3 Upgrading an Oracle WebCenter Domain to 12c (12.2.1.1)

This section describes the general upgrade procedures for Oracle WebCenter and WebCenter Content. Additional component-specific tasks may be required.

The procedures outlined in the following sections describe the high-level process of upgrading a basic WebCenter domain to 12c (12.2.1.1). Most upgrades follow these general procedures, but the actual upgrade procedures you will perform depend on which components are being upgraded. There may be additional pre- or post- upgrade procedures associated with your components. Therefore, you will need to locate the upgrade procedures for each component in your pre-upgrade environment to complete the domain upgrade.

For example, if your Oracle WebCenter domain includes Oracle WebCenter Content and WebCenter Portal, you would need to follow the procedures described in Upgrading Oracle WebCenter Content to 12c and Upgrading Oracle WebCenter Portal 11g Installations.

3.1 Installing the Required Oracle Fusion Middleware Distributions for WebCenter

Before you can perform and upgrade to WebCenter 12c, you must install - but do not configure - the following Fusion Middleware distributions in your existing 11g domain:

Distribution Installation Guide

Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure

Installing and Configuring the Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure

Oracle WebCenter Content (if you are upgrading Content or Enterprise Capture)

Installing and Configuring Oracle WebCenter Content

Oracle WebCenter Portal (if you are upgrading Portal)

Installing and Configuring Oracle WebCenter Portal

Oracle SOA Suite and Business Process Management

WebCenter Content Imaging Upgrades Only: You must install Oracle SOA Suite 12c before upgrading Oracle WebCenter Content Imaging. If the 12c SOA binaries are not present, the upgrade will fail.

Installing and Configuring Oracle SOA Suite and Business Process Management

3.2 Creating Schemas for WebCenter 12c

Review the 12c schema requirements before you can upgrade Oracle WebCenter:

  • Service Table (_STB)

    Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c introduces a new required schema called Service Table (_STB). This schema is automatically created when you run the Repository Creation Utility (RCU) and must be created before you can upgrade your existing 11g deployment. For more information, see Understanding the Service Table Schema.

  • Oracle Platform Security Services (_OPSS)

    WebCenter does not use the _OPSS schema directly, but requires that the OPSS schema be upgraded as part of the upgrade process. If you do not have an Oracle Platform Security Services (_OPSS) schema in your 11g environment, you must create one for 12c.

  • Audit Schemas (OPSS_AUDIT_VIEWER)

    If you used an XML-based OPSS_AUDIT schema in 11g, then you will need to create a new 12c OPSS_AUDIT_VIEWER schema or the domain reconfiguration will fail.

To create the new schemas, you will use the Oracle Repository Creation Utility (RCU).

  1. Set the JAVA_HOME variable and add JAVA_HOME/bin to $PATH, if you have not done so already.
  2. Navigate to the 12cORACLE_HOME/oracle_common/bin directory on your system.
  3. Start RCU:
    On UNIX operating systems:

    ./rcu

    On Windows operating systems:

    rcu.bat

  4. Create the Service Table schema (and any other required schemas) by navigating the RCU screens. Select Create Repository and then select the appropriate load option.
    NOTE: If you do not have DBA privleges, select Prepare Scripts for System Load.
  5. Provide the connection details for the database that hosts the 11g schemas.
  6. Choose Select Existing Prefix to select the prefix that was used to create the 11g schemas. Use the drop-down menu to select the 11g prefix.
    By default, the Common Infrastructure Services schema, DEV11G_STB will be greyed out, but it will be created and saved with the other DEV11G schemas already in the repository.
  7. Complete the remaining Repository Creation Utility screens to create the new schema(s). If you need assistance with the screens, click Help.

3.3 Running a Pre-Upgrade Readiness Check

The Upgrade Assistant can be run in -readiness mode to identify potential upgrade issues before you perform an actual upgrade.

The readiness check is a read-only operation that scans your existing domain or database schemas and produces a text file with the results of the scan. If your pre-upgrade environment has issues, you can correct those issues and then rerun the readiness check before you upgrade.

