Install Oracle 12c forms & reports, database, weblogic server

On January 5, 2016November 8, 2019 By windows7bugsIn Oracle related, Weblogic, Windows 1033 Comments

Hi guys

Update 8th November 2019

Guys, I have different threads towards specific version of Weblogic 12c & Oracle Forms and Reports installation, configuration(s). Please refer the thread specific to the version of Weblogic & Oracle Forms & Reports that you are trying to install.

Update 23rd October 2016

I was trying to answer one of the comments and realized that my database schemas those were created during repo creation were with expired passwords and the “WebLogic Admin Server” will not start. So, you are advised to setup your 12c database with no password expiry, no complex passwords etc (as far you are using the environment for development)

Important:

If for some reasons you cannot update your Windows 10 box, minimum make sure that you have Visual C++ 2012 package installed, which will provide you the much needed “MSVCR110.dll”, without which the Apache HTTP server will not start on Windows. This workaround is not at all an excuse for not patching your Windows box using update services.

Update: 03rd June 2016

I’m revisiting few of the claims which were true during the early builds of Windows 10, however not anymore having the same issues with the latest build & after cumulative updates. My Windows 10 boxes run the following build with all updates in place.

I’ve enabled the IPV6 protocol by deleting the explicit key that I created under TCPIP6 parameters & once after restarting the boxes, was able to start all the weblogic services and OHS instance successfully. However, I have made the following change

Pointed all the servers, “Admin Server”, “WLS_FORMS” and “WLS_REPORTS” to the hostname, instead of leaving the listening address empty. Eg: rajesh-pc. As I mentioned and re-iterating, whole the exercises described are those worked in my lab environment. Any attempts to use them at a production environment could prove you WRONG and disastrous situations may arise by not following Oracle’s guidelines.

This time, I will try to explain how you can setup few 12c products for your testing and developing needs in Windows 10, Microsoft’s latest desktop operating system (The same should be applicable for Windows 8.1 as well)

My scenario

OS: Windows 10 64bit Professional
Memory: 16gb
Processor: i7
Storage: Around 4.6 TB (4 Disks)

Software downloads required for the setup

Oracle database 12c
JDK
Middleware aka Weblogic Server 12c
Forms and reports 12c

You can download the above software packages from Oracle’s repositories

Why Oracle Database 12c?

Unfortunately, Weblogic server 12c doesn’t support database versions below 11.2.0.4, which will require an existing 11g R2 (11.2.0.2) to be upgraded. This upgrade (patch, full installation) is only available for customers with valid support subscriptions, hence the best option available is installing Oracle 12c database in order to setup Weblogic 12c with Forms and Reports 12c

Part 1 – Oracle database 12c Installation

The software package you download will have 2 zip files & You must extract both the zip files to a single folder

For example, as you could see with the above image, I have two zip files for the Oracle database and have created a folder called “Installer”. I extracted the 1st zip file inside the “Installer” folder (by pointing to the extract folder explicitly, else usually the unzip utility will create a folder within “Installer” with the zip filename. Make sure once after the extraction, under “Installer” folder, you have ONLY ONE folder called “database”

Now extract the 2nd zip file to “Installer” folder, and Windows will merge the folders and finally you should see within “database” folder items as listed below

Failing to follow the above will fail your attempts to install the database. You will see few images below those are due to extracting zip files into different folders

Execute the setup.exe

You don’t have Oracle support, so uncheck the “I wish to…” and smile at the warning that Oracle never forgets to display

Recently I realized that creating a database once after the Oracle software installation gives me more options to setup archive logs, automated backups etc. So I will proceed with “Install software Only” option

Add the languages you want to use with the database

Oracle has a new approach with who starts the Oracle software in Windows environments and I think it is better to have a dedicated user to start the Oracle services, which provides better security. I created a user called “Oracle” and my password is:

Old fashioned, I prefer the database installation path to start with “Oracle”, hence I chose “D:\Oracle” for the installation. You can accept the default and proceed with the installation

Now, comes the errors related to “missing” files, which are due to the wrong extraction method I have mentioned by the beginning of this post. You get a number of read errors for files with strange names…

Once you extracted the files as suggested into a single folder, the Oracle database software installation should progress without giving any kind of errors, keep accepting the JAVA security prompts

Very easy, no hacking at all involved with the installation. Usually a novice (and ME) could get confused reading Oracle’s documents asking the user to extract the zip files to a single folder ;)

Once the software installed, use DBCA to create a new database.

