Tag Archives: technology

Oracle OpenWorld 2016 in 5 Pages

September 29, 2016 jhlui1 Leave a comment

All of Oracle Cloud on a Page — Oracle OpenWorld 2016 Cloud Services and Products Summary

4 Days (almost 7 for me) of Product Directors and Managers spinning as many plates in the air as humanly possible, all being tossed into the Cloud with a fervor only matched by the lack of compensation being provided for conventional technology stack sales, left me with some specific value-adds for my time spent (not including the Safe Harbor information, we can’t say anything about….sshhhh.)

Note: (I’m EBS-centric and we have very little budget for hardware, so while I was amazed at the new SPARC S7 processors with on-board encryption and J/SQL optimization, alas they didn’t make it into my summary pages this year.)

AD/TXK Delta.8
Oracle E-Business Suite Applications DBA and Technology Stack Release Notes for R12.AD.C.Delta.8 and R12.TXK.C.Delta.8 (Doc ID 2159750.1)

Configuring Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.x Using Logical Host Names (Doc ID 1968231.1)

e-Mail Notifications at Parent and Child Levels for Request Sets
Save and Re-use Concurrent Program Parameters (CP Templates)
Regex Support in Profile Option Values and FND_MESSAGES
Multiple OA Framework Windows and Tabs in Multiple Browser Windows
EBS Healthcheck Diagnostics
64-bit JDK’s on CM Tier
adop Improvements
Delta Sync Mode (syncmode=patch/delta) – changed rows only
Rsync support in phase=prepare
Custom module sync auto-supported (no custom drivers req’d)
Standardized logging SessionID/ExecutionID/phase/node

EBS 12.2.6.AD Oracle E-Business Suite 12.2.6 Readme (Doc ID 2114016.1)

Security Configuration Console
JSP Whitelisting
Redirection Whitelisting
AD/TKX.Delta.8 incorporated
More HTML User Interfaces: HTML alternatives to several existing Forms; interfaces offer simpler layouts and more modern user interactions.

–Examples include the Update Assets UI in Enterprise Asset Management, and AOL setup UIs for Users, Responsibilities, and Flexfields.

SecureFiles does not allow shrinking of the tablespace after deletions (AP Imaging)

Available Interconnect Cloud Service adapters:

–PL/SQL
–Java Beans
–Apps Modules

Roadmap ICS adapters:

–REST
–Concurrent Programs
–XML Gateway
–BPEL/Business Services

CAAS (Cloud Adaptive Assistant Service) – The widget Larry was text-chatting with.

Mobile Foundation and Mobile Application Framework

Foundation v6 released August 2016

–Incorporates MAF 2.3.2

–Enhancements for Approvals (HR, Projects, Service Centers, Quoting, Custom Approvals)

Foundation v7 scheduled for April 2017

MAF Roadmap items:

–Airwatch and MobileIron support

–Mobile REST API’s

–EBS Integrated Service Gateway support (SOA)

PDF Version for download: oracle_oow16_summary_jlui

Oracle

@Oracle R12 EBS HTTP Server Error Child Could Not Open Sslmutex Lockfile

July 17, 2015 jhlui1 Leave a comment

HTTP Server Error “Child Could Not Open Sslmutex Lockfile” (Doc ID 562624.1) addresses a non-critical, but annoying issue (because it tends to fill up the $INST_TOP/logs/ora/10.1.3/Apache directory with big error logs every day – every mouse click on a OA Framework page generates an error entry).

mod_ossl: Child could not open SSLMutex lockfile /apps/oracle/oas/10.1.3.1/Apache/Apache/logs/ssl_mutex.10549 (System error follows)
System: No such file or directory (errno: 2)

And sort of randomly, your HTTP service will show “Stop” on the adapcctl.sh status screen. But it’s probably still actually running (the processes still show up when ps -ef | grep httpd – and the OA Framework still seems to be responding).

applmgr@myhostname$> $SCRIPT_TOP/adapcctl.sh status

You are running adapcctl.sh version 120.7.12010000.2

Checking status of OPMN managed Oracle HTTP Server (OHS) instance ...

