1
Overview

This chapter contains the following sections:

• Section 1.1, "System Requirements"

• Section 1.2, "Overview of WebDB Architecture"

1.1 System Requirements

The following are the minimum requirements for running Oracle WebDB 2.2:

Operating Systems:	Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4 or above Solaris 2.5.1 and above
Databases:	Oracle 7.3.4, 8.0.5, 8.0.6, 8i (release 8.1.5)
Web Browsers:	Netscape 4.0.8 and above Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0.1 with Service Pack 1 and above
Other Products:	interMedia Text support is only available with Oracle8i databases. See "Integrating interMedia Text in WebDB Site Builder" for more information.

1.2 Overview of WebDB Architecture

WebDB features and functions are generated from PL/SQL stored procedures and tables stored in the Oracle database. The client requires no software other than a Web browser.

The application server's operating system can be Windows NT, Solaris, or any other platform supported by WebDB.

1.2.1 WebDB Listener

The WebDB HTTP Listener is a lightweight Web server that has the following functions:

• Used for building and deploying PL/SQL-based Web applications

• Has the ability to serve static files

The Listener includes a built-in gateway to the PL/SQL engine in the Oracle databases on which WebDB is supported. The gateway allows PL/SQL-based applications such as WebDB to execute.

The PL/SQL gateway's function is similar to that of the Oracle Application Server (OAS) PL/SQL Cartridge, with some additions. Like the cartridge, the PL/SQL gateway uses Database Access Descriptors (DADs) to capture the database connection information for an application. DADs are used for resolving URLs to the correct PL/SQL procedure that is to be invoked. You can access and update the DADs within WebDB itself.

Additional Information: See Chapter 5, "Configuring the WebDB Listener and PL/SQL Gateway".

1.2.2 Using Other Web Servers

If you already have a Web server and do not want to use the PL/SQL Gateway, WebDB provides the following:

• WebDB Cartridge

  If you want to run WebDB using Oracle Application Server 4.0, WebDB provides a WebDB cartridge that you can add to the Oracle Application Server. The cartridge runs the PL/SQL stored procedures that comprise WebDB to generate dynamic HTML.

  Additional Information: See "Configuring the WebDB Cartridge with OAS" for more instructions.

• WebDB Common Gateway Interface (CGI)

  If you want to use other Web servers such as those provided by Netscape, Microsoft, or Apache Web server, WebDB provides a CGI executable that can be used with any of these servers. A beta version of NSAPI is also available.

  Additional Information: For instructions on how to configure the CGI, see "Setting Up the WebDB CGI Executable and WebDB Cartridge to OAS".