2 Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2) Interoperability and Compatibility

This chapter summarizes the specific interoperability and compatibility considerations and issues for the Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2) release.

This chapter contains the following sections:

Section 2.1, "About the Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2) Release"
Section 2.2, "Oracle WebLogic Server and Coherence Compatibility with Previous Releases"
Section 2.3, "Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure Compatibility with Previous Releases"
Section 2.4, "Oracle HTTP Server Interoperability and Compatibility"
Section 2.5, "Interoperability with Supported Databases"
Section 2.6, "Interoperabilty with Oracle Identity Management Products"
Section 2.7, "Oracle Web Services Interoperability"
Section 2.8, "Oracle Home and Domain Extension Interoperability"
Section 2.9, "What are Custom and Client Applications?"
Section 2.10, "Interoperability with Custom and Client Applications"

2.1 About the Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2) Release

The following sections provide general information about Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2) in terms of its compatibility and interoperability with other Oracle Fusion Middleware products:

Products and Features Available in Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2)
Products and Features Not Available in Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2)

2.1.1 Products and Features Available in Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2)

Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2) is the first release of the Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c. This release contains a limited set of Oracle Fusion Middleware products and features that serve as a starting point for Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c application development and planning.

Oracle Fusion Middleware includes the following products:

Oracle JDeveloper
Oracle WebLogic Server and Coherence
Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure
Oracle HTTP Server

This is not a definitive list of products released with Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2). For information about all the Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2) products, refer to the Understanding Oracle Fusion Middleware.

2.1.1.1 About Oracle JDeveloper 12c (12.1.2)

JDeveloper is an integrated development environment (IDE) for building applications using the latest standards for Java, XML, Web services, and SQL. For more information, see "Introduction to Oracle JDeveloper" in Developing Applications with Oracle JDeveloper.

2.1.1.2 About Oracle WebLogic Server and Coherence 12c (12.1.2)

Oracle WebLogic Server is a scalable, enterprise-ready Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE) application server. For more information, see "Introduction" in Understanding Oracle WebLogic Server.

2.1.1.3 About Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure 12c (12.1.2)

Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure is a Oracle Fusion Middleware distribution that provides Oracle WebLogic Server, Oracle Coherence, and the Oracle JRF infrastructure services, such as:

Oracle Application Development Framework (Oracle ADF)
Oracle Metadata Services (MDS)
Oracle Platform Security Servers (OPSS)
Oracle Web Services Manager (OWSM)
Oracle Enterprise Manager Fusion Middleware Control

These services are installed into the Oracle common directory inside the Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c Oracle home by the Infrastructure installer.

For more information about the changes in directory structure and other concepts from Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g to 12c, see Understanding Oracle Fusion Middleware.

Note that the equivalent installer in Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g is the Application Developer 11g installer, which requires an existing installation of Oracle WebLogic Server. In 12c, the Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure distribution consists of both Oracle WebLogic Server and the Oracle JRF in a single installer.

2.1.1.4 About Oracle HTTP Server 12c (12.1.2)

Oracle HTTP Server is the web server component for Oracle Fusion Middleware. It provides a listener for Oracle WebLogic Server and the framework for hosting static pages, dynamic pages, and applications over the Web. For more information, see "Introduction to Oracle HTTP Server" in Administering Oracle HTTP Server.

2.1.2 Products and Features Not Available in Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2)

Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2) does not include many of the Oracle Fusion Middleware products that were available in Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g. Instead, as the initial Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c release, it provides a limited set of Oracle Fusion Middleware products and features that serve as a starting point for Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c application development and planning.

As a result, there specific considerations when installing and configuring Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2) in an existing Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g environment.

For more information, see Section 2.3.

2.2 Oracle WebLogic Server and Coherence Compatibility with Previous Releases

If you are currently running Oracle WebLogic Server 11g products, then be aware of the following:

Do not install Oracle WebLogic Server 12c (12.1.2) in the same Middleware home or Oracle home as any previous Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g or Oracle WebLogic Server 11g products. This includes Oracle WebLogic Server 10.3.
Do not install any Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g products in the same Oracle home as Oracle WebLogic Server 12c (12.1.2).

Similarly, you cannot extend an existing Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g or Oracle WebLogic Server 11g domain with Oracle WebLogic Server 12c (12.1.2).

2.3 Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure Compatibility with Previous Releases

If you are currently running Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g products, then be aware of the following:

Do not install Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2) Infrastructure in the same Middleware home or Oracle home as any previous Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g products.
Do not install any Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g products in the same Oracle home as Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure 12c (12.1.2).

Similarly, you cannot extend an existing Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g or Oracle WebLogic Server 11g domain with Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure 12c (12.1.2).

You can, however, use existing Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g products with Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure, as long as they are installed in a separate Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Middleware home. For example, you can use an existing Oracle Identity Management 11g installation for LDAP directory services that support your Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure 12c (12.1.2) applications.

