3 Interoperability Between Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Components

The following sections describe interoperability scenarios to consider when you are using Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g components with other Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g components.

This chapter contains the following sections:

3.1 Oracle Web Services Interoperability

Web services are Web-based applications that use open, XML-based standards and transport protocols to exchange data with clients. Web services are developed using Java Technology APIs and tools provided by an integrated Web services category.

Oracle supports the following Web services categories, which are associated with specific Oracle Fusion Middleware products and components:

  • JAX-WS Web Services for Oracle WebLogic Serve

  • Web Services for ADF Business Components

  • Web Services for Oracle SOA Suite

  • Web Services for Oracle Service Bus 11g

These Oracle Web services categories support a variety of Web services message formats, capabilities, and security features. While this support varies from one category to another, all the Oracle Web services categories support the following standard features in the communication messages they send and receive:

  • Plain SOAP

  • WS-Security, With SSL

  • WS-Security, No SSL

As a result, if you develop Web services applications that support these types of Web services messages, then the services you create can be used interoperably with any of the Oracle Web services security categories.

For a more information about the supported WS-Security scenarios between the categories and information on how to configure Web services endpoints, refer to the Oracle Fusion Middleware Interoperability Guide for Oracle Web Services Manager.

For more information about each of the Oracle Web services categories, see the following sections:

3.1.1 JAX-WS Web Services for Oracle WebLogic Server

JAX-WS is designed to take the place of JAX-RPC in Web services and Web applications. To compare the features that are supported for JAX-WS and JAX-RPC, see "How Do I Choose Between JAX-WS and JAX-RPC?" in Oracle Fusion Middleware Introducing WebLogic Web Services for Oracle WebLogic Server. For information about migrating a JAX-RPC Web service to JAX-WS, "Migrating JAX-RPC Web Services and Clients to JAX-WS."

3.1.2 Web Services for ADF Business Components

ADF Business Components simplify the development, delivery, and customization of business applications for the Java EE platform by providing a library of reusable components and supporting design time facilities in Oracle JDeveloper.

For more information, see "Integrating Service-Enabled Application Modules" in Oracle Fusion Middleware Fusion Developer's Guide for Oracle Application Development Framework.

3.1.3 Web Services for Oracle SOA Suite

Oracle SOA composite applications include the SOA service components. SOA service components are the basic building blocks of SOA applications, implementing a part of the overall business logic functionality.

Note that you can deploy SOA service components to the Oracle Fusion Middleware environment. For more information about developing SOA service components, see Oracle Fusion Middleware Developer's Guide for Oracle SOA Suite.

3.1.4 Web Services for Oracle Service Bus 11g

Oracle Service Bus uses the underlying WebLogic security framework as building blocks for its security services. Specifically, the Oracle Service Bus uses the WebLogic Server JAX-RPC stack to implement its web services and that the WebLogic Server security framework is used for protecting these services.

For information about configuring and attaching policies, see "Using WS-Policy in Oracle Service Bus Proxy and Business Services" in Oracle Fusion Middleware Developer's Guide for Oracle Service Bus.

3.2 Oracle Identity Management Interoperability

This section describes Oracle Identity Management interoperability considerations:

3.2.1 Interoperability Between Oracle Identity Management and Other Oracle Fusion Middleware Products

Before you install new Oracle Identity Management components or configure your Oracle Fusion Middleware products to use Oracle Identity Management services, review:

  • The Oracle Fusion Middleware certification information to identify which Oracle Identity Management products are compatible with the Oracle Fusion Middleware products you are using. For more information, see Section 1.4.3, "Using Oracle Certification Matrices".

  • The information in this chapter, to be sure you are installing and configuring versions of the Oracle Fusion Middleware software that will be compatible with existing and future Oracle Fusion Middleware components.

Similarly, before you apply an Oracle Fusion Middleware patch set, review your current environment and verify that applying the patch set won't affect the interoperability between your Oracle Identity Management components and the Oracle Fusion Middleware products that depend on them. For more information, see Section 3.4, "Patch Set Interoperability".

3.2.2 Interoperability Between Oracle Identity Management Components and Oracle Identity and Access Management Components

Oracle offers two distinct identity management solutions:

These two identity management solutions are often updated independently, as illustrated in Table 3-1, which shows the availability of the Oracle Identity Management and Oracle Identity and Access Management software in recent 11g patch sets.

