dual Port Configuration
As part of online patching feature, Oracle requires DPC (Dual Port Configuration)
• Dual Port Pool configuration
• Easier port assignments
• Allows port customization in run-time and patching file systems
Optional 11g Home for Upgrades
I always wonder why we can’t simply try to use an existing Oracle home during configuration. Well, Oracle incorporated this capability in 12.2.
• Allow integration with an existing 11gR2 Oracle Home
• Simplified Technology Stack Upgrade
• Reduced Upgrade time
WebLogic Server Features
As middleware technology stack is based on the new improved Weblogic that has atleast the following key capabilities to help manage the EBS environment better.
• • WebLogic Scripting Tool (WLST)
• High Availability & Failover
• Consolidated Administration, Configuration and Deployment
• Enhanced Monitoring & Messaging via centralized service administration.
• Troubleshooting framework
• Integration with OAM
• WLS-Specific configuration setups
• Proactive Management via Server & Performance Monitoring
• Easier Problem Solving & Performance Tuning
• Better resource planning via historical reporting
Online Patching
• Downtime windows will be very predictable
• Patches are applied while the Production Application remains online
• Allows an application to efficiently store multiple editions of its Application Definition in the same database
• Provides an isolation mechanism (The Edition) that allows pre-upgrade and post-upgrade schemas to co-exist
• Client code chooses the particular “Edition” that it wants to connect to
Once again thanks to Ivo Dujmovic and Max Arderius from Oracle on sharing valuable information.
Native Technology Stack Installation
• Now tech. stack has better integration with Oracle Universal Installer
• Another big one. Yes, Faster Technology Stack Installation. At least 25% much faster.
• Silent-mode calls to install and configure Oracle Database 11.2, WebLogic Server (WLS) and Oracle HTTP Server (OHS)
• AutoConfig is tightly integrated with native technology stack installation
Database RMAN Restore
• Simplifies Integration with Grid Infrastructure.
• Seamless integration with different storage methods (OCFS2, NFS, etc)
• Faster integration with Automatic Storage Management (ASM)
Dual File System
• I would say, this is huge as dual file system capability is instrumental for 12.2’s Online Patching feature that allows users to continue using the application while patching.
• Dual File System allows replacing files with minimum downtime that leads to improved High Availability
Dual Port Configuration
As part of online patching feature, Oracle requires DPC (Dual Port Configuration)
• Dual Port Pool configuration
• Easier port assignments
• Allows port customization in run-time and patching file systems
Optional 11g Home for Upgrades
I always wonder why we can’t simply try to use an existing Oracle home during configuration. Well, Oracle incorporated this capability in 12.2.
• Allow integration with an existing 11gR2 Oracle Home
• Simplified Technology Stack Upgrade
• Reduced Upgrade time
WebLogic Server Features
As middleware technology stack is based on the new improved Weblogic that has atleast the following key capabilities to help manage the EBS environment better.
• • WebLogic Scripting Tool (WLST)
• High Availability & Failover
• Consolidated Administration, Configuration and Deployment
• Enhanced Monitoring & Messaging via centralized service administration.
• Troubleshooting framework
• Integration with OAM
• WLS-Specific configuration setups
• Proactive Management via Server & Performance Monitoring
• Easier Problem Solving & Performance Tuning
• Better resource planning via historical reporting
Online Patching
In
12.2 all patching operations are online. In other words, Oracle
E‐Business Suite will remain available to users during patching
operations. EBS 12.2 will take advantage of 11gR2 Database's Edition-Based Redefinition
features to provide support for Online Patching. Edition-Based
Redefinition enables you to upgrade the database component of an
application while it is in use, thereby minimizing or eliminating down
time.
• Downtime will be measured in minutes not hours or days• Downtime windows will be very predictable
• Patches are applied while the Production Application remains online
• Allows an application to efficiently store multiple editions of its Application Definition in the same database
• Provides an isolation mechanism (The Edition) that allows pre-upgrade and post-upgrade schemas to co-exist
• Client code chooses the particular “Edition” that it wants to connect to
Once again thanks to Ivo Dujmovic and Max Arderius from Oracle on sharing valuable information.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Oracle R12 OIE and Fusion Webcenter Integration issue resolution
Environment: Oracle EBS 12.1.3, OIE.B.DELTA.3, Oracle WebCenter 11.1.1.5, Oracle Database 11gR2, RedHat Linux5, Windows 2008 R2.
Problem:
As we continue to progress through our Oracle fusion Webcenter Imaging and Document capture with Oracle iexpense 12.1.3, we are into a critical but an interesting issue related to sending attached receipts to a supervisor.
To elaborate the issue, we can submit the ER and attach the receipts successfully. But in OIE, the “Imaged Receipts Status’ would change from ‘Required’ to ‘Received’ and ‘Report Status’ will always be ‘Pending Imaged Receipts Submission’ (see screenshot below) and the ER won’t move to supervisor. Obviously, this issue becomes critical for us due to the business rule in OIE to forward all ERs with $25 or more to the immediate supervisor.
