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Oracle® Business Intelligence Discoverer Configuration Guide
10g Release 2 (10.1.2.1) for Microsoft Windows and Solaris Operating System (SPARC)
B13918-03
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3 Starting OracleBI Discoverer

Note: This chapter only applies to Discoverer Plus and Discoverer Viewer. For more information about configuring Discoverer Plus OLAP, see Chapter 6, "Configuring the Discoverer Catalog and Discoverer Plus OLAP".

This chapter explains how to start OracleBI Discoverer on a client browser machine in order to install and configure any required plug-ins (e.g. a Java runtime environment) or security certificates, and contains the following topics:

Notes

3.1 General information about starting OracleBI Discoverer

To start Discoverer Viewer, you just need an Internet browser, as follows:

Depending on what software you have installed on your machine, you might also need the following:

Notes

3.2 What are the supported Web browser versions for Discoverer?

For information about supported Web browser versions for Discoverer, see Oracle Business Intelligence Installation Guide.

When running Discoverer Viewer with Internet Explorer 5.0, note the following:

3.3 About restricting how users can start Discoverer

In a secure Discoverer environment you want to enable only authorized end users to access Discoverer. For example, you might want to limit users to read-only access to Discoverer workbooks using Discoverer Plus.

Depending on your security requirements, you might do any of the following to provide a secure Discoverer environment:

For more information about other Discoverer security features, see Chapter 14, "Maintaining security with OracleBI Discoverer".

3.4 What are the memory requirements and privileges required to start Discoverer Plus and Discoverer Viewer?

To start OracleBI Discoverer Plus, you require the following on the Discoverer Plus client machine (i.e. the browser machine):

To start OracleBI Discoverer Viewer, you need only to be able to run a standard Web browser (e.g. Microsoft Internet Explorer) that has JavaScript and cookies enabled.

3.5 About running Discoverer over HTTPS

Before you can run Discoverer over HTTPS (i.e. in Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) mode), you must have installed a security certificate from a Certificate Authority (e.g. Verisign) on the Oracle HTTP server on the OracleAS instance. For more information about installing security certificates, see Oracle Application Server Administrator's Guide and Oracle Application Server Security Guide.

An OracleAS installation includes a dummy certificate on the OracleAS instance that you can use to confirm that HTTPS is deployed. You must install a valid security certificate to make sure that communication with the OracleAS instance is secure.

A security certificate confirms to the Discoverer client machine that the holder of the security certificate is who they say they are.

How to start Discoverer over HTTPS is different for Discoverer Viewer and Discoverer Plus, as follows:

Notes

3.5.1 How to install a security certificate on a Discoverer Plus client machine

You install a security certificate on a Discoverer client machine when you start Discoverer Plus for the first time over HTTPS (i.e. in Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) mode).

Hint: If you do not have a JVM installed on the client machine, before you try to start Discoverer for the first time in Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) mode, do one of the following:

To install a Discoverer Plus security certificate:

  1. Start a Web browser and enter the Discoverer Plus HTTPS URL containing the fully qualified host name (including port number if required) used by your own OracleAS installation.

    For example:

    https://<host.domain>:<port>/discoverer/plus

    where:

    • <host.domain> is the server name and domain on which the Oracle HTTP Server is installed

    • <port> is the HTTPS port number (default 4443) on which Discoverer is installed

    • /discoverer/plus is the URL command that starts Discoverer Plus

    The Security Alert dialog is displayed.

    Description of ssl1.gif follows
    Description of the illustration ssl1.gif

  2. Click View Certificate to display the Certificate dialog.

  3. Display the Details tab.

    Description of ssl2.gif follows
    Description of the illustration ssl2.gif

  4. Click Copy to File to start the Certificate Export Wizard.

    Description of ssl3.gif follows
    Description of the illustration ssl3.gif

  5. Click Next to display the Export File Format page in the Certificate Export Wizard.

    Description of ssl4.gif follows
    Description of the illustration ssl4.gif

  6. Select the Base-64 encoded X.509 (.CER) radio button.

  7. Click Next to display the File to Export page in the Certificate Export Wizard.

    Description of ssl5.gif follows
    Description of the illustration ssl5.gif

    You now choose a temporary name and location for the exported certificate file.

  8. Enter a file location and file name (with a '.cer' extension) for the exported certificate file in the File name field (e.g. c:\tmp\mycertificate.cer).

  9. Click Next to display the final page of the Certificate Export Wizard dialog.

    Description of ssl6.gif follows
    Description of the illustration ssl6.gif

  10. Click Finish to complete the certificate installation.

    A confirmation dialog is displayed.

