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Saturday, January 4, 2014

Oracle Application Patch Basics

Application Patch:

One of the most important and time-consuming aspects of an Oracle Applications DBA’s job is applying patches to the E-Business Suite.

Patches may be required to resolve problems with the application code, to fix production issues, to install new features, or to upgrade components of the technology stack.


Types of Application Patches:

There are several different types of Oracle Applications patches. Below discussed are the more common patches:
  • Standalone/One-off patch: This is the simplest type of patch. It is created to resolve a specific bug.
  • Minipack patch: This is a collection of one-off patches and enhancements related to a particular module. Alphabetic characters denote the Minipack version for the module; for example, the product code for the Application DBA utilities is AD, and version Minipack I of this product would be called AD.I.
  • Family Pack patch: This is a collection of Minipack patches for a particular family group of application modules. Alphabetic characters denote the Family Pack version; for example, the J version of the Human Resources Suite Product Family would be HR_PF.J.
  • Maintenance Pack patch: This is a collection of Family Packs that serves as a point-level release upgrade; Oracle Applications Release 11.5.10 is an example of a Maintenance Pack.

There are also other special types of patches:
  • Consolidated patch: This is a collection of one-off fixes for a Family Pack or Maintenance Pack; Oracle Applications 11.5.10 Consolidated Update2 (CU2) is an example of a consolidated patch.
  • Interoperability patch: This is a patch that is required for Oracle Applications to function with a newer version of a technology stack component; for example, you would apply an interoperability patch when upgrading the database to version 10g.
  • NLS patch: This is a patch that updates language-specific information for multi-language installations.
  • Rollup patch: This is a collection of one-off patches that update code levels for particular products.
  • Legislative patch: This is a special patch for HR Payroll customers; it contains legislative data for multiple countries.

Oracle Apps Patch drivers are broadly classified in to two categories split driver and unified driver.

  1.  Split Driver – means patch actions are divided by function i.e.
  • cXX.drv – Copy Driver to change product files
  • dXX.drv – Database Driver to change Database Objects
  •  gXX.drv – Generate Driver to generate new forms, messages, graphics
    2. Unified Driver – contains all three functions (copy, database & generate) into single driver
  •  uXX.drv – Contains all three functions Copy, Database and Generate.


Copy Driver:  For split patch, You must run copy driver (cXX.drv) on all APPL_TOP containing one or more files being replaced by patch. If confused or not sure which files are being replaced by patch then its good idea to apply c driver on all tier i.e. Web, Forms, Concurrent Manager, Administration Server.

Database Driver: For split patch, You must run database driver (dXX.drv) on Administration (Admin) Node. (This is usually same as Concurrent Manager Node). To find where is your Admin Node run sql

SQL> select node_name, support_admin from apps.fnd_nodes;

Generate Driver: For split patch, You must run generate driver (gXX.drv) on all APPL_TOP containing one or more files generated by patch. If confused or not sure then its good idea to apply g driver on all tier i.e.  Web, Forms, Concurrent amd Administration Server.

Unified Driver: For unified patch (uXX.drv) , run it on all tier containing APPL_TOP i.e.  Web, Forms, Concurrent Manager and Administration Server.

If you are using shared APPL_TOP/Application Tier then run split patch (c,d,g) or unified patch (u) from any one node.

If you are confused about any driver file (to apply or not) then run all driver on all nodes and AutoPatch (adpatch) will determine appropriate action based on tier (forms, web, concurrent manager) and ignore steps not required on that tier.

Order of application for split driver (c,d,g)

This patch contains one or more driver files to be applied with AutoPatch. Please apply the driver files in the following order (if they exist):
  1. c011111.drv (This is the copy driver) 
  2. d011111.drv (This is the database driver)  
  3. g011111.drv (This is the generate driver)

The process of applying the patch generally involves the following logical steps:
  1. Download and unbundle the patch.
  2. Identify patch drivers required for the patch.
  3. Place the instance in maintenance mode.
  4. Use the AD Patch utility to apply patch driver files.
  5. Perform any manual steps that may be required.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

E-Business Suite Release Upgrade 11i to R12 Documentation - Metalink Note ID

Oracle Applications Release Notes, Release 12.1.1 [ID 798258.1]
Oracle E-Business Suite Upgrade Guide Release 11i to 12.1.1 [ID 1082375.1]
Database Preparation Guidelines for an E-Business Suite Release 12.1.1 Upgrade [ID 761570.1]
Interesting Documents Concerning E-Business Suite 11i to R12 Upgrades [ID 850008.1]
Upgrade Advisor: E-Business Suite (EBS) Upgrade from 11.5.10.2 to 12.1.3 [ID 269.1]

Upgrade Documentation -- http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E18727_01/index.htm
Oracle E-Business Suite Installation Guide Using Rapid Install -- http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E18727_01/index.htm

Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.1.3 Now Available
https://blogs.oracle.com/stevenChan/entry/ebs_1213_available

References

Related Articles


References:
Metalink Note ID : 394692.1
Metalink Note ID : 403339.1
Metalink Note ID : 396009.1
Metalink Note ID : 329476.1
Metalink Note ID : 215527.1

Sharing the Application Tier File System in Oracle Applications Release 11i

Sharing the Application Tier File System in Oracle Applications Release 11i (Doc ID 233428.1)

Oracle Applications History, ERP Versions and their Release Dates



31st Jan, 2006, the day when oracle had schedule to release 5 different products across 6 continent, out of which one is Oracle application i.e. R12.Thus the evolution of ERP Suite in last 20 years. 14000 installations worldwide is a wildcard entry while considering for product evaluation by companies who are looking for some ERP product.