As a result, you should be aware of any interoperability issues between the available versions or patch sets of the Oracle Identity Management components and Oracle Identity and Access Management components.

In general, unless otherwise noted, you can use different versions of these solutions together, as long as they are not configured within the same domain. For more information, see Section 3.4.4, "Patch Set Interoperability Between Oracle Identity Management and Oracle Identity and Access Management".

Table 3-1 Summary of Oracle Identity Management Patch Set Releases and Oracle Identity and Access Management Patch Set Releases


 Oracle Identity Management Availability Oracle Identity and Access Management Availability

Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.2.0)

 not supported compatibility indicator

Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.3.0)

 compatibility indicator compatibility indicator

Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.4.0)

 not supported compatibility indicator

Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.5.0)

 compatibility indicator compatibility indicator

Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.6.0)

 compatibility indicator compatibility indicator

3.2.3 Using Oracle HTTP Server 11g WebGates with Oracle Identity Management

Oracle HTTP Server WebGates integrate with Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g through the following:

Review the following Oracle Access Management (OAM) integration considerations:

  • If you are using a OAM 10g Release 3 (10.1.4.3) backend or server, then use OAM 10g Release 3 (10.1.4.3) versions of OHS 11g WebGates for integration with Oracle Fusion Middleware components.

  • If you are using OAM 11g Release 1 (11.1.1), then use OAM 11g Release 1 (11.1.1) versions of OHS 11gR1 webgates.

Note:

For more information about individual Oracle Fusion Middleware product details integrating with OAM, see the product-specific documentation.

For more information about certified versions, see the Oracle Identity Management certification matrix at: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/middleware/id-mgmt/identity-accessmgmt-11gr1certmatrix-161244.xls.

3.3 Middleware Home and Domain Extension Interoperability

The following sections provide information about the interoperability of Oracle Fusion Middleware products when installing products in a Middleware home and when extending existing Oracle WebLogic Server domains:

3.3.1 Middleware Home Interoperability

When installing Oracle Fusion Middleware products, be sure that each Middleware home you create contains only products that are at the same version or patch set. Each product has its own maintenance schedule and it is possible that future interoperability issues could result.

For example, unless otherwise documented, do not install Oracle SOA Suite 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.5.0) in the same Middleware home with Oracle WebCenter Portal 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.6.0).

This rule applies when installing new products, as well as when apply patch sets. For more information, see Section 3.4, "Patch Set Interoperability".

3.3.2 Domain Extension Interoperability

You can extend an existing Oracle Fusion Middleware product domain to support another Oracle Fusion Middleware product, as long as they are the same version number or patch set. For example, if you have an existing SOA Suite 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.4.0) domain, do not attempt to extend or patch that domain using Oracle WebCenter Portal 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.6.0). To avoid potential interoperability issues, wait until both suites are available at equivalent versions.

Table 3-2 describes scenarios when two different products from different Oracle Fusion Middleware suites are collocated within the same domain. In these particular scenarios you will not be able to extend, upgrade, or patch one of the products before the other is available at the same version.

Table 3-2 Domain Extension Interoperability Considerations

Scenario Description Solution

Extending a domain with a WebLogic SIP Server

SIP servers cannot be collocated in an existing Fusion Middleware domain.

When extending an existing Fusion Middleware domain deselect the Basic WebLogic SIP Server Domain.

Extending a domain with Oracle Portal, Forms, Reports, and BI Discoverer

Oracle Portal, Forms, Reports, and BI Discoverer should not be collocated with other Oracle Fusion Middleware components

Create a separate domain for Portal, Forms, Reports and Business Intelligence Discoverer.

Extending an Oracle Identity Management domain

Oracle Identity Management does not currently support sharing a domain with any of the other products.

Do not extend an Oracle Identity Management domain with any other Oracle Fusion Middleware components except for those in the SOA Suite.

3.4 Patch Set Interoperability

This section describes some general interoperability guidelines and considerations when you are applying an Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1) patch set to an existing Oracle Fusion Middleware environment.

This section contains the following topics:

3.4.1 Installing Different Patch Sets Within the Same Middleware Home

When you are applying an Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1) patch set, ensure that all the products within the selected Middleware home are supported by the patch set.

For example, unless otherwise documented, do not install 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.6.0) and 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.5.0) products within the same Middleware home. Each product has its own maintenance schedule and it is possible that future interoperability issues could result.