Update Part 1a (1st of March 2017)

Sorry guys, I started getting couple of inquiries about the database parameters for repository database used by 12c Middleware & as I followed multiple documents to setup my environment, didn’t feel that I should exclusively add the database parameterization with my initial post. So, I am adding it with the post for your references

“Oracle” strongly suggests that the repository for Middleware should have “AL32UTF8” as the character set. Hence, while creating the database, please make sure you select the same for your repo database. If you are migrating a legacy application that has issues with this particular character set, I suggest you create a smaller size database exclusively for the Middleware repo and create another database for your application that uses a different character set.

Part 2 – JDK Installation

Download and install JDK 8 (Preferably to a folder like C:\Java, D:\JDK) etc. Shortest the path will help you to easily configure many things at later stages. If you have earlier versions of JRE for some specific reasons, deselect JRE from the feature listing

Part 3 – Weblogic 12c Installation

Once again, Weblogic 12c doesn’t require any specific hacks for installation in Windows 10. Switch to the folder from command prompt where you downloaded “fmw_12.2.1.0.0_infrastructure.jar” and call java to install the package. Please check the below image for details

(I’m leaving the images untouched, so that you will able to see possible errors we can make while typing in commands)

As usual you will skip the updates

Structuring Oracle Home is going to be a logical call, if you are familiar with Oracle’s suggested folder structure, go with it. Usually I install Weblogic in a folder like C:\Weblogic or D:\Weblogic

Now select the first option, Fusion Middleware Infrastructure

Skip the below, and the installation should be completing within few minutes time without making any errors.

Part 4 – Forms & Reports 12c Installation

Forms 12c allows a stand-alone installation, however, our requirement is to deploy applications through weblogic server. Hence we will be doing the standard installation processes facilitating the application deployments.

As usual We will skip auto updates

Make sure you select the same folder where you installed WebLogic server for “Oracle Home”

Select Forms and reports deployment

It could take a while until the installation is completed. Usually the total installation process never errors out. I hope the same for you also :)

Part 5 – Create a REPO(?!)

As I mentioned earlier, I am not a Weblogic geek, Oracle says a database repo is required for Weblogic 12c, so I created one as per their instructions & I suggest you better do that as well ;)

Browse to your “D:\Weblogic\Middleware\Oracle_Home\oracle_common\bin” folder and execute rcu.bat file as “Administrator”

The creation of repo is pretty straight forward

Make sure your database & listener services already started and you can TNSPING, connect to the instance using SQL etc, to insure that the repo creation will NOT fail

Fill in your database instance details (Service name, host name, PORT etc)

If the utility could establish a connection to the database, you will be taken to rest of the configurations in next steps.

By default when you are trying to create your 1st repository (for each new domain, you must create a new repo, there were claims that someone managed to use the same repo with his 2nd domain as well, however, 1st domain being offline) You will be offered to create a new prefix, by default ‘DEV’. You can change it to JON, MARTA or PROD according to your requirement. Just make sure that you note it down or remember it while configuring your forms and reports instance at later stages

Select the components as seen with the image below (The selected are mandatory to configure forms & reports domains)

Use a single password for all the schemas those will be created as a part of the repo creation. I have used the same password across 12c products. For a lab, it is okay, however when you are deploying the solution for production environment, follow the recommendations for passwords. I created a password like “Abcprod123”, it has CAPITAL letter, lowercase letters & numbers

That’s all, you have created a new repo for your new domain that you will create later.

Part 6 – Configure your forms & reports domain.

Most important

Make sure your PATH environment variable has your JDK\bin folder as the first value, else you will NEVER manage to get your forms and reports builders configured properly, Oracle has made sure of it ;)

Check the below images and cross check your computer’s PATH value

You can start the “config.cmd” either from the start menu or from the “D:\Weblogic\Middleware\Oracle_Home\oracle_common\common\bin” folder (Please change the path according to your installation preferences, for example I opted “D:\WebLogic” for my WebLogic server installation and rest of the paths were created automatically during the installation process)

Select the default “Create a new domain”. You will see that “base_domain” folder is selected by default, which you can change according to your requirement.

Select the component for your domain (Select all the components listed with the image below)

You will be provided a window showing your current domain name, physical location etc

Leave the Weblogic account name as “weblogic” & supply an Alpha Numeric password for the account

Select Production & keep the JDK pointed towards your specific JDK installation, which is automatically selected.

