Contents

Title and Copyright Information

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Preface

Intended Audience

Structure

Related Documents

Part I

1 Introduction

1.1 The Internet Changes Everything

1.1.1 Improvements in Business

1.1.2 Improvements in the Underlying Technology

1.2 The Oracle Internet Platform

1.3 Oracle Internet Application Server

1.4 How This Guide Can Help

2 Overview of Forms Server

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Forms Server Architecture

2.3 Forms Server Components

2.3.1 Forms Applet

2.3.2 Forms Listener

2.3.3 Forms Runtime Engine

2.4 Forms Server in Action

3 Preview of Configuration Choices

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Sockets, HTTP, or HTTPS

3.2.1 Sockets

3.2.2 HTTP

3.2.3 HTTPS

3.3 Oracle JInitiator or AppletViewer

3.3.1 Oracle JInitiator

3.3.2 AppletViewer

3.4 Load Balancing or standalone configuration

3.5 Oracle HTTP Server or another Web server

3.6 What's Next

4 Installing Forms Server

4.1 Introduction

4.2 About the Oracle Universal Installer

4.3 Starting Forms Server

4.4 What's Next

5 Configuring the Forms Server

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Configuring Your Web Server

5.3 Customizing Environment Variables

5.4 Description of Forms Server Startup Parameters

5.4.1 Port Parameter

5.4.2 Mode Parameter

5.4.3 Pool Parameter

5.4.4 Log Parameter

5.5 Customizing Configuration Files

5.5.1 formsweb.cfg

5.5.1.1 Parameters in the formsweb.cfg File

5.5.1.2 Default formsweb.cfg File

5.5.2 base.htm and basejini.htm

5.5.2.1 Parameters and variables in the base HTML file

5.5.2.2 Usage Notes

5.5.2.3 Default base.htm File

5.5.2.4 Default basejini.htm File

5.6 Additional Steps to Set Up the HTTPS Connection Mode

5.6.1 Customize HTTPS Environment Variables

5.6.2 Use Oracle Wallet Manager to Create Wallets and Request Certificates

5.6.2.1 Create a Wallet

5.6.2.2 Create a Certificate Request

5.6.2.3 Import the User Certificate

5.6.2.4 Set Auto Login to ON

5.7 What's Next

6 Deploying Forms to the Web

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Deploying a Forms Application

6.2.1 Creating your Runtime Executable Files

6.2.2 Deploying the Executable Files on Your Web Server

6.2.3 Broadcasting the Application's URL

6.3 What's Next

7 Application Design Considerations

7.1 Introduction

7.2 General Guidelines

7.3 Guidelines for Designing Forms Applications

7.3.1 Create Your Own Template HTML Files

7.3.2 Create an HTML Application Menu

7.3.3 Use Oracle Designer with the Forms Server

7.3.4 Reduce Network Traffic

7.3.5 Avoid Unnecessary Graphics and Images

7.3.6 Select Standard Fonts

7.4 Deploying Icons and Images Used by Forms Server

7.4.1 Icons

7.4.2 SplashScreen and Background Images

7.4.3 Using a Custom JAR File Containing Icons and Images

7.4.3.1 Creating a JAR File

7.4.3.2 Using Files Within the JAR File

7.4.4 Search Path for Icons and Images

7.4.4.1 DocumentBase

7.4.4.2 CodeBase

7.5 Integrating Reports

7.6 Feature Restrictions for Forms Applications on the Web

8 Migrating Legacy Applications to the Web

8.1 Introduction

8.1.1 Client/Server-Based Architecture

8.1.2 Web-Based Architecture

8.1.3 Who Should Read this Chapter?

8.2 Comparing Cartridge and CGI Implementations

8.3 Reconfiguration Strategies

8.3.1 Strategy for Users with Complex Base HTML Files

8.3.2 Strategy for Users with Simple Base HTML Files

8.4 Reconfiguring Forms Web Cartridge to CGI

8.4.1 Stopping OAS Web Listener Instances

8.4.1.1 Stopping OAS Completely

8.4.1.2 Stopping Specific Instance of OAS

8.4.2 Configuring the formsweb.cfg File

8.4.2.1 System Parameters

8.4.2.2 User Parameters

8.4.2.3 Specific Configurations

8.4.3 Configuring the base.htm or basejini.htm File

8.4.4 Broadcasting the Applications's URL

8.5 Guidelines for Migration

9 Network Considerations

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Network Topologies

9.2.1 Internet

9.2.2 Intranet

9.2.3 Extranet

9.3 Deploying Forms Server in your Network Environment

9.3.1 Deploying Over the Internet

9.3.1.1 Risks

9.3.1.2 Other Internet Deployment Options

9.3.2 Deploying On a Local Area Network (LAN)

9.3.3 Deploying On a Network with Remote Dial-Up Access

9.3.4 Deploying On a Network via Telecom-Provided VPN Access over Public Lines

9.3.5 Deploying On a Network via VPN Access over the Internet

9.4 Guidelines for Maintaining Network Security

10 Security Considerations

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Common System Security Issues

10.2.1 User Authentication

10.2.2 Server Authentication

10.2.3 Authorization

10.2.4 Secure Transmission (Encryption)

10.2.5 Firewall

10.2.6 Virtual Private Network (VPN)

10.2.7 Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

10.3 Simple Steps to Improve Security

11 Performance Tuning Considerations

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Built-in Optimization Features of Forms Server