An exception to this rule is Oracle WebLogic Server 11g (10.3.5), which you can continue to use after you apply the 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.6.0) patch set. For more information, see Section 3.4.5, "Patch Set Interoperability with Oracle WebLogic Server"

3.4.2 Using Different Patch Sets Within a Single Domain

When you configure a domain, ensure that all products configured within the domain are at the same patch set. For example, do not configure Oracle Identity and Access Management 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.5.0) in the same domain with Oracle SOA Suite 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.6.0).

Similarly, if you have configured a domain with Oracle Identity Management 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.5.0) components and Oracle Identity and Access Management 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.5.0) components, do not apply the Oracle Identity Management 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.6.0) patch set until an equivalent patch set for Oracle Identity and Access Management is available.

3.4.3 Patch Set Interoperability Between Oracle Identity Management and Other Oracle Fusion Middleware Products

Oracle often releases Oracle Identity Management products on a schedule different from the schedule for the other Oracle Fusion Middleware products. As a result, it is common to use a different release or patch set of an Oracle Identity Management product with your Oracle Fusion Middleware products, as long as they are not configured within the same domain.

For example, you can use Oracle Identity and Access Management 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.5.0) products with your Oracle SOA Suite 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.6.0) products, if they are in separate domains. In these scenarios, the Oracle Identity Management products are typically installed on a separate host and in a separate Middleware home.

For complete information about the supported Oracle Identity Management patch sets and versions you can use with your other Oracle Fusion Middleware products, refer to the certification information on the Oracle Technology Network (OTN). For more information, see Section 1.4.3, "Using Oracle Certification Matrices".

3.4.4 Patch Set Interoperability Between Oracle Identity Management and Oracle Identity and Access Management

You can configure an Oracle Fusion Middleware environment where Oracle Identity Management and Oracle Identity and Access Management components are at different patch sets, as long as the products are not configured within the same domain.

Do not attempt to configure a single domain that contains Oracle Identity Management components at one patch set and Oracle Identity and Access Management components at another.

For example, as shown in Table 3-3, Oracle does not support the configuration of a domain that contains Oracle Identity Management 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.6.0) components and Oracle Identity and Access Management 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.5.0) components.

Further, if you have an existing domain that contains both Oracle Identity Management components and Oracle Identity and Access Management components, do not apply a patch set unless you can apply the patch set to both the Oracle Identity Management components and Oracle Identity and Access Management components.

For more information about Oracle Identity Management and Oracle Identity and Access Management interoperability, see Section 3.2.2, "Interoperability Between Oracle Identity Management Components and Oracle Identity and Access Management Components".

Table 3-3 Interoperability of Oracle Identity Management and Oracle Identity and Access Management Patch Sets Within the Same Domain


 Oracle Identity Management 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.2.0) Oracle Identity Management 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.3.0) Oracle Identity Management 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.4.0) Oracle Identity Management 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.5.0) Oracle Identity Management 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.6.0)

Oracle Identity and Access Management 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.3.0)

 compatibility indicator not supported compatibility indicator compatibility indicator compatibility indicator

Oracle Identity and Access Management 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.5.0)

 compatibility indicator compatibility indicator compatibility indicator not supported compatibility indicator

3.4.5 Patch Set Interoperability with Oracle WebLogic Server

Each version and patch set of Oracle Fusion Middleware is certified with a specific release of Oracle WebLogic Server. Create domains for a specific Oracle Fusion Middleware product release only with the certified version of Oracle WebLogic Server.

In the case of Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.6.0), the Oracle Fusion Middleware software is certified to work with both Oracle WebLogic Server 10.3.5 and Oracle WebLogic Server 10.3.6. This allows you to apply the Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.6.0) patch set to an 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.5.0) installation without updating Oracle WebLogic Server.

Note, however, that if you configure Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.6.0) components using Oracle WebLogic Server 10.3.5, you will not be able to take advantage of any of product features that depend upon Oracle WebLogic Server 10.3.6. For information on the new features available in Oracle WebLogic Server 11g (10.3.6), see Oracle Fusion Middleware What's New in Oracle WebLogic Server.

Table 3-4 Summary of Oracle WebLogic Server Versions Supported by Each Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Patch Set


 Oracle WebLogic Server Version

Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.2.0)

10.3.2

Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.3.0)

10.3.3

Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.4.0)

10.3.4

Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.5.0)

10.3.5

Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.6.0)

10.3.5 or 10.3.6