Certainly such ‘hard to Google’ or ‘zero hit in MOS’ type issues are expected when you want to be in bleeding edge of complex technologies.
Solution:
- Create a unique OIE responsibility without associating it to an OU in your global OIE environment.
- Comment the call to the axf_apps_init procedure in axf_add_ebs_attachment procedure.
- The appuserid configured within the ExpenseReceiptProcessing BPEL composite was set to a unique apps user that will be used as part of EBS Adapter to work with OIE. Ensure the user’s appuserid is set appropriately.
- Since most of the hits you find are related to calling FND_GLOBAL.APPS_INITIALIZE, here it calls
- fnd_global.set_nls.set_parameter. Primary issue is that the procedure referenced above doesn’t use the same conventions as the one being called by Webcenter.
Finally, thanks to the contributors Manju Chugani, Dave Sagendorf and Scott Deweese.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Resolving incorrect DOC URI in Oracle Webcenter IP/M 11g
Tip of the week: Resolving Incorrect DOC URI in Oracle Webcenter IP/M 11gR1
Environment: Oracle EBS 12.1.3, Oracle WebCenter 11.1.1.5, Oracle Database 11gR2, RedHat Linux5, Windows 2008 R2.
Being one of the first few companies to implement Oracle Webcenter Imaging and Process Management against Oracle iExpense 12.1.3, we certainly ran into few bleeding edge related issues. One such issue was when trying to view an imaged receipt of an expense report, it returns page not found.
This is due to DOC URI generated in BPEL sets the URL of an IP address associated to system maintenance. Viewing images are directing the system back to the incorrect IP rather than systems FQDN.
Per Oracle, this issue is caused by no listener being configured for IPM server and thus IPM picks an IP from the NIC’s on the server.
Solution
To Resolve the issue, configure a listener address for the IPM Server through the WLS (WebLogic Server) console.
1) Log in to the WLS console. (Example: http://WLS_Server:WLS_port/console)
2) In the left side Domain Structure Pane, expand Environment and Click on the Servers.
3) Click on the Appropriate Server (Example: IPM_server1).
4) In the General Tab, there is a Listener Address configuration. Enter an accessible IP/HostName for the server.
5) Restart the Server that you changed the configuration on. (Example: IPM_server1)
Environment: Oracle EBS 12.1.3, Oracle WebCenter 11.1.1.5, Oracle Database 11gR2, RedHat Linux5, Windows 2008 R2.
Being one of the first few companies to implement Oracle Webcenter Imaging and Process Management against Oracle iExpense 12.1.3, we certainly ran into few bleeding edge related issues. One such issue was when trying to view an imaged receipt of an expense report, it returns page not found.
This is due to DOC URI generated in BPEL sets the URL of an IP address associated to system maintenance. Viewing images are directing the system back to the incorrect IP rather than systems FQDN.
Per Oracle, this issue is caused by no listener being configured for IPM server and thus IPM picks an IP from the NIC’s on the server.
Solution
To Resolve the issue, configure a listener address for the IPM Server through the WLS (WebLogic Server) console.
1) Log in to the WLS console. (Example: http://WLS_Server:WLS_port/console)
2) In the left side Domain Structure Pane, expand Environment and Click on the Servers.
3) Click on the Appropriate Server (Example: IPM_server1).
4) In the General Tab, there is a Listener Address configuration. Enter an accessible IP/HostName for the server.
5) Restart the Server that you changed the configuration on. (Example: IPM_server1)
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Got Oracle Unified Method (OUM) ?
Finally I am able to put my thought process around Oracle Unified
Method. Better late than never, right? Many of AIM users by now know
Oracle has discontinued widely used AIM Advantage effective February of
2011.
Even though AIM alternative (OUM) Oracle Unified Method, was released couple of years ago, adaption rate was significantly low until few months. But with the recently released OUM ver. 5.5 adaption is imperative.
Nonetheless, we are in the early implementation phases of OUM. As there are several blogs trumpet OUM, I will share some of the key stand-out information that helps early adaption. These key points certainly abetted us to go with OUM as the methodology of choice for our Oracle platform.
Iterative and incremental approach to developing and implementing software systems are widely adapted over other methodologies such as waterfall. OUM powers one of the de-facto industry standards, Unified Software Development Process (UP). OUM extends the Unified Process to support the full scope of Oracle-related projects by integrating field experience and intellectual capital contributed by Oracle practitioners. Apart from UP, Oracle also incorporated Carnegie Mellon’s SEI CMMI and ISO standards within OUM. Unlike AIM, OUM emphasizes on architecture and thus transforming it into an Architecture-Centric methodology.
Interestingly, OUM approach for a given project is ‘built up’ from a core set of activities rather than taking ‘tailored down’ approach.
Below you will find the pictorial representation of OUM’s phases and processes. Please refer to the reference section to get the details of each phase and process. Also, if you are accustomed to AIM, you will notice OUM has 14 processes as oppose to AIM’s 12. Similarly, OUM has just 5 phases over AIM’s 6.
