15 Recommended Topologies

This chapter describes how to install and configure the infrastructure and the middle tier in different topologies. The topologies illustrate the flexibility of Oracle Application Server.

Each section in this chapter describes a topology. For each topology, the section shows a diagram of the topology, and lists the assumptions, special requirements, and installation steps.

Table 15-1 lists the recommended topologies:

Table 15-1 Recommended Topologies Summary

Topology	Environment	Requires Infrastructure?
Section 15.1, "Java Developer Topology"	Development	No
Section 15.2, "Portal and Wireless Developer Topology"	Development	Yes
Section 15.3, "Forms, Reports, and Discoverer Developer Topology"	Development	Yes
Section 15.4, "Integration Business-to-Business (B2B) Topology"	Development	Yes
Section 15.5, "Departmental Topology with Separate OracleAS Metadata Repository for OracleAS Portal"	Deployment	Yes
Section 15.6, "Development Life Cycle Support Topology"	Development and Deployment	n/a
Section 15.7, "OCA Topology"	Deployment	Yes

For More Topologies:

For enterprise topologies, see the Oracle Application Server Enterprise Deployment Guide.

15.1 Java Developer Topology

This is a single-computer development topology on which you can build, run, and test J2EE applications. It does not require an OracleAS Infrastructure.

Target Users

J2EE application developers

Figure 15-1 shows a diagram of this topology.

Figure 15-1 J2EE and Web Cache with Oracle JDeveloper

Description of "Figure 15-1 J2EE and Web Cache with Oracle JDeveloper"

15.1.1 Description

This topology includes the components in the J2EE and Web Cache middle tier:

Oracle HTTP Server
Oracle Application Server Containers for J2EE
OracleAS Web Cache

For a development tool, you can install the Oracle JDeveloper IDE, available as part of the Oracle Developer Suite.

Notes

You can configure this J2EE and Web Cache instance to use an OracleAS Infrastructure anytime after installation.
This instance cannot use OracleAS Single Sign-On, unless you configure it with an Oracle Internet Directory. You can install an Oracle Internet Directory if you install the OracleAS Infrastructure.

15.1.2 Requirements

The requirements are the same as those listed in Chapter 4, "Requirements".

15.1.3 Installation Sequence

You need to perform two installations:

Install J2EE and Web Cache, as described in Section 7.8, "Installing a J2EE and Web Cache Without an Infrastructure".
Install Oracle JDeveloper. See the Oracle Developer Suite Installation Guide for details.

You install these products in separate Oracle homes. The Oracle homes must be new directories (that is, they are not Oracle homes for other Oracle products).

You can install J2EE and Web Cache middle tier and Oracle JDeveloper in any order.

15.2 Portal and Wireless Developer Topology

This is a single-computer development topology containing an OracleAS Infrastructure and a Portal and Wireless middle tier. The OracleAS Infrastructure installation creates a new Oracle database and Oracle Internet Directory.

Target Users

Application developers, who can run and test their applications that access features provided by the included components

15.2.1 Description

This topology enables application developers to develop and test their Portal and Wireless applications. This topology requires a more powerful computer than the topology described in Section 15.1, "Java Developer Topology" because this topology runs an OracleAS Infrastructure and a Portal and Wireless middle tier on the same computer. The infrastructure and the middle tier are installed in different Oracle homes.

Figure 15-2 Portal and Wireless Developer Topology

Description of "Figure 15-2 Portal and Wireless Developer Topology"

15.2.2 Requirements

The requirements are the same as those listed in Chapter 4, "Requirements".

15.2.3 Installation Sequence

Create this topology in the following order:

Install OracleAS Infrastructure.

Follow the steps in Section 6.20, "Installing OracleAS Infrastructure" to install an infrastructure with a new Oracle database to contain the OracleAS Metadata Repository. The procedure also installs a new Oracle Internet Directory.
Install the Portal and Wireless middle tier.

Follow the steps in Section 7.13, "Installing Portal and Wireless or Business Intelligence and Forms".

You install them in different Oracle homes.

15.3 Forms, Reports, and Discoverer Developer Topology

This is a single-computer development topology containing:

OracleAS Infrastructure that installs a new Oracle database and Oracle Internet Directory.
Business Intelligence and Forms middle tier
Forms Builder (part of Oracle Developer Suite)
Reports Builder (part of Oracle Developer Suite)
Discoverer Administrator (part of Oracle Developer Suite and Oracle Business Intelligence Tools)

Target Users

Forms, Reports, and Discoverer application developers

15.3.1 Description

This topology enables Forms and Reports developers to build and test their applications. Developers use Forms Builder and Reports Builder to develop their applications.

They can then deploy and run the applications on Oracle Application Server. The Business Intelligence and Forms middle tier provides the OracleAS Forms Services and OracleAS Reports Services components, which are needed to run the applications.

You install the OracleAS Infrastructure and the Business Intelligence and Forms middle tier in separate Oracle homes. Forms Builder and Reports Builder are in a third Oracle home.

