R 12.2: What is ETCC Tool?

R 12.2: What is ETCC Tool?

ETCC Tool Enhanced for Finding Mandatory EBS 12.2 Patches

The E-Business Suite Technology Codelevel Checker (ETCC) tool has been provided to help you identify missing database or middle tier patches that may need to be applied to your E-Business Suite Release 12.2 system.

The utility has now been significantly enhanced to map bug fixes to patches, generating a Patch Recommendation Summary that lists the patches (including versions and associated filenames) that are required for your system.

The following example shows part of an ETCC run, where the DB-ETCC script is used to identify missing database patches.

DB-ETCC Example

Why Does This Matter?

As the last section of the above example shows, there is a difference between bug fixes and patches. A bug fix ID for an issue does not change, but the patch ID that delivers the fix might: for example, the original patch could be superseded by another patch. So you need to not only know what bug fix you require, but which patch currently delivers it.

With previous versions of ETCC, the relevant patches (including Patch Set Updates and Exadata patches) had to be identified manually, by referring to the relevant documentation.  In this latest version, bug fix to patch mapping is done for you, avoiding the need for manual identification and the risk of misidentifying the patch needed. That is the principal enhancement in this version of ETCC.

Coverage

This new version of ETCC maps missing bug fixes to corresponding patches for the latest and latest but one quarterly bundles supported by EBS 12.2. You can use this version of ETCC with older bundles, but it will only list missing bug fixes (as previous versions did), and you will see a message saying "Patch mapping not available".

Obtaining ETCC

The ETCC utility can be downloaded via Patch 17537119 from My Oracle Support.

References

Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.2: Consolidated List of Patches and Technology Bug Fixes (Doc ID 1594274.1)

Source:https://blogs.oracle.com/stevenchan/etcc-tool-enhanced-for-finding-mandatory-ebs-122-patches

R12.2. Start and Stop Procedure of Services

R12.2. Services Start and Stop Procedure

All components - Application (Middle Tier)

START

$INST_TOP/admin/scripts

adstrtal.sh apps/****

Enter Weblogic Server Password: *****

STOP

$INST_TOP/admin/scripts

adstpal.sh apps/****

Enter Weblogic Server Password : *****

Individual Components:  Application(Middle Tier)

$INST_TOP/admin/scripts

when we want to stop all the services using adstpal.sh we use adstpal.sh apps/apps<pwd> but in R12.2 it will ask Weblogic Server Password

We need to provide Weblogic admin password

Component	Command
Node Manager	$adnodemgrctl.sh start Enter Weblogic Admin Password:
Weblogic Admin Server	$adadminsrvctl.sh start Enter Weblogic Admin Password:
Application Listener	$adadlctl start
Oracle Process Manager	$adopmnctl.sh start
Apache Services	$adapchctl.sh start
Managed Server for OACORE Services	$admanagedsrvctl.sh start oacore_server1 Enter Weblogic Admin Password:
Managed Server for FormsServices	$admanagedsrvctl.sh start forms_server1 Enter Weblogic Admin Password:
Managed Server for Fusion MiddleWare  Services	$admanagedsrvctl.sh start oafm_server1 Enter Weblogic Admin Password:
Managed Server for Forms web  Services	$admanagedsrvctl.sh start forms-c4ws_server1 Enter Weblogic Admin Password:
Concurrent Manager Service	$adcmctl.sh start apps/apps
Fullfillment Serer Services	$jtffmctl.sh start

Stop

When we want to stop adstpal.sh apps/apps again it is going to ask weblogic password

Component	Command
Fullfillment Serer Services	$jtffmctl.sh stop
Concurrent Manager Service	$adcmctl.sh stop apps/apps
Managed Server for Forms web  Services	$admanagedsrvctl.sh stop forms-c4ws_server1 Enter Weblogic Admin Password:
Managed Server for Fusion MiddleWare  Services	$admanagedsrvctl.sh stop oafm_server1 Enter Weblogic Admin Password:
Managed Server for FormsServices	$admanagedsrvctl.sh stop forms_server1 Enter Weblogic Admin Password:
Managed Server for OACORE Services	$admanagedsrvctl.sh stop oacore_server1 Enter Weblogic Admin Password:
Apache Services	$adapchctl.sh stop
Oracle Process Manager	$adopmnctl.sh stop
Application Listener	$adadlctl stop
Weblogic Admin Server	$adadminsrvctl.sh stop Enter Weblogic Admin Password:
Node Manager	$adnodemgrctl.sh stop Enter Weblogic Admin Password:

R12.2 Changing APPS or APPLSYS Password on R12.2 Instance

R12.2 Changing APPS or APPLSYS Password on R12.2 Instance

+ Presently Application is working normal
+ Now lets change APPLSYS password
+ These steps must be carried out on the run file system.

