Revisiting Silent: Installs Are they still useful?

Revisiting Silent Installs Are they still useful?

November 14th, 2012

09:40-10:25

Room vt445

Ahmed Aboulnaga Technical Director

Raastech, Inc.

of 38 © Raastech, Inc. 2012 | All rights reserved.

1. Introduction

2. The Problem

3. The Solution

4. The Bigger Problem

5. The Only Solution

6. Summary

Agenda


INTRODUCTION


Ahmed Aboulnaga

15+ years of Oracle middleware experience

Focus on Oracle Fusion Middleware, with emphasis on

SOA, portal, and collaboration technologies

OCE (SOA Architect, SOA Foundation Practitioner) and

OCA (Application Server)

Author / Presenter / Blogger

President of WMOUG

About Me


THE PROBLEM


Back in the late 90’s, Oracle came out with a “24 hour

install” document for Oracle Applications 11… this was a

major breakthrough!

In the early 2000’s, OEX was released… just another

Oracle Applications module to provide auction/exchange

functionality

40 man hours to install

Use Case #1: Oracle Exchange 6.2


1. Confirm Solaris requirements

2. OS hardening

3. Untar middle tiers

4. Set profile for Exchange application owner

5. Verify JDK version

6. Configure tnsnames.ora

7. Make custom template fixes

8. Fix bug in one of the scripts

9. Configure parameters

10. Configure iHelp

11. Configure wfmail.tag

12. Perform post install operations

13. Create custom check scripts

14. Fix error in the MasterScript.sh

15. Disable non-required services on non-MT1 servers

16. Create adpatch shortcut

17. Recompile objects in the Apps schema

18. Change port number through Software Setup

19. Login Maintenance page

20. Custom sendmail filtering

21. File system hardening

Use Case #1: Mid Tier Installation Steps


34. Log onto MT1 as “a_gnxap”

35. Type [cd $APACHE_TOP/bin; stopap.sh] if Apache/Jserv is

running

36. Type [cd $POM_TOP/patch/115/sql]

37. Type [sqlplus apps/apps]

38. Find out the operator shortname by typing:

SELECT DISTINCT operator_shortname FROM

pom_operator_parameters

39. Type [@unlockexch.sql] and enter the Exchange shortname from

the result above

Use Case #1: Oracle Exchange 6.2


THE SOLUTION


“Silent-mode installation allows you to define an installation

configuration only once and then use the configuration to

duplicate the installation on many machines.”

No graphical output, no input by the users.

“Non-interactive” installs have no graphical input, and a user

may enter input.

If you have not provided responses to all of the installer prompts, then

you need to enter information during the installation.

Typically requires the Oracle Universal Installer to be supplied with a response file as input via the -silent flag.

Silent Installs


Non-interactive

Particularly useful if you have a large number of

environments you need to build or rebuild

Reduces human errors

Benefits of Silent Installs


Have patience…

Disadvantages of Silent Installs


Run the Universal Installer and click on the “Save” button

when complete

Creating a Response File – Option 2


Create a response file manually (e.g., install.db.rsp)

Creating a Response File – Option 1

RESPONSEFILE_VERSION=2.2.1.0.0

FROM_LOCATION_CD_LABEL=<Value Unspecified>

TOPLEVEL_COMPONENT={"oracle.tip.pcbpel","10.1.3.1.0"}

SHOW_SPLASH_SCREEN=false

SHOW_WELCOME_PAGE=false

CLUSTER_NODES={}

ACCEPT_LICENSE_AGREEMENT=true

SELECTED_LANGUAGES={"en"}

INSTALL_TYPE="BPEL Process Manager for OracleAS Middle Tier"

UNIX_GROUP_NAME="dba"

FROM_LOCATION="/u01/install/stage/products.xml"

ORACLE_HOME="/u01/app/oracle/product/10.1.3/OracleAS_1"

ORACLE_HOME_NAME="oracleas1"


Run the Universal Installer with the response file as input

Starting a Silent Install

runInstaller -silent

-responseFile install.db.rsp

-waitForCompletion


There are a total of 104 MTF’s located throughout the

United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

Use Case #2: OEM Grid Control 10g Agents

Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control 10g

MTF MTF MTF MTF MTF MTF

Each MTF has 4-8 agents

installed.

OMS used to monitor and

administers all remote

servers.