    Description of ssl7.gif follows
    Description of the illustration ssl7.gif

  11. Click OK to close the confirmation dialog and the Certificate Export Wizard and return to the Details tab of the Certificate dialog.

  12. Click OK in the Details tab of the Certificate dialog to return to the Security Alert dialog.

    Description of ssl1.gif follows
    Description of the illustration ssl1.gif

  13. Leave the Security Alert dialog displayed.

  14. Import the security certificate file that you saved earlier into the certificate store of the JVM you are using, as follows:

  15. (optional) Delete the certificate file that you saved earlier (e.g. c:\tmp\mycertificate.cer).

  16. At the Security Alert dialog, click Yes to accept the security certificate and start Discoverer Plus.

    Discoverer Plus starts in HTTPS mode and displays the Connect to OracleBI Discoverer page.

    Description of connect2.gif follows
    Description of the illustration connect2.gif

    Note: In HTTPS mode, Discoverer Plus displays a padlock symbol on the status bar of the browser, which indicates that the Web session is secure.

Notes

  • For information about installing security certificates with a JVM other than Java Plug-in, consult the proprietary documentation for that JVM.

  • If you install a new JVM when you start Discoverer Plus, you must reinstall the Web server's security certificate into the JVM certificate store on all client machines that run Discoverer Plus.

3.5.2 How to import certificate details into the JInitiator certificate store

When configuring Discoverer Plus to run over HTTPS using JInitiator, you import the certificate details into the JInitiator certificate store after you have used the Certificate Export Wizard to export a certificate file (for more information, see Section 3.5.1, "How to install a security certificate on a Discoverer Plus client machine").

To import certificate details into the JInitiator certificate store:

  1. Open the certificate file that you saved in Section 3.5.1, "How to install a security certificate on a Discoverer Plus client machine" in a text editor (e.g. c:\tmp\mycertificate.cer).

    The screenshot below shows a certificate file called mycertificate.cer opened in a text editor.

    Description of ssl8.gif follows
    Description of the illustration ssl8.gif

    JInitiator's certificate store is contained in a file called certdb.txt.

  2. Open the certdb.txt file in a separate text editor (for more information about the location of configuration files, see Section A.1, "List of Discoverer file locations").

  3. Copy the entire contents (including the '-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----' and '-----END CERTIFICATE-----' text) of the certificate file (e.g. c:\tmp\mycertificate.cer) to the end of the certdb.txt file.

  4. Save the certdb.txt file.

3.5.3 How to import certificate details into the Java Plug-in certificate store

When configuring Discoverer Plus to run over HTTPS using Java Plug-in, you import the certificate details into the Java Plug-in certificate store after you have used the Certificate Export Wizard to export a certificate file.

  1. Display the Java Plug-in Control Panel.

    For example, on Windows choose Start | Settings | Control Panel to display the Windows Control Panel, then select the Java Plug-in icon.

  2. Display the Certificates tab.

    Description of ssl9.gif follows
    Description of the illustration ssl9.gif

  3. Select the Signed Applet radio button in the Certificates panel (if it is not selected already).

  4. Click Import and import the certificate file that you saved in Section 3.5.1, "How to install a security certificate on a Discoverer Plus client machine" (e.g. c:\tmp\mycertificate.cer).

    Description of ssl9a.gif follows
    Description of the illustration ssl9a.gif

    The security certificate is displayed in the list of certificates in the Java Plug-in certificate store.

  5. Click Apply.

3.6 About running Discoverer Plus over HTTP for the first time on a client machine

When you start Discoverer Plus for the first time on a client machine, you perform a one-time setup process to install a Java Virtual Machine and initialize the Discoverer Plus software. This process is typically performed when:

If you upgrade Discoverer, you might have to repeat the setup process. For example, you might install a new version of Discoverer Plus that requires a new version of the Java runtime environment.

OracleBI Discoverer installs either the Sun Java Plug-in (default) or the Oracle JInitiator Plug-in on client browser machines. For more information about changing the Java plug-in that Discoverer uses, see Section 5.9.1, "How to specify a different Java Virtual Machine for Discoverer Plus".

The Discoverer Plus initialization procedure is different for different browsers. Refer to the appropriate task below:

Notes

3.7 How to start Discoverer Plus

You start Discoverer Plus to enable you to manage and edit Discoverer worksheets.

To start Discoverer Plus:

  1. Start a Web browser and enter the Discoverer Plus URL containing the fully qualified host name (including port number if required) used by your own OracleAS installation.