You should also know that document templates such as MD.050 and MD.070 are discontinued along with AIM. AIM’s MD format is replaced with AN=Analyze, DS=Design and IM=Implementation tasks.For eg. MD070 is mostly replaced with DS.140.
Once you have mastered OUM processes and phases, you can even expand the usage to non-Oracle projects too. We did experiment a bit and planning to expand the usage to Microsoft platforms too. But are limiting it to post production enhancements/customizations that falls under the OUM process ‘Operations and Support’. Once we have it stabilized, I will certainly share the experience later.
OUM also supports several business solutions including Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) , Business Process Management (BPM), Enterprise Integration, Custom Software, Enterprise Performance Management - Business Intelligence - WebCenter - Enterprise Application Implementation, Software Upgrade.
BENEFITS OF OUM
• More Focused Effort – OUM enables projects to clearly define business scope and needs to create architectural models of the enterprise. This planning results in tighter scope control, more accurate business understanding, and a firm foundation for client acceptance.
• Built-in Flexibility – By combining activities and tasks in different ways, OUM can be applied to many types of information technology software development and implementation projects.
• Saves Time – Seasoned information technology practitioners representing years of experience have contributed their knowledge to OUM. Project teams to take advantage of this experience by leveraging these leading practices along with industry standards.
• Higher Quality – OUM subscribes to an iterative approach that incorporates testing and validation throughout the life-cycle, rather than testing for quality only at the end of the project.
• More Cost Effective – OUM facilitates improved control of project expenses by using a flexible work breakdown structure that allows you to perform only necessary tasks.
• Reduced Project Risk – Implementing an iterative, broadly applicable method mitigates requirements mismatch. A key focus of each iteration in OUM is to identify and reduce the most significant project risks. This ensures that the most critical risks are addressed as early as possible in the project life-cycle.
KEY FEATURES OF OUM
• Flexible
• Scalable
• Views
Flexible
OUM is flexible because it allows your organization to select the strategy, techniques, and tasks appropriate for your project. OUM provides specific guidelines for tailoring your project plan to fit your situation - from the most basic development to changes in the underlying technical architecture. By combining activities and tasks in different ways, OUM can be applied to many types of information technology software development and implementation projects.
Scalable
OUM was designed with scalability in mind. From the largest, multi-national, multi-site, multi-entity projects, through to the smallest, limited size, constrained scope projects—OUM provides the scalability required by each unique project. Guidelines aid in determining which tasks to include in the project plan. This greatly reduces the complexity for the project management team in planning the work effort required.
Views
Views provide an initial tailoring of the workplan..
The method material is organized into views. Views provide an initial tailoring of the workplan. Each view page provides access to guidance and a tailored work breakdown structure.
OUM 5.5 provides the following views:
• Manage Views
• Manage Focus Area
• Implement Views
• Application Implementation (Solution-Driven and Requirements-Driven)
• Business Intelligence and Analytics Custom Development
• Business Intelligence and Enterprise Performance Management
• Software Upgrade
• Technology Full Lifecycle
• WebCenter
• Implement Focus Area
• Implement Core Workflow
• Implement Models
• Envision Views
• Enterprise Optimization Roadmap
• Insight
• Oracle Architecture Development Process (OADP)
• Strategy
• The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF)
• Envision Focus Area
• Envision Models
• Other Views
• Full Method
• Full Method Activities and Tasks
• Business Process Management (BPM) including: Project Engineering, Roadmap.
OUM reference documents:
De-support info.
http://www.oracle.com/partners/campaign/eblasts/retirement-aim-adv-bus-flows-185418.html
More details on OUM
http://www.oracle.com/partners/en/knowledge-zone/applications/oracle-unified-method-359405.html
http://blogs.oracle.com/oum/resource/OUM_README_FIRST.HTM
http://www.oracle.com/us/products/consulting/resource-library/oracle-unified-method1-069271.pdf
Even though AIM alternative (OUM) Oracle Unified Method, was released couple of years ago, adaption rate was significantly low until few months. But with the recently released OUM ver. 5.5 adaption is imperative.
Nonetheless, we are in the early implementation phases of OUM. As there are several blogs trumpet OUM, I will share some of the key stand-out information that helps early adaption. These key points certainly abetted us to go with OUM as the methodology of choice for our Oracle platform.
Iterative and incremental approach to developing and implementing software systems are widely adapted over other methodologies such as waterfall. OUM powers one of the de-facto industry standards, Unified Software Development Process (UP). OUM extends the Unified Process to support the full scope of Oracle-related projects by integrating field experience and intellectual capital contributed by Oracle practitioners. Apart from UP, Oracle also incorporated Carnegie Mellon’s SEI CMMI and ISO standards within OUM. Unlike AIM, OUM emphasizes on architecture and thus transforming it into an Architecture-Centric methodology.
Interestingly, OUM approach for a given project is ‘built up’ from a core set of activities rather than taking ‘tailored down’ approach.
