Cloning eBS environment on windows....

For a new project I am working with Oracle eBS 11i on the windows platform. When cloning an environment using rapidclone, the database clone is showing me an error. When the clone is trying to create a new controlfile, the following error is shown :

The log information will be written to
"F:\oracle\behdb\9.2.0\appsutil\log\beh_smdbp02\adcrdb.txt"
ECHO is off.
ECHO is off.
Creating the control file for beh database ...
ECHO is off.
SQL*Plus: Release 9.2.0.6.0 - Production on Wed Mar 31 12:51:21 2010
Copyright (c) 1982, 2002, Oracle Corporation. All rights reserved.
ERROR:
ORA-12705: invalid or unknown NLS parameter value specified

ORA-01031: insufficient privileges

The Oracle service on windows is started, but when I try to connect using sql..

F:\oracle\behdb\9.2.0>sqlplus /nolog
SQL*Plus: Release 9.2.0.6.0 - Production on Wed Mar 31 14:03:12 2010
Copyright (c) 1982, 2002, Oracle Corporation. All rights reserved.
SQL> conn / as sysdba
ERROR:
ORA-12705: invalid or unknown NLS parameter value specified

So what is going wrong here ?? I have checked the NLS settings. They look the same as the ones in the source db. In the registry only the NLS_LANG is set.
I also tried creating the Oracle service by starting it with the pfile, but still the same error...
I am still looking for a solution...

Happy Xmas to everybody !!!!!

Login problems R12

On our R12 eBS environment we are facing a problem when loggin in. It does not happen all the time, because we use more then one web node (loadbalancer), but when trying to acces the login page the following error is shown...

"Unable to generate forwarding URL. Exception: oracle.apps.fnd.cache.CacheException"

or a blank page is shown instead of the login page. In the applications.log file ($INST_TOP/logs/ora/10.1.3/j2ee/oacore/oacore_default_group_1), I found the following error :

09/11/10 08:04:38.130 html: chain failed
javax.servlet.ServletException: java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to create user session. Please contact your System Administrator.
at com.evermind[Oracle Containers for J2EE 10g (10.1.3.4.0) ].server.http.EvermindPageContext.handlePageThrowable(EvermindPageContext.java:899)
at com.evermind[Oracle Containers for J2EE 10g (10.1.3.4.0) ].server.http.EvermindPageContext.handlePageException(EvermindPageContext.java:816)
at _AppsLocalLogin._jspService(_AppsLocalLogin.java:303)
at com.orionserver[Oracle Containers for J2EE 10g (10.1.3.4.0) ].http.OrionHttpJspPage.service(OrionHttpJspPage.java:59)
at oracle.jsp.runtimev2.JspPageTable.service(JspPageTable.java:379)
at oracle.jsp.runtimev2.JspServlet.internalService(JspServlet.java:594)
at oracle.jsp.runtimev2.JspServlet.service(JspServlet.java:518)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:856)
at com.evermind[Oracle Containers for J2EE 10g (10.1.3.4.0) ].server.http.ResourceFilterChain.doFilter(ResourceFilterChain.java:64)
at oracle.apps.jtf.base.session.ReleaseResFilter.doFilter(ReleaseResFilter.java:26)
at com.evermind[Oracle Containers for J2EE 10g (10.1.3.4.0) ].server.http.EvermindFilterChain.doFilter(EvermindFilterChain.java:15)
at oracle.apps.fnd.security.AppsServletFilter.doFilter(AppsServletFilter.java:318)
at com.evermind[Oracle Containers for J2EE 10g (10.1.3.4.0) ].server.http.ServletRequestDispatcher.invoke(ServletRequestDispatcher.java:621)
at com.evermind[Oracle Containers for J2EE 10g (10.1.3.4.0) ].server.http.ServletRequestDispatcher.forwardInternal(ServletRequestDispatcher.java:37 )
at com.evermind[Oracle Containers for J2EE 10g (10.1.3.4.0) ].server.http.HttpRequestHandler.doProcessRequest(HttpRequestHandler.java:871)
at com.evermind[Oracle Containers for J2EE 10g (10.1.3.4.0) ].server.http.HttpRequestHandler.processRequest(HttpRequestHandler.java:453)
at com.evermind[Oracle Containers for J2EE 10g (10.1.3.4.0) ].server.http.AJPRequestHandler.run(AJPRequestHandler.java:313)
at com.evermind[Oracle Containers for J2EE 10g (10.1.3.4.0) ].server.http.AJPRequestHandler.run(AJPRequestHandler.java:199)
at oracle.oc4j.network.ServerSocketReadHandler$SafeRunnable.run(ServerSocketReadHandler.java:260)
at com.evermind[Oracle Containers for J2EE 10g (10.1.3.4.0) ].util.ReleasableResourcePooledExecutor$MyWorker.run(ReleasableResourcePooledExecutor.java:303)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:619)

Searching Metalink did not solve this. I could only find something about APPS_TS_ARCHIVE tablespace being full...
What could cause this problem in R12 ??

It seems it is unable to create a user session at that moment.

Missing AppsLogin.jsp...