    For example:

    http://<host.domain>:<port>/discoverer/plus

    where:

    • <host.domain> is the server name and domain on which the Oracle HTTP Server is installed

    • <port> is the port number (typically 7777) on which Discoverer is installed

      For information on finding out the default Discoverer port number, see Section 5.8, "How to list ports used by Oracle Application Server".

    • /discoverer/plus is the URL command that starts Discoverer Plus

    The Connect to OracleBI Discoverer page is displayed.

    Figure 3-3 Connect to OracleBI Discoverer page

    Description of Figure 3-3  follows
    Description of "Figure 3-3 Connect to OracleBI Discoverer page"

    Note: Connections are only displayed if the Oracle Business Intelligence installation is associated with an OracleAS Infrastructure. If Single Sign-On is enabled, you will first be asked to authenticate as a Single Sign-On user.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • Select a connection in the Connection column.

      Hint: If no connections are displayed in the Connection column, you will have to create a new connection before continuing. For more information about creating private connections, see Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Plus User's Guide. You can also use public connections that have been created by the Discoverer manager (for more information, see Section 4.6, "How to create public connections").

    • Enter login details directly using the Connect Directly area, and click Go.

    Discoverer Plus starts (after first installing any required plug-ins).

3.8 How to start Discoverer Plus over HTTP in Microsoft Internet Explorer for the first time on a Windows client machine

To start Discoverer Plus in Microsoft Internet Explorer for the first time on a Windows client machine:

  1. Start Discoverer Plus (for more information, see Section 3.7, "How to start Discoverer Plus").

  2. Depending on the software already installed on the client machine, you might have to download and install a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) (e.g. Java Plug-in). If you are not prompted to download and install a JVM, go straight to step 8.

    Hint: If the JVM installation process fails, close down extraneous processes on the client machine, then re-try.

    If you have to download and install a JVM, the Security Warning dialog is displayed.

    Description of nn6.gif follows
    Description of the illustration nn6.gif

  3. Click Yes to start the plug-in download and display the License Agreement page.

    Description of jinit3.gif follows
    Description of the illustration jinit3.gif

  4. Select the I accept the terms of the license agreement radio button, then click Next to display the Java Runtime Environment - Setup Type dialog.

    Description of jinit3a.gif follows
    Description of the illustration jinit3a.gif

  5. Select the Typical radio button and click Next to start the installation.

    When the installation is complete, the Java Runtime Environment - Complete page is displayed.

    Description of jinit3b.gif follows
    Description of the illustration jinit3b.gif

  6. Click Finish to close the installation wizard.

    The Security Warning dialog is displayed.

    Description of sw.gif follows
    Description of the illustration sw.gif

  7. Click Yes to accept the security certificate and start Discoverer Plus.

    Note: If you do not want to display the Warning - Security dialog every time a new Discoverer Plus applet is installed on the client machine, click Always.

    The Workbook Wizard dialog is displayed.

  8. Follow the instructions on the Workbook Wizard dialog.

    Description of jinit3c.gif follows
    Description of the illustration jinit3c.gif

You are now running Discoverer Plus.

3.9 How to start Discoverer Plus over HTTP in Netscape Navigator for the first time on a Windows client machine

To start Discoverer Plus in Netscape Navigator for the first time on a Windows client machine:

  1. Start Discoverer Plus (for more information, see Section 3.7, "How to start Discoverer Plus").

    Depending on the software already installed on the client machine, you might have to download and install a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) (e.g. Java Plug-in). If you are not prompted to download and install a JVM, go straight to step 13.

    If the client browser machine does not have a JVM installed and you need to install a JVM, Discoverer launches an empty applet browser window.

    Description of nn1.gif follows
    Description of the illustration nn1.gif

  2. Click anywhere in the empty applet browser window to display the Sun Developer Network download page for JVMs in a separate browser window.

    Description of nn2.gif follows
    Description of the illustration nn2.gif

  3. In the browser window containing the Sun Developer Network download page for JVMs, select the Download J2RE link to display the Download page.

    Description of nn3.gif follows
    Description of the illustration nn3.gif

  4. Select the Accept License Agreement radio button.

  5. In the Windows Platform area, select the Windows Installation, Multi-language link to display the Opening <JVM file> dialog.

    Description of nn4.gif follows
    Description of the illustration nn4.gif

  6. Select the Save it to disk radio button and click OK.

  7. Navigate to a temporary directory on the client browser machine (e.g. d:\temp\) then click Save.

    When the file download is complete the Netscape Download Manager dialog is displayed, containing the status of the download.

  8. Close the Netscape Download Manager dialog.

  9. Using a Windows Explorer dialog, navigate to the temporary directory that you selected in step 6 and double click on the downloaded file (e.g. d:\temp\j2re-1_4_2-windows-i586-p-iftw.exe) to start the JVM installation wizard and display the License Agreement page.