Below you will find the pictorial representation of OUM’s phases and processes. Please refer to the reference section to get the details of each phase and process. Also, if you are accustomed to AIM, you will notice OUM has 14 processes as oppose to AIM’s 12. Similarly, OUM has just 5 phases over AIM’s 6.
You should also know that document templates such as MD.050 and MD.070 are discontinued along with AIM. AIM’s MD format is replaced with AN=Analyze, DS=Design and IM=Implementation tasks.For eg. MD070 is mostly replaced with DS.140.
Once you have mastered OUM processes and phases, you can even expand the usage to non-Oracle projects too. We did experiment a bit and planning to expand the usage to Microsoft platforms too. But are limiting it to post production enhancements/customizations that falls under the OUM process ‘Operations and Support’. Once we have it stabilized, I will certainly share the experience later.
OUM also supports several business solutions including Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) , Business Process Management (BPM), Enterprise Integration, Custom Software, Enterprise Performance Management - Business Intelligence - WebCenter - Enterprise Application Implementation, Software Upgrade.
BENEFITS OF OUM
• More Focused Effort – OUM enables projects to clearly define business scope and needs to create architectural models of the enterprise. This planning results in tighter scope control, more accurate business understanding, and a firm foundation for client acceptance.
• Built-in Flexibility – By combining activities and tasks in different ways, OUM can be applied to many types of information technology software development and implementation projects.
• Saves Time – Seasoned information technology practitioners representing years of experience have contributed their knowledge to OUM. Project teams to take advantage of this experience by leveraging these leading practices along with industry standards.
• Higher Quality – OUM subscribes to an iterative approach that incorporates testing and validation throughout the life-cycle, rather than testing for quality only at the end of the project.
• More Cost Effective – OUM facilitates improved control of project expenses by using a flexible work breakdown structure that allows you to perform only necessary tasks.
• Reduced Project Risk – Implementing an iterative, broadly applicable method mitigates requirements mismatch. A key focus of each iteration in OUM is to identify and reduce the most significant project risks. This ensures that the most critical risks are addressed as early as possible in the project life-cycle.
KEY FEATURES OF OUM
• Flexible
• Scalable
• Views
Flexible
OUM is flexible because it allows your organization to select the strategy, techniques, and tasks appropriate for your project. OUM provides specific guidelines for tailoring your project plan to fit your situation - from the most basic development to changes in the underlying technical architecture. By combining activities and tasks in different ways, OUM can be applied to many types of information technology software development and implementation projects.
Scalable
OUM was designed with scalability in mind. From the largest, multi-national, multi-site, multi-entity projects, through to the smallest, limited size, constrained scope projects—OUM provides the scalability required by each unique project. Guidelines aid in determining which tasks to include in the project plan. This greatly reduces the complexity for the project management team in planning the work effort required.
Views
Views provide an initial tailoring of the workplan..
The method material is organized into views. Views provide an initial tailoring of the workplan. Each view page provides access to guidance and a tailored work breakdown structure.
OUM 5.5 provides the following views:
• Manage Views
• Manage Focus Area
• Implement Views
• Application Implementation (Solution-Driven and Requirements-Driven)
• Business Intelligence and Analytics Custom Development
• Business Intelligence and Enterprise Performance Management
• Software Upgrade
• Technology Full Lifecycle
• WebCenter
• Implement Focus Area
• Implement Core Workflow
• Implement Models
• Envision Views
• Enterprise Optimization Roadmap
• Insight
• Oracle Architecture Development Process (OADP)
• Strategy
• The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF)
• Envision Focus Area
• Envision Models
• Other Views
• Full Method
• Full Method Activities and Tasks
• Business Process Management (BPM) including: Project Engineering, Roadmap.
OUM reference documents:
De-support info.
http://www.oracle.com/partners/campaign/eblasts/retirement-aim-adv-bus-flows-185418.html
More details on OUM
http://www.oracle.com/partners/en/knowledge-zone/applications/oracle-unified-method-359405.html
http://blogs.oracle.com/oum/resource/OUM_README_FIRST.HTM
http://www.oracle.com/us/products/consulting/resource-library/oracle-unified-method1-069271.pdf
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Resolving ORA-29278: SMTP transient error: 421 Service not available
Tip of the week: When trying to send email using UTL_SMTP in RedHat Linux Server getting following error
ORA-29278: SMTP transient error: 421 Service not available
The
"ORA-29278: SMTP transient error: 421 Service not available" error
indicates that the problem is due to database server's network
configuration not allowing it to contact an external server.
Solution:
We found sendmail
to use a smart host was not setup caused the error. Below steps should
give you the needed details to setup and as well as check the
configuration.