Now you have to supply the repo details you have created earlier. Make sure you are not making mistakes with supplying the details & click “Get RCU Configuration”

You can proceed to next level only once after populating the RCU Configurations, if errors you will not able to proceed

Make sure all the listed elements hare having same Service, HOST, PORT names and the password columns are automatically filled. If any one of the listed row has different value, cancel the installation. It means you made some mistakes while creating the repo.

Once the repo connectivity confirmed, you will be provided a number of components those you could configure as the part of the forms & reports configuration.

Select the components as shown with the image below

Accept the defaults for Administration Server

Next screen you should be shown two components

WLS_FORM
WLS_REPORTS

Accept the defaults

You need to add the “AdminServer” from the left pan “Servers” to the node under “Machines”

This page, as we select OHS as a component, you should add one OHS instance using the Add Button and give it a meaningful name like “ohs1” or “ohs_1”. Make sure the Component Type is “OHS”

You may enter localhost as Listen address for the ohs instance in the next page.

Now add the “ohs1” component from the “System Components” to “Machines” Node

Click the “Create” button to start configuring the forms & reports domain

Once the configuration is over, you will be provided a confirmation screen as seen below. Don’t close this window. We need to perform few more stuffs prior finishing the configuration, said you can close this window by clicking the “Finish” button, just make sure that you have copied the URL, and the foot note shown by the bottom of the window. That note clearly asks you to execute a specific command using WebLogic Scripting Tool, for OHS

Start the node manager from your newly created domain\bin folder (Check the below image for details)

Now, you need to start the weblogic server. When prompted, supply your weblogic username and password

Logon to the WebLogic Admin server console and start the WLS_FORMS & WLS_REPORTS servers, this will trigger setting up much of the start menu components for your installed products, else missing.

Keep monitoring the weblogic server window, Once the server enters into RUNNING mode, you will notice that items are getting added to “Oracle FMW 12c Domain -base_domain” Start Menu folder.

Now you have to start the Weblogic scripting tool & run the instructions provided with the last Window of forms and reports configuration

Please see the below image(s) for details

OHS instance should get activated and updated without any issues by the end of the process.

Now you can close the last window of forms & reports configuration and access Weblogic console & Enterprise Manager through the following URL(s)

http://localhost:7001/console & http://localhost:7001/em

You can use the EM console to start your OHS instance (OPMN depreciated) as well. Once started, the OHS instance will be configured to start automatically.

Now We will create the Node Manager Service for Windows. Please check the below image for details

I’ve used “NSSM – the Non-Sucking Service Manager” to create the Weblogic Admin Server Service. You can download NSSM from here. Issue a command like nssm.exe install “WebLogic Admin Server” will popup a GUI where you can select the “….\Oracle_Home\user_projects\domains\base_domain\bin\startWebLogic.cmd” as the executable for the service.

Now, we will configure the last element in this configuration section, Reports Tools instance so that you can start using the report developer 12c. From Weblogic Scripting Tool Console, you can create a new tool instance. Please refer the below image for details.

Restart the WLS_REPORTS server using Weblogic Admin console and the reports tool will be configured once after the WLS_REPORTS enters RUNNING status

While the Forms developer could be invoked from the Start Menu folder “Oracle FMW 12c Domain -base_domain”, calling reports builder is pretty awkward. You have to browse to “…\Oracle_Home\user_projects\domains\base_domain\reports\bin\” and execute the batch file “rwbuilder.bat”. Better, you create a shortcut for the batch file on your desktop.

So, that concludes the 1st level installation and configuration of 12c database, WebLogic, forms & reports. I will get back to the thread, with details about how to configure forms and reports elements and deploy modules at a later time.

Updated 8th November 2019

I just realized that I never linked the configurations thread with this post and doing it right now. You can access the thread that explains how to setup/configure Weblogic Classic Domain for deploying Oracle Forms & Reports application through the below link

Configure Classic Domain for deploying Oracle Forms & Reports Applications

Hope you will find the above useful for your 12c installation attempts

for Windows7bugs

rajesh

Install Oracle Database 11g R2 on Windows 8.x, Windows 10

On April 25, 2014October 9, 2015 By windows7bugsIn Oracle related, Windows 10, Windows 84 Comments

Update: 9th October 2015

The installation procedure mentioned below are applicable for Windows 10 also. So enjoy! I just finished installing the 11G R2 64Bit database in my computer running Windows 10 64Bit professional.