Journey from 1978 till 1987
These 9 years oracle has seen lot many achievement like becoming first DBMS based Database Company. They have released 7 different database versions with technology enhancement, and they become Public company as sometime 1986 had IPO in market. The startup has turned in recognized DBMS company, thus it was perfect time for them as well as Industry expert are looking Integration with in area like Finance , Manufacturing etc..Thus ERP evolution takes place.

The application group Formed
Some times in August 1987 Oracle started there Oracle Applications division, a group focusing and building business management software closely integrated with there own database software.

The First Oracle Application Product Launched
Sometime in August 1988 they released their first ERP application called accounting system that has only general Ledger functionality enabled. This is one of the reason of having General ledger application_id is 101.

i-era/Dot com Time
The year 1997-98, the attention was prominently focused on Internet, which already takes off in Information Technology sometime back. The concept of thin client was a baby at that time. This year oracle strategy shifts toward the internet and browser based development. The middle of year oracle launched and shipped there 11i product which was armed with 8i database, with lot many new features.


2000-2002
In 2000, Oracle9i Application Server released at Oracle becomes the first database with middle-tier cache. This 9iAS leads to launches of E-Business Suite. The suite combined with all inbuilt products.

2003 Onward
Since 2003 onward, oracle keeps their attention on oracle application product and same time they make ready with departure of old 10.7 products, by simply de-supporting.

2005-06
These two year have seen acquisition and movement of oracle from DBMS to grid database, thus EBS suite does come out with MobApps, has feature of RFID and other need for manufacturing area. The year 2006 seen a release of yet another..11.5.10.2 Version.

2007 onward
Oracle is ready with their new version ready to release in market. This times a new member i.e. R12.


Oracle Applications History, ERP Versions and their Release Dates.


Oracle Applications History, ERP Versions and their Release Dates
Ellison co-founded Oracle Corporation in 1977 with Bob Miner and Ed Oates under the name Software Development Laboratories (SDL).
In 1979 SDL changed its name to Relational Software, Inc. (RSI).
In 1982, RSI renamed itself Oracle Systems Corporation to align itself more closely with its flagship product Oracle Database. At this stage Bob Miner served as the company's senior programmer.
On March 12, 1986: Oracle went public with revenues of $55 million USD.

In 1995, Oracle Systems Corporation changed its name to Oracle Corporation.

 Oracle E-Business Suite started life as Oracle Financials in 1987.

   August 1987: Oracle founds its Applications division, building business-management software closely integrated with its database software. Oracle Corporation acquires TCI for its project management software.
  •    October 1987: Oracle Applications Release 1

Sometime in August 1988 they released their first ERP application called accounting system that has only general Ledger functionality enabled. This is one of the reasons of having General ledger application_id is 101.
  •    November 1988: Release 3
  •    January 1989: Release 4
  •    May 1989: Release 5
  •    October 1989: Release 6
  •    May 1990: Release 7
  •    November 1990: Release 8
  •    June 1992: Release 9
  •    1995: Release 10
 Release 10 Sub versions are 10.7NCA, 10.7.16.1, 10.7

 July 16, 1998: First combined production installation of Oracle Applications Release 10.7 NCA at Leeson Electric Corporation.
  •     April 1998: Release 11
   Release 11 sub versions are 11.0, 11.0.1, 11.0.2, 11.0.3, 11.0.28
 
  •    May 1999: Release 11.0.3
   11i Sub Versions are 11.5, 11.5.1, 11.5.2, 11.5.3, 11.5.4, 11.5.5, 11.5.6, 11.5.7, 11.5.8, 11.5.9, 11.5.10.0, 11.5.10.1, 11.5.10.2.
  •    May 2000: Release 11.5.1
  •    Oct 2000: Release 11.5.2
  •    Jan 2001: Release 11.5.3
  •    Jun 2001: Release 11.5.4
  •    Sep 2001: Release 11.5.5
  •    Jan 2002: Release 11.5.6
  •    May 2002: Release 11.5.7
  •    Nov 2002: Release 11.5.8
  •    Jun 2003: Release 11.5.9
  •    Nov 2004: Release 11.5.10
  •    Feb 2006: Release 11.5.10.2