Processes in Instance: ENV_ID.myhostname
---------------------------------+--------------------+---------+---------
ias-component                    | process-type       |     pid | status 
---------------------------------+--------------------+---------+---------

OC4JGroup:default_group          | OC4J:oafm          |   16788 | Alive  
OC4JGroup:default_group          | OC4J:forms         |   16709 | Alive  
OC4JGroup:default_group          | OC4J:oacore        |   21689 | Alive  
HTTP_Server                      | HTTP_Server        |   16494 | Stop

OEM will show the HTTP service as being down, even though the pages are probably still responding:

R12 EBS OEM AMS monitor HTTP Service down screenshot

Implementation for e-Business Suite R12 is relatively easy (just modify 2 configuration files and bounce Apache), but making sure the changes stick after AutoConfig runs means you do need to learn about the configuration templates in $FND_TOP/admin/templates.

These are the skeletal files used during AutoConfig (adautocfg.sh) that regenerate all those files used to control the middleware and database software configuration. These are the files you that contain warning headers written into each and every one of them warning you not to make direct changes to the configuration file itself like:

# ###############################################################
#
# This file is automatically generated by AutoConfig. It will be read and
# overwritten. If you were instructed to edit this file, or if you are not
# able to use the settings created by AutoConfig, refer to Metalink Note
# 387859.1 for assistance.
#
# ###############################################################
)

## Execute on every R12 MT server running HTTP/web services – Apache downtime required during change.
# Stop Apache
$SCRIPT_TOP/adapcctl.sh stop

# Before change
applmgr@myhostname $> cd $INST_TOP/ora/10.1.3/Apache/Apache/conf
applmgr@myhostname $> grep mutex *

ssl.conf:SSLMutex file:/ptcharmk/inst/apps/${ENV_ID}/logs/ora/10.1.3/Apache/ssl_mutex

# Append a line to the existing custom template
echo -e “\nAcceptMutex pthread\n” >> $FND_TOP/admin/template/custom_conf_1013.tmp

# Modify the existing SSL template (doesn’t seem to have a custom include on this one)
vi $FND_TOP/admin/template/ssl_conf_1013.tmp
=============

Comment: # SSLMutex file:${INST_TOP}/logs/ora/10.1.3/Apache/ssl_mutex
Insert: SSLMutex sem

# Execute AutoConfig

$SCRIPT_TOP/adautocfg.sh -appspass=$APPS_PW

# Re-Start Apache
$SCRIPT_TOP/adapcctl.sh start

# After Change
applmgr@myhostname $> cd $INST_TOP/ora/10.1.3/Apache/Apache/conf
applmgr@myhostname $> grep -i utex $INST_TOP/ora/10.1.3/Apache/Apache/conf/*

custom.conf:AcceptMutex pthread
ssl.conf:# SSLMutex file:${INST_TOP}/logs/ora/10.1.3/Apache/ssl_mutex
ssl.conf:SSLMutex sem

# Confirm semaphore mode is activated

applmgr@myhostname $> grep -i mutex $INST_TOP/logs/ora/10.1.3/Apache/*
$INST_TOP/logs/ora/10.1.3/Apache/error_log.1437091200:[Fri Jul 17 11:58:14 2015] [notice] Accept mutex: pthread (Default: fcntl)
$INST_TOP/logs/ora/10.1.3/Apache/error_log.1437091200:[Fri Jul 17 12:12:12 2015] [notice] Accept mutex: pthread (Default: fcntl)

As mentioned in the MOS document (Doc ID 562624.1), you may need to use ipcs -a to view hanging semaphore processes after making this change, and use ipcrm -s to kill the hanging processes if Apache refuses to startup after making this change and a different issue causes Apache’s processes to hang.

Oracle

Oracle e-Business Suite Release R12.2 (.2) Upgrade – New Features Summary

January 23, 2014 jhlui1 1 Comment

Because my company asked for this, and I couldn’t find a readily available My Oracle Support document that is concise enough.

Based primarly upon:

Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.2 Release Value Propositions (Doc ID 1580742.1)

With additions from notes by Steve Sutphin on LearningWerks.