In your /etc/mail/sendmail.mc file there should be a line as follows:
dnl define(`SMART_HOST',`smtp.your.provider')
Remove
the "dnl" section and replace "smtp.your.provider" with the fully
qualified domain name of the smart host you wish to use so that the line
reads:
dnl define(`SMART_HOST',`smtp.your.provider')
Generate a new sendmail.cf file by running
# cd /etc/mail
# m4 sendmail.mc > sendmail.cf
This will generate the .cf upon restarting the sendmail by
# service sendmail restart
However you can manually do this with the following command: make -C /etc/mail
If you still experience the error, perform the following diagnostics steps.
1. The first step is to send a message from the server you made the changes on.
[root@rhbox mail]# echo test1|mail -s test1 sunthar@oracletechnologistblog.com
2. The next step can be done on the server.
Once the message is sent you will want to tail or grep /var/log/maillog for the relevant email that was just sent.
Nov
11 09:51:14 aloha sendmail[31900]: pABEpEiF031898:
to=<sunthar@oracletechnologistblog.com>,
ctladdr=<root@dsunthar@oracletechnologistblog.com> (0/0),
delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=relay, pri=120370,
relay=smtp.host.com. [10.180.1.103], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection refused by smtp.host.com.
3. From the error message, its imperative that you need to open up the firewall to allow smtp.
Once thats resolved, you should be good to go.
Useful MOS note.
ORA-29278: SMTP transient error: 421 Service not available" When Using UTL_SMTP to Send Email [ID 604763.1]Monday, November 14, 2011
Oracle Fusion Apps - Key Financial Features and More
AT OOW, Oracle’s VP of product strategy revealed 100 plus customers
being in Fusion. Its a solid number for a product that’s still evolving
to be global ready. Nonetheless, its amazing to hear ingenious
strategies Oracle proposes to adapt Fusion Apps. Interestingly, an extensively publicized option is a co-existence strategy
to help companies who wanted to bleed Fusion early. Even though the
Fusion sessions portray 100+ customers in Fusion Apps and more to
follow, talking to Fusion product directors provides further insight to
the adaption strategies, which to wait for Fusion 11g Release 2.
Finally Oracle is taking the stance to have Fusion built on 100%
standards-based architecture by providing a customization and extension
friendly landscape.
Fusion early adapters in co-existence strategy are predominantly on Human Capital Management(HCM). But the product group’s viewpoint is to have Performance Management module in Fusion and the rest in R12, which makes perfect sense. Especially, when Fusion is still transforming into full-blown production state. Even though the focus of this article is Financials, I just wanted say HCM's Predictive Analytics is my favorite one. It is embedded within Oracle HCM and is automatically generated by Oracle Data Mining to enrich dashboards and manager's portals with predictions about the likelihood that an employee will voluntarily leave the organization and a prediction about the employee's likely future performance.
As Oracle continues to push for the Fusion version of the Apps, it also provides flexible adaption strategies such as
Module Co-Existence: Implement an individual Oracle Fusion Application module to complement or extend the functionality of existing Oracle EBS environment.
Pillar Co-Existence: Implement a suite of applications such as HCM in Fusion and run the rest in existing EBS environment.
Here is the pictorial representation of Module co-existence strategy.
As there are several blogs trumpeting Fusion capabilities, I try to limit it to a few that I haven’t seen much elsewhere.
Now on to Financials.
Fusion Accounting Hub as a Reporting Platform
How many times we’ve heard from business users about the lack of financial reporting capabilities in EBS. Well, Oracle certainly heard it all and responded with Fusion Accounting Hub's reporting platform. Even though the product is pretty nice fit, it has to be licensed separately just as is the Financial Accounting Hub in EBS.
The Fusion Accounting Hub’s reporting platform provides real-time access to financial information with exceptional reporting and analytics capabilities to all users. Interestingly, reporting platform has its own embedded multi-dimensional data model and leverages Oracle’s own Hyperion Essbase. It is important to understand that Fusion Applications only uses cubes with ASO.
The main purpose of embedding the Essbase cube within Accounting hub’s reporting platform is twofold: First, it allows you to store large quantities of data in a way that can be accessed rapidly. Second, it allows you to manage and organize this data for fast and powerful retrieval for immediate decision support.
When the Fusion Accounting Hub is integrated with an E-Business Suite General Ledger, customers can apply a chart of accounts mapping to convert chart of accounts values to a corporate or other standardized reporting structure. In this case, the E-Business Suite General Ledger can continue to serve as the local book that is used for journal posting, period close, and other accounting processing, while Fusion General Ledger can serve as the corporate book where you perform real-time reporting and analytics throughout the accounting period.
Fusion General Ledger
The Fusion Accounting Hub leverages the Fusion General Ledger. The Fusion General Ledger combines traditional general ledger functionality with Oracle Essbase functionality, which is seamlessly embedded within the Fusion General Ledger. For example, at the time users create their chart of accounts, the Oracle Essbase cube is created. If a cost center is added or a date-effective hierarchy is modified, Fusion General Ledger automatically creates or modifies the corresponding cube hierarchy in Essbase. Then as transactions or journals are posted, Fusion General Ledger automatically updates the multi-dimensional balances to ensure that balances are always in sync and up-to-the-minute accurate. Unlike a data warehouse, no batch programs need to be run to populate the multi-dimensional balances; it is all happening in real-time whenever a journal or transaction is posted.
