3 Common Installation Tasks

3.1.1 Review System Requirements and Specifications

Before performing any upgrade or installation you should read the system requirements documentation to ensure that your environment meets the minimum installation requirements for the products you are installing.

The system requirements document covers information such as hardware and software requirements, minimum disk space and memory requirements, and required system libraries, packages, or patches:

http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/products/ias/files/fusion_requirements.htm

3.1.2 Review Certification Information

Before performing any upgrade or installation you should read the certification document. The certification document covers supported installation types, platforms, operating systems, databases, JDKs, and third-party products:

http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/products/ias/files/fusion_certification.html

3.1.3 Read and Understand Oracle Fusion Middleware Concepts

If you are new to Oracle Fusion Middleware, you should read Chapter 2, "Oracle Fusion Middleware Concepts" to familiarize yourself with some of the concepts and terminology you will encounter. You should also be familiar with the concepts described in Oracle Fusion Middleware Concepts before proceeding with an installation or upgrade.

3.1.4 Obtain the Oracle Fusion Middleware Software

Table 3-1 describes the Oracle Web sites where you can download the latest Oracle Fusion Middleware software.

http://www.oracle.com/technology/middleware

http://support.oracle.com/

http://edelivery.oracle.com/

3.1.5 Install Oracle WebLogic Server

Most Oracle Fusion Middleware products require the presence of Oracle WebLogic Server.

When you install Oracle WebLogic Server, the installer creates a Middleware home directory, then a WebLogic Server home directory under Middleware home directory. When you install your Oracle Fusion Middleware product, an Oracle home for your product and Oracle Common home (oracle_common) directories are created. The product Oracle home contains the product binaries and support files, and the Oracle Common home contains the binary and library files required for the Oracle Enterprise Manager Fusion Middleware Control and Java Required Files (JRF).

When you configure your Oracle Fusion Middleware product to create a domain, a product domain directory is created inside the user projects directory. The product domain directory contains the Administration Server and other managed servers that host the various product components.

To determine the version of WebLogic Server required for your installation, refer to "Oracle WebLogic Server Information" in the System Requirement document:

http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/products/ias/files/fusion_requirements.htm

For instructions on how to install Oracle WebLogic Server, "Running the Installation Program in Graphical Mode" in Oracle Fusion Middleware Installation Guide for Oracle WebLogic Server.

For more information about the Oracle Fusion Middleware directory structure, refer to Chapter 2, "Oracle Fusion Middleware Concepts".

3.1.6 Install and Configure a Database

Some Oracle Fusion Middleware products, such as Oracle SOA Suite and Oracle WebCenter, require an metadata repository with schemas before those products can be successfully configured. To create or update schemas in a database, use the Repository Creation Utility (RCU).

For more information about managing metadata repositories, refer to "Managing the Oracle Metadata Repository" in Oracle Application Server Administrator's Guide.

For more information about running RCU, refer to Oracle Fusion Middleware Repository Creation Utility User's Guide.

3.1.7 Create Operating System Users for IBM DB2 Databases

If you are not using an IBM DB2 database, you can skip this section.

IBM DB2 databases authenticates its database users using equivalent operating system users. Therefore, prior to running RCU, one operating system user must be created on the database host for each schema. The operating system user name must match the schema owner name and must contain only lowercase letters; no all-uppercase or mixed-case names are allowed. For example, if you plan to create a schema named DEV_MDS using RCU, then the operating system user must be named dev_mds (all lowercase letters).

You can create the operating system user with the following command (this example creates the operating system user dev_mds and assigns the password welcome1):

/usr/sbin/useradd dev_mds -p welcome1 -d /scratch/dev_mds

Refer to your system documentation for more information.

3.3.1 For Linux x86 Platforms

On Linux x86 operating systems, configure the host to resolve host names to the loopback IP address by modifying the /etc/hosts file to contain the following entries:

127.0.0.1 hostname.domainname hostname
127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain localhost

After doing so, check that the host name resolves to the loopback IP address by entering the following command:

/bin/ping hostname.domainname

3.3.2 For Windows x86 Platforms

On Windows operating systems, install a loopback adapter on the DHCP server (see Section 3.3.3, "Installing a Loopback Adapter (Windows Only)"). This assigns a local IP address to your computer.

After installing the adapter, add a line to the %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file with the following format, immediately after the localhost line:

IP_address   hostname.domainname   hostname

Replace IP_address with the local IP address of the loopback adapter.

3.3.3 Installing a Loopback Adapter (Windows Only)

To install a loopback adapter on Windows 2003 or Windows XP:

1. Open the Windows Control Panel.

   Windows 2003: Select Start > Control Panel > Add Hardware.

   Windows XP: Select Start > Control Panel, then double-click Add Hardware.

2. In the "Welcome" window, click Next.

3. In the "Is the hardware connected?" window, select Yes, I have already connected the hardware, then click Next.

4. In the "The following hardware is already installed on your computer" window, in the list of installed hardware, select Add a new hardware device, then click Next.

5. In the "The wizard can help you install other hardware" window, select Install the hardware that I manually select from a list, then click Next.

6. In the "From the list of hardware types, select the type of hardware you are installing" window, select Network adapters, then click Next.

7. In the "Select Network Adapter" window, make the following selections:

   • Manufacturer: Microsoft

   • Network Adapter: Microsoft Loopback Adapter

8. Click Next.

9. In the "The wizard is ready to install your hardware" window, click Next.

10. In the "Completing the Add Hardware Wizard" window, click Finish.

11. If you are using Windows 2003, restart your computer.

12. Right-click My Network Places on the desktop and choose Properties. This displays the Network Connections Control Panel.

13. Right-click the connection that was just created. This is usually named "Local Area Connection 2". Choose Properties.

14. On the "General" tab, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), then click Properties.

15. In the "Properties" dialog box, click Use the following IP address and do the following:

    1. IP Address: Enter a non-routable IP for the loopback adapter. Oracle recommends the following non-routable addresses:

       192.168.x.x (x is any value between 1 and 255)
       10.10.10.10
       

    2. Subnet mask: Enter 255.255.255.0.

    3. Record the values you entered, which you will need later in this procedure.

    4. Leave all other fields empty.

    5. Click OK.

16. In the "Local Area Connection 2 Properties" dialog, click OK.

17. Close Network Connections.

18. Restart the computer.

3.3.4 Removing a Loopback Adapter (Windows Only)

To remove a loopback adapter on Windows 2003 or Windows XP:

1. Start the System Control panel.

   Windows 2003: Select Start > Control Panel > System.

   Windows XP: Select Start > Control Panel, then double-click System.

2. In the "Hardware" tab, click Device Manager.

3. In the "Device Manager" window, expand Network adapters. You should see Microsoft Loopback Adapter.

4. Right-click Microsoft Loopback Adapter and select Uninstall.

5. Click OK.