Successfully installing Oracle Applications 11i on Windows 2000/NT, part 3

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Part 1: Pre-installation steps
Part 2: Using RapidWiz
Part 3: Post-installations steps

Since you have a fresh installation of the 11i e-business suite, you need to follow the post-installation tasks as described in the Installation documents. Below is a short description of these tasks as well as others that need to be addressed.

1. Bounce the server
 As soon as RapidWiz completes the post-installation checks and you verify your environment by logging in as SYSADMIN, reboot the server.

2. Perform a full cold backup of both application and database environments
 By creating a baseline of a good installation you can always restore to this backup instead of reinstalling all the components. Normally the Apps DBA will be responsible for maintaining the applications stack (e.g. APPL_TOP, COMMON_TOP etc). The DBA will be responsible for maintaining the database stack (e.g. 8.1.7 HOME). Before you start the backup, be sure that all Oracle services are shutdown. The Oracle environment must be in a consistent state (shutdown); otherwise your backup will become invalid.

3. Configure JInitiator
 For all client PCs that will access the Oracle applications you will need to configure the JInitiator on each machine with a web browser. To configure the Jinitiator, log on as SYSADMIN and click any application link. This will bring up the Jinitiator install shield. For MS IE users, you may have to configure the security settings in order to download JInitiator. The current version of JInitiator with 11.5.8 is 1.1.8.16. For more information about Jinitiator please review Metalink note: 162488.1 "Complete guide to Jinitiator for Oracle's E-business Suite".

4. Configure database initialization parameters
 Using the default parameter file (Pfile) for your environment is not recommended. Depending on how many concurrent users, performance impact and memory utilization (SGA estimates), you will need to reconfigure or even add additional parameters to your pfile to obtain optional performance and usage. Ahmed Alomari wrote a great article on recommended parameters for the e-business suite on Metalink so I highly recommend reviewing it before making any modifications (Metalink note: 216205.1). Also note that 11.5.7 and higher is certified to run against 9i R1 and R2.

5. Change user passwords
 Like with any new Oracle installation, you should always change the default passwords. Database users SYS and SYSTEM should be addressed as well as the application user SYSADMIN. There is a utility called FNDC-PASS that offers you an easier way to change application user passwords. For more information about FNDCPASS please refer to Metalink note: 140457.1 "11i: How to change passwords". Also note that if you installed the VISION demo system most of the application users have passwords of WELCOME.

6. Set up discoverer end user layer (EUL)
 Once you install your e-business environment you will also want to create and implement a Discoverer end user layer. The EUL will be used to pull data from any workbooks you define in your environment. You can have more than one EUL for you environment, so you will want to review Metalink note 206193.1 for up-to-date patches and certifications. If you are installing the 11.5.8 VISION demo, note that a EUL is created for you during the install process (EUL_US).

7. Convert the database to Multiple Organizations (Multi-Org)
 Oracle support has already posted various notices on Metalink that everyone will have to convert to Multi-Org to continue support. If you installed the VISON demo system, don't worry it's already enabled for Multi-Org; however, default TEST and PROD environments are not. To convert to Multi-Org you will need to use the ADADMIN utility detailed in the 11.5.8 AD procedures guide. Oracle development is already working on a version of RapidWiz that will automatically enable Multi-Org for any environment.

8. Convert to Multiple Reporting Currencies (MRC)
 If you are going to support more than one type of currency you need to convert to using multiple reporting currencies. The VISION demo system is enabled for MRC; however, TEST and PROD are not. For more infor-mation, please refer to the 11.5.8 Multiple Reporting Currencies in Oracle Applications.

9. Set up a printer within the Oracle Applications
 Setting up a printer within the Apps can be a time consuming task. If you have an enterprise wide environment, it would be ideal to have all reports sent to an HTML file, which you can print using any configured network printer. If you need to configure your printers within the Apps, review Metalink note: 68353.1 "Configuring a Printer for Oracle Applications on Windows NT" to see if you can use one of the predefined settings within the Apps. If you can not work with any of the predefined printer settings you will also need your printer manual to configure any initialization stings for fonts, characters, etc.

10. Configure additional functionality
 Depending on the specifics of your environment, you may also want to review the following sections from the post-install documents.

  • Implement product and county specific functionality
  • Maintain snapshot information
  • License additional components
  • Set up UTF8 character set and NLS Support (9i Globalization Support)
  • Set up and implement Oracle embedded data warehouse
  • Set up demand planning

11. Perform a full cold backup of both application and database environments
 After making our post-installation modification it is probably a good idea to take another full cold backup in case we ever want to restore to this level.

12. Educate yourself on the system administration tasks
 You need to review and become completely familiar with all responsibilities described in the following manuals:

  • Oracle applications system administration guide
  • AD Utilities Reference Guide
  • AD Procedures Guide
Your success of becoming an effective Apps DBA starts in these guides! I also highly recommend two Oracle University courses: 11i Install, Patch and Maintain and 11i System Administrator Fundamentals.

About the Author: Richard Stroupe has been an Oracle DBA for more than six years working with core and Apps technologies. He is the founder of TRS Consulting LLC, a Northern Virginia based Oracle consulting firm specializing in advanced Oracle solutions and training for various government and commercial organizations. He holds both 8i and 9i DBA certifications as well as a Masters of Science degree in Systems Engineering from George Washington University. Prior to starting TRS Consulting LLC, Richard worked as a principal consultant for Oracle's Advanced Programs Group.


This was first published in July 2004

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