11i Oracle E-Business Suite Architecture

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 Course Modules

• Oracle Applications Technology

• Oracle Applications Environment Files, Server
Process Scripts, and Languages
• Oracle Applications File System
• Oracle Applications Database

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 1Module 1

Oracle Applications Technology

11i Oracle E-Business Suite Architecture

Copyright © 2003, Oracle. All rights reserved.

 Objectives

At the end of this module, you should be able

to do the following:
• Describe how Oracle Applications utilizes the
technology components.
• Identify the components that make up the
desktop, application and database tiers.
• Identify the Applications Technology layer
products.

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 Module Overview

This module consists of the following topics:

• How Oracle Applications uses the Applications
technology stack components
• Components of the desktop tier
• Components of the application tier
• Features of the application tier components
• Components of the database tier
• Products in the Application Technology layer
• The Application Object Library
• Oracle Applications Manager (OAM)

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 Multi-Tier Architecture
Desktop Application Database

Web
Server

Forms
Server
Browser

Concurrent Processing Database

Server Server

Admin
Server

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 Desktop Tier

Desktop

Client Web
Applet Server

JAR file
Forms
JAR file Server
Java
Enabled JAR file
Concurrent Processing
Browser Server
with
JInitiator Admin
Server

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 Desktop Tier: Client Applet

The Forms client applet:

• Displays Oracle Applications screens.
• Is packaged as Java archive files.
• Is cached on the desktop.
• Is downloaded on demand.

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 Desktop Tier: Oracle JInitiator

Oracle JInitiator:
• Allows embedding certified JVM in Netscape or
Microsoft Internet Explorer.
• Provides required Java support for Oracle
Applications.
• Is based on Sun’s Java plug-in technology.
• Reduces the time required to load an Oracle
Applications applet.
• Allows authenticated users behind firewalls to use
the applet.

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 Application Tier

Web
Server

Forms
Server
Browser

Concurrent Processing Database

Server Server

Admin
Server

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 Application Tier: Load Balancing

• Load balancing occurs when there are multiple

installations of:
– Web server
– Forms server
– Reports server
– Concurrent processing server
• Multiple installations of servers allow you to
support additional users.
• The load is automatically balanced between
servers.

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 Application Tier: Web Server

Web
Server

Forms
Server
Browser

Concurrent Processing Database

Server Server

Admin
Server

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 Application Tier: HTML Applications

Web
Server

Forms
Server
Browser

Concurrent Processing Database

Server Server

Admin
Server

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 Application Tier: OA Framework

• OA Framework is the development and

deployment platform for HTML Applications.
• It is a 100% Java, application tier application
framework and services for the rapid
development and deployment of HTML-based
Applications.
• OA Framework-based applications logic is
controlled by procedures that execute
through the Java servlet engine.

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 Application Tier: OA Framework
Architecture

Oracle Applications Framework uses additional

components, including:
• AOL/J
• BC4J
• Java Controller
• Metadata UI Definition
• UIX

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 Application Tier: Oracle Applications
Framework Processing

Client Web Server Database

Server

Metadata
Servlet Engine Java Metadata
Web Listener

Dictionary
Controller UI Definition
Browser UIX

AOL/J BC4J
Data

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 Application Tier: Java Servlet Access
with HTML Applications
Client Web Server Database
Server

Browser Listener

Metadata
Dictionary

Servlet
Engine Data
JSP

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 Application Tier: Professional Java
Interface

Web
Server

Forms
Server
Browser
Concurrent Processing Database
Server Server

Admin
Server

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 Application Tier: Forms Server
Architecture
Client Application Database Server
runs Server(s) optimizes performance,
presentation runs UI logic workflow

User Data
Presentation Interface Intensive Data Management
Logic Logic

•LAN Software updates

•WAN
•Dial-up

Data Center Operations

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 Application Tier: Low Network Traffic

Minimizing Applet Downloading:

• Forms client applet is cached on the desktop.
• Forms client applet is downloaded automatically
the first time.
• JInitiator enabled browser automatically retrieves
new jar files if they change on the application tier.

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 Application Tier: Low Network Traffic

Efficient Runtime Network Usage:

• Many operations are performed without
contacting the forms server at all.
• Only one round trip per field when tabbing
through fields.
• Compact messages communicate user events
and corresponding screen updates.

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 Application Tier: Load Balancing Among
Forms Servers
Listener Metrics
Server
Database
1 Web 2 Server
Listener
Load
Browser
Balancer
4

Forms
Server 1 3
5 Forms 6
Server 2

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 Application Tier: Concurrent Processing
Server

Web
Server

Forms Database
Server Server

Concurrent Processing
Server

Browser

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 Application Tier: Report Review Agent

The Report Review Agent allows:

• Online viewing of report log and output files.
• Viewing of reports one page at a time.
• Storage of report output on the concurrent
processing node.

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 Application Tier: Accessing Concurrent
Processing Output

HTTP Forms
Server
Report
Page
Report
File
Database
Server
Report Review Agent
Browser

Concurrent
Processing Net
Server Services

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 Application Tier: Reports Server

• Produces reports for business intelligence and

other products.
• Installed on the same node as the concurrent
processing server.
• Reports generated by the reports server are
monitored and administered separately from
concurrent processing reports.
• Sets language for report at runtime.