By default, the Readiness Check Report file is located in the following Oracle 12c directory: ORACLE_HOME/oracle_common/upgrade/logs

Note:

You can run the readiness check while the system is online. Depending on the comprehensiveness of the checks, the readiness checks can take more time to complete. Oracle recommends that you run the Readiness Check during slower usage periods to prevent performance degradation.
To perform a readiness check on your pre-upgrade environment, launch the Upgrade Assistant in -readiness mode:
  1. Go to the bin directory:

    On UNIX operating systems:

    ORACLE_HOME/oracle_common/upgrade/bin

    On Windows operating systems:

    ORACLE_HOME\oracle_common\upgrade\bin

  2. Enter the following command to start the Upgrade Assistant.

    On UNIX operating systems:

    ./ua -readiness

    On Windows operating systems:

    ua.bat -readiness

    You can also launch the Upgrade Assistant with logging parameters as shown in the UNIX example below:

    ./ua [-logLevel <log_level] [-logDir <log_directory>]

    Logging level. Select one of the following:
    • TRACE

    • NOTIFICATION

    • WARNING

    • ERROR

    • INCIDENT_ERROR

    The default logging level is NOTIFICATION.

    When troubleshooting, consider setting the -logLevel to TRACE so that more information will be logged. If additional information is not needed, change the logLevel as the Upgrade Assistant's log files can become very large when -logLevel TRACE is used.

    Note:

    If you have not created the Service Table schema, you might encounter the error message UPGAST-00328 : The schema version registry table does not exist on this database. If that happens it is necessary to create the service table schema in order to run Upgrade Assistant.

    If this occurs, you will need to create the required 12c schemas with the Repository Creation Utility (RCU).

    Table 3-2 Upgrade Assistant Screens: Readiness Check

    Screen When Screen Appears Description
    Welcome

    Always.

    This screen provides an overview of the readiness check.

    Readiness Check Type:

    • Individually Selected Schemas

    • Domain Based

    Always.

    Readiness checks are only performed on schemas or component configurations that are at a supported upgrade starting point. There are two options to choose from. These options are described below:

    • Use the Individually Selected Schemas option to be able to select the schemas you want to review prior to upgrade.

    • Use the Domain Based option to let the Upgrade Assistant perform a readiness check per domain.

    Available Components

    When Individually Selected Schemas option is selected.

    This screen lists the available components for which the schemas will be selected. If you select something here, readiness check will be performed on that component's schema.

    All Schemas Component List

    Any time a schema readiness check is done.

    This screen is shown any time a schema readiness check is done. This could be when you select Individually Selected Schemas or Domain Based with the Include checks for all schemas option.
    Schema Credentials

    Always.

    Use this screen to enter information required to connect to the selected schema and the database that hosts the schema. If the schema that is to be upgraded was created by RCU in a prior Fusion Middleware release then you will see a drop-down menu listing the possible schema names.

    DBA User Name: Oracle recommends that you run the Upgrade Assistant as FMW and not SYSDBA. If you have not yet created the FMW user, see Creating a Non-SYSDBA User to Run Upgrade Assistant

    Readiness Summary

    Always.

    This screen provides a high-level overview of the readiness checks to be performed based on your selections.

    Click Save Response File if you plan to run the Upgrade Assistant again in -response (or silent) mode.

    Readiness Check

    Always.

    This screen displays the current status of the readiness check. Depending on what you have selected to check, the process can take several minutes.

    For a detailed report, click View Readiness Report. This button appears only after all the readiness checks are complete.

    Caution:

    To prevent performance degradation, consider running the readiness check during off-peak hours.
    Readiness Success

    If the readiness check completes successfully.

    You can now review the complete report.

    If the readiness check encounters an issue or error, review the log file to identify the issues, correct the issues, and then restart the readiness check.

    By default, the Readiness Check Report file is located in the following Oracle 12c directory:

    ORACLE_HOME/oracle_common/upgrade/logs

3.4 Upgrading Schemas with the Upgrade Assistant

The Upgrade Assistant allows you to upgrade individually selected schemas or all schemas associated with a domain. The option you select determines which Upgrade Assistant screens you will use.

