Application and Database Tier

Centralization of Oracle E-Business Suite

 Centralization of Oracle E-Business Suite on the application tier eliminates
installing and maintaining the application on the client's PC.

 It also enables Oracle E-Business Suite to scale with increasing load.

 Instead of maintaining a copy for every application tier machine, the Shared
Application Tier File System Model (Shared APPL_TOP) maintains only a single
copy of the relevant Oracle E-Business Suite code.

Use of Oracle on Database Tier

The use of Oracle Real Application Clusters (Oracle RAC) is increasing on the Database
Cluster. Here, multiple nodes support a single database for greater availability and
scalability.
Application Tier and Desktop Tier
The connection between both these tiers can operate on a Wider Area Network (WAN).
This happens because both tiers only exchange a minimum amount of information (e.g.
sharing only the changed field values).
Benfeits
 The exchange of a minimum amount of information is feasible in performing
global operations.

 With the requirement of less network traffic, telecommunication cost is reduced.

 Less network traffic also improves response times.

The Desktop Tier

In the desktop tier, HTML or HTML-based applications provide the client interface via a
Java applet. This applet is used in a Web browser for traditional form-based applications.
Using the Oracle E-Business Suite Desktop Tier
The use of the Oracle E-Business suite's desktop tier involves the following steps:
 E-Business Suite Home Page via desktop client web browser.

 There is a single point of access to HTML-based applications, Form-based

applications, and Business Intelligence applications on the Home Page.

 After logging into the E-Business Suite Home Page, the user is not required to
enter his username and password. This is because Oracle E-Business Suite saves
the user's preferences as he navigates through the system.

For example, if a user has registered German as his preferred language on the
Homepage, this preference will be carried over whether e is used HTML-based
applications or Form-based applications.
The Architecture of Desktop Tier

Forms of The Client Applet

It is a general-purpose presentation applet that supports all the Oracle E-Business Suite
products. This includes customizations and extensions as well. The applet is a collection
of Java Archive Files (JAR), which contain all Java classes for running the presentation
layer of Oracle E-Business Suite forms.
Desktop Java Client
The Forms Client applet should run within a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) on the desktop
client. Instead of using the browser's JVM on the desktop client, the Sun JRE Plug-in
component allows Oracle JVM on web clients. The implementation of this component is
as a standard browser plug-in.

Use of JVM in the Traditional E-Business Suite Environment:

In the older E-Business Suite environment, JVM was part of the Standard Oracle E-
Business Suite sign-on process. But in the new JRE Plug-in Release 12), the JVM is
invoked only when the user accesses the required functions (e.g. running a form).
If the JRE Plug-in is not installed, the browser will prompt the user to download the
required installation executable. After downloading and installing the plug-in, the user
can run the form-based applications.
Downloading the JAR Files
When the client's first session begins, forms client applet and other commonly used JAR
files are downloaded from the Web Server. Those JAR files that are not used much are
downloaded upon the requirement.

Caching of the JAR Files:

Upon their download, all the JAR files are cached locally on the client for their future
sessions. Because of this, the network traffic involved in downloading them upon
requirement gets eliminated.
Cache Directory in Release 12
The cache directory path in Release 12 version is as follows:
Cache Directory Path in Release 12
\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache.
Observing the JAR Files

Updates in JAR FilesThe Application Tier

This tier is sometimes referred to as the middle tier. It performs a dual role:
1. It hosts different servers and service groups processing the business logic.

2. It manages the communication between the desktop tier and the database tier.
The primary application tier comprises the three primary servers or services i.e.
 Web services.

 Form services.

 Concurrent processing server.

Oracle Application Server provides the Web and Forms services in the Release 12
version. Also, the concept of an Administration Server is not present in Release 12.
Therefore, patching can be undertaken from any application tier node by default. The
user should avoid mixing different platforms on his application tier so that the
maintenance can become more manageable. This is because only one set of patches is
required to download.
Load Balancing
The application tier supports load balancing in its different servers and services for
providing:

 Higher availability.

 Fault tolerance.

 Reliability.

 Optimal scalability.