    Description of jinit3.gif follows
    Description of the illustration jinit3.gif

  10. Select the I accept the terms of the license agreement check box, then click Next to display the Java Runtime Environment - Setup Type.

    Description of jinit3a.gif follows
    Description of the illustration jinit3a.gif

  11. Select the Typical radio button and click Next to start the installation.

    When the installation is complete, the Java Runtime Environment - Complete page is displayed.

    Description of jinit3b.gif follows
    Description of the illustration jinit3b.gif

  12. Click anywhere in the empty applet browser window to start Discoverer Plus.

    Description of nn8.gif follows
    Description of the illustration nn8.gif

    When the Discoverer Plus applet is initialized and cached, the Workbook Wizard dialog is displayed.

  13. Follow the instructions on the Workbook Wizard dialog.

    Description of jinit3c.gif follows
    Description of the illustration jinit3c.gif

You are now running Discoverer Plus.

3.10 How to start Discoverer Plus over HTTP in Netscape Navigator for the first time on a UNIX client machine

To start Discoverer Plus in Netscape Navigator for the first time on a UNIX client machine:

  1. Install a JVM on the client browser machine, as follows:

    1. Start a Web browser and go to the following URL:

      http://java.sun.com/products/archive/j2se/1.4.2_06/index.html

    2. Select the DOWNLOAD link in the JRE column for the Download J2SE v 1.4.2_06 option for Windows/Linux/Solaris to display the Download page.

    3. Select the Accept License Agreement radio button.

    4. Select the appropriate Solaris or Linux link to display the Opening <JVM file> dialog.

      Description of nn7.gif follows
      Description of the illustration nn7.gif

      For example, for a Solaris client browser machine, you might select the 64-bit self-extracting file (j2re-1_4_2_06-solaris-sparcv9.sh) link.

    5. Select the Save it to disk radio button and click OK.

    6. Navigate to a temporary directory on the client browser machine (e.g. tmp\) then click Save.

      When the file download is complete the Netscape Download Manager dialog is displayed, containing the status of the download.

    7. Close the Netscape Download Manager dialog.

    8. Using a file manager tool, navigate to the temporary directory that you selected in step f and execute the downloaded file (e.g. tmp\j2re-1_4_2_06-solaris-sparcv9.sh) to start the JVM installation wizard and display the License Agreement page.

      Description of jinit3.gif follows
      Description of the illustration jinit3.gif

    9. Follow the instructions in the JVM installation wizard to install the JVM on the client machine.

  2. Start Discoverer Plus (for more information, see Section 3.7, "How to start Discoverer Plus").

  3. Wait for the Discoverer Plus applet to initialize.

    While the Discoverer Plus applet initializes, the Starting product: Discoverer Plus page is displayed.

    The Discoverer Plus applet is initialized and cached, then the Workbook Wizard dialog is displayed.

    You are now running Discoverer Plus.

3.11 How to start Discoverer Viewer over HTTP

You might start Discoverer Viewer if you have installed OracleAS and want to test that Discoverer is working.

To start Discoverer Viewer over HTTP:

  1. Start a Web browser and enter the Discoverer Viewer URL containing the fully qualified host name (including port number) used by your own OracleAS installation.

    For example:

    http://<host.domain>:<port>/discoverer/viewer

    where:

    • <host.domain> is the server name and domain on which the Oracle HTTP Server is installed

    • <HTTP port> is the port number (typically 7777) on which Discoverer is installed.

      For information on finding out the default Discoverer port number, see Section 5.8, "How to list ports used by Oracle Application Server".

    • /discoverer/viewer is the URL command that starts Discoverer Viewer

    The Connect to Discoverer Viewer page is displayed.

    Figure 3-4 Connect to Discoverer Viewer page

    Description of Figure 3-4  follows
    Description of "Figure 3-4 Connect to Discoverer Viewer page"

    Note: If Single Sign-On is enabled, you will first be asked to authenticate as a Single Sign-On user.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • Select a connection in the Connection column.

      Hint: If no connections are displayed in the Connection column, you will have to create a new connection before continuing. For more information about creating private connections, see Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User's Guide. You can also use public connections that have been created by the Discoverer manager (for more information, see Section 4.6, "How to create public connections").

    • Enter login details directly using the Connect Directly area, and click Go.

    The Worksheet list page is displayed.

  3. Select a worksheet in the Name column to display the workbook in Discoverer Viewer.

    You are now running Discoverer Viewer.

Notes