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 Application Tier: Reports Server Architecture

Web
Developer Server
Server RDF Files

Reports SALES.RDF
Browser CGI
Reports
Runtime DRILL.RDF
Web Engine
Reports
Listener Database
Server SUMMIT.RDF

Report Output

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 Application Tier: Clustering and Load
Management
• Configurable reports cluster
• Master server manages load

Clients Oracle
Database
Reports 1
Servers

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 Application Tier: Discoverer Server

Web
Server

Forms
Server

Concurrent Processing
Server
Browser
Reports Database
Server Server
Discoverer
Server

Admin
Server

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 Application Tier: End User Layer
Ease of Use

Database User
Customer
cl_addr1||','||
cl_addr2|','|| Name
cl_addr3||', '|| Smith
cl_twn||', '||
cl_zipcode Jones
Client
sum(nvl(qty* Address
Revenue
unit_price,0))
Eastern Region
Hides the Complexity of the Underlying Database

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 Application Tier: Discoverer
• Workbooks use
same EUL
Authorized folders
Workbooks • Central software
administration
Discoverer
Server

End User Layer

Workbooks
saved to Application
database Data

Database Server
Discoverer
Plus Administrator
Edition

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 Application Tier: Web Navigation Model

• Navigation to Intelligence products from Personal

Home Page
• Navigation between reports
• Drill across from reports to Discoverer
workbooks

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 Application Tier: Admin Server

Web
Server

Forms
Server
Browser

Concurrent Processing Database

Server Server

Admin
Server

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 Database Tier

Web
Server

Forms
Server
Browser
Concurrent Processing Database
Server Server

Admin
Server

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 Oracle Homes

Oracle Applications utilizes three Oracle homes:

• Oracle8 ORACLE_HOME:
– Contains Oracle Developer tools built with Oracle8
database libraries.
– Is shared by the Oracle Developer products.
• Oracle iAS ORACLE_HOME:
– Is used by iAS, which includes the Oracle HTTP
server powered by Apache.
• Oracle RDBMS ORACLE_HOME:
– Is used by the Oracle database server for optimal
scalability and functionality.

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 Applications Technology Layer

Oracle Applications

CRM Financials HRMS Manufacturing ...

Applications Technology Layer

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 Oracle Applications DBA

Oracle Applications DBA (AD):

• Provides a set of tools that help in the
administration of the Oracle Applications file
system and database.
• Provides tools for installing, upgrading,
maintaining, and patching the Oracle Applications
system.

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 Oracle Applications Utilities

Oracle Applications Utilities (AU):

• Is used to maintain the Oracle Applications
system.
• Includes forms source files and libraries to allow
onsite compilation at the customer site.
• Includes reports invoked by the reports server.
• Includes shared PL/SQL product libraries.

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 Oracle Common Modules

Enables you to:

• Define Oracle Applications components for the
HTML Applications and generate many of the
Applications’ characteristics at runtime.
• Develop inquiry Applications for the HTML
Applications without programming.
• Store language translated labels for all the
attributes on a transaction page, thus providing
Multiple Language Support.

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 Oracle Applications Framework

OA Framework allows you to:

• Enable significant application development
productivity gains.
• Enable durable application extensibility and
personalization.
• Support consistent, compelling user interfaces.
• Support enterprise-grade reliability, performance
and scalability.

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 Oracle Workflow

Oracle Workflow:
• Allows for communication of data between
products.
• Accomplishes three important business
requirements:
– define rules
– route information
– deliver electronic notifications
• Is capable of delivering electronic notifications via
email to any Oracle Applications or Internet user.

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 Oracle Alert

Allows you to
• Electronically mail system notifications to users
when an exception or event occurs.
• Notify users about specified database exceptions
as they occur.
• Perform routine tasks automatically according to a
schedule that you define.

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 Oracle Application Object Library

General Fixed
Receivables Inventory
Ledger Asset
s

Application Object Library

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 AOL End User Features

• Standard user interface

• Shared flexfield value sets
• Standard Report Submission
• Applications Online Help
• User profiles

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 AOL Developer Features

• GUI standards
• Coding standards
• Standard Report Submission
• Flexfield development
• Custom menus and responsibilities
• FNDLOAD generic seed data loader

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 AOL Features for System Administrators

• Set up new users

• Manage and control security
• Audit user activity
• Set user and system profiles
• Manage concurrent processing

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 Application Object Library Security
Responsibility
Set of
Operating Books
Unit
Forms
Navigation
Menu Programs
User
Signon
Reports
Report
Group
Database Objects
Data
Group

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 System Administration and OAM

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 Module Summary

In this module, you should have learned how

to do the following:
• Describe how Oracle Applications utilizes the
technology components.
• Identify the components that make up the
desktop, application and database tiers.
• Identify the Applications Technology layer
products.

2-49 Copyright © 2003, Oracle. All rights reserved.

 Module Discussion

• Describe the basic architecture of Oracle

Applications.
• What are some of the servers used in the
application tier? Describe their purpose.
• Briefly explain the concept of load balancing.
• What are some key features of the Oracle
Applications technology layer?

2-50 Copyright © 2003, Oracle. All rights reserved.