Modules Being Covered in this Summary

Application Technology
Asset Lifecycle Management
Customer Relationship Management
Financials
Procurement
Human Capital Management

Not all modules are covered herein (e.g. Supply Chain, Project Billing, Project Management, Value Chain) simply because we don’t have them in-use, so I couldn’t validate the accuracy of those modules.

Applications Technology- User Interfaces, Infrastructure

Oracle EBS Release 12.2 Technology Stack

WebLogic Server (11.1.1.6) replacing iAS (10.1.3)
- [10.1.2 stays for Forms and Reports]
Mobile Certification for OA Framework
- iPad, iPhone, Android
Report Manager and Web ADI
- Certified for MS Office 2010/32-bit
Integrated SOA Gateway
- Now on WebLogic for improved integration
Online Patching
- Editioned filesystem and DB objects allow side-by-side Production and Test codesets with minimal switchover downtime.

Numerous OAFramework User Interface Cosmetic and Usability Improvements

Assets (Asset Lifecycle Management, not FA)- Workflow, Productivity

Support for Asset Moves
- Transactable Assets Allows Users To Move Assets In And Out Of Inventory, Transfer Assets From One Inventory Organization To Another, And Transfer Assets From One External Location To Another External Location
Enhanced Integration/Ease of Use
- Asset Sale
- Asset Retirements
- Project-to-Project Material Transfers
- Grouping of Serialized Items
Asset Tracking Mass Update

Customer Relationship Management- Revenue Tracking

Channel Revenue Management
- Increased Automation in AR Deductions Settlement
- Accrual Accounting with Trade Profiles
- Extended Business Processes for Supplier Ship and Debit
- Price Protection Agreements

Oracle Telesales
- Visibility to Activities across Operating Units
- Competitor Tracking at Product Level

Financials- Productivity, Controls

Cross-Module Enhancements
- Multi-Org Access Control Security profiles that now support a list of operating units
- Ledger Sets Ledgers sharing the same Chart of Accounts, Calendar and Period Type
- Advanced Global Intercompany System (AGIS)
- New Bank Account Model Single access point for defining and maintaining bank accounts in AP, AR, Collections, Payroll, CashMgt, & Treasury

Advanced Collections
- Party (Customer) Level Bankruptcy Tracking
- Support for Partial Disputed Transaction Amounts

Assets
- Enh. Mass Additions I/F for Legacy Conversions
- Automated Depr. Rollback for Selected Assets
- Impairments/Unplanned Depreciation Visibility
- Addl. BI Publisher Reports
Cash Management
- Simplified Setup and Streamlined Bank Account Reconciliation
- Reconciliation Success Rates for First Notice Items (FlexMatch)
- Centrally-stored Balance History – Trends and Cash Positions
- Flexible Cash Pooling
- Maintain and Report on Authorized Signatories
Customer Data Hub
- Tax Validation Management with Tax Geography Hierarchy
- DQM Overview Dashboard
- DQM public Application Programming Interface
- Real-time Address Validation for Tax Purposes
e-Business Tax
- Application of Specific Tax Configs to Business Entities
- Tax Simulator and Determination Services
- Customer Tax Information Import
General Ledger
- Allocate Financial Data From One Or More Ledgers To A Different Target Ledger
- Data Access Sets and Ledger Sets
- Journal Batch Copy
- Alternate Account UI
- New Web-based Account Analysis & Drilldown
- Flaggable As Non-Reversable Journal Sources
- Integration to Hyperion DRM and Fusion Acctg Hub
Internet Expenses (iExpense)
- Global Per Diem and Mileage Rates
- Mileage Accumulation
- Automatic Matching of Advance Payments
- Flexible Application of Cash Advances
- Payment Holds and Automatic Notifications
- Enhanced Itemization Controls
- New Audit Expense Report
- Auto-Itemization of Expenses from Visa/AMEX
- Parallel Approvals
- New Header-level Document Attachments
- Support for new iOS/Android Mobile Expenses
Payables
- New User Interface For Supplier Entry And Maintenance
- Centralized Bank Account Definitions (see Summary)
- Improved Invoice Processing with Invoice Lines
- Contract Financing, Retainage, and Progress Terms
- Line-Level Invoice Approval Workflows
- Self-Service Entry for Non-PO Invoices
- Improved iSupplier Portal
- Scheduled AP/AR Netting Batches
Receivables
- Partial Period Revenue Recognition
- Event-based Revenue Management
- New Credit Card Error Handling
- Improved Chargeback Reconciliation
- Oracle Bill Presentment Architecture (BPA)
- Customer Communication – Auto PDF Printing
- New Sweep Invalid Distributions Report Details of the accounting exceptions that are holding the period close for review and action. If the amount involved is not material from the reporting perspective and resolving the accounting exceptions is likely to delay the period close, then the transactions with invalid accounting can be swept to the next open period.
- Automated Auto Lockbox Processing (via CP)
- API Support for Unidentified Receipt Assignments
Subledger Accounting
- Enhanced Multi-Reporting Currency Functionality
- Improved Reporting and Analysis with Supporting References
Treasury
- New Automatic Floating Rate Reset for Bonds
- Automated Cash Pooling Across Legal Entities
- Automatic Bank Account Update for Redirecting Payments to a New Bank Account