Figure 15-3 Forms, Reports, and Discoverer Application Development Topology

Description of "Figure 15-3 Forms, Reports, and Discoverer Application Development Topology"

15.3.2 Requirements

The requirements are the same as those listed in Chapter 4, "Requirements".

15.3.3 Installation Sequence

Install the items in the following order. Install each item in its own Oracle home.

Install the Oracle Developer Suite or Oracle Business Intelligence Tools, including Forms Builder, Reports Builder, and Discoverer Administrator. See the Oracle Developer Suite Installation Guide for details.
Install OracleAS Infrastructure.

Follow the steps in Section 6.20, "Installing OracleAS Infrastructure".
Install the Business Intelligence and Forms middle tier.

Follow the steps in Section 7.13, "Installing Portal and Wireless or Business Intelligence and Forms".

15.4 Integration Business-to-Business (B2B) Topology

This development topology enables you to design, deploy, monitor, and manage integrations between enterprises (also known as business-to-business (B2B) integrations). OracleAS Integration B2B enables trading partners to conduct business using RosettaNet, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), or a custom business protocol.

Target Audience

Users who design, deploy, monitor, and administer B2B integrations

15.4.1 Description

This development topology includes:

OracleAS Infrastructure
J2EE and Web Cache middle tier
OracleAS Integration B2B, which provides an environment for the B2B exchange of services, information, and products. See the Oracle Application Server Integration B2B User's Guide for details.

You can find OracleAS Integration B2B on its own CD-ROM in the Oracle Application Server distribution. The OracleAS Integration B2B CD-ROM also contains the Oracle Application Server Integration B2B Installation Guide.

If you have the Oracle Application Server DVD-ROM, you can find OracleAS Integration B2B in the b2b directory.

Figure 15-4 Integration B2B Topology

Description of "Figure 15-4 Integration B2B Topology"

15.4.2 Requirements

The requirements are the same as those listed in Chapter 4, "Requirements".

For OracleAS Integration B2B requirements, see the Oracle Application Server Integration B2B Installation Guide, which is on the OracleAS Integration B2B CD-ROM or in the b2b directory on the Oracle Application Server DVD.

15.4.3 Assumptions

This topology makes the following assumptions:

When you install OracleAS Infrastructure, you create a new Oracle Internet Directory.
When you install OracleAS Infrastructure, you create a new database for the OracleAS Metadata Repository. This OracleAS Metadata Repository is also used by OracleAS Integration B2B.

15.4.4 Installation Sequence

Install the items in the following order (see Figure 15-4).

In Oracle_Home_1, install an OracleAS Infrastructure with Oracle Identity Management services and OracleAS Metadata Repository. See Section 6.20, "Installing OracleAS Infrastructure" for specific steps.

This creates a database to contain the OracleAS Metadata Repository. It also creates an Oracle Internet Directory.
In Oracle_Home_2, install a J2EE and Web Cache middle tier. See Section 7.9, "Installing J2EE and Web Cache in a Database-Based Farm Repository and with Oracle Identity Management Access".

When the installer prompts for Oracle Internet Directory, enter the connect information for the Oracle Internet Directory created in step 1.

When the installer prompts for the OracleAS Metadata Repository, select the OracleAS Metadata Repository installed in step 1.
Install OracleAS Integration B2B in the Oracle home where you installed the J2EE and Web Cache middle tier. See the Oracle Application Server Integration B2B Installation Guide (on the OracleAS Integration B2B CD-ROM or in the b2b directory on the Oracle Application Server DVD) for details on how to install OracleAS Integration B2B.

15.5 Departmental Topology with Separate OracleAS Metadata Repository for OracleAS Portal

This topology is smaller scale version of the topology described in the Oracle Application Server Enterprise Deployment Guide. It consists of an OracleAS Infrastructure with two metadata repositories, and multiple middle tiers.

It uses two metadata repositories in the following way:

One OracleAS Metadata Repository is used by Oracle Identity Management components, such as Oracle Internet Directory and OracleAS Single Sign-On.
The second OracleAS Metadata Repository is used by the Portal and Wireless middle tier. Components in this middle tier, such as OracleAS Portal and OracleAS Wireless, use this OracleAS Metadata Repository.

Target Users

This topology can be used by individual departments within an organization. Users who access this topology are internal to the organization. As such, this topology does not consider security requirements that involve external users.

15.5.1 Description

This topology (Figure 15-5) consists of an OracleAS Infrastructure, plus several middle tiers, including at least one Portal and Wireless middle tier. This topology uses two metadata repositories:

one for Oracle Identity Management services (installed on computer 1). All the middle tiers use this metadata repository for Oracle Identity Management services.
one for product metadata (installed on computer 2). The Portal and Wireless middle tier uses this metadata repository.

Expanding the Topology

You can install Oracle Application Server middle tiers on additional computers, as needed. Set these middle tiers to use either metadata repository.

Adding High Availability Features

You can install OracleAS Infrastructure in any of the high availability environments described in Chapter 10, "Installing in High Availability Environments: Overview".

