Apex Deployment on Weblogic Server

Hi,
I started my Oracle fusion middleware journey with some good experiments.
Below are the steps which I performed for deploying Apex on Weblogic Server.
(Installation and configuration of Weblogic Server I will cover in separate post and Apex installation and configuration you can get from Apex_tasks Label link)

Apex can be integrated with weblogic by follwing below experiment:


I)
Case study:

WebLogic Server and APEX:
When a WebLogic Server (WLS) is the primary Web server, accessing APEX pages though the WLS requires a proxy. The configuration of APEX generally follows one of two configurations – Apache with mod_plsql or the Embedded PL/SQL gateway. When WebLogic (without Apache) is the main HTTP server, getting APEX to surface on the same port as WebLogic requires some form of proxy.

Overall Approach:
This solution creates a very simple Web Application that invokes a Java Proxy Servlet when a user tries to access APEX pages. Wrapping this Web Application around the Java Proxy Servlet lets the WLS serve APEX without any port conflicts. The WLS Proxy Servlet is a fully documented out of the box tool.
To create and deploy the Web Application simply build the files outlined in this document, deploy the application and then access APEX.

Exploded deployment:

For convenience, this solution takes advantage of the exploded deployment feature of the WLS. In addition to the ability to deploy jar, war and ear files, the WLS can deploy Web Applications as an exploded directory that contains the same contents of the archive file. An exploded archive directory contains the same files and directories as a jar archive. However, the files and directories reside directly in the file system instead of as a single archive file (JAR). This example uses the exploded deployment style to create the Web Application for this example.
Default WebLogic application
The default Web Application is what the server sends to browser clients who do not specify a recognized URI (or specify only “/” as the URI). Each server has only one default Web Application and for this solution to work, this application must be set as the default. If there is already a default, this servlet could be added to the existing application by using an exploded deployment of the default with modification to the web.xml to register the APEX proxy.

II)

Pre-requisites:

1)An Oracle database successfully serving APEX pages. The APEX instance may be on the same or different machine and served from either Apache or the Embedded PL/SQL gateway. In this example, APEX uses the xdb feature of Database which is included in Oracle 11g Database and database is running on the same machine as the WebLogic server and natively appears at the http://10.47.33.10:8080/apex URL.
Database side task:
Open the Apex http port from the Database side
SQL> begin
dbms_xdb.sethttpport('8080');
end;
/

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

SQL> select dbms_xdb.gethttpport as "HTTP-Port"
from dual;

HTTP-Port
----------
8080

2) An Oracle WebLogic Server 10.3(11g) running a Node Manger, the Administration Console and a Managed server. This example uses a domain created specifically for this exercise named APEXDemo. The WLS Administration console uses port 7001 and the SOA Managed Server uses port 8001.We are using SOA Managed Server for Deploying Apex

3) There is no other “default” WebLogic application for the Managed Server.

III)Experiment:

Create the APEX Proxy Servlet
1)Create the following directory structure somewhere on disk. This experment assumes the / root disk is used. Note: the apexproxy.war directory name mimics the normal J2EE naming convention for Web Application archive (WAR).

Create the directory structure as given below in linux OS:

#mkdir APEX_PROXY
#cd /APEX_PROXY
#mkdir apexproxy.war
#cd /APEX_PROXY/apexproxy.war

Rest of the steps with screen shots very well documented in the below link:

http://christopherbeck.wordpress.com/2008/09/15/weblogic-server-and-apex/

Thanks Christopherbeck.

Enjoy Oracle Fusion Middleware learning

Best regards,

Rafi.

Apex listener starting issue

Hi,
Usually we start the apex listener as given below,But when you see the error messages as given below don't get shock as it is because the apex war file is not able to pick the right jdk version(jdk6) while starting apex listener.

Error message:-bash-3.2$ java -Dapex.images=/apex_4.0.2/apex/images -Dapex.port=8080 -jar apex.war
INFO: Starting: /apex_4.0.2/apex.war
See: 'java -jar apex.war --help' for full range of configuration options
INFO: Extracting to: /tmp/apex
SEVERE: method java.lang.System.console with signature ()Ljava.io.Console; was not found.
java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: method java.lang.System.console with signature ()Ljava.io.Console; was not found.
at ____embedded.____EntryPoint.apexImages(____EntryPoint.java:104)
at ____embedded.____EntryPoint.main(____EntryPoint.java:91)


Solution: Installed the jdk6 update version latest one and execute the .war file directly as given below.