2.4 Oracle HTTP Server Interoperability and Compatibility

Table 2-1 summarizes the most common interoperability scenarios for Oracle HTTP Server and other Oracle Fusion Middleware components. The information in the table was accurate as of the publishing of this document.

For complete information about the interoperability of Oracle HTTP Server, see the certification information available on the Oracle Technology Network (OTN). For more information, see Section 1.4.2, "Using Oracle Certification Matrices".

As you review the table, consider the following:

Interoperability between versions (such as between Oracle HTTP Server 11g and Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c) are supported only when the products are installed in separate Oracle homes. In general, Oracle does not support the installation of products of different versions in the same Oracle home. For more information, see Section 2.8.
Oracle HTTP Server 12c (12.1.2) includes WebGate 12c (12.1.2), which can be used to integrate Oracle WebLogic Server or Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure with Oracle Access Manager. For more information, see Section 2.6.1.

Table 2-1 Oracle HTTP Server Interoperability with Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c

	Versions of Oracle HTTP Server Before 11g (11.1.1.6.0)	Oracle HTTP Server 11g (11.1.1.6.0) or Later	Oracle HTTP Server 12c (12.1.2)
Oracle WebLogic Server and Coherence 12c (12.1.2)
Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure 12c (12.1.2)
Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.6.0)
Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.7.0)

2.5 Interoperability with Supported Databases

Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2) supports specific database versions for hosting the required Oracle Fusion Middleware product and component schemas and for other specific product features.

The certification information on the Oracle Technology Network (OTN) provides information about the specific database versions supported by Oracle Fusion Middleware. For more information on using the certification information, see Section 1.4.2, "Using Oracle Certification Matrices".

However, in some cases, an Oracle Fusion Middleware feature or component requires a more specific database version or a specific database feature that is available in a particular database release.

The following sections describes some of those specific features and database requirements:

Oracle Database Interoperability Considerations
Java DB Interoperability Considerations

2.5.1 Oracle Database Interoperability Considerations

In addition to the information available in the certification information on the Oracle Technology Network (OTN), Table 2-2 provides some additional considerations when using specific Oracle database features.

Table 2-2 Database Version Requirements for Selected Products and Features

Product or Feature	Database Requirement	Restrictions	More Information
Using SCAN addresses with GridLink data sources.	Oracle Database 11.2 or later, with Single Client Access Name (SCAN) enabled	None	"SCAN Addresses" in Administering JDBC Data Sources for Oracle WebLogic Server
JDBC Multi Data Sources	All Oracle Database versions supported by Oracle Fusion Middleware	None.	"Configuring JDBC Multi Data Sources" in Administering JDBC Data Sources for Oracle WebLogic Server
Using Edition-Based Redefinition (EBR) when creating schemas in an Oracle database	Oracle Database 11.2 or later	EBR is supported by all Oracle Fusion Middleware schemas, except where noted.	"Component-Specific Requirements for Oracle Databases" in Oracle Fusion Middleware System Requirements and Specifications "Specifying Connection Credentials for Oracle Databases and Oracle Databases with Edition-Based Redefinition" in Creating Schemas with the Repository Creation Utility "Managing Editions" in Oracle Database Administrator's Guide
Support for pluggable databases (PDBs)	Oracle Database 12.1 or later	PDBs are supported for Oracle Fusion Middleware schemas. Connecting to a multitenant container database (CDB) from the Repository Creation Utility is not supported.	'"Managing Pluggable Databases" in the Oracle Database Administrator's Guide

2.5.2 Java DB Interoperability Considerations

As described in the certification information, Oracle supports the use of Java DB as a repository for the required Oracle Fusion Middleware schemas in a limited set of Oracle WebLogic Server domain configurations.

Specifically, for evaluation or development purposes only, you can use Java DB to host the required schemas for an Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure domain.

For example, you can install the required Oracle Fusion Middleware schemas in a Java DB database and reference the Java DB data sources during the configuration of an Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure domain.

For more information about Java DB, refer to the Java DB documentation at the following URL:

http://docs.oracle.com/javadb

For more information on certified databases, see Section 1.4.2, "Using Oracle Certification Matrices".

2.6 Interoperabilty with Oracle Identity Management Products

This section provide information about Oracle Identity Management Interoperability with Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c:

Interoperability with Oracle Identity and Access Management
Interoperability with Oracle Identity Management Directory Services

2.6.1 Interoperability with Oracle Identity and Access Management

Table 2-3 shows the interoperability of Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2) with the available versions of Oracle Identity and Access Management.

