Installing and Setting up Oracle Fusion Middleware Environment

Setting up an Oracle Fusion Middleware environment is pretty straightforward.  However I'm always getting asked by people new to Oracle environments or JDeveloper what they need to install.  So I've included some simple instructions for setting up an Oracle Fusion Middleware environment and explaining the components.

Steps for setting up Oracle Fusion Middleware

   1. Join the Oracle Technology Network (OTN) if not already a member.   After going to OTN.oracle.com, on the top right part of the screen there is a signin window.  If not already a member you need to join (it's free).  OTN is your primary Oracle resource for software downloads, whitepapers, forums, documentation as an Oracle developer.  OTN will contain downloads for all software installs for this environment.

   2. Install Oracle JDeveloper 11g.  JDeveloper is an enterprise Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that contains all the user interfaces and components for different types of middleware applications and components.   Click the license agreement and install JDeveloper for the platform you are using.  Although I'm a Mac user, I'm using the Windows version due to the larger install base.  Go to the download directory for the platform you are running and run the software you downloaded.  If  you go with the default and complete install, some of the key feature can be seen in the list below.  This list highlights the amount of functionality in JDeveloper.

    * Oracle JDeveloper (Integrated Development Environment)
    * Oracle ADF (Application Development Framework)
    * Oracle WebLogic Server (Application Server)
    * JDK 6 (Windows and Linux)
    * Oracle SOA Suite
    * Oracle WebCenter
    * UML Development
    * XML Development
    * Database Development
    * Web Services Development
    * Oracle Toplink Development
    * ADF Faces and Business Components
    * Oracle Toplink Development
    * Java EE Application Server Integration and Deployment

   3.  Install an Oracle database server.  I'd recommend a version of Oracle Database Server 11g or the Express Edition.  If you have DBA experience and can set up a loopback adapter I'd set up the Oracle Database Server 11g.  If a developer and don't want to mess with managing a database server, l then I'd highly recommend installing the Oracle Database 10g Express Edition. This is a pretty simple point and click database environment.   Go to OTN and install the database version you'd prefer to work with (installation instructions can be found on OTN).   Go to the JDeveloper New Menu and choose database connection and you're on your way.

You now have a nice environment for developing Oracle Fusion Middleware components or applications.

• Oracle JDeveloper
• Oracle Weblogic Application Server
• Oracle Database Server

Two great sources for getting started include:

• JDeveloper and Oracle Fusion Middleware documentation available on OTN.
• Online demos, tutorials and code samples available in the Help Menu of JDeveloper.

Oracle Fusion Special Interest Group Meeting in Denver, Oct 22, 2009

There is such strong interest in Denver, there is going to be a meeting October 22, 2009 about starting a Special Interest Group (SIG) surrounding Oracle Fusion Middleware.

Oracle JDeveloper and Eclipse

Oracle offers two strong solutions for developing Java applications: Oracle JDeveloper 11g and the Enterprise Eclipse Pack.

• The Enterprise Eclipse Pack makes it easy for Java (BEA) developers to develop and deploy applications to the Oracle WebLogic Server.
• Oracle JDeveloper is a fully integrated IDE for developing applications.
  

Key features new in JDeveloper 11gR1:

• Metadata Services (MDS).
• ADF Desktop Integration
• SOA Suite
• WebCenter Framework and Services     
• Team Productivity Center (TPC)

Key components in Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g:

• JDeveloper and ADF
• SOA Suite 11g
• WebCenter 11g
• WebLogic Suite 11g
• Identity Management 11g

Oracle Fusion Terminology and Components

Oracle Fusion can be looked at from two perspectives: Oracle Fusion Applications and the Oracle Fusion Middleware Platform. 

• Oracle Fusion Applications  are the next generation  of Oracle applications integrating Oracle, PeopleSoft, JD Edwards, Siebel, Retek, etc. applications. 
• The Oracle Fusion Middleware Platform focuses on the technology components of Oracle Fusion Applications (XML, J2EE, Web Services, SOA, BPEL, BAM, Business Rules, ...).

Terminology

Oracle's Application Integration Architecture (AIA) is a standards-based platform that integrates pre-defined business processes across Oracle, third party and user applications.    AIA is implemented with Oracle ESB and BPEL.

Oracle Fusion is a standards based integrated solution for middleware applications. In today's complex multi-tiered architectures this is a very important strategic direction. The alternative of putting together best of product solutions from different vendors can be a high risk approach. Integrating solutions from multiple vendors creates integration challenges in large complex environments. The integration issues often become cost prohibitive over a period of time. The down time, errors and maintenance costs of multiple vendor solutions can be significant.

The Oracle Fusion Middleware platform addresses the technology components that are the center of Oracle Fusion Applications which include the Application Server, SOA, Web Services, J2EE, XML, BPEL, ADF, Identity Management, Portals, Grid, Single-Signon, etc.