11.2.1 Minimizing Client Resource Requirements

11.2.2 Minimizing Forms Server Resource Requirements

11.2.3 Minimizing Network Usage

11.2.4 Maximizing the Efficiency of Packets Sent Over the Network

11.2.5 Rendering Application Displays Efficiently on the Client

11.3 Tuning Forms Server Applications

11.3.1 Location of the Form Server with Respect to the Data Server

11.3.2 Minimizing the Application Startup Time

11.3.2.1 Using JAR Files

11.3.2.2 Using Caching

11.3.2.3 Deferred Load on Demand

11.3.3 Reducing the Required Network Bandwidth

11.3.4 Other Techniques to Improve Performance

12 Load Balancing Considerations

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Load Balancing Terminology

12.3 Load Balancing in Action

12.4 Configuring for Forms Server Load Balancing

12.4.1 Forms Server Listener Parameters

12.4.2 Load Balancer Server Parameters

12.4.3 Load Balancer Client Parameters

12.5 Setting Up the Load Balancer Server Trace Log

12.5.1 Trace level 1

12.5.2 Trace level 2

12.5.3 Sample Trace File

13 Oracle Enterprise Manager Forms Support

13.1 Introduction

13.2 Why Should I Use OEM?

13.3 OEM Components

13.4 Installing and Configuring OEM Components for Use with Forms

13.4.1 Configuring Forms Support for OEM

13.4.2 Starting the OMS Service

13.5 Managing Forms Servers from the OEM Console

13.5.1 Locating Nodes

13.5.2 Entering the Administrative User's Credentials in the OEM Console

13.5.3 Viewing Forms Runtime Instances from the OEM Console

13.6 OEM Menu Options

13.6.1 Controlling Forms Listeners Group

13.6.2 Controlling Forms Listeners Instance

13.6.3 Runtime Processes List Window

13.6.4 Controlling Forms Runtime Processes

13.6.5 Controlling Load Balancer Server Group

13.6.6 Controlling Load Balancer Server Instance

13.6.7 Controlling Load Balancer Client Group

13.6.8 Controlling Load Balancer Client Instance

13.6.9 Monitoring Functions

14 Capacity Planning Considerations

14.1 Introduction

14.2 What Is Scalability?

14.3 Criteria for Evaluating System Capacity

14.3.1 Processor

14.3.2 Memory

14.3.3 Network

14.3.4 Shared Resources

14.3.5 User Load

14.3.6 Application Complexity

14.4 Determining Scalability Thresholds

14.5 Sample Benchmark Results

14.5.1 Medium-Complex Application on a Low-Cost Intel Pentium-Based System

14.5.2 Medium-Complex Application on an Intel Pentium II Xeon-Based System

14.5.3 Medium-Complex Application on an Entry-Level Sun UltraSparc Server

14.5.4 Simple Application on an Intel Pentium II Xeon-Based System

14.5.5 Simple Application on an Entry-Level Sun UltraSparc Server

15 Troubleshooting Solutions

15.1 Introduction

15.2 Checking the Status of the Forms Server

15.3 Starting the Forms Server

15.4 Stopping the Forms Server Process

15.5 Starting the Forms Server Log

15.6 Troubleshooting FAQ

Part II

A Forms Server Parameters

A.1 Introduction

A.2 Windows 95 and Windows NT Registry

A.2.1 Viewing and Modifying the Registry

A.3 Configuration Parameters

A.3.1 Required Parameters

A.3.2 Customizable Parameters

FORMS60_PATH

FORMS60_REPFORMAT

FORMS60_TIMEOUT

GRAPHICS60_PATH

NLS_LANG

ORACLE_HOME

B Oracle JInitiator

B.1 Introduction

B.1.1 Why Use Oracle JInitiator?

B.1.2 Benefits of Oracle JInitiator

B.2 Using Oracle JInitiator

B.2.1 Supported Configurations

B.2.2 System Requirements

B.2.3 Using Oracle JInitiator with Netscape Navigator

B.2.4 Using Oracle JInitiator with Microsoft Internet Explorer

B.2.5 Setting up the Oracle JInitator Plug-in

B.2.5.1 Adding Oracle JInitiator Markup to Your Base HTML File

B.2.5.2 Installing Oracle JInitiator on your Web Server

B.2.5.3 Customizing the Oracle JInitiator Download File

B.2.5.4 Making Oracle JInitiator available for download

B.2.6 Modifying the Oracle JInitiator plug-in

B.2.6.1 Modifying the cache size for Oracle JInitiator

B.2.6.2 Modifying the heap size for Oracle JInitiator

B.2.6.3 Viewing Oracle JInitiator output

B.2.7 Oracle JInitiator tags for a base HTML file

B.3 Oracle JInitiator FAQ

B.3.1 Certification and Availability

B.3.2 Support

B.3.3 Installation

B.3.4 Operation of Oracle JInitiator

B.3.5 Caching

C AppletViewer

C.1 Introduction

C.2 Running Application in the AppletViewer

C.2.1 Preparing to Run Your Application with the AppletViewer

C.2.2 Adding the clientBrowser Parameter to your Base HTML File

C.2.3 Setting the clientBrowser Parameter

C.3 Registering the Forms Applet Signature

C.3.1 Trusting the Forms Applet by Registering Its Signature

C.3.2 Trusting the Forms Applet by Installing the Forms Java Class Files Locally

C.4 Instructions for the User

C.4.1 Installing the AppletViewer

C.4.2 Running the AppletViewer

C.4.3 Invoking a Web Browser From Within the AppletViewer

Part III

Index