# rpm -Uvh jdk-6u26-linux-i586-rpm.bin

Go to the path where we unzip the apex_listener.zip file:

In an EBS R12 environment don't set the environment for oracle or apps and execute the 'apex.war' file with 'oracle' user.

-bash-3.2$ ./apex.war
INFO: Starting: /apex_listener_status/apex.war
See: 'java -jar apex.war --help' for full range of configuration options
INFO: Extracting to: /tmp/apex
Enter the path to the directory containing the APEX static resources
Example: /Users/myuser/apex/images
or press Enter to skip: /apex_4.0.2/apex/images/
INFO: Using classpath: file:/tmp/apex/apex/____embedded/start.jar:file:/tmp/apex/apex/WEB-INF/lib/xmlparserv2-11.2.0.jar:file:/tmp/apex/apex/WEB-INF/lib/ojmisc.jar:file:/tmp/apex/apex/WEB-INF/lib/commons-fileupload-1.2.1.jar:file:/tmp/apex/apex/WEB-INF/lib/poi-3.6-20091214.jar:file:/tmp/apex/apex/WEB-INF/lib/ucp.jar:file:/tmp/apex/apex/WEB-INF/lib/xdb-11.2.0.jar:file:/tmp/apex/apex/WEB-INF/lib/ojdbc6.jar:file:/tmp/apex/apex/WEB-INF/lib/apex.jar:file:/tmp/apex/apex/WEB-INF/lib/je-4.0.103.jar:
INFO: Starting Embedded Web Container in: /tmp/apex
Enter a username for the APEX Listener Administrator [adminlistener]: admin
Enter a password for admin:
Confirm password for admin:
Enter a username for the APEX Listener Manager [managerlistener]: apex
Enter a password for apex:
Confirm password for apex:
Aug 17, 2011 3:22:06 AM ____bootstrap.Deployer deploy
INFO: Will deploy application path=/tmp/apex/apex/WEB-INF/web.xml
Aug 17, 2011 3:22:10 AM ____bootstrap.Deployer deploy
INFO: deployed application path=/tmp/apex/apex/WEB-INF/web.xml
Using config file: /tmp/apex/apex-config.xml

In Database side:

alter user apex_public_user identified by apex_public_user;

Listener configuration:
URL: http://:/apex/listenerConfigure

where:host=ipadrress/machine name,port:8080(default)

Now,
We are ready to configure the apex listener and carry the remaining workspace administration tasks or leave to the apex team to do rest of the task.


Happy APEX learning.


Best regards,

Rafi.

Integrating APEX 4.0.2 with E-business Suite Release 12.1.1

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APEX Installation,Uninstallation and Administration in Oracle Database

Hi,
As a DBA we might come across doing the Below task for APEX Component existing
in our Database from Oracle 11g onwards.

Before Uninstalling any component(apex) from Oracle Database(Oracle 11g rel2) discuss with team and inform clearly and once this is confirmed,than follow the below steps,By default in Oracle 11g rel2 Database APEX Component is installed (Apex version 3.2.1.00.10).

SQL> select *from v$version;

BANNER
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.2.0.1.0 - Production

SQL>SELECT COMP_NAME||' '||VERSION||' '||STATUS FROM DBA_REGISTRY;

COMP_NAME||''||VERSION||''||STATUS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OWB 11.2.0.1.0 VALID
Oracle Application Express 3.2.1.00.10 VALID
Oracle Enterprise Manager 11.2.0.1.0 VALID
OLAP Catalog 11.2.0.1.0 VALID
Spatial 11.2.0.1.0 VALID
Oracle Multimedia 11.2.0.1.0 VALID
Oracle XML Database 11.2.0.1.0 VALID
Oracle Text 11.2.0.1.0 VALID
Oracle Expression Filter 11.2.0.1.0 VALID
Oracle Rules Manager 11.2.0.1.0 VALID
Oracle Workspace Manager 11.2.0.1.0 VALID
Oracle Database Catalog Views 11.2.0.1.0 VALID
Oracle Database Packages and Types 11.2.0.1.0 VALID
JServer JAVA Virtual Machine 11.2.0.1.0 VALID
Oracle XDK 11.2.0.1.0 VALID
Oracle Database Java Packages 11.2.0.1.0 VALID
OLAP Analytic Workspace 11.2.0.1.0 VALID
Oracle OLAP API 11.2.0.1.0 VALID