To launch the Upgrade Assistant:

  1. Change directory to ORACLE_HOME/oracle_common/upgrade/bin on Unix operating systems or ORACLE_HOME\oracle_common\upgrade\bin on Windows operating systems.
  2. Enter the following command to start the Upgrade Assistant.

    On UNIX operating systems:

    ./ua

    On Windows operating systems:

    ua.bat

    Provide the required information in each of the Upgrade Assistant screens.

    Note:

    The screens you see will vary depending on the upgrade options you select. The screens in the table below should be used as reference only.
Screen Description

Upgrade Options

When upgrading schemas, you can select Individually Selected Schemas or All Schemas Used by a Domain.

Select Individually Selected Schemas only when the domain uses schemas that cannot be upgraded to this version of Fusion Middleware or schemas that you do not want to upgrade at this time.

Component List

UA automatically detects the products installed in the domain directory.

The Component List varies depending on what you currently have deployed in your domain.

Prerequisites

You must read and select each option before you continue.

Note that Upgrade Assistant does not validate that they prerequisites have been met.

Schema Credentials

Provide the connection details for the schema. Be sure to use the correct schema prefix for the schemas you are upgrading.

Examine

The Examine phase scans the component versions to determine if an upgrade is needed.

Upgrade Summary

Review the summary and then click Upgrade to begin the actual upgrade process.

Upgrade Progress

Monitor the upgrade progress from this screen.

End of Upgrade

This screen returns the upgrade status: Success or Failure. Review the log report if the upgrade fails for any reason.

3.5 Reconfiguring the WebCenter Domain with the Reconfiguration Wizard

Note:

Do not start the domain reconfiguration process until you have created all of the required schemas. See Creating Schemas for WebCenter 12c

Start the Reconfiguration Wizard in graphical mode by doing the following:

  1. Log in to the system on which the domain resides.

    Open the command shell (on UNIX operating systems) or open a command prompt window (on Windows operating systems).

  2. Navigate to the following directory:

    (UNIX) ORACLE_HOME/oracle_common/common/bin

    (Windows) ORACLE_HOME\oracle_common\common\bin

    where ORACLE_HOME is your 12c Oracle home directory.

    (UNIX) ./reconfig.sh -log=<log_file> -log_priority=ALL (Windows) reconfig.cmd -log=<log_file> -log_priority=ALL

    Replace log_file with the absolute path of the log file you'd like to create for the domain reconfiguration session. This can be helpful if you need to troubleshoot the reconfiguration process.

    The parameter -log_priority=ALL ensures that logs are logged in fine mode.

    When you run the reconfig.cmd or reconfig.sh command, the following error message might be displayed to indicate that the default cache directory is not valid:

    *sys-package-mgr*: can't create package cache dir

    You can change the cache directory by setting the environment variable CONFIG_JVM_ARGS. For example:

    CONFIG_JVM_ARGS=-Dpython.cachedir= valid_directory

  3. Complete the Reconfiguration Screens as described in the table below.

    The Reconfiguration Wizard displays a sequence of screens listed in Reconfiguration Wizard Screens. Perform the respective action(s) for each of the screens. Note that you may not see every screen listed below. In addition, you may need to complete additional screens based on your environment setup. For more information, see "Reconfiguring WebLogic Domains" in Upgrading Oracle WebLogic Server.

Reconfiguration Screens:

Screen Description Screen

Select Domain

Provide the location of the domain to be reconfigured.

Screens described in table.

Reconfiguration Setup Progress

During the reconfiguration setup process, the WebLogic Server core infrastructure is reconfigured for 12c, templates are applied, and views are created and validated.

Screens described in table.

Domain Mode and JDK

The JDK and other information can be provided on this screen (if not auto-populated with the JDK you want to use).

Screens described in table.

Database Configuration Type

Use this screen to provide the 11g database details for the prefix_MDS schema, 12c database details to load the new prefix_STB schema, and to ensure prefix_OCS and prefix_MDS schemas are pointing to the 11g environment.

Screens described in table.

JDBC Component Schema

Once you provide the correct STB schema credentials and 11g schema owners, the information should auto-populate. Individual schema passwords must be updated in the auto-populated screen.

Screens described in table.