I am still facing the same problem with my R12 upgrade.
When running the post install checks using Rapidwiz , only the JSP and the Login page show errors.
For jsp I see 'JSP not responding, waiting 15 seconds and retesting'
and the Login Page shows 'RW-50016: Error. -{0} was not created. File= {1}'

The strange thing is that all other checks are oke. Even the /OA_HTML/help check !
So, the problem is not in the /OA_HTML/ part I think. But when trying to open the help or AppsLogin.jsp in a browser shows me the same error. '/OA_HTML/AppsLogin.jsp not found on this server'

To be continued...

R12 upgrade

I Finally upgraded my 11.5.10.2 environment to R12.
I followed the steps mentioned in the different upgrade guides. What do I have runing right now ?

- Oracle eBS 12.0.6
- Oracle database 10.2.0.4
- Oracle tech stack (old ora directory) 10.1.2.3.0
- Oracle tech stack (old iAS directory) 10.1.3.4.0

So, having no problems during the upgrade proces, I finished starting al services. When trying to login my new upgraded eBS I recieved an error saying the /OA_HTML/AppsLogin.sjp could not be found on this server...

At first I thought some config must be missing, but before looking at those conifg files I first checked if the file AppsLogin.jsp was in the $OA_HTML directory. I was suprised to see the jsp was not in the $OA_HTML ??? Were is the jsp ? And why is it not in this directory ?
I used the same stage area before to perform an fresh install of R12, and the AppsLogin.jsp was always in the right place !

So, this is the stage I am in at this moment. Upgrade finished with no errors od problems o nthe way. But my AppsLogin.jsp is missing !

To be continued...

R12 upgrade

Finally I started my owm R12 uprgade last week.
I installed 11.5.10.2 on Oracle Linux 5, so I could upgrade this environment to R12.
At this moment I am installing the upgrade pacth for R12.

After installing the vision environment 11i, I used the rapidwiz to create the R12 environment on that same machine.
I will post al the upgrade steps when I am finished upgrading...

Removing Credentials from a Cloned EBS Database

During the post clone actions, changing the apps pasword went wrong. Because of that the applsys and apps password were not the same anymore. Trying to fix the problem using FNDCPASS was useless, FNDCPASS was not working anymore.
We saw 'APP-FND-02704: Unable to alter user APPS to change password.' in the log file. After trying it again, 'APP-FND-02704: Unable to alter user APPLSYS to change password.' appeared in the logfile. At t his moment both passwords could not be changed anymore using FNDCPASS.

The first thing we tried was restoring FND_USER and FND_ORACLE_USERID from our production database. Exporting the data from both tables and importing it in the cloned database did not solve the problem. This should work normally, but not if you have already run autoconfig....and we did before the passwords became out of sync.
Note 419475.1 from Metalink solved the problem. Resetting all passwords in the database (eBS and non eBS database users), did solve this !

OEM problem solved...

The OEM problem with the http server not startign is solved. We solved the problem by installing an older version of the package libdb.so.2 (for Suse 10 install older version of 1_db).
After this the http server started and I was able to continue the install.

At the end of the install again a http error...

[Wed Apr 22 11:41:33 2009] [error] mod_ossl: Unknown error
[Wed Apr 22 11:41:37 2009] [error] mod_ossl: Init: Server oracle-grid-control.waterschapsgis.nl:1159: SSL setup failed: call to nzos_RetrievePersonaCopy returned error 28788
[Wed Apr 22 11:41:37 2009] [error] mod_ossl: Unknown error

I could not remember seeing this error before, but I found a sollution anyway. I solved it by adjusting the httpd_em.conf and changing the SSLWallet file and passsword. These values must be the same as in the ssl.conf file.

So, after some problemns I managed to install the OEM 10.2.0.1 on Suse 10 linux.
After this , I upgraded to OEM 10.2.0.5 (certified on Suse 10) and I upgraded the OEM repository to 10.2.0.4.
Now, the different targets can be configured for monitoring.

OEM10gR2 install on Suse linux 10

I am facing a problem....
Again I am trying to install OEM10gR2 on SUSE LINUX 10.
I know it's not certified by Oracle, but I have to install it anyway. Everything seems to go fine, but when the installer wants to start the opmn services...it returns an error.
The HTTP_SERVER is not starting, the following error is in the logfile..

Cannot load /opt/oracle/product/oem/oms10g/Apache/Apache/libexec/mod_auth_dbm.so into server: /opt/oracle/product/oem/oms10g/Apache/Apache/libexec/mod_auth_dbm.so: undefined symbol: dbm_fetch

Tracing web session in eBS

Because of a problem in Oracle Emailcenter I had to create a trace file of my web session.
Here are the steps taken :

This process can be used to trace any action, anywhere in Oracle Applications and be very useful for the Self-Service Web Applications as there is no utility defined like in the Forms.

a. First make sure the necessary profile has the proper permissions.
1. Log onto the Applications Forms with the Application Developer Responsibility
2. Navigate to the Profile menu
3. Query up the profile name "FND_INIT_SQL"
4. In the bottom block of the form, make sure that ALL checkboxes are checked Typically, you will have to enable the checkboxes under "User Access" to make it "Visible" and "Updatable".