Apex Uninstallation:
Apex uninstallation can be done as follows:
[oracle@node1 apex]$ cd $ORACLE_HOME/apex
SQL> @apxremov.sql
...Removing Application Express
old 1: alter session set current_schema = &APPUN
new 1: alter session set current_schema = APEX_030200

Session altered.
begin
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-04063: package body "APEX_030200.WWV_FLOW_UPGRADE" has errors
ORA-06508: PL/SQL: could not find program unit being called:
"APEX_030200.WWV_FLOW_UPGRADE"
ORA-06512: at line 2
no rows selected
old 2: if '&UPGRADE' = '1' then
new 2: if '1' = '1' then
begin
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-04063: package body "APEX_030200.WWV_FLOW_UPGRADE" has errors
ORA-06508: PL/SQL: could not find program unit being called:
"APEX_030200.WWV_FLOW_UPGRADE"
ORA-06512: at line 3

Session altered.

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

old 1: drop user &APPUN cascade
new 1: drop user APEX_030200 cascade

User dropped.

old 2: if '&UPGRADE' = '1' then
new 2: if '1' = '1' then
begin
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-01940: cannot drop a user that is currently connected
ORA-06512: at line 4

old 5: if '&UPGRADE' = '1' then
new 5: if '1' = '1' then
declare
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-24231: database access descriptor (DAD) APEX not found
ORA-06512: at "SYS.DBMS_SYS_ERROR", line 86
ORA-06512: at "SYS.DBMS_EPG", line 67
ORA-06512: at "SYS.DBMS_EPG", line 261
ORA-06512: at line 15

old 2: if '&UPGRADE' = '1' then
new 2: if '1' = '1' then
begin
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-04043: object VALIDATE_APEX does not exist
ORA-06512: at line 3


...Application Express Removed

After running the above script if some APEX Schemas and synonyms still exist in our Database than we have to drop them manually.Below is the query to find public synonym and drop them .Spool into some sql file,for making this task simpler.

SQL)Spool Drop_pub_synonym.sql

SQL>select 'drop public synonym ' || synonym_name || CHR(10) || '/'
from sys.dba_synonyms
where table_owner in ('FLOWS_010500','FLOWS_010600','FLOWS_020000',
'FLOWS_020100','FLOWS_020200','FLOWS_030000','FLOWS_030100','APEX_030200',
'APEX_040000','FLOWS_FILES');


'DROPPUBLICSYNONYM'||SYNONYM_NAME||CHR(10)||'/'
----------------------------------------------------
drop public synonym APEX_ACTIVITY_LOG
/

drop public synonym APEX_APPLICATION
/

drop public synonym APEX_APPLICATION_FILES
/

drop public synonym APEX_APPLICATION_GLOBAL
/

'DROPPUBLICSYNONYM'||SYNONYM_NAME||CHR(10)||'/'
----------------------------------------------------

drop public synonym APEX_APPLICATION_INSTALL
/

drop public synonym APEX_COLLECTION
/

drop public synonym APEX_COLLECTIONS
/

drop public synonym APEX_CSS

'DROPPUBLICSYNONYM'||SYNONYM_NAME||CHR(10)||'/'
----------------------------------------------------
/

drop public synonym APEX_CUSTOM_AUTH
/

drop public synonym APEX_DEBUG_MESSAGE
/

drop public synonym APEX_FEEDBACK_TYPES
/


'DROPPUBLICSYNONYM'||SYNONYM_NAME||CHR(10)||'/'
----------------------------------------------------
drop public synonym APEX_INSTANCE_ADMIN
/