I believe if someone is attempting to install Oracle database in a laptop or desktop machine, it is purely for limited development requirements or learning.

A many who are new to Oracle database may not able to install the software on many versions of Microsoft client OS like Windows 7 or 8 until certain levels of hacks are made.

Ignore what “I know everything” geeks screaming across tech forums, asking you questions like “DID YOU READ THE CERTIFICATION MATRIX”

You don’t have the time, neither do I.

Let us install the Oracle database 11g R2 this time on a Windows 8.1 (Update 1) dell laptop with following configuration 8GB memory, 1TB Hdd, Windows 8.1 update 1 64Bit Other oracle software installed

Developer Suite 6i
Developer Suite 10g

Download the installation files from Oracle repositories

There are two files to download, a total of 2GB
Extract the zip files and move the files inside a single folder

Once extracted, you have something like below

Now Switch to the second folder, which reads as “win64_11gR2_database_2of2”
Open up the “components” folder (D:\Oracle11gR2_64Bit\win64_11gR2_database_2of2\database\stage\Components)
There will be four sub-folders within “Components” folder, copy them to D:\Oracle11gR2_64Bit\win64_11gR2_database_1of2\database\stage\Components folder

That’s all. Just start the installation process. Make sure you have changed the virtual memory settings of your box prior the installation (If you already have developer suite 10g, you already changed it) Start the installation by executing “setup.exe” You will get one warning, about not meeting the recommended environment requirements (/me chuckles). We didn’t check the 32Bit version of Oracle Database 11g R2, however the method should be same. Hope you enjoyed another post from us

for Windows7bugs

rajesh

Windows 8.1 Update 1 available for download now

On April 9, 2014 By windows7bugsIn Windows 8Leave a comment

Are you already using Windows 8.1? Microsoft has added much of the missing Windows 7 features back to Windows 8.1 through the latest update, which is optional.

If you are already on Windows 8.1 (If you are on Windows 8, you must update to 8.1 using Windows store) please go ahead.

Please read this article to know what is included within the update http://www.cnet.com/news/the-windows-8-1-update-everything-you-need-to-know/

for Windows7bugs

rajesh

Windows | re-lock BitLocker unlocked drive

On February 16, 2014July 31, 2020 By windows7bugsIn Windows 7, Windows 86 Comments

Updated on 31st July 2020

Download & install the below from git, which is easier and cleaner for less tech savvy users.

https://github.com/dleidert/bde-lock

Updated on 12th October 2016

The below hack is applicable to Windows 10 also, however, after the RedStone update, the registry hack entry “might” get removed and if you still prefer to right click and lock the drive without restarting, you will have to import the registry once again.

Start registry editor (double click to merge is NOT anymore supported), from the “File menu” Select import and point to the lock-bde.reg or whatever name you have given to the registry file that was manually created.

End of update //12/October/2016

The major difference between Windows 8.x Professional and Windows 7 Professional? Well you have free Bitlocker encryption for your 8.x Windows box(professional onwards), while the same is limited to Ultimate and Enterprise editions for Windows 7

Enabling Bitlocker on a drive is pretty easy, right click and go on.

Obviously we will not recommend you to bitlock your root drive. If you do, you are on your own :)

Now we have a problem, to unlock you must enter a password or other bitlocker supported authentication methods, which is fine. The concern is the unlocked drive remains unlocked for any user logs into the same computer until a restart.

For me this is a clear concern. I have some stuff which is not appropriate for my 7 years old daughter, or for a friend who just wants to “check his emails” during a visit.

After loads of searches, I found some nice leads which helped me to re-lock a drive by right clicking the bitlocker enabled drive in the explorer window.