JDBC Component Schema Test

The Reconfiguration Wizard uses the information you provide to conduct a test connection.

Screens described in table.

Node Manager

Even though there was no node manager configuration in 11g, it must be configured for 12c. Provide the required details as shown below:

Screens described in table.

Reconfiguration Progress

Monitor the progress and status of the domain reconfiguration.

Screens described in table.

3.6 Upgrading the Component Configuration with the Upgrade Assistant

The Upgrade Assistant is used to update the location of the WebCenter component binaries in the 11g domain to point to the new 12c binaries. This ensures that when the Administration and managed servers start they will use the upgraded binaries

Note:

Do not perform this step if you are upgrading Oracle WebCenter Content as the necessary configuration changes are performed automatically at server startup (post upgrade) without user intervention.

If you already upgraded schemas, you will run the Upgrade Assistant again to upgrade the component configurations. Navigate to the 12c Upgrade Assistant.

On UNIX operating systems:

./ua

On Windows operating systems:

ua.bat

Provide the required information in each of the Upgrade Assistant screens. The screens you see will vary depending on the upgrade options you select.

Screen Description

All Configurations

Use this screen to provide the location of the 11g domain so that the Upgrade Assistant can update the location of WebCenter binaries in the 11g domain. This enables the Administration server to pick up the 12c binaries when it is started.

Provide the location of the 11g domain.

Component List

The Upgrade Assistant scans the domain and identifies the components that will be upgraded.

Examine

Reviews the components in the domain and determines if an upgrade is necessary.

Upgrade Summary

Review the information and click Upgrade.

Upgrade Success

The 11g domain configurations are now upgraded for 12c.

3.7 Performing Post-Upgrade Configuration Tasks

You may have to perform additional configuration tasks after an upgrade depending on which components are in your deployment.

Note:

You may have additional post-upgrade tasks if your deployment contains the following:

Performing Post Upgrade Tasks for WebCenter Content

Performing Post-Upgrade Tasks for Oracle WebCenter Portal

3.7.1 Starting and Stopping Administration Server

You can start and stop the Oracle WebLogic Server Administration Server using the WLST command line or a script. When you start or stop the Administration Server, you also start or stop the processes running in the Administration Server, including the WebLogic Server Administration Console and Fusion Middleware Control.

For example, to start an Administration Server, use the following script:

DOMAIN_HOME/bin/startWebLogic.sh

To stop an Administration Server, use the following script:

DOMAIN_HOME/bin/stopWebLogic.sh 
       username password [admin_url]

3.7.2 Starting and Stopping the Node Manager

You can start Node Manager using the WLST command line or a script.

To start Node Manager, use the following script:

(UNIX) DOMAIN_HOME/bin/startNodeManager.sh
(Windows) DOMAIN_HOME\bin\startNodeManager.cmd

To stop Node Manager, close the command shell in which it is running.

3.7.3 Starting and Stopping the Managed Servers

To start or stop a WebLogic Server Managed Server using Fusion Middleware Control:

  1. From the navigation pane, expand the domain.

  2. Select the Managed Server.

  3. From the WebLogic Server menu, choose Control, then Start Up or Shut Down.

Alternatively, you can right-click the server, then choose Control, then Start Up or Shut Down.

You can use a script or WLST to start and stop a WebLogic Server Managed Server.

For example, to start a WebLogic Server Managed Server, use the following script:

(UNIX) DOMAIN_HOME/bin/startManagedWebLogic.sh
           managed_server_name admin_url 
(Windows) DOMAIN_HOME\bin\startManagedWebLogic.cmd
           managed_server_name admin_url

When prompted, enter your user name and password.

To stop a WebLogic Server Managed Server, use the following script:

(UNIX) DOMAIN_HOME/bin/stopManagedWebLogic.sh
            managed_server_name admin_url username password 
(Windows) DOMAIN_HOME\bin\stopManagedWebLogic.cmd 
            managed_server_name admin_url username password

3.7.4 Verifying the New Applications Work as Expected

Once all of the servers have been successfully started and stopped, open your component applications and make sure that everything is working as expected. Use your component-specific Administration and Developers guides to help you navigate the new features of your upgraded environment.