Figure 15-5 Departmental Topology

Description of "Figure 15-5 Departmental Topology"

15.5.2 Requirements

The requirements are the same as those listed in Chapter 4, "Requirements".

15.5.3 Assumptions

This topology makes the following assumptions:

When you install OracleAS Infrastructure, you create a new Oracle Internet Directory.

15.5.4 Installation Sequence

Install the items in the following order. The computers are listed in Figure 15-5.

Computer 1: Install OracleAS Infrastructure with Oracle Identity Management services and OracleAS Metadata Repository. See Section 6.20, "Installing OracleAS Infrastructure" for specific steps.

This creates a database to contain the OracleAS Metadata Repository. It also creates an Oracle Internet Directory.
Computer 2: Install a second OracleAS Metadata Repository. See Section 6.22, "Installing OracleAS Metadata Repository in a New Database" for steps.

When the installer prompts you to register the OracleAS Metadata Repository, enter the connect information for the Oracle Internet Directory created in step 1.

The Portal and Wireless middle tier will use this second metadata repository for its product metadata. See Section 6.12, "Can I Use Multiple Metadata Repositories?"
Computer 3: Install a Portal and Wireless middle tier. See Section 7.13, "Installing Portal and Wireless or Business Intelligence and Forms".

When the installer prompts for Oracle Internet Directory, enter the connect information for the Oracle Internet Directory created in step 1. This Oracle Internet Directory contains the registration for the OracleAS Metadata Repository installed in steps 1 and 2.

When the installer prompts for the OracleAS Metadata Repository, select the OracleAS Metadata Repository installed in step 2.
Computer 4: Install a J2EE and Web Cache middle tier. See Section 7.9, "Installing J2EE and Web Cache in a Database-Based Farm Repository and with Oracle Identity Management Access".

When the installer prompts for Oracle Internet Directory, enter the connect information for the Oracle Internet Directory created in step 1.

When the installer prompts for the OracleAS Metadata Repository, select the OracleAS Metadata Repository installed in step 1.

15.6 Development Life Cycle Support Topology

This topology is a combination of other topologies to support moving applications from test to stage to production environments.

Test environment: Application developers test their applications in their own environments. Examples of testing environments:
Stage environment: QA personnel test all applications before deploying them to the production environment. In this environment, you can use the topology described in Section 15.5, "Departmental Topology with Separate OracleAS Metadata Repository for OracleAS Portal". This topology in a stage environment runs applications from all departments, not just from a single department.
Production environment: Applications are ready for use by users internal and external to the enterprise.

15.6.1 Moving Applications from Test to Stage

To move applications from a test to a stage environment, you deploy them on middle tiers in the stage environment. The applications use the Oracle Identity Management and OracleAS Metadata Repository of the stage environment.

If an application uses custom data in a database, you need to move that data from that database to a database in the stage environment.

15.6.2 Moving Applications from Stage to Production

You can move applications from a stage environment to a production by deploying the applications and moving any application-specific data from the stage environment to the production environment.

Another method is to configure the middle tier in the stage environment to use a different infrastructure (that is, point the middle tier to use the infrastructure in the production environment). You can use this feature to move middle tiers (and their applications) from stage to production.

You still need to move application-specific data stored in a stage database to a database in the production environment.

This method is convenient if you need additional computers for the production environment. In one step, you add a computer that already has a middle tier and deployed applications.

See the Oracle Application Server Administrator's Guide for details.

15.7 OCA Topology

In this topology, OCA has its own OracleAS Metadata Repository, and they run on a computer separate from other OracleAS Infrastructure components (Figure 15-6). The other components use a different OracleAS Metadata Repository.

Figure 15-6 Topology for OCA

Description of "Figure 15-6 Topology for OCA"

15.7.1 Description

Although you can install OCA on the same computer as the other infrastructure components, you achieve greater security by installing OCA and its own OracleAS Metadata Repository on a separate computer:

By not sharing the OracleAS Metadata Repository with other components, you isolate OCA from security breaks, whether accidental or malicious.
You can place the computer on which OCA is running in a secure room.

15.7.2 Requirements

The requirements for the computers are listed in Chapter 4, "Requirements".

15.7.3 Installation Sequence

Install the items in the following order:

Computer 1: Install infrastructure components except for OCA. See Section 6.20, "Installing OracleAS Infrastructure" for steps.

Note:
Do not select Oracle Application Server Certificate Authority (OCA) in the Select Configuration Options screen, because you will install OCA on Computer 2.
Computer 2: Install OCA and a second OracleAS Metadata Repository. See Section 6.26, "Installing OCA and OracleAS Metadata Repository Only" for details.

During this installation, you register the OracleAS Metadata Repository on Computer 2 with the Oracle Internet Directory installed on Computer 1.
Install middle tiers. Ensure the middle tiers use the OracleAS Metadata Repository installed on Computer 1. Procedures for installing middle tiers are:
- Section 7.9, "Installing J2EE and Web Cache in a Database-Based Farm Repository and with Oracle Identity Management Access"
- Section 7.13, "Installing Portal and Wireless or Business Intelligence and Forms"