Fusion General Ledger also pre-aggregates balances at every possible summarization level across each dimension of the chart of accounts and accounting periods for multiple date-effective hierarchies. The result: extremely fast reports and queries. Reports and analytics can be refreshed on-the-fly without having to run a process or program because the balances have already been pre-calculated. Multi-dimensional analysis is also instantaneous. Users can quickly slice and dice data across dimensions and drill up, down, and sideways on any parent level.
Oracle Fusion Functional Setup Manager.
Oracle Fusion Functional Setup Manager is an exciting new feature in Oracle Fusion Applications that provides a single user interface for performing all tasks related to application setup. This overview provides an introduction to Oracle Fusion Functional Setup Manager and explains the concepts, benefits, and how it works for an application implementer.
• Single entry point for setting up applications
• Built-in decision tree for fine-tuning your configuration
• Easy export and import of setup data
• Pre-seeded setup templates and guided task flows
• Built-in collaboration and reporting
• Full extensibility for creating custom setup objects
• Rapid start with predefined configuration packages
Composers
This is one of my favorite fusion features. With composers Oracle let the end-users do several things at run-time, otherwise its impossible to do so with apps. Oracle Fusion applications provide content and functionality to users that enable them to complete their tasks (such as , learning about a product or service, keeping up with sales data, or submitting an order) as easily and efficiently as possible. Some key capabilities includes
•Let you change a page layout.
•Add task flows, portlets, documents, layout components, and other objects to a page.
•Provide values for the properties associated with pages and the objects they contain.
•Add a Data composer and make it available for users based on certain criteria.
•Let end users embed training materials videos to any screens and have it relay it to other users.
•Change process flow based on GUI.
•Pre-create, create dashboard reports and make it available to a group or to the entire organization.
Since you are here to read on Fusion, I try not to disappoint you with additional gobbledygook :)
Fusion Financials: Streamline close management
• A complete performance and financial management cycle
• Proactive, intelligent monitoring of accounts and close statuses
• Integrated operational, statutory, and analytical financial reporting
Fusion PPM: Core PPM Functions& PPM Analytics
• Core PPM Business Processes & Calculations
• Integration APIs for Scheduling, Labor, and Materials for Primavera and Other
Fusion Product Portfolio Management: Project collaboration that makes teamwork happen
• Real-time project performance tracking
• Identifies missing or late critical performance information
• Instant collaboration between Project Team Members
Fusion Procurement: Bringing a consumer centric process to the enterprise user
• Simplifies the order process
• Provides Interactive Assistance
• Delivers Real-Time Performance Information
Fusion Supply Chain Management: Orchestrating order capture and fulfillment now
• Aggregate critical supply information from disparate systems
• Automatically apply sourcing and availability rules
• Proactively manage orders avoiding exceptions before they occur
Fusion Human Capital Management: Evaluating Talent as a team
• Rapidly identify candidates
• Make informed decisions regarding talent recommendations
• Immediately take action on the recommendations
Key MOS documents:
Oracle Fusion Applications Release Notes, 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.5.1) [ID 1355561.1]
Fusion Applications - Product Information Center [ID 100.1]
Oracle E-Business Suite and the Upgrade to Oracle Fusion Applications [ID 374704.1]
Fusion Accounting Hub in a Coexistence Scenario [ID 1275111.1]
http://www.oracle.com/us/products/applications/fusion/fusion-apps-new-standard-bus-wp-505097.pdf
As always, thanks to Oracle Fusion team for providing some vital content here.
Should you have any questions, please let me know. I will do my best to respond to you in timely manner.
Happy Fusioning :)
Fusion early adapters in co-existence strategy are predominantly on Human Capital Management(HCM). But the product group’s viewpoint is to have Performance Management module in Fusion and the rest in R12, which makes perfect sense. Especially, when Fusion is still transforming into full-blown production state. Even though the focus of this article is Financials, I just wanted say HCM's Predictive Analytics is my favorite one. It is embedded within Oracle HCM and is automatically generated by Oracle Data Mining to enrich dashboards and manager's portals with predictions about the likelihood that an employee will voluntarily leave the organization and a prediction about the employee's likely future performance.
As Oracle continues to push for the Fusion version of the Apps, it also provides flexible adaption strategies such as
Module Co-Existence: Implement an individual Oracle Fusion Application module to complement or extend the functionality of existing Oracle EBS environment.
Pillar Co-Existence: Implement a suite of applications such as HCM in Fusion and run the rest in existing EBS environment.
Here is the pictorial representation of Module co-existence strategy.
As there are several blogs trumpeting Fusion capabilities, I try to limit it to a few that I haven’t seen much elsewhere.
Now on to Financials.