 R12 Sub Versions are 12.0.0, 12.0.1, 12.0.2, 12.0.3, 12.0.4, 12.0.5, 12.0.6, 12.0.7, 12.1, 12.1.1, 12.1.2, 12.1.3 and latest version is R12.2.2
  •    31 Jan 2007: Release R12.0.0
  •    26th Apr 2007: R12.0.1 Released
  •    18th Jul 2007: R12.0.2 Released
  •    16th Oct 2007: R12.0.3 Released
  •    15th Jan 2008: R12.0.4 Released
  •    7th Nov 2008: R12.0.6 Released
  •    4th May 2009: R12.1.1 Released
  •    17th Dec 2009: R12.1.2 Released
  •    20th Aug 2010: R12.1.3 Released
  •    19th Sep 2013: R12.2 (R12.2.1) Released
  •    20th Sep 2013: R12.2.2 Released

Monday, December 2, 2013

Getting Started as an E-Business Suite DBA


This is an excellent article from Mr. Lauren Cohn about getting started as an Apps DBA. You can find best answer from the below link.

Getting started as an E-business suite DBA

Location of log files in Oracle r12 Applications

The following log files location could help you to find-out issues and errors from your application in r12 instance.
In Oracle Applications R12, the log files are located in $LOG_HOME à which translates to $INST_TOP/logs

Below are the log file locations:

Concurrent Request related logs:

$LOG_HOME/appl/conc - > location for concurrent requests log and out files
$LOG_HOME/appl/admin - > location for mid tier startup scripts log files

Apache Logs (10.1.3 Oracle Home which is equivalent to iAS Oracle Home - Apache, OC4J and OPMN):

$LOG_HOME/ora/10.1.3/Apache - > Location for Apache Error and Access log files
$LOG_HOME/ora/10.1.3/j2ee - > location for j2ee related log files
$LOG_HOME/ora/10.1.3/opmn - > location for opmn related log files

Forms & Reports related logs (10.1.2 Oracle home which is equivalent to 806 Oracle Home):

$LOG_HOME/ora/10.1.2/forms
$LOG_HOME/ora/10.1.2/reports

Startup/Shutdown Log files location:
$INST_TOP/apps/$CONTEXT_NAME/logs/appl/admin/log

Patch log files location:
$APPL_TOP/admin/$SID/log/ 

Clone and AutoConfig log files location in Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12:

Logs for the adpreclone.pl

On the database tier: 
RDBMS $ORACLE_HOME/appsutil/log/< context >/StageDBTier_< timestamp >.log 

On the application tier: 
$INST_TOP/admin/log/StageAppsTier_< timestamp >.log 

Logs for the admkappsutil.pl  

On the application tier: 
$INST_TOP/admin/log/MakeAppsUtil_< timestamp >.log 

Logs for the adcfgclone.pl 
On the database tier: 
RDBMS $ORACLE_HOME/appsutil/log/< context >/ApplyDBTier_< timestamp >.log 

On the application tier: 
$INST_TOP/admin/log/ApplyAppsTier_< timestamp >.log 
Logs for the adconfig are located: 

On the database tier: 
RDBMS $ORACLE_HOME/appsutil/log/< context >/< timestamp >/adconfig.log 
RDBMS $ORACLE_HOME/appsutil/log/< context >/< timestamp >/NetServiceHandler.log 

On the application tier: 
$INST_TOP/admin/log/< timestamp >/adconfig.log
$INST_TOP/admin/log/< timestamp >/NetServiceHandler.log

Location of log files in Oracle 11i Applications

The following log files location could help you to find-out issues and errors from your application in11i instance.

Database Tier Logs:

Alert Log File location:
$ORACLE_HOME/admin/$CONTEXT_NAME/bdump/alert_$SID.log

Trace file location:
$ORACLE_HOME/admin/SID_Hostname/udump

Application Tier Logs:

Start/Stop script log files location:
$COMMON_TOP/admin/log/CONTEXT_NAME/ 

OPMN log file location:
$ORACLE_HOME/opmn/logs/ipm.log

Apache, Jserv, JVM log files locations:

$IAS_ORACLE_HOME/Apache/Apache/logs/ssl_engine_log
$IAS_ORACLE_HOME/Apache/Apache/logs/ssl_request_log
$IAS_ORACLE_HOME/Apache/Apache/logs/access_log
$IAS_ORACLE_HOME/Apache/Apache/logs/error_log
$IAS_ORACLE_HOME/Apache/JServ/logs

Concurrent log file location:
$APPL_TOP/admin/PROD/log or $APPLLOG/$APPLCSF

Patch log file location:
$APPL_TOP/admin/PROD/log

Worker Log file location:
$APPL_TOP/admin/PROD/log

AutoConfig log files location:

Application Tier:
$APPL_TOP/admin/SID_Hostname/log//DDMMTime/adconfig.log

Database Tier:
$ORACLE_HOME/appsutil/log/SID_Hostname/DDMMTime/adconfig.log

Error log file location:

Application Tier:
$APPL_TOP/admin/PROD/log

Database Tier:
$ORACLE_HOME/appsutil/log/SID_Hostname