1 Introduction to Third-Party Application Servers

This chapter introduces the Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g support for third-party application servers.

This chapter contains the following sections:

1.1 What Is a Third-Party Application Server?

A third-party application server is an application server provided by a vendor other than Oracle.

Oracle supports Oracle WebLogic Server as the primary platform for Oracle Fusion Middleware software components. However, to accommodate customers who want to run specific Oracle Fusion Middleware component software, such as Oracle SOA Suite, on application servers other than Oracle WebLogic Server, Oracle supports the third-party application servers described in this document.

1.2 Oracle Fusion Middleware Components That Support Third-Party Application Servers

You can configure the following Oracle Fusion Middleware components on supported third-party application servers:

  • Oracle SOA Suite

  • Oracle WebCenter Portal

  • Oracle WebCenter Content

  • Oracle Data Integrator

  • Oracle Business Intelligence

  • Oracle Application Development Framework (Oracle ADF)

  • Oracle Application Developer Runtime

For this release of Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g, Oracle supports only IBM WebSphere Application Server as a third-party application server for these Oracle Fusion Middleware products.

1.3 Overview of the Oracle Fusion Middleware IBM WebSphere Support

The following sections provide more detail about the supported Oracle Fusion Middleware features on IBM WebSphere:

1.3.1 Supported IBM WebSphere Application Servers

Oracle supports the following third-party application server products for specific Oracle Fusion Middleware products and certain Oracle Fusion Middleware configurations:

  • IBM WebSphere Application Server - Network Deployment (ND) 7.0.0.17

  • IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0.0.17

Note that this information was valid at the time this document was published. For the most accurate and up-to-date information about the IBM WebSphere Application Server supported by Oracle Fusion Middleware, see the Certification information on the Oracle Technology Network (OTN), as described in Section 2.1, "Task 1: Review the System Requirements and Certification Information".

Note:

In this guide, IBM WebSphere is used to reference both IBM WebSphere Application Server (AS) and IBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment (ND). The specific product names are used when appropriate.

1.3.2 Understanding the Topology of Oracle Fusion Middleware on IBM WebSphere

When you install and configure Oracle Fusion Middleware on IBM WebSphere, the resulting topology depends on whether you are running IBM WebSphere Application Server or IBM WebSphere Application Server - ND.

1.3.2.1 Typical Oracle Fusion Middleware Topology on IBM WebSphere Application Server - ND

When you install and configure Oracle Fusion Middleware with IBM WebSphere Application Server - ND, the configuration process automatically creates an IBM WebSphere cell that contains a special server, in addition to the Deployment Manager, called the OracleAdminServer.

This OracleAdminServer hosts the key infrastructure pieces of Oracle Fusion Middleware, including the Java Required Files (JRF) and Oracle Enterprise Manager product templates:

  • The JRF template provides important Oracle libraries and other capabilities that support new versions of APIs that many Oracle Fusion Middleware products and applications depend upon.

  • The Oracle Enterprise Manager template provides Oracle Enterprise Manager Fusion Middleware Control, which you can use to manage the Oracle Fusion Middleware products you install and configure.

Additional products are installed on additional servers in the newly created IBM WebSphere cell.

When you configure your IBM WebSphere cell for use with Oracle Fusion Middleware, you can also include additional servers and clusters in your cell, and you can configure the Oracle Fusion Middleware products to work with an Oracle Real Application Clusters (Oracle RAC) database.

1.3.2.2 Typical Oracle Fusion Middleware Topology on IBM WebSphere Application Server

When you install and configure Oracle Fusion Middleware with IBM WebSphere Application Server, only one server is created. This one server is used both for administration and for application hosting.

1.4 Documentation Resources for Using Oracle Fusion Middleware on IBM WebSphere

You can refer to the following additional documentation resources for information about running Oracle Fusion Middleware on IBM WebSphere:

  • The IBM WebSphere documentation available on the WebSphere Application Server Information Center for basic conceptual information about IBM WebSphere, as well details about installing IBM WebSphere.

  • This document for an overview of the Oracle Fusion Middleware support for IBM WebSphere, a summary of the overall steps required to install and configure Oracle Fusion Middleware on IBM WebSphere, and a high-level listing of the features and tools available for installing and managing Oracle Fusion Middleware on IBM WebSphere.

  • Oracle Fusion Middleware Configuration Guide for IBM WebSphere Application Server for complete information on the capabilities of the Oracle Fusion Middleware Configuration Wizard, including information about creating and modifying cells, how to add additional servers and clusters to a cell, and how to configure Oracle Fusion Middleware products to support an Oracle Real Application Clusters (Oracle RAC) database.

    Oracle Fusion Middleware Configuration Guide for IBM WebSphere Application Server does not provide information for Oracle Business Intelligence.

  • Specific sections of the Oracle Fusion Middleware documentation library for information about specific feature areas described in this guide. As you review this document, note the links to specific Oracle documentation that can help you successfully develop and administer your Oracle Fusion Middleware applications on IBM WebSphere.