Response file vary by product and are not all the same

Oracle WebLogic Server does not use a response file, and

uses something called a “silent.xml” file

The Rapid Wizard, used for Oracle E-Business Suite uses

yet a different format

The concepts are all the same, but the implementation is

different

A few gotchas with silent installs…

rapidwiz -silent -config CONFIG_FILE [-progress_only]


Creating oraInst.loc or performing OS prerequisites

Installing Java

Running the RCU for Oracle Fusion Middleware

Or god forbid some custom configuration or activities that

can only be done manually

There’s no escaping manual scripting

echo "inventory_loc=/home/oracle/oraInventory" > /etc/oraInst.loc

echo "inst_group=oinstall" >> /etc/oraInst.loc

chown oracle:oinstall /etc/oraInst.loc

chmod 750 jrockit-jdk1.6.0_31-R28.2.3-4.1.0-linux-x64.bin

jrockit-jdk1.6.0_31-R28.2.3-4.1.0-linux-x64.bin

$RCU_HOME/bin/rcu -silent –createRepository -connectString

[dbhost]:[dbport]:[servicename] –dbUser sys –dbRole sysdba –

schemaPrefix [prefix] –component SOA


THE BIGGER PROBLEM


Oracle Application Server Installation Guide 10g Release 3 (10.1.3.1.0) for

Linux x86 http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B31017_01/linux.1013/install.pdf

Oracle Application Server Enterprise Deployment Guide 10g Release 3

(10.1.3.3.0) http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E10291_01/core.1013/e10294.pdf

Oracle Application Integration Architecture for Communications 2.0:

Installation Guide Release 2.0 Part No. E10919-01 – November 2007

Installing AIA for Communications 2.0 and 2.0.1 on Oracle SOA Suite

Cluster Deployments Oracle Metalink Note: 728144.1

Clustering Oracle Service Registry in an Oracle Application Server 10g R3

Environment http://www.oracle.com/technology/tech/soa/uddi/osr_cluster_config.pdf

Use Case #3: Oracle AIA for Communications


Oracle Application Server Installation Guide 10g Release 3 (10.1.3.1.0) for

Linux x86 http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B31017_01/linux.1013/install.pdf

Oracle Application Server Enterprise Deployment Guide 10g Release 3

(10.1.3.3.0) http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E10291_01/core.1013/e10294.pdf

Oracle Application Integration Architecture for Communications 2.0:

Installation Guide Release 2.0 Part No. E10919-01 – November 2007

Installing AIA for Communications 2.0 and 2.0.1 on Oracle SOA Suite

Cluster Deployments Oracle Metalink Note: 728144.1

Clustering Oracle Service Registry in an Oracle Application Server 10g R3

Environment http://www.oracle.com/technology/tech/soa/uddi/osr_cluster_config.pdf

Use Case #3: Oracle AIA for Communications

88 pages of manual steps

33 pages of manual steps

37 pages

13 pages

174 pages


This is enterprise software;

Multiple topologies, multiple tiers, multiple architectures supported to

accommodate your hardware, networking, and security needs

Many interdependent technologies;

BPEL Process Manager

Enterprise Service Bus (ESB)

Oracle Web Services Manager (OWSM)

Application Integration Architecture (AIA)

Oracle Service Registry (OSR)

Oracle Application Server

Use Case #3: Installation… why so complicated?


72 unique parameters required during installation

10 GUI installations needed per server

To install AIA 2.0.1 for Communications on a cluster, steps

to install and configure Node 1 and Node 2 differ

Due to amount of manual steps, installations are prone to

human error

Average time needed: ~10 days/environment

Use Case #3: Installation Challenges


THE ONLY SOLUTION


Scripted approach developed

Leverages “silent” installations

All manual steps are scripted

Includes prerequisite checks

Checks for all required files

Checks all required OS prerequisites (RPMs, disk space, system

configuration settings)

Some manual steps are required

Due to documented bugs in silent installer of some products

Due to managing the 2-node installation

Solution and Approach: Scripted Installations


A single property file is used

Custom Property File

#----------------------------------------

# OHS Oracle Home

#----------------------------------------

OHS_ORACLE_HOME=/u01/app/oracle/product/10.1.3/OracleAS_1

[email protected]

