1 Installation Overview

The Oracle Web Tier installation gives you the option of installing Oracle HTTP Server and Oracle Web Cache. Oracle Process Manager and Notification Server (OPMN) is installed, by default, and you do not have the option of deselecting this product.

Together, these products are responsible for managing incoming HTTP requests, caching web messages, and sending XML and HTML back to the client.

This chapter includes the following sections:

1.1 Oracle Web Tier Applications

Oracle Web Tier contains the following components:

  • Oracle HTTP Server

    Oracle HTTP Server 11g, Release 1 (11.1.1.7.0) is based on Apache HTTP Server 2.2.22 (with critical bug fixes from higher versions) infrastructure, and includes modules developed specifically by Oracle. The features of single sign-on, clustered deployment, and high availability enhance the operation of the Oracle HTTP Server.

  • Oracle Web Cache

    Oracle Web Cache is a content-aware server accelerator, or reverse proxy, for the Web tier that improves the performance, scalability, and availability of Web sites that run on Oracle HTTP Server. Oracle Web Cache is the primary caching mechanism provided with Oracle Fusion Middleware. Caching improves the performance, scalability, and availability of websites that run on Oracle WebLogic Server by storing frequently accessed URLs in memory.

  • Oracle Process Manager and Notification Server (OPMN)

    OPMN provides a command-line interface for you to monitor and manage Oracle Fusion Middleware components and sub-components. The OPMN server should be started as soon as possible, after turning on the computer. OPMN must be running whenever OPMN-managed components are turned on or off.

For more information about these components, see the Oracle Fusion Middleware Concepts guide.

1.2 Methods of Installation

An Oracle Web Tier solution can be built in one of the following ways:

  • In stand-alone mode

    Oracle Web Tier is configured without a domain, and administered from the command line. See Section 1.3.1 for an overview of the installation procedure.

  • Using Oracle Enterprise Manager Fusion Middleware Control

    In order to use Oracle Enterprise Manager Fusion Middleware Control, a WebLogic Server domain needs to be configured using both the Enterprise Manager and the Java Required Files (JRF) domain templates.

    It is not possible to create this domain during the installation of Oracle Web Tier, and so the domain must already exist prior to installation and configuration. See Section 1.3.2 for an overview of the installation procedure.

    Alternatively, you can install Oracle Web Tier without configuring the components, then create a WebLogic Server domain, then run the configuration tool to associate your Oracle Web Tier components with that domain. See Section 1.3.3 for an overview of the installation procedure.

1.3 Installation Roadmaps

This section provides an overview of each installation option described in Section 1.2. Determine the method of installation you will use for your environment, and then follow the instructions in that section.

1.3.1 Tasks for Installing Oracle Web Tier in Stand-Alone Mode

Table 1-1 describes the high-level tasks for installing and configuring Oracle Web Tier in stand-alone mode. The table also provides information on where to get more details on each task.

Table 1-1 Tasks for a Stand-Alone Oracle Web Tier Installation

Task Description Documentation

1 - Complete the installation planning requirements.

Ensure that your system environment meets the general installation requirements for Oracle Fusion Middleware as well as Oracle Web Tier.

Section 2.1, "Performing the Pre-Installation Tasks"

2 - Obtain the software, and start the installer.

Download the software from Oracle Technology Network, and start the Oracle Web Tier installer.

Section 2.3, "Getting Started"

3 - Install and configure Oracle Web Tier.

Use the installer to install Oracle Web Tier. Choose the Install and Configure option on the Select Installation Type Screen.

The Middleware home directory will be created for you based on the location you specify on the Specify Installation Location Screen.

Ensure that you do not select Associate Selected Components with WebLogic Domain on the Configure Components Screen.

Section 3.1, "Installing and Configuring Oracle Web Tier"

For more information about the installation types, see Section 2.4, "Choosing the Installation Type".

4 - Perform the post installation tasks.

After installation and configuration are complete, there may be some post-installation tasks you need to perform, depending on your specific topology and configuration.

Section 3.2, "Performing the Post-Installation Tasks"

5 - Verify the installation

After the installation and configuration are complete, you can verify if it was successful.

Section 3.3, "Verifying the Installation"


1.3.2 Tasks for Installing Oracle Web Tier and Associating it With an Existing Fusion Middleware (EM) Control

Table 1-2 describes the high-level tasks for installing and configuring Oracle Web Tier, and associating the components with an existing Fusion Middleware (EM) Control. The table also provides information on where to get more details on each task.

Table 1-2 Tasks to Install and Configure Oracle Web Tier With an Existing Domain

Task Description Documentation

1 - