R12 d49656 gc10-apps dba 08
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This document discusses advanced configuration options for Oracle Applications, including using a shared application tier file system, load balancing options, and network design features. A shared file system allows all application tier nodes to access the same files, simplifying maintenance. Load balancing can distribute technology layers across machines for performance or resilience. Network topology, latency, links, and wireless connectivity all impact system design.
R12 d49656 gc10-apps dba 08
- 2. Objectives At the end of this module, you should be able to do the following: Describe use of a shared application tier file system in Oracle Applications Explain the benefits of using a staged APPL_TOP Identify the main load balancing options and their key features List the major factors in efficient network design for Oracle Applications
- 3. Module Overview This module discusses the following topics: Shared Application Tier File System Load Balancing Options Network Features
- 4. Shared Application Tier File System - Introduction A shared application tier file system is a single Application tier file system that can be accessed simultaneously from more than one machine: The application tier file system disk is attached to a mount point of the same name on all machines
- 5. Shared Application Tier File System – Not In Use Without a shared application tier file system, each application tier node has its own file system, which must be managed independently:
- 6. Shared Application Tier File System – In Use With a shared application tier file system, all application tier nodes share a single file system, which simplifies maintenance:
- 7. Shared Application Tier File System – Features A shared application tier file system can be used for all nodes in an application tier: In Release 12, all application tier file systems contain the same installed files An application tier can be shared immediately It is not necessary to start from scratch Specific sharing technologies are not certified The shared file system must simply be accessible from all nodes The Release 12 Rapid Install can install a shared application tier file system
- 8. Shared Application Tier File System – Benefits Using a shared application tier file system has several benefits : Machines can easily be added to an existing system in order to: Maximize system availability Cater for additional usage requirements Disk space requirements are greatly reduced. Administrative tasks need only be carried out once, on any node
- 9. Shared Application Tier File System - Availability Using a shared application tier file system offers several advantages in the area of high availability: An Applications patch only needs to be applied once, minimizing downtime It is easier to add nodes, to cater for more users and provide greater resilience
- 10. Load Balancing – Introduction The various Applications technology layers can be distributed across a larger or smaller number of machines, according to: Physical topology Required performance Desired expenditure Other possible factors include: Growth in user base Fluctuations in demand Resilience in the event of hardware problems
- 11. Load Balancing – Strategic Effect Load balancing involves the entire infrastructure of an Oracle Applications installation: Performance can often be improved using existing hardware A change in one area can potentially have effects elsewhere
- 12. Load Balancing – Areas Principal load balancing areas include: Domain Name Server HTTP Server Concurrent Processing Layer Database Layer
- 13. Load Balancing – Session Persistence The two main categories of load balancer are: Session Persistent Load Balancers, which always direct HTTP requests from a client to the same server Client connections are session-persistent This is also referred to as stickiness Non-Session Persistent Load Balancers, which do not necessarily direct HTTP client requests to the same server Client connections are not session-persistent
- 14. Load Balancing – SSL Accelerators Another type of load balancer uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Accelerators, which: Reduces the SSL traffic and workload of the Web server Converts SSL HTTPS client browser requests to non-SSL HTTP requests Directs subsequent request to the HTTP server A reverse of this process is used to send the response back to the browser SSL Accelerator HTTPS HTTPS HTTP HTTP Web Server
- 15. Load Balancing – Specific Options Several different types of load balancing can be employed with Oracle Applications: They range from the relatively simple to the more sophisticated The load balancing solution should integrate with the existing infrastructure of a site
- 16. Load Balancing – DNS Layer DNS Layer Load Balancing distributes requests based on dynamic assignments of IP addresses to a fully qualified domain name:
- 17. Load Balancing – HTTP Layer HTTP Layer Load Balancing requires a hardware load balancer that accepts HTTP communication and forwards it to a group (farm) of server nodes:
- 18. Load Balancing – Concurrent Processing Layer Parallel Concurrent Processing (PCP) enables you to: Run concurrent processes on multiple nodes to improve concurrent processing throughput Continue running concurrent processes on the remaining nodes when one or more nodes fail Administer concurrent managers running on multiple nodes from any node in the cluster PCP is enabled by default, so is always available for use
- 19. Load Balancing – Database Layer Oracle Real Application Clusters (Oracle RAC) harnesses the processing power of multiple computers: All active instances can concurrently execute transactions against a shared database Oracle RAC coordinates each instance's access to the shared data, to provide data consistency and integrity All E-Business Suite modules can be successfully deployed against an Oracle RAC-enabled database
- 20. Network Features – Introduction When deploying a global IT infrastructure, the choice of network topology can be critical. There are a number of significant strategic factors : Basic structure Latency Satellite Links Wireless LANs Each of these will be discussed briefly on the following slides
- 21. Network Features – Strategies A large organization will typically use a hub and spoke network topology: High-capacity links serve regional hubs, with medium-capacity connections to local offices The routes and hops need to be as short and efficient as practicable High-capacity link Medium-capacity link Regional hub Local office Example Network Topology
- 22. Network Features – Latency Latency is the time for a packet to travel from its source to its destination, and can be significant : Oracle Applications works well with average latencies up to 300ms Performance is generally acceptable with latencies up to 500ms Where latency is marginal, forms may be slower to load (for example, on startup) In such circumstances, HTML-based applications may give better performance than Forms-based applications
- 23. Network Features – Satellite Links Satellite links can be used as a network link for Oracle Applications : They are considered to be just another network type They may be the only choice for users in remote locations They should only be employed where use of terrestrial services is not feasible The network stack may need to be tuned The goal is to achieve reliable operation, while maintaining an acceptable response time
- 24. Network Features – Wireless LANs As well as security aspects, deployment of wireless technology must take into account technical considerations, including: Overall stability of the connection Momentary loss of service may occur as a result of: Not having the latest firmware revision Interference from devices using a similar wavelength, such as cordless phones Use of Forms Listener Servlet (the default in Release 12), with its capability to attempt reconnection
- 25. Network Features – Wireless LANs W ireless LANs are simply considered as another network topology, so are not explicitly supported (or unsupported) with Oracle Applications A problem should if possible be reproduced using a non-wireless link If it cannot be reproduced, the wireless link will need to be checked
- 26. Module Summary In this module, you should have learned how to do the following: Describe the advantages of using a shared application tier file system Identify the main load balancing options and their key features List the major factors in efficient network design for Oracle Applications
- 27. Module Discussion Summarize the features offered by a shared application tier file system List three possible benefits of load balancing Describe the effect of latency on a network, and how it affects Oracle Applications Why does use of the Forms Listener Servlet often help with network operation?
Editor's Notes
- #2: Schedule: Timing Topic 30 minutes Lecture 0 minutes Practice 30 minutes Total
- #3: <Course name> <Lesson number> -
- #4: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Overview Once the basic install decisions have been made, there are several important areas where additional configuration may be needed for a particular site, to implement required features and ensure the desired performance is obtained. This module discusses: Shared Application Tier File System Load Balancing Options Network Features
- #5: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Shared Application Tier File System Oracle Applications Release 12 extends and simplifies the existing capabilities of sharing the $APPL_TOP and application tier file system.
- #6: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Shared Application Tier File System A traditional multi-node application tier installation requires the Applications file system to be installed on each application tier node. Instructor Note: Installing two distinct application tier file systems on to a shared disk volume does not result in a shared application tier file system; it is simply a shared disk containing two application tier file systems, with each of the two machines using its own private application tier file system.
- #7: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Shared Application Tier File System A shared application tier file system means that there is a single (the same) application tier file system capable of being accessed simultaneously by two or more machines. In a shared application tier file system environment, each node has its own environment file (APPS<CONTEXT_NAME>.env) and Applications context file (<CONTEXT_NAME>.xml). A shared application tier file system environment requires the relevant shared disk volume to be attached to a mount point of the same name on all participating machines, so the path to the application tier file system will have the same value on all machines.
- #8: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Shared Application Tier File System A single application tier file system can be used for multiple node types in an application tier. For sites that have an application tier file system already installed and performing all the required functions, that particular application tier file system can be shared immediately: it is not necessary to start from scratch and create a single application tier file system that can provide services for all the application tier nodes. Sharing technologies are available from a number of vendors, and offer various levels of sophistication. Specific solutions are not certified against Oracle Applications. The only essential requirement is for the application tier file system to be accessible from all nodes. The Release 12 Rapid Install offers a multi-node installation with a shared application tier file system as an option.
- #9: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Shared Application Tier File System There are several benefits to using a shared application tier file system. Extensible System Architectur e - The ease with which machines can be added to an existing system facilitates the deployment of a large number of application tier machines, to help maximize system availability and cater for additional usage requirements. Reduced Disk Space Requirements - Overall disk space requirements are greatly reduced, as there is only a single copy of the relevant Applications code. Simpler Administration - Since there is only one physical application tier file system file system, administrative tasks such as patch application need only be carried out once, on any node, and take effect immediately on all nodes. Utilization of Distributed AD - Distributed AD is a means of improving the efficiency of patch application and thereby reducing downtime. Distributed AD requires a shared application tier file system.
- #10: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Shared Application Tier File System Since there is only one physical application tier file system file system, an Applications patch only needs to be applied once, and its effects are seen immediately on all the nodes. This will help minimize the duration of planned maintenance outages, and reduce the scope for errors. Sharing an application tier file system makes it easier to add nodes to an existing installation, to cater for additional users, provide greater resilience, and maximize availability. This is particularly cost-effective with inexpensive Linux nodes. Instructor Note: An application tier file system can only be shared across nodes running binary compatible operating systems. Also, shared application tier file system functionality is not currently available on Windows.
- #11: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Load Balancing Oracle Applications provides numerous options for building and tailoring an installation to meet specific business and technical requirements. At a hardware level, this includes the capability to utilize additional machines to distribute the various Applications technology layers according to: Physical topology Required performance Desired expenditure Other possible factors include: Growth in user base Fluctuations in demand Resilience in the event of hardware problems
- #12: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Load Balancing This section describes how to make the decisions needed to balance the load on various components or layers, which is of particular importance for two reasons: Load balancing can involve the entire infrastructure of an E-Business Suite installation, with a change in one area potentially having significant effects elsewhere Making informed decisions about load balancing can often enable a higher level of performance to be obtained without expenditure on additional hardware The emphasis here is on describing load balancing strategies and their key features, to allow an informed decision to be made regarding the applicability and usefulness of a particular area of load balancing in achieving the desired technical and business requirements. Instructor Note : The slide illustrates that making a change in one area can often have effects (possibly adverse) elsewhere on the system.
- #13: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Load Balancing Principal load balancing areas include: Domain Name Server HTTP Server Concurrent Processing Layer Database Layer Instructor Note : Further details of load-balancing options can be found in Oracle MetaLink Note 380489.1, “ Using Load-Balancers with Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12”.
- #14: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Load Balancing The main categories of load balancer are: Session Persistent Load Balancers - After a client’s HTTP connection is established with a particular server, subsequent HTTP requests from that client are directed to the same server, for the duration of the session. This persistency is also referred to as stickiness . Non-Session Persistent Load Balancers - These load balancers use a round-robin strategy for balancing incoming HTTP requests, and do not maintain session persistent client connections. After a client’s initial HTTP connection is directed to a given server, subsequent HTTP requests from that client will be not necessarily be directed to the same server.
- #15: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Load Balancing Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Accelerators - Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) accelerators can be used to reduce the SSL traffic and workload of the Web servers. Usually, an SSL accelerator is the target for HTTPS browser requests, and thus the target for all client communication. It is responsible for converting HTTPS SSL requests to non-SSL HTTP requests, directing the subsequent request to the HTTP server (running in non-SSL mode). Before sending the response back to the client browser, the SSL accelerator converts the non-SSL requests back to SSL requests, in a reverse of the initial process. Instructor Note : Secure Sockets Layer is a network protocol that employs a private key to encrypt data transferred over the SSL connection. Typically, Web sites use SSL for obtaining confidential information such as credit card numbers. URLs that require an SSL connection begin with ‘https’ instead of ‘http’.
- #16: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Load Balancing Several different types of load balancing can be employed with Oracle E-Business Suite. They range from the relatively simple to the more sophisticated, and should be chosen to integrate with the specific needs and existing infrastructure of a site.
- #17: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Load Balancing Domain Name Server (DNS) Layer Load Balancing distributes end-user requests across multiple server nodes, based on dynamic assignments of IP addresses to a fully qualified domain name . The diagram shows an example of a configuration that uses DNS layer load balancing.
- #18: <Course name> <Lesson number> - HTTP Layer Load Balancing This type of load balancing can be used if you have a hardware load balancer that accepts HTTP communication and forwards it to a group of server nodes, sometimes referred to as a farm . The diagram shows an example of a configuration where an HTTP load balancer distributes the load across a farm consisting of two Web server nodes. Instructor Note : Hardware-based HTTP load balancers must be configured for persistent session connections for all traffic through all ports for Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12 environments. This is required as various modules shipped with Oracle E-Business Suite need to maintain session state. If this is not set, users may experience transaction state loss errors while using E-Business Suite.
- #19: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Load Balancing – Concurrent Processing Layer Parallel Concurrent Processing (PCP) allows concurrent processing activities to be distributed across multiple nodes in an Oracle Real Application Clusters (Oracle RAC) environment or similar cluster system. By distributing concurrent processing in this way, hardware resources can be fully utilized, maximizing throughput and providing resilience to node failure, while retaining a central point of control. Parallel Concurrent Processing is enabled by default, so PCP is always available for use in environments where one or more concurrent processing nodes exist. Note: PCP does not require an Oracle RAC environment. Equally, you do not have to use PCP in an Oracle RAC environment, although it typically makes sense to do so.
- #20: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Load Balancing – Database Layer Oracle Real Application Clusters (Oracle RAC) harnesses the processing power of multiple interconnected computers. In Oracle RAC environments, all active instances can concurrently execute transactions against a shared database. Oracle RAC coordinates each instance's access to the shared data, to provide data consistency and data integrity. From a developer's point of view, Oracle RAC enables applications to be scaled to meet increasing data processing demands, without the need to change the application code. All E-Business Suite modules can be successfully deployed against a Oracle RAC-enabled database. Parallel Concurrent Processing (see previous slide) can be used to configure concurrent managers on separate application tier machines to direct requests to different database servers in an Oracle RAC cluster.
- #21: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Network Features This discussion will pre-suppose the subject is a large, worldwide organization that uses a &quot;hub and spoke“ network topology, with high-capacity links to regional hubs, and medium-capacity connections from the regional hubs to local offices.
- #22: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Network Architecture A large, worldwide organization will typically benefit from the use of a “hub and spoke” network topology, with high-capacity links to regional hubs, and medium-capacity connections from the regional hubs to local offices. The locations of the regional hubs should be based on organizational need, carrier availability, pricing, and network latency. The routes and hops should be as short and efficient as practicable. Network design should be based around the needs of the majority of users; satellite users, for example, will normally be a small minority.
- #23: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Network Latency Latency is the time for a packet to travel from its source to its destination, and is a key determinant of network efficiency. In general, Oracle Applications works very well with average latencies up to 300ms, and is usually found to give acceptable performance with latencies up to 500ms. Note that periods when forms are being loaded (for example, on startup) may be an issue in cases where latency is marginal. A consequence of this is that the newer HTML-based applications (which do not use Forms) may give better performance than the traditional Forms-based applications.
- #24: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Satellite Links Satellite links can be used with the Oracle Applications. They are considered to be just another network type, and may be the only choice for users in remote locations. In general, however, they should be employed only where use of terrestrial services is not feasible. If satellite links are to be used, the network stack should be examined and tuned by a network specialist, to ensure device timeout settings, for example, are configured optimally. The goal is to achieve reliable operation, while maintaining an acceptable response time.
- #25: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Wireless LANs Wireless technology is becoming of increasing interest and use to many organizations. However, its deployment must be planned carefully. As well as the security aspects of wireless use, there are several technical considerations. For the Oracle Applications, the most important issue is the stability of the connection. It is not uncommon to experience dropouts (momentary loss of service) while using a wireless LAN. These may occur as a result of not having the latest firmware revision, or interference from devices that use a similar wavelength, such as cordless phones. Use of the Forms Listener Servlet architecture (the default in Release 12) may be of benefit in a wireless LAN environment, as it is designed to attempt reconnection (via a configuration parameter) in the event of a network interruption. Instructor Note : While Forms Servlet is the recommended deployment model, the older Forms Socket Mode can, if required, be used. See Oracle MetaLink Note 384241.1, Using Forms Socket Mode with Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12 .
- #26: <Course name> <Lesson number> - Wireless LANs As far as supportability of wireless LANs goes, they are simply considered to be another network topology, and as such are neither supported nor unsupported. Hence it is feasible to run Oracle Applications client PCs over a wireless LAN. However, in the event of problems, it would be desirable to be able to determine whether the problem also occurs via a normal network link, that is, whether the cause lies in Oracle Applications or the network.
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