Fusion Accounting Hub as a Reporting Platform
How many times we’ve heard from business users about the lack of financial reporting capabilities in EBS. Well, Oracle certainly heard it all and responded with Fusion Accounting Hub's reporting platform. Even though the product is pretty nice fit, it has to be licensed separately just as is the Financial Accounting Hub in EBS.
The Fusion Accounting Hub’s reporting platform provides real-time access to financial information with exceptional reporting and analytics capabilities to all users. Interestingly, reporting platform has its own embedded multi-dimensional data model and leverages Oracle’s own Hyperion Essbase. It is important to understand that Fusion Applications only uses cubes with ASO.
The main purpose of embedding the Essbase cube within Accounting hub’s reporting platform is twofold: First, it allows you to store large quantities of data in a way that can be accessed rapidly. Second, it allows you to manage and organize this data for fast and powerful retrieval for immediate decision support.
When the Fusion Accounting Hub is integrated with an E-Business Suite General Ledger, customers can apply a chart of accounts mapping to convert chart of accounts values to a corporate or other standardized reporting structure. In this case, the E-Business Suite General Ledger can continue to serve as the local book that is used for journal posting, period close, and other accounting processing, while Fusion General Ledger can serve as the corporate book where you perform real-time reporting and analytics throughout the accounting period.
Fusion General Ledger
The Fusion Accounting Hub leverages the Fusion General Ledger. The Fusion General Ledger combines traditional general ledger functionality with Oracle Essbase functionality, which is seamlessly embedded within the Fusion General Ledger. For example, at the time users create their chart of accounts, the Oracle Essbase cube is created. If a cost center is added or a date-effective hierarchy is modified, Fusion General Ledger automatically creates or modifies the corresponding cube hierarchy in Essbase. Then as transactions or journals are posted, Fusion General Ledger automatically updates the multi-dimensional balances to ensure that balances are always in sync and up-to-the-minute accurate. Unlike a data warehouse, no batch programs need to be run to populate the multi-dimensional balances; it is all happening in real-time whenever a journal or transaction is posted.
Fusion General Ledger also pre-aggregates balances at every possible summarization level across each dimension of the chart of accounts and accounting periods for multiple date-effective hierarchies. The result: extremely fast reports and queries. Reports and analytics can be refreshed on-the-fly without having to run a process or program because the balances have already been pre-calculated. Multi-dimensional analysis is also instantaneous. Users can quickly slice and dice data across dimensions and drill up, down, and sideways on any parent level.
Oracle Fusion Functional Setup Manager.
Oracle Fusion Functional Setup Manager is an exciting new feature in Oracle Fusion Applications that provides a single user interface for performing all tasks related to application setup. This overview provides an introduction to Oracle Fusion Functional Setup Manager and explains the concepts, benefits, and how it works for an application implementer.
• Single entry point for setting up applications
• Built-in decision tree for fine-tuning your configuration
• Easy export and import of setup data
• Pre-seeded setup templates and guided task flows
• Built-in collaboration and reporting
• Full extensibility for creating custom setup objects
• Rapid start with predefined configuration packages
Composers
This is one of my favorite fusion features. With composers Oracle let the end-users do several things at run-time, otherwise its impossible to do so with apps. Oracle Fusion applications provide content and functionality to users that enable them to complete their tasks (such as , learning about a product or service, keeping up with sales data, or submitting an order) as easily and efficiently as possible. Some key capabilities includes
•Let you change a page layout.
•Add task flows, portlets, documents, layout components, and other objects to a page.
•Provide values for the properties associated with pages and the objects they contain.
•Add a Data composer and make it available for users based on certain criteria.
•Let end users embed training materials videos to any screens and have it relay it to other users.
•Change process flow based on GUI.
•Pre-create, create dashboard reports and make it available to a group or to the entire organization.
Since you are here to read on Fusion, I try not to disappoint you with additional gobbledygook :)
Fusion Financials: Streamline close management
• A complete performance and financial management cycle
• Proactive, intelligent monitoring of accounts and close statuses
• Integrated operational, statutory, and analytical financial reporting
Fusion PPM: Core PPM Functions& PPM Analytics
• Core PPM Business Processes & Calculations
• Integration APIs for Scheduling, Labor, and Materials for Primavera and Other
Fusion Product Portfolio Management: Project collaboration that makes teamwork happen
• Real-time project performance tracking
• Identifies missing or late critical performance information
• Instant collaboration between Project Team Members
Fusion Procurement: Bringing a consumer centric process to the enterprise user
• Simplifies the order process
• Provides Interactive Assistance
• Delivers Real-Time Performance Information
Fusion Supply Chain Management: Orchestrating order capture and fulfillment now
• Aggregate critical supply information from disparate systems
• Automatically apply sourcing and availability rules
• Proactively manage orders avoiding exceptions before they occur
Fusion Human Capital Management: Evaluating Talent as a team
• Rapidly identify candidates
• Make informed decisions regarding talent recommendations
• Immediately take action on the recommendations
Key MOS documents:
Oracle Fusion Applications Release Notes, 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.5.1) [ID 1355561.1]
Fusion Applications - Product Information Center [ID 100.1]
Oracle E-Business Suite and the Upgrade to Oracle Fusion Applications [ID 374704.1]
Fusion Accounting Hub in a Coexistence Scenario [ID 1275111.1]
http://www.oracle.com/us/products/applications/fusion/fusion-apps-new-standard-bus-wp-505097.pdf
As always, thanks to Oracle Fusion team for providing some vital content here.