b. Now switch to the System Administrator Responsibility
1. Navigate to - Profile - System
2. On the "Find System Profile Values" form, make sure the checkboxes for "User" and "Profiles with no Values" are checked
3. Beside the "User" checkbox, use the LOV to select the user who's activity you need to trace
4. In the "Profile" field, enter the following profile and click the button: 'Initialization SQL Statement - Custom'
5. In the "System Profile Values" form, enter the following in the User Field: (This is one line and all single quotes)

begin fnd_ctl.fnd_sess_ctl('','','TRUE','TRUE','LOG','ALTER SESSION SET EVENTS=''10046 TRACE NAME CONTEXT FOREVER, LEVEL 12'' tracefile_identifier=''bklaassen'' max_dump_file_size=''unlimited'''); end;

6. DO NOT SAVE THE PROFILE YET

7. In another browser window, login as the user you are going to trace and prepare to reproduce the problem
8. Once you are ready to reproduce the problem, go back to the Applications Forms and Save the profile change
9. Reproduce the problem
10. Back in the Applications form, set profile to null so it does not trace anymore and Save the change
11. The trace will be located in the user_dump_dest. To find location run the following in SQL*Plus: select value from v$parameter where name = 'user_dump_dest';
12. The trace file will have current date/time and can be identified with the word bklaassen in it.


Note : for an example with screenshots of eBS follow this link :)
http://oracle-apps-dba.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-enable-trace-for-crm-session.html

Oracle eBS and SOA session...

It is still two months ahead us, but I already signed up for this session. Amis is presenting the EBS and SOA session on 19 March. The session is located in Nieuwegein and is in dutch.
So, if you are living in the Netherlands and interested in eBS and SOA, check the Amis site !!

http://www.amis.nl/activiteiten.php?id=682&preview=&draft=

Christmas 2008

I want to wish everybody a merry X'mas and a very good 2009 !!!!

Oracle Application Manager

We have a lot off forms users in out eBS environment. Because of this there are also a lot of forms sessions running for a long time. I use the Oracle Application Manager to check the current forms sessions and kill them when running for more then 10 hours....














In OAM the forms sessions screen looks like this..

This print is taken from a test environment, but in the production environment you will see more forms sessions. Select a session and press the 'Sessions Details' button. On the next screen you will see the logon date and time, the session id, status and much more. Also you can kill the forms session.

Ucertify Prepkits

And again I am able to offer a 10% discount on any PrepKit from Ucertify.
Just go to the site and use the following discount code 'BASK10'. Good luck with your certification...

Oracle Modernization Solutions

'A Practical guide to planning and implementing SOA Integration and Re-architecting to an Oracle platform'


Last week I recieved the book 'Oracle Modernization Solutions' from Packt Publishing. I was asked to review this book. The book is written by Tom Laszewski and Jason Williamson. The book describes different ways to modernize your business IT. The book is a technical dive on two approaches for Legacy Modernization, namely SOA enablement and re-architecture. They focus on these two methods because SOA is a modernization option for staying on a mainframe and re-architecture for moving off the mainframe.

According to the book there are several business objectives for a modernization project :
- Agility (enable innovation within the business)
- Value (expose and extend business value locked in the lagacy system)
- Reduced Cost
- Dwindling Technology Resources (there seems to be a decline in experienced IT personnel)

I just started, but already the book is taking most of my free time :) It's good stuff and very interesting. Although I have not finished the book yet, I already recommend this book to other Oracle technical specialists (like dba's or architects)

Freelancer

This morning I arrived at work, as a freelance Oracle eBS Dba. Did I notice anything different ? Not yet, but it sure feels good !

Which Oracle books should be published ?

Packt, an online book shop will be publishing more than a dozen Oracle titles in 2009. In order to better understand what information the Oracle community wants, they are looking at which topic areas and tools users would like to see covered. Therfore they created a short survey which can be found here https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=QPlgF94Ha5Q_2fkNiHBvIzaw_3d_3dand
So, check it out and let them now which books to publish.

Oracle E-Business Suite Technology Stack Certifications

Another great experiment from Steven Chan. A single page with all the certifications for eBS !! Normally I visit Metalink to check if a certain combination is certified, but it takes a few clicks before I see the result.
Now all the eBS certifications are bundeled in one site. Great !
Check the site yourself...

http://blogs.oracle.com/stevenchan/certifications.html

Oracle's Database Machine..

Because my former Amis colleques are again present at the OOW, I check the Amis blog every morning for Oracle news. This morning I noticed the following entry about a new oracle database Machine (hardware) called the Exadata Storage Server. So, after introducing their own OS (Oracle Enterprise Linux), they also created their own hardware to run the Oracle database.

Check the Amis blog for more detailed info...

http://technology.amis.nl/blog/?p=3503

eBS Certification Announcements

a lot of new eBS 11i and R12 Certification Announcements on the Steven Chan site, check for 11i the following url http://blogs.oracle.com/stevenchan/archives11i.html, for R12 http://blogs.oracle.com/stevenchan/archives12.html