1. Shut down the application tier services using the

$INST_TOP/admin/scripts/adstpall.sh

2. Change the APPLSYS password.

FNDCPASS apps/<existing apps passwd>  0 Y system/<system password> SYSTEM APPLSYS <new apps passwd>

3. Start AdminServer using the $INST_TOP/admin/scripts/adadminsrvctl.sh script. Do not start any other application tier services.

4. Change the “apps” password in WLS Datasource as follows:

Log in to WLS Administration Console. http:/test.localdomain:7002/console

- Click Lock & Edit in Change Center.
- In the Domain Structure tree, expand Services, then select Data Sources.
- On the “Summary of JDBC Data Sources” page, select EBSDataSource
  - On the “Settings for EBSDataSource” page, select the Connection Pool tab
  - Enter the new password in the “Password” field.
- Enter the new password in the “Confirm Password” field.
- Click Activate Changes in Change Center.

5. Check whether you are able to connect to db using apps

  - sqlplus apps/<newpassword> from application tier.

6. Before Starting all the services. Run Autoconfig.
- $ADMIN_SCRIPTS_HOME/adautocfg.sh

7. Now start the services.

$INST_TOP/admin/scripts/adstrtal.sh

8. Verify the WLS Datastore changes as follows:

- Log in to WLS Administration Console.
- In the Domain Structure tree, expand Services, then select Data Sources.
- On the “Summary of JDBC Data Sources” page, select EBSDataSource.
- On the “Settings for EBSDataSource” page, select Monitoring > Testing.
- Select “oacore_server1”.
- Click Test DataSource
- Look for the message “Test of EBSDataSource on server oacore_server1 was successful”.

R 12.2 : Difference between Oracle EBS R12.1.3 and Oracle EBS R12.2.4

Difference between Oracle EBS R12.1.3 and Oracle EBS R12.2.4

1)In R12.2 we have two kind of filesystems fs1(run filesystem) and fs2(patch filesystem) where as In R12.1.3 we only deal with one application filesystem.

2)In R12.2 we have the Application servers replaced by Weblogic server to manage the technology statck.

The 10.1.3 Home is replaced by FMW  (Fusion Middleware Home) i.e $FMW_HOME

The major change in R12.2 is involvement of Weblogic server to manager all the forms,oacore servers

where as in R12.1.3 we had the Application server 10.1.3 to manage the web home or Java Home

3)The  adpatch(patching) in R 12.1.3 is replaced by adop(online patching) in R 12.2.4

adop online patching utility doesn't require downtime. It involves minimal downtime during cutover phase where switching of filesystems happens. We can apply lot of patches and do cutover any time to minimize downtime

where as in  adpatch we just apply patch most of the times by bringing down applications or in hot patch mode.

4)'Apps' user Password change:

The 'apps' user password change involve 3 steps in R12.2.4

1)Change the password with FNDCPASS

2)Change the password in EBS Datasource from Weblogic admin console

Where as in R 12.1.3 It only involves 2 steps:

1)Change the password with FNDCPASS

2)Run Autoconfig

5)Log files locations:

All the oacore,forms log files are placed in $EBS_DOMAIN_HOME in R12.2. I will explain this in details in my upcoming posts.

Where as in R12.1.3 all the logs for oacore,forms are under $LOG_HOME/ora/10.1.3

12.2 : New features of Oracle Apps EBS 12.2

New features of Oracle Apps EBS 12.2

1.Online patching mechanism introduced, that allows to apply patches while the system is up and running, and the users are working as normal.

2. The AD Online Patching (adop) command-line utility is used to manage the Online Patching cycle.

3. Use of Oracle WebLogic Server instead of Oracle Containers for Java (OC4J).

4. An Oracle Fusion Middleware (FMW) ORACLE_HOME that supports Oracle
WebLogic Server (WLS) and supersedes the Java (OracleAS 10.1.3)
ORACLE_HOME that was used in previous releases.

5. Integration between Oracle Enterprise Manager 11g Fusion Middleware Control and Oracle Applications Manager to monitor EBS environments with Oracle WebLogic Server technology.

6.Integration with AutoVue Document Print Services to print file attachments.

7. Support for Mobile Safari on Apple iPads.

8.Enhanced Integrated SOA Gateway functionality for use with Oracle SOA Suite 11g and Oracle EBS Adapter.

9. Enhanced Workflow Worklist notification and management features.

10. Direct upgrade from EBS 11i (11.5.10.2), 12.0.4, 12.0.6, 12.1.1.12.1.2 & 12.1.3 to 12.2 is possible.

11. Oracle Single Sign-On is  replaced by Oracle Access Manager.

12. Oracle Portal replaced by Oracle WebCenter Portal.

12.2: The New Features and Benefits of the EBS 12.2 Upgrade

The New Features and Benefits of the EBS 12.2 Upgrade

New features of EBS 12.2

1. Better GUI

The new Oracle EBS 12.2 offers a modern user experience with a new look and feel. It now has icon-based page navigation where users can select an icon to view a summarized list of recent notifications, and new user interactions that allow the end user to scroll through, detach a table, and work with a wider width. It also has new widgets that improve user productivity.