Projects- Efficiencies

Project Costing
- Labor Rate Schedules by Criteria
- Enhanced Payroll Integration
- Total Time Costing
- Increased Control and Visibility for Multi-Funded Contingent Workers
- Allocate Funding Based On Time And Expense Entry
- Batch Processing of Mass Adjustments

Procurement- Efficiencies

iProcurement
- Automatic Updates of Encumbrance Dates
- Eligible Information Template Information Stored as Attachments
- Override Employee Charge Account Preference
- Dual Budgetary Controls (Encumbrance Acctg)
- Item Master Attachments Support
- Post-Approved PO Requisition Attachment Support
- PO Import Process Can Use Account GeneratorAuto-generate Charge Accounts during Requisition Import (blank charge accounts)
iSupplier Portal
- Enhanced Prospective Supplier Registration – Adaptive Supplier Onboarding
- E-Kanban Support (Flow Manufacturing)
- Enh. Supplier Contact Information DataURL, Alt. Contact Name/Phone
Purchasing
- Automatic Updates of Encumbrance Dates
- Additional WF Extensions for Custom Validations
Procurement Contracts
- Multiple Templates Applied to Purchasing Docs
- New API’s for Templates, Questions and Constants
- New Clause Descriptor Field
- Clause Mandatory Attribute at Rule Level
- Clause Section Placement by Contract Expert
- Deletion of Provisional Sections from Solicitation to Award
- Instruction Text including URLs
- Multi-Row Contract Clause Variables
- Display and Sort by Clause Number
- Enh. Repository ContractsLicense Agreements, Nondisclosure Agreements, Merger Contracts, Misc. Agreements (user-defined)
- User Defined Attribute support for Deliverables
- Sync/Down/Upload: MS Word 2010 Certification
- Contract Expert Performance Improvements
Sourcing
- Add Requisition lines to a Draft Negotiation
- Ability To Withdraw Responses Submitted On An RFI/RFQ
- Track Supplier Amendment Acknowledgements
- Staggered Awards on Split Negotiations
- Import of Price Breaks and Tiers via Excel
- Negative Cost Factor Support
- New API’s to Create RFIs, RFQs, Auctions and Negotiations
- Online Discussions Attachments and Messaging
- Terms and Conditions Display Controls
- Lot Pricing Summaries (also by Lot Line)
Spend Classification
- Reclassify Historical Data
- Asynchronous Classified Batch Approval Flows
- Enhanced Training Data Upload (up to 100MB)
- Enhanced Knowledge Base Tracking Capability
- Improvements in Analyzing KPI Batches with Excel Export
- Classification Code Reset by Ranges

Human Capital Management- Streamlining, Efficiency

Cross-Module Enhancements
- 30 Country Localization Support
- Managerial Task Checklists
- Bulk Synchronization -> Incremental Sync API
- Future-Dated Terminations, Reversals, Rehires
Payroll
- Purge Process Events
- Quick Retro Pay (single assignment)
- Self-Service Element Entry (w/WF approvals)
Human Resources
- Streamlined Re-hire Processes
- Self-Service Internal Hire Support