drop public synonym APEX_ITEM
/

drop public synonym APEX_JAVASCRIPT
/

drop public synonym APEX_LANG
/

'DROPPUBLICSYNONYM'||SYNONYM_NAME||CHR(10)||'/'
----------------------------------------------------

drop public synonym APEX_LDAP
/

drop public synonym APEX_LOGIN
/

drop public synonym APEX_MAIL
/

drop public synonym APEX_MAIL_ATTACHMENTS

'DROPPUBLICSYNONYM'||SYNONYM_NAME||CHR(10)||'/'
----------------------------------------------------
/

drop public synonym APEX_MAIL_LOG
/

drop public synonym APEX_MAIL_QUEUE
/

drop public synonym APEX_PLSQL_JOB
/


'DROPPUBLICSYNONYM'||SYNONYM_NAME||CHR(10)||'/'
----------------------------------------------------
drop public synonym APEX_PLSQL_JOBS
/

drop public synonym APEX_PLUGIN
/

drop public synonym APEX_PLUGIN_UTIL
/

drop public synonym APEX_REST
/

'DROPPUBLICSYNONYM'||SYNONYM_NAME||CHR(10)||'/'
----------------------------------------------------

drop public synonym APEX_SITE_ADMIN_PRIVS
/

drop public synonym APEX_UI_DEFAULT
/

drop public synonym APEX_USER_ACCESS_LOG
/

drop public synonym APEX_UTIL

'DROPPUBLICSYNONYM'||SYNONYM_NAME||CHR(10)||'/'
----------------------------------------------------
/

drop public synonym APEX_WEB_SERVICE
/

drop public synonym HTMLDB_ACTIVITY_LOG
/

drop public synonym HTMLDB_APPLICATION
/


'DROPPUBLICSYNONYM'||SYNONYM_NAME||CHR(10)||'/'
----------------------------------------------------
drop public synonym HTMLDB_APPLICATION_FILES
/

drop public synonym HTMLDB_APPLICATION_GLOBAL
/

drop public synonym HTMLDB_COLLECTION
/

drop public synonym HTMLDB_COLLECTIONS
/

'DROPPUBLICSYNONYM'||SYNONYM_NAME||CHR(10)||'/'
----------------------------------------------------

drop public synonym HTMLDB_LDAP
/

drop public synonym HTMLDB_MAIL
/

drop public synonym HTMLDB_MAIL_LOG
/

drop public synonym HTMLDB_MAIL_QUEUE

'DROPPUBLICSYNONYM'||SYNONYM_NAME||CHR(10)||'/'
----------------------------------------------------
/

drop public synonym HTMLDB_PLSQL_JOB
/

drop public synonym HTMLDB_PLSQL_JOBS
/

all synonyms are dropped for apex users:
---------------------------------=------------

SQL> select synonym_name from sys.dba_synonyms where owner = 'FLOWS_FILES';
no rows selected

SQL>SPOOL OFF
SQL>@Drop_pub_synonym.sql
All the synonyms are dropped.
We have to make sure the below all the APEX related schemas are dropped or else drop them manually,In my case I upgraded to Apex 4.x so additional user APEX_040000 is also present:
SQL>DROP USER APEX_040000 CASCADE;
SQL>DROP USER APEX_PUBLIC_USER CASCADE;
SQLDROP USER FLOW_FILES CASCADE;
SQLDROP USER APEX_03000 CASCADE;
Now our Apex Uninstallation is successful.

Apex Installation:


1) Go to $ORACLE_HOME/apex path: For Oracle 11g rel2 Database apex component is already present when we install the software in our Operating system in '$ORACLE_HOME/apex' path.

$cd $ORACLE_HOME/apex
$pwd
/u01/oracle11g/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1/apex

2)Connect to SQL-PLUS and execute apexins for installing apex
SQL>@apexins SYSAUX SYSAUX TEMP /i/

Apply any upgraded Apex Component if required by following same process as above.

Apex Patching:
For patching the apex component,Run apxpatch.sql.
For example:
SQL>@apxpatch.sql

Apex ADMIN user password change:

We might get request from our APEX team to change the APEX ADMIN user password after Apex installation,We can change the APEX ADMIN user password by executing 'apxchpwd.sql'.

$cd $ORACLE_HOME/apex
SQL>@apxchpwd.sql
Enter a value below for the password for the Application Express ADMIN user.

Enter a password for the ADMIN user []

Session altered.

...changing password for ADMIN

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

Commit complete.

Hope it helps in doing APEX administration.If I come across some other Apex
related task than I will be posting the same.


Best regards,

Rafi.