2. Online patching

Online patching allows the application of patches to an EBS 12.2 system while it is still up and running, greatly reducing patching downtime. Functionality leverages Oracle 11gR2 Edition-Based Redefinition features to support online patching, therefore allowing patching to be applied while the production system is fully operational.

3. WebLogic Server

WebLogic Server is the replacement for the Oracle Containers for Java (OC4J) application server used in EBS 12.0 and 12.1. WebLogic obtains data from the database making use of the context from the metadata dictionary (constructs HTML page) and then makes the HTML page available to the end user with the help of Apache (Listener). WebLogic is integrated with this tier planning to create hybrid applications using OAF-ADF and optimizing clustering performances.

4. Apps password change routine

There are some slight modifications to the apps password change routine in the E-Business Suite Release 12.2. These changes include extra options to change your password, along with some manual steps using FNDCPASS.

A new utility called AFPASSWD has been introduced. Unlike FNDCPASS, it requires no apps or system user passwords. This permits the separation of duties between the database administrator and the application administrator. Often both these roles are performed by the same DBA, but in large organizations there may be different teams managing Database and Application.

Benefits of the EBS 12.2 upgrade

1. Streamlined installation process

Users now have an option of installing the new EBS 12.2 on their existing database servers with the capability of carrying out installation into existing Real Application Clusters environments. Also, the use of native installation tools for Oracle Fusion Middleware and Oracle Database technology stack components has been streamlined.

2. Reduced patch downtime

Online patching enabled by edition-based redefinition of Oracle Database 11g has dramatically reduced patch downtime for Oracle E-business Suite. Users remain online while patches are applied. The user downtime in EBS 12.2 is minimized to a less cutover period with an anticipated maintenance window, enabling critical business operations and revenue-generating activities to continue during patching.

3. Support of Fusion Middleware by Oracle Apps 12.2 cloning

With the new support of Fusion Middleware by Oracle Apps 12.2 cloning, the upgrade to Oracle Fusion Middleware Release 12c (12.2.1) from previous versions of Oracle Fusion Middleware can now be made.

4. Microsoft Office 32 bit and 64 bit certified for Oracle web application

The following versions of Microsoft Office 32 bit and 64 bit are now certified with Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.2: Office 2007 (till October 2017), Office 2010 (till October 2020), Office 2013 (till April 2023), and Office 2016.

5. High availability provided from online patching

High availability is ensured with online patching as users remain online during the patching process and user downtime is limited to system restart time. Critical business operations and revenue generating activities are not interrupted, as the maintenance window in EBS 12.2 is predictable.

6. Direct upgrade to EBS 12.2 from earlier EBS 11i releases

A direct upgrade path is available from EBS 11.5.10.2 to EBS 12.2. Also, EBS 11.5.10.2 users can upgrade directly to EBS 12.2. (no EBS 12 intermediate release required). All EBS 11.5.10.2 users are required to apply the minimum baseline patch for Extended Support as per the description in Patch Requirements for Extended Support of Oracle E-Business Suite Release 11.5.10 (Document 883202.1). Users of the earlier EBS 11i releases (such as 11.5.7) need to be at the 11.5.10.2 level (plus follow the minimum baseline patch requirements for Extended Support) before they can upgrade to EBS 12.2.

Source : https://www.datavail.com/blog/the-new-features-and-benefits-of-the-ebs-12-2-upgrade/

RMAN Active Duplicate Script

Source: PRD1
Target: TST1

1. Add Tnsnames entries of PRD1 in TST1
2. Add Tnsnames entries of TST1 in PRD1
3. Make sure both the listeners are up on Source and Target
4. Create orapwd file in TST1

orapwd file=$ORACLE_HOME/dbs/TST1 password=manager entries=10

select * from v$pwfile_users;

5. Keep these paramters in TST1 pfile

*.db_file_name_convert='/data/app/PRD1/db/apps_st/data','/data/app/TST1/db/apps_st/data','/index/app/PRD1/db/apps_st/data','/index/app/TST1/db/apps_st/data'
*.log_file_name_convert='/redo/app/PRD1/db/apps_st/data','/redo/app/TST1/db/apps_st/data'

6. Connect to TST1
   startup nomount

vi TST1_active_dup_db.sh

$ORACLE_HOME/bin/rman nocatalog log=TST1_active_dup_db.log <<EOF
connect target sys/manager@PRD1
connect auxiliary sys/manager@TST1
duplicate target database to TST1 from active database nofilenamecheck;
EOF

nohup sh TST1_active_dup_db.sh &