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Installing WebLogic Server on Ubuntu and JRockit 64 bits. This installation will later be used to install Oracle Service Bus.

Download the WebLogic Server installation files from OTN or E-Delivery.

Make sure the JAVA_HOME refers to the proper Java installation:

$ JAVA_HOME=/oracle/jrockit-jdk1.6.0_24 export JAVA_HOME
$ PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH; export PATH

Check that the proper Java version will be used:

$ java -version
Oracle JRockit(R) (build R28.1.3-11-141760-1.6.0_24-20110301-1432-linux-x86_64, compiled mode)

If you are installing WebLogic Server on a 64-bit platform using a .jar installation program use the downloaded wlsversionnumber_generic.jar . Start the installation using the following command. Include the -d64 flag in the installation command when using a 32/64-bit hybrid JDK.

$ java -d64 -jar wls1035_generic.jar

• Welcome screen – Click Next
• Choose Middleware Home Directory – Create a new Middleware Home and enter the directory of your choice
• Register for Security Updates
• Choose Install Type – Choose Custom to be able to select the JDK of choice
• Choose Products and Components – No changes needed
• JDK Selection – Pick the JRockit JDK previously installed
• Choose Product Installation Directories – No changes needed
• Confirm Product Installation Directories
• Installer is running
• Installation complete

An overview of the WebLogic Server installation screen can be viewed in the gallery:

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This post will show you how to install JRockit on Ubuntu 11.04. In later posts this will be used to run both WebLogic Server and Oracle Service Bus (OSB).

First download the installer from the JRockit download page. Make sure that the .bin file is executable. You can use chmod +x filename to make the file executable.

The installation guide for JRockit can be obtained from the JRockit Documentation page.

• Start the installer: ./jrockit-jdk1.6.0_24-R28.1.3-4.0.1-linux-x64.bin from the directory you download it or copied it to. Extracting can take some time.
• Click Next on the Welcome screen.
• Choose the product installation directory eg /oracle/jrockit-jdk1.6.0_24 and click Next
• Check optional components if you need them and click Next
• Watch the progress bar
• The installation is complete so press Done.

The screenshots of the installation process are in this gallery:

This post will show you how to install Ubuntu 11.04 in VirtualBox. In later posts this will be used to run: JRockit 64 bit, WebLogic Server (WLS) and Oracle Service Bus (OSB).

Prepare Ubuntu install in VirtualBox

A short recipe for preparing the Virtual Machine to install Ubuntu on it. The blog post Installing Ubuntu inside Windows using VirtualBox is more extensive on this subject…

• Create a new Virtual Machine using the VirtualBox Manager
• Click Next in the Welcome screen
• Choose a Name for the Virtual Machine and select the Operating System (OS) before you click Next
• Set the amount of memory you want to allocate to the Virtual Machine
• When asked for the Virtual Hard Disk, check the Boot Hard Disk box and Create a new hard disk. Then the Create New Virtual Disk Wizard will start guiding you through the process
• I choose a Fixed-size storage when asked for the Hard Disk Storage Type
• Choose the Size (16 GB) and Location (left it default) for the Virtual Hard Disk
• Check the summary
• Watch the progress while the .vdi file is created
• Click Finish to acknowledge the creation of the new Virtual Machine
• The newly created Virtual Machine will show up in the VirtualBox Manager
• In order to install Ubuntu 11.04 on the Machine go to the settings to alter the storage settings
• Use the icon besides the IDE Controller to add the disk image – ISO file – you downloaded to boot and install Ubuntu as media in a drive
• Check the boot order and make sure that the Machine is booted from the CD/DVD device first
• Acknowledge
• Start the Virtual Machine and the “regular” installation of Ubuntu will start

The screenshot that come with the short instructions above:

Ubuntu install

• Boot the installation ISO
• Choose Install Ubuntu and your language
• Preparing to install Ubuntu – You don’t need the additions here to later install WebLogic Server and Oracle Service Bus
• Allocate drive space – If you created a new Virtual Disk before you can safely erase the empty disk here
• Erase disk and install Ubuntu – Acknowledge
• Choose location and time zone
• Keyboard layout
• Who are you – Fill in the username, computer name and password
• Welcome screen
• Installation is complete – click the button to restart
• Login as the user you just created

Watch the screenshots that come with the steps above:

Installing VirtualBox Guest Additions

• From the VirtualBox Manager menu choose the Devices - Install Guest Additions options
• Choose the application to start
• Click Run
• Authenticate with your password
• You need to restart Ubuntu to make it work

Watch the screenshots that come with the steps above:

For my own reference some useful AIA 11g Foundation Pack references:

Documentation

The AIA 11g Foundation Pack documentation:

• Foundation Pack 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.4.0)
• Foundation Pack 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.2.0)
• Oracle AIA Foundation Pack 2.5

Installation

Installing AIA FP (11.1.1.4.0) on SOA Suite 11g R1 PS3 explained by Edwin Biemond on the Whitehorses blog. The Oracle Installation and upgrade guide to go with it can be found here and a whitepaper on installation topologies and architecture.

Blogs on installing previous versions:

• Install of AIA 11g FP on Linux described by emarcel.
• AIA FP 11g install on a Windows 7 64 bits server.

Using Composite Application Validation System for non AIA Composites testing

Usings CAVS to test non AIA composites is described by Edwin Biemond.

Some notes and dump of thoughts on the second day of the SOA and E20 Partner Community Forum. A day filled with interesting breakout sessions. Some of them were discussing roadmaps and future developments in the stack, and thus subjective to an NDA.

SOA platform

Again after this session I came to the conclusion that in my opinion BAM is used too little.

During the session was raised whether people in the audience were using non-Oracle databases as dehydration store and Meta Data Store. The mainstream is using Oracle as dehydration store. And although it is certified, it is advised to use Oracle as the database for this purpose. On the Application Server, given the maturity of the J2EE platform, there is less discomfort in operations to deploy the SOA Suite on a non-Oracle App Server.

ADF

Only today I found out that there is an interesting JDeveloper 11g extension. The extension validates ADF code quality. Seems an interesting extension to check code quality besides the already available Java tools.

BPM

When comparing BPEL and BPM and looking into when to use what tool, the following was stated: For all things with human interaction BPM is the tool of choice. In integration driven appraoches BPEL is the tool of choice.

In Oracle point of view BPM includes:

• People
• Systems
• Documents

without the need for separate platforms.

Example of a custom Spring Java worklist application for Oracle BPM.

Today I attended the first day of the SOA and E2.0 Partner Community Forum. For a detailed agenda of the event check this link. The event with 200 registrations was hosted at Capgemini in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Tattie picking

The first keynote by Andrew Sutherland had a few great stories that leaded the way to show the rationale behind the Exalogic platform. This included a personal story on “tattie picking”. The larger part was on productisation and gave examples on increasing effiency in IT. One of the ways for the Exalogic platform is the one that is also used by Apple: If you limit the amount of hardware your OS of software stack has to be compliant with, that introduces a better controlled and optimized environment; “If you know the machine you need less code”. This is resulting in several efficiencies. Efficiencies both in the One Time Costs (CTB) and Recurring Costs (RTB).

One of the sound bites that stayed with me was:

The most sticky stack is the least sticky one

Indicating that the stack that is the most open and complying with standards is the one that is most likely to survive…

SOA/ BPM Reference Case

In the Partner SOA/ BPM Reference Case Leon Smiers of Capgemini introduced us to the BPM practise of Capgemini and two of their BPM cases. One of the quotes that I think is very true was:

SOA supports the success of BPM.

Besides that Leon stressed the structure, insight and compliance advantages that BPM efforts deliver. One of the things they learned by doing was the importance of showing BAM to business people. This really enables you to get visibility on a lot of stuff that is under the hood. Besides that it is a catalyst for generating more business value with ideas from the people you are showing BAM to.

WebCenter/ UCM Reference Case

During the WebCenter/ UCM Reference Case Vikram Setia of Infomentum shared great insight on how to deliver an excellent web site using Oracle technology. He did this in a very lively session showing us around a live site and telling what Oracle technologies were used behind the scenes. Besides the UCM and WebCenter stuff there were some cool uses database thingies like:

• Text Clustering
• Thesaurus
• Locator

SOA and BPM 11gR1 PS3 Update

Another intresting session was the SOA and BPM 11gR1 PS3 Update by David Shaffer. Mr Shaffer showed us some of the history and some of the highlight in the current stack. A more detailed dive into the latter will be on day 2 of the conference.

Wednesday’s Breakout Sessions

On the second day I will be attending the following breakout sessions:

• SOA Suite 11g PS3 & OSB
• ADF/WebCenter 11g integration with BPM Suite 11g
• BPM 11g, Whats New

While I had to document these steps for a customer that is new to WebLogic Server, I thought why not share these relatively easy steps in a blog post as well. So here they are. The screen shots that come with it are at the bottom.