Key Oracle Fusion Middleware Components

• Oracle Fusion Architecture
  
• Oracle JDeveloper
  
• Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE)
  
• Oracle Application Development Framework (ADF)
  
• Oracle TopLink/EclipseLink
• Java Management Extensions (JMX)
  
• Web Services
  
• XML, XQuery and XSLT
  
• Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)
  
• Oracle WebLogic Application Server
  

Additional Fusion Components

• Oracle Fusion Service Registry
  
• Event-Driven Architecture (EDA)
  
• Identity Management
  
• Secure Socket Layer (SSL)
  
• Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML)
  
• Security Provisioning Markup Language (SPML)
  
• Integrated Services Environment (ISE)
  
• Oracle Portal
  
• Oracle WebCenter
  
• Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
  
• Oracle Internet Directory (OID)
  
• Oracle Business Activity Monitoring (BAM)
  
• Business Process Execution Language (BPEL)
  
• Oracle BPEL Process Manager
  
• Data Provisioning
  
• Oracle Grid Control
  
• Messaging systems (JMS and AQ, also supports MQ Series, Sonic ME and Tibco)
  
• Database caching (TimesTen, Web Cache, Java Object Cache)
  
• Single Sign-On (SSO)
  
• XML Publisher
  

What's a DBA Like You Doing in a Middleware Like This?

To a lot of people I'm known as an Oracle DBA.  So with my background in Oracle database technology (RAC, Data Guard, Streams, Backup/Recovery, Performance) I'm often asked why am I spending so much time as an Oracle Fusion Middleware evangelist.  So here are some of the reasons why I stay so involved with Oracle Fusion Middleware:

• Follow the money: Money spent in the middleware arena is going to significantly exceed the money spent in the database.
• Multi-tiered infrastructures can get very complex, so my database and middle-tier background allows me to solve enterprise issues across multiple technology stacks.
• The middle-tier market growth is going to accelerate significantly over the next few years.
• Love it:  I really enjoy working in working in SOA environments.
• The excitement:  A lot of the excitement and energy in organizations is solving challenges in the middle-tier with SOA, Web Services, XML, J2EE, BPEL, Business Rules, BAM, etc.

Some thoughts to consider:

• STAMFORD, Conn., May 6, 2009 — Revenue in the application infrastructure and middleware (AIM) software market totaled $15.1 billion worldwide in 2008 according to Gartner.  The saturated database market is a little over $15 billion.  As the economy picks up, the market growth for middleware will be significantly higher than the database market.
  
• As Oracle Fusion business applications start to roll out there is going to be an increasing demand for Oracle Fusion middleware experts.
  

Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Launch - Denver

Denver - August 25, 2009

The Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Launch was an excellent event. Along with the launch event, I was impressed with all of the Oracle Fusion Middleware expertise in Denver. There were a number of former BEA experts now helping lead the charge with Oracle Fusion as well as some of the top middleware talent in the world can be found locally in Denver. 

The networking at the breakfast (thanks Oracle for some fantastic food) and during lunch was as beneficial as the presentations. I attended four excellent presentations:

• Keynote: Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g
  
• Oracle SOA Suite 11g: Enabling the Foundation for Next Generation Business Applications
• Oracle Fusion Middleware and Cloud Computing
• Best Practices for Designing Your Data Warehouse - The Complete Story

Although the keynote contained a lot of marketing information, there was some excellent points raised during the presentation. This presentation highlighted key features in the Oracle Fusion Middleware 11gR1 release. The new features are very impressive. You can hardly recognize the Oracle 10g and 11g releases of Oracle Fusion Middleware. Three areas that really stood out for me include:

• All the features/functionality, bells and whistles in the new release.
• How complete all the functionality is within the JDeveloper IDE.
• The level of integration.

Key components in Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g:

• JDeveloper and ADF
• SOA Suite 11g
• WebCenter 11g
• WebLogic Suite 11g
• Identity Management 11g

I really thought Ashish Mohindroo did an excellent job of showing how Oracle Fusion Middleware fits into cloud computing. This is an excellent discussion on Cloud Computing fundamentals and how Oracle Fusion Middleware plays a key role in the cloud environment.

Kudos for an outstanding launch event.

Starting my Oracle Fusion Middleware Blog

I've decided to start this Oracle Fusion Middleware blog to share my experiences and insights.  So this blog will contain my ongoing journey with Oracle Fusion Middleware.



Highlights of my Oracle Fusion Middleware Journey

• Taught the first JDeveloper class at Oracle Corporate headquarters. I taught the class using the first beta release of JDeveloper.
• As the Director of SIGs (Special Interest Groups) for the Independent Oracle Users Group seen the growth of middleware technology in the user community.
• As a Board of Director for the IOUG lead the effort to help the Oracle user community understand the growing importance in middleware technology around database infrastructures.
• As a member of the Oracle Fusion Council I have been an evangelist for Oracle Fusion Middleware.
• As a leader in the Oracle Beta Leadership Council worked to keep the Oracle user community heavily involved in the Oracle beta program and the evolution of Fusion Middleware.
  
• As a master keynote presenter delivered presentations such as Demystifying Oracle Fusion Middleware around the world.
• Since the first release of Java have been delivering presentations and classes on the Fusion Middleware technology stack (XML, Web Services, BPEL, SOA, SOAP, J2EE, ...).
  
• Recognized as Oracle ACE in the Oracle Fusion Middleware technology stack.