Below listed were the actual links, which helped me to achieve the objective on my Windows 8.1 boxes (Office laptop & Home PC)

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/41607938-7452-440d-8253-67fe8657bc0f/how-to-relock-a-drive-with-bitlocker?forum=w7itprosecurity

http://spreadbytes.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-to-lock-bitlocker-encrypted-drive.html

spreadbytes solution had one problem, I am using the boxes without UAC, thus while the .vbs script fires, nothing happens and the drive remains unlocked

Technet thread had the exact requirement addressed & all I needed to do was, alter the scripts a bit here and there to achieve my target

Open notepad or notepad++ and copy the below text and save it as lock-bde.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
 
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\relock-bde]
"AppliesTo"="(System.Volume.BitLockerProtection:=1 OR System.Volume.BitLockerProtection:=3 OR System.Volume.BitLockerProtection:=5)"
@="Relock drive..."
"HasLUAShield"=""
"MultiSelectModel"="Single"
 
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\relock-bde\command]
@=hex(2):77,00,73,00,63,00,72,00,69,00,70,00,74,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,\
00,6d,00,61,00,6e,00,61,00,67,00,65,00,2d,00,62,00,64,00,65,00,2d,00,6c,00,\
6f,00,63,00,6b,00,2e,00,76,00,62,00,73,00,20,00,25,00,31,00,00,00

The hex values mentioned over here creates an entry like following

Once the value created, you can change the text as you desire to suite your situation (for Example, my development machine was not reading the PATH information properly, hence I was forced to add C:\Windows\system32 in front of the command

Open notepad or notepad++ and copy the following text into it. Then save as “manage-bde-lock.vbs”, and copy to c:\windows\system32

Args = ""
Last = Wscript.Arguments.Count - 1
For i = 0 To Last
Args = Args & " " & Wscript.Arguments.Item(i)
Next
Args = Replace(Args,"\","")
CreateObject("Shell.Application").ShellExecute "manage-bde.exe", "-lock -forcedismount " & Args, "", "runas", 1

That’s it. You should get “Relock Driver…” context menu by right clicking on the bitlocker enabled driver from now onwards

Hope this helps few out there.

for Windows7bugs

rajesh

Oracle services disappear from Windows Services panel after upgraded to Windows 8.1

On October 31, 2013March 19, 2014 By windows7bugsIn Oracle related5 Comments

Just a week back we upgraded two of our development laptops to Windows 8.1 64bit PRO, which were having Oracle 10g 10.2.0.3.0 locally installed.

Once after the upgrade, we realized that the Windows services panel totally missing the entries for Oracle services (yes WTF from our end as well)

There is a question thrown at http://stackoverflow.com/questions/19533791/not-able-to-see-oracle-services-in-windows-services-after-upgrading-to-win-8-1

which is yet to receive any answers. We were in the same situation and started our experiments to find a solution.

Without boring you with details, here is the complete solution

Re-configure your listener, do not delete, just re-configure using the GUI. This will re-create the Windows service for listener.

Use oradim to create a new service (Please note, this scenario is strictly for creating services while they are missing, if you want to recreate services which are already available, YOU must drop them)

From an elevated command prompt

set ORACLE_SID=<SID>

D:\oracle\product\10.2.0\db_1>oradim -new -sid %ORACLE_SID% -intpwd PASSWORD -st
artmode M -pfile D:\oracle\product\10.2.0\admin\sct\pfile\init.ora

There is a high possibility that you may find the init.ora file like following

D:\oracle\product\10.2.0\admin\sct\pfile>dir
Volume in drive D is New Volume
Volume Serial Number is 866B-F095

Directory of D:\oracle\product\10.2.0\admin\sct\pfile

10/31/2013 12:31 PM    <DIR>          .
10/31/2013 12:31 PM    <DIR>          ..
02/18/2013 09:24 AM             2,613 init.ora
02/18/2013 09:24 AM             2,613 init.ora.11820139272
10/31/2013 12:31 PM               745 sqlnet.log
3 File(s)          5,971 bytes
2 Dir(s) 97,706,209,280 bytes free

D:\oracle\product\10.2.0\admin\sct\pfile>

just copy the init.ora.NNNNNNNNNNN file to init.ora

Now start registry edit. This is required for the situation when you will notice the database service you have just created starts, however will not mount the database.

Navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\ORACLE\KEY_OraDb10g_home1

(We are using Windows 8.1 64bit)

By the right side details panel, find the key “ORA_<SID>_AUTOSTART” which will have a value “FALSE”. Change this value to “TRUE” and get back to Windows services panel and start the database service.

That’s all folks

if you are not cursed, the Oracle database service must start, mount the database without any troubles.

referenced threads: https://forums.oracle.com/thread/541840

http://www.dba-oracle.com/tips_oradim_utility.htm

For Windows7bugs

raj

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Tag: windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 Update 1 available for download now

Windows | re-lock BitLocker unlocked drive