Should you have any questions, please let me know. I will do my best to respond to you in timely manner.
Happy Fusioning :)
Thursday, November 10, 2011
SQL Server 2012 vs Oracle - Key Licensing update
How many of Oracle’s customers outcry about Oracle’s core based
database licensing? We might have certainly heard ‘on the fense’
customers simply preferring to go with Microsoft SQLServer due to its bargain processor-based licensing. Of course, this article’s purpose is not to compare the features.
Looks like Microsoft recently realized that they need to do something to pump up their mid-20s stock price. Rightly so, MS preferred to follow Oracle’s foot-steps to be ingenious with their licensing metrics. Effective SQLServer 2012, you will not be able to buy socket-based licenses. Yes. SQLServer will be sold in core-based licensing. Here are some additional details from Microsoft on SQLServer 2012 core-based licensing.
Nonetheless, this could also help Microsoft’s immobile stock price to shoot up a bit, when its customers stack up licensing until they figure out cost-effective strategies including server consolidation, etc.
Additional Oracle and SQLServer licensing details can be found here:
http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/pricing/index.html
http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/en/us/future-editions/sql2012-licensing.aspx
Looks like Microsoft recently realized that they need to do something to pump up their mid-20s stock price. Rightly so, MS preferred to follow Oracle’s foot-steps to be ingenious with their licensing metrics. Effective SQLServer 2012, you will not be able to buy socket-based licenses. Yes. SQLServer will be sold in core-based licensing. Here are some additional details from Microsoft on SQLServer 2012 core-based licensing.
- Enterprise and Standard editions will be available under core-based licensing. Cored-based licenses will be sold in two-core packs. The Standard Edition will also be available as a Server+ CAL licensing option.
- To license a physical server, you must license all the cores in the server, with a minimum of 4 core licenses required for each physical processor in the server.
Nonetheless, this could also help Microsoft’s immobile stock price to shoot up a bit, when its customers stack up licensing until they figure out cost-effective strategies including server consolidation, etc.
Additional Oracle and SQLServer licensing details can be found here:
http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/pricing/index.html
http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/en/us/future-editions/sql2012-licensing.aspx
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Solutions to issues when using SQL Server with Fusion OBIEE
Tip of the week:
Environment: Microsoft Windows 2008 R2, SQL-Server 2008 R2, Oracle Fusion BI 11g.
Oracle’s BI platform fortifies its stronghold in Gartner’s magic quadrant for Enterprise Business Intelligence, especially with Fusion OBI. It’s imperative that several companies get creative to take advantage of heterogeneous BI tools to be cost-effective. For example, companies can buy limited OBIEE & OBIA licenses and leverage the data warehouse content via Microsoft’s BI tools. Of course, such strategy to consume Oracle’s content over non-Oracle tools requires Oracle’s blessing in terms of licensing.
Once you have cleared the licensing obstacle, now the actual challenge begins. Yes, using SQL-Server as the data warehousing DB for Fusion OBI platform is not as easy as using an Oracle DB. We came across several undocumented SQLServer related issues and I would like to share as much details as possible.
As most of the issues gyrate around DAC installation/configuration, ensure you complete the following.
Environment: Microsoft Windows 2008 R2, SQL-Server 2008 R2, Oracle Fusion BI 11g.
Oracle’s BI platform fortifies its stronghold in Gartner’s magic quadrant for Enterprise Business Intelligence, especially with Fusion OBI. It’s imperative that several companies get creative to take advantage of heterogeneous BI tools to be cost-effective. For example, companies can buy limited OBIEE & OBIA licenses and leverage the data warehouse content via Microsoft’s BI tools. Of course, such strategy to consume Oracle’s content over non-Oracle tools requires Oracle’s blessing in terms of licensing.
Once you have cleared the licensing obstacle, now the actual challenge begins. Yes, using SQL-Server as the data warehousing DB for Fusion OBI platform is not as easy as using an Oracle DB. We came across several undocumented SQLServer related issues and I would like to share as much details as possible.
As most of the issues gyrate around DAC installation/configuration, ensure you complete the following.
- Ensure you install Microsoft SQL Server JDBC Drivers 3.0 which is compatible with SQL Server 2008.
- Copy sqljdbc.jar and sqljdbc4.jar files from C:\Program Files\sqljdbc_3.0\enu to your DAC installation directory. For eg. to E:\oracle\DAC\bifoundation\dac\lib
- Stop the DAC Server. Open commands prompt and go to E:\oracle\DAC\bifoundation\dac\lib and copy sqljdbc4.jar sqljdbc.jar. In a way we invented this fix ;)
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