Load balancing can be employed if the user has any of the following servers:
  Web services.

 Forms services.

 Concurrent Processing Server.

Two Oracle Application Server

In Oracle E-Business Suite, two different Oracle Application Servers (OracleAS) 10g in
separate ORACLE-HOMEs are used. Because of this, the Oracle E-Business Suite can
take advantage of the latest Oracle Technologies.

 It includes Oracle Containers for Java (OC4J), which is the successor to JServ.

 In this version, all significant services start with the OracleAS 10.1.3
ORACLE_HOME.

 The Oracle E-Business Suite modules (packaged as formsapp.ear) are deployed

as OC4J Forms.

 The frmweb executable is cited out of OracleAS 10.1.2 ORACLE_HOME.

Databases and Oracle Application Home Server

 The Oracle Application Server 10.1.2 ORACLE_HOME (sometimes referred to as
Tools, C, or Developer ORACLE_HOME) has replaced the 8.0.6 ORACLE_HOME
Oracle9iApplication Server 1.0.2.2.2 provided in Release11i.
  The Oracle Application Server 10.1.3 ORACLE_HOME (sometimes referred to as
the Web or Java ORACLE_HOME) has replaced the 8.1.7-based ORACLE_HOME,
which the Oracle9iApplication Server 1.0.2.2.2 provided in Release11i.
Relating the ORACLE_HOMEs Application
Servers
The Oracle Application Framework

It is a development platform for HTML-based applications. It comprises of Java-based

application tier framework and its associated services. It is designed to facilitate the fast
deployment of HTML-based applications.

There are two important components of the Oracle Application Framework

Business Components for Java (BCJ4)

It is included in Oracle JDeveloper. It has the following functions:

• It creates Java business components to represent business logic.
• It provides a mechanism for mapping out relational tables to Java objects.
• It allows the separation of the application business logic from the user interface.
AOL/J Controlling the Framework-Based
Application

The procedures executed through the Java servlet engine control the procedures in the
framework-based application. The Apache JServ module provides the Java servlet
engine. This Java servlet engine uses the metadata dictionary for constructing
Framework UI.

The HTML-based applications module uses the following access paths:

 Clicking upon the hyperlink of a function by a user from a browser.

 A URL request is made by the browser to the Web Listener.

 Contact made by the Web Listener to the Servlet Engine (OCJ4). Here, the Web
Listener runs a JSP.

 The Web Browser passes the resulting HTML page back to the browser.

 Obtaining the content from the Oracle E-Business Suite tables by the JSP. After
obtaining the content, JSP uses the information from the metadata dictionary to
construct the HTML page.
Processing Details of Oracle Application
Framework
The following part explains the obtaining of content by JSP from the Oracle E-Business
Suite tables and then using the information from the metadata for the construction of
the HTML page:

 Step 1: Validation of user access by AOL/J.

 Step 2: Loading the page definition (metadata UI definition) from the metadata
repository on the databases tier into the application tier

 Step 3: Representation of the BCJ4 objects that can access the database and
contain the application logic.

 Step 4: Based on dynamic UI rules, the Java controller programmatically

manipulates the page definition.

 Step 5: In this step, the UIX (HTML UI Generator) performs the following functions
· Interpretation of page definition.
· Creation of the corresponding HTML as per the UI standards, and
· Sending page to the browser.
Forms Services in Oracle E-Business Suite
Release 12
The Forms listener servlet provides services in Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12. It
has the following benefits:

 It facilitates the use of firewalls, load balancing, proxies, and other networking
options.

 It has a more uncomplicated firewall and proxy server configuration.

 It has a more secure and robust deployment over the internet.

 It has the ability to re-establishing the dropped network connections. It requires

fewer machines and ports to be exposed to the firewall.

The Architecture of Forms Listener Servlet

The list below explains various aspects of the architecture.

 It is a Java servlet that can run Oracle Application Forms over HTTPS or HTTP
connections.
  It hosts Oracle E-Business Suite forms with associated runtime engines while
mediating between desktop clients and the Oracle database server.

 It also displays the client screens and initiates changes in the database according
to user actions.