#----------------------------------------

# J2EE Oracle Home

#----------------------------------------

J2EE_ORACLE_HOME=/u01/app/oracle/product/10.1.3/OracleAS_1

J2EE_INSTANCE_NAME_J2EE=appnode1

J2EE_OC4J_ADMIN_CONTAINER=admin

#----------------------------------------

# These are new passwords that will be created

#----------------------------------------

PASSWORD_NEW_OC4JADMIN=welcome1

PASSWORD_NEW_ORABPEL=orabpel

PASSWORD_NEW_ORAESB=oraesb

PASSWORD_NEW_UDDIUSER=uddiuser

#----------------------------------------

# AIA properties (for Siebel)

#----------------------------------------

AIA_SIEBEL_HOST_NAME=qacrm

AIA_SIEBEL_PORT_NUM=80

AIA_SIEBEL_USERNAME=SiebelTest1


Verbose/interactive mode supported

Pauses between steps

Allows the ability to observe exact commands being executed

Verbose Mode Supported

==>

==> Create response file /u01/scripts/temp/install.gtwypatchset.rsp

==> PRESS ENTER

==>

==> Command to execute for silent install 10.1.3.3 patchset:

./Disk1/runInstaller -silent -responseFile

/u01/scripts/temp/install.gtwypatchset.rsp -waitForCompletion

==> PRESS ENTER


Detailed logging

Date/timestamp

Filename

Brief description

Detailed change

Detailed Logging

2010-01-21 | 16:56:21 |

/u01/app/oracle/product/10.1.3/OracleAS_1/opmn/conf/opmn.xml |

Disable proxy configuration for OC4J_ESBDT |

Replaced string [-Dhttp.proxySet=true] with string [-

Dhttp.proxySet=false]

2010-01-22 | 13:36:39 |

/u01/app/oracle/product/10.1.3/OracleAS_1/bpel/domains/default/

config/log4j-config.xml |

Modify logging |

Replaced string [<param name="MaxBackupIndex" value="10"/>]

with string [<param name="MaxBackupIndex" value="30"/>]


Customers install and maintain anywhere from 3-12

internally environments

New environments can be reinstalled and/or baselined

quickly if needed

Follows Oracle documentation 100%

Can be customized to support different topologies

Benefits of this Approach

Install times reduced from 10 days (manual) to 4 hours (automated)

Human errors are eliminated

Performs a full 2-node clustered installation

All environments are exactly identical

BENEFITS OF SCRIPTED INSTALLATIONS


Took several weeks to develop

Needs to be redone for major upgrades

Gets more complicated in clustered installations

Multiple scripting approaches is needed

Disadvantages of Approach


SUMMARY


Understand what the “silent install” process is and how to

perform it

Understand what a response file is

Understand that though the concepts are the same, different

“silent install” methods may be used among different Oracle

products

The more complicated the topology and architecture, the

more complicated your scripting will be

It is near impossible to get away from manual scripting

Share high-level experiences of actual implementations

Take Aways


Cloning

Virtualization

Suck it up and install it manually

Alternatives


Back up the Middleware installation using copyBinary.sh

Restore the Middleware installation using pasteBinary.sh

Archive the WebLogic domain using copyConfig.sh

Extract the move plan using extractMovePlan.sh

Edit the moveplan.xml configuration file

Use pasteConfig.sh to extract archive in target system

Cloning Oracle Fusion Middleware


Cloning Oracle Fusion Middleware


Virtualization

vmhost1

172.21.100.34

dbhost1

192.168.1.100

webapp1

172.21.100.80

172.21.100.34 : 1111

1111

1521

1521

vmhost2

172.21.100.44

dbhost1

192.168.1.100

webapp2

172.21.100.90

172.21.100.44 : 1111

1111

1521

1521

dbhost2

192.168.1.101

1522


Silent or non-interactive installations should be

evaluated on a case-by-case basis depending on your

environment and needs.

Silently installing a single-node database is a cinch.

Weigh the pros and cons of spending a tremendous

amount of time developing an error-free provisioning

process.

There is no cloning, provisioning, or automated

installation process that does not require extensive

development and testing up front.

My Opinion


Contact Information

Ahmed Aboulnaga

Technical Director

[email protected]

Revisiting Silent: Installs Are they still useful?

Technology

Transcript of Revisiting Silent: Installs Are they still useful?