When reviewing the interoperability of Oracle Identity and Access Management and Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c, consider the following:

In most cases, you can use currently available versions of Oracle Identity and Access Management with Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c because the Oracle Identity and Access Management products are installed in a separate Oracle home and configured in a separate Oracle WebLogic Server domain.

For more information, see Section 2.8, "Oracle Home and Domain Extension Interoperability".
The information shown in Table 2-3 was accurate at the time this document was published. Always check the certification information on the Oracle Technology Network (OTN) for the latest certification information.
Oracle HTTP Server 12c (12.1.2) includes WebGate 12c (12.1.2), which can be used to integrate Oracle WebLogic Server or Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure with Oracle Access Manager 11g (11.1.1.5.0) or later. For more information, see Section 2.4.

Table 2-3 Oracle Identity and Access Management Interoperability with Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c

	Oracle Identity and Access Management Versions Before 11.1.1.5.0	Oracle Identity and Access Management 11.1.1.5 or later	Oracle Identity and Access Management 11g Release 2 (11.1.2)
Oracle WebLogic Server and Coherence 12c (12.1.2)
Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure 12c (12.1.2)

2.6.2 Interoperability with Oracle Identity Management Directory Services

Table 2-3 shows the interoperability of Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c (12.1.2) with the available versions of Oracle Identity Management Directory Services.

When reviewing the interoperability of Oracle Identity Management and Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c, consider the following:

In most cases, you can use currently available versions of Oracle Identity and Access Management with Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c because the Oracle Identity and Access Management products are installed in a separate Oracle home and configured in a separate Oracle WebLogic Server domain.

For more information, see Section 2.8, "Oracle Home and Domain Extension Interoperability".
The information shown in Table 2-4 was accurate at the time this document was published. Always check the certification information on the Oracle Technology Network (OTN) for the latest certification information.

Table 2-4 Oracle Identity Management Directory Services Interoperability with Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c

	Oracle Internet Directory and Oracle Virtual Directory Versions Before 11.1.1.5.0	Oracle Internet Directory and Oracle Virtual Directory 11.1.1.5 or later	Oracle Unified Directory 11g (11.1.2)
Oracle WebLogic Server and Coherence 12c (12.1.2)
Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure 12c (12.1.2)

2.7 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 several Web services categories, which are associated with specific Oracle Fusion Middleware products and components. For more information, see Understanding Web Services.

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 Interoperability 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 Interoperability Solutions Guide for Oracle Web Services Manager.

2.8 Oracle 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:

Oracle Home Interoperability
Domain Extension Interoperability

2.8.1 Oracle Home Interoperability

When installing Oracle Fusion Middleware products, be sure that each Oracle 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, you cannot install Oracle SOA Suite 11g Release 1 (11.1.1.6.0) in the same Oracle home with Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure 12c.

This rule applies when installing new products, as well as when applying patches.

2.8.2 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 (11.1.1.5.0) domain, do not attempt to extend or patch that domain using Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c. To avoid potential interoperability issues, wait until both suites are available at equivalent versions.

2.9 What are Custom and Client Applications?

When you upgrade from Oracle Application Server 10g to Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g, or if you apply any patches on an existing Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g environment, you should consider the impact on your custom applications as defined as:

Applications written using JDeveloper
Applications using any other IDE, but also using any of the Oracle Fusion Middleware public Java APIs.

Specifically, the information in this section applies in the following situations:

If you have created custom applications that you have deployed on Oracle Application Server 10g or Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g.
If you have created or if you maintain client applications that interact with applications you deployed on Oracle Application Server 10g or Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g.

Oracle attempts to support binary and source-level compatibility between the current version of Fusion Middleware and patch set updates applied to it. Where incompatibilities arise with public interfaces, they are documented in the related API reference guides, which are available in the Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c.

Oracle recommends that you ensure the business applications adopting new versions or and upgrades are tested through your normal release process to ensure there are no regressions.

2.10 Interoperability with Custom and Client Applications

When you upgrade to Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c, or if you apply any patches on an existing Oracle Fusion Middleware, you should consider the impact on your custom applications, such as:

Applications written using JDeveloper
Applications using any other IDE, but also using any of the Oracle Fusion Middleware public Java APIs.

Specifically, the information in this section applies in the following situations:

If you have created custom applications that you have deployed on Oracle Application Server 10g or Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g.
If you have created or if you maintain client applications that interact with applications you deployed on Oracle Application Server 10g or Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g.

Oracle recommends that you ensure the business applications adopting new versions or upgrades are tested through your normal release process to ensure there are no regressions.

In general, applying Oracle Fusion Middleware patch sets should require no additional changes to your custom or client applications. When upgrading, however, you should expect some changes.

For more information on WebLogic Server compatibility, see "WebLogic Server 12.1.2 Compatibility with Previous Releases" in Upgrading Oracle WebLogic Server.