 It caches data and provides it to the client upon need.

 It uses a standard HTTP network connection or a secure HTTPS network

connection to communicate with the desktop client. In contrast, Forms Services
uses TCP/IP network protocol to communicate with the desktop client.

 It uses Oracle Net Networking infrastructure to communicate with the Oracle

database.
 It manages the creation of a Forms runtime process for each client.

 It also manages network communications between each client and Forms

runtime processes associated with it.

Administration of the Application Tier

Application tier in Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12 can perform the following
operations:

Application of Database Patches to Oracle E-Business Suite

Oracle E-Business Suite patches have files and scripts that update the data objects
and the file system. In Release 12 version, the features of the older copy (c),
database (d), and generate (g) files are combined by a single unified (u) file. To
perform these updates, the AutoPatch (adpatch) utility is used. It can also be used in
the application of cumulative patches, i.e. mini-packs and maintenance packs.

Maintenance of Oracle E-Business Suite Data The Database Tier

It contains a database tier containing the Oracle database server. This database server
stores and manages all the data which the Oracle E-Business Suite maintains. This data
contains different types of files such as
  Tables.

 Databases.

 Indexes.

 Data executables.


Oracle E-Business Suite Online information.

The database server also communicates with services and servers present on the
application tier. They facilitate the communication between the clients and the
databases as there is no direct communication between them.
Business Suite Technology Layer
This Suite technology layer is present between the Oracle E-Business Suite technology
stack and the Oracle E-Business Suite Product-specific modules. It has features that are
common to all of the Business Suite products.
The following products are included in the Oracle E-Business Suite:

 Oracle Alert (ALR).

 Oracle Application Framework (FWK).

 Oracle XML Publisher (XDO).

  Oracle Common Modules (AK).

 Oracle Workflow (WF).

 Oracle Applications DBA (AD)Oracle Application Object Library (FND).

 Oracle Applications Utilities (AU).

Oracle Configuration Manager

OCM facilitates support for Oracle products. Its use is recommended but not necessary.
Some of its essential characteristics are:

 OCM consumes minimal CPU resources.

 It supports the automatic delivery of the installed components and configuration

information.

 It provides continuous tracking of crucial Oracle and system statistics of the

machine on which it is running.

Data Collection and Transformation: Data collected via the Oracle configuration
manager is sent through HTTPS to Oracle support. After this, Oracle support maintains
an up-to-date view of Oracle installation. This helps rewrite the sentence avoid problems
proactively, and reduce the time required to resolve the support issues.
Nomenclature in Oracle E-Business Suite 12
There are many products in Oracle E-Business Suite that have abbreviated names in the
form of two or three letters. These short names represent the full names of the product.
Some examples of these abbreviations are:

 FIN: Financials.

 BIS: Business Intelligence.

 ATG: Applications Technology.

 SCM: Supply Chain Management.

 HR: Human Resources.

Please answer the following questions

The _____ listener servlet caches data and provides it to the client
upon need.

Answer instructions
Submit answer

In the _____ tier, HTML or HTML-based applications provide the client

interface via a Java applet.

Answer instructions
Submit answer

The Oracle Application Framework is designed to facilitate the fast

deployment of HTML-based applications.

Answer instructions
FalseTrueSubmit answer

What happens when the centralization of Oracle E-Business Suite is

done on the application tier?

Answer instructions
Oracle E-Business Suite gets scaled with increasing load.Shared APPL_TOP maintains
only a single copy of the relevant Oracle E-Business Suite codeTelecommunication cost
gets reducedThe need of installing and maintaining the application on the client's PC
gets eliminated.Fault tolerance gets indicatedSubmit answer

The architecture of the forms listener servlet uses ______

infrastructure for communicating with the Oracle Database.

Answer instructions
Oracle Net NetworkingE-Business suiteTCP/IP networkOracle HomeDatabase
patchesSubmit answer

In the processing details of Oracle Application Framework, step _____

is the validation of user access by AOL/J.

Answer instructions
Submit answer
In the processing details of Oracle Application Framework, step _____
is the validation of user access by AOL/J.

Answer instructions
Submit answer