Create Data Source

1. Use a browser to go to the WLS Console, for example http://somehost:7001/console/login/LoginForm.jsp
2. On the home page, click the Data Sources link. You can find it in the Domain Configurations, Services section;
3. On the Summary of JDBC Data Sources page click the New button (to change current configuration click the link of the Data Sources you want to change);
4. Choose the Name, JNDI Name, and select the Database Type (Oracle). Click Next to confirm and continue;
5. Choose the Database Driver. This is depending on the selected Database Type. We used Thin XA for Instance connections for the Data Sources created in the project. Click Next;
6. Click Next after you read the Transaction Options;
7. Enter the Connection Properties and after that Next to confirm and continue:
• Database Name
• Host Name
• Port
• Database User Name
• Password
8. Click the Test Connection button, and if the test succeeded click next;
9. On the Select Targets page check for example the AdminServer. Click finish.

More on configuring JDBC on WebLogic Server can be found here (and the PDF on JDBC admin).

Whitehorses a Gold level partner of OPN, has achieved the Specialized status for Oracle Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA). Achieving this Whitehorses has been recognized by Oracle for its expertise in delivering services specifically around Oracle SOA Suite 11g through business results and proven success.

Frank Dorst, CTO of Whitehorses:

“We strongly believe in the power of IT. Information technology makes real change possible and that does not always have to mean huge investments. We distinguish ourselves by clearly defined improvement projects, with involvement of both IT and business in which collaboration with customers is essential. Achieving Specialization is our confirmation that we are doing well. It continues our long relationship with Oracle and gives our customers the confidence to work with a qualified party. ”

Bas Diepen, senior manager of Alliances and Channels at Oracle:

Whitehorses know how to keep changes small and simple, no matter how big projects are. We are pleased that the investment they have made in gaining knowledge and Oracle skills, is now reflected in achieving this Specialized status.”

I’m a fan of ready to use appliances for development and demo purposes. Recently it was announced that additional developer Virtual Machines have been released by Oracle. These in addition to the SOA Suite and BPM appliance mentioned before.

Developers can simply download a few files, assemble them with a script , and then import and run the resulting pre-built VM in VirtualBox. This makes starting with these technologies even easier. Each appliance contains some Hands-On-Labs to start learning.

Java Developement

This VirtualBox Appliance contains:

• Java SE (JDK) 1.6.0 u20 (note: Mac OS X 10.5 users must use Apple update)
• Java FX 1.3.1 runtime
• NetBeans IDE 6.9.1
• GlassFish Server Open Source Edition 3.0.1 (installed with NetBeans)

The Aquarium says about this Java EE6 VM:

This is everything you need to get started with Java EE 6 development and you’ll even find three labs (with code and instructions) to start using JSF 2, JAX-RS 1.1, EJB 3.1, Servlet 3.0, JPA 2.0 and CDI 1.0!

For detailed instructions and downloads go here…

Oracle Database Development

This VirtualBox Appliance contains:

• Oracle Enterprise Linux 5
• Oracle Database 11g Release 2 Enterprise Edition
• Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database Cache
• Oracle XML DB
• Oracle SQL Developer
• Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler
• Oracle Application Express 4.0
• Oracle JDeveloper
• Hands-On-Labs (accessed via the Toolbar Menu in Firefox)

For detailed instructions.

It is expected that more flavors will be available in 2011.

In this post will show you how to install the Oracle Service Bus on the VirtualBox SOA Suite 11g appliance. For this demo we used a pretty straightforward installation scheme.

Oracle WebLogic Server installation

Download wls1033_oepe111150_linux32.bin for installation on Linux. Install using the command ./wls1033_oepe111150_linux32.bin:

The following screenshots will give you a good idea of the installation flow.

Oracle Service Bus installation

Start the Disk1/runInstaller.sh and specify the JRE/JDK location /oracle/osbhome/jdk160_18/.

This sequence of screenshots gives you a good impression.

Configure a WebLogic Domain

Configure a Domain using the Oracle Fusion Middleware Configuration Wizard using ./config.sh in the /oracle/osbhome/oracle_common/common/bin directory.

A straightforward configuration of the WLS Domain requires the following steps:

Start WebLogic

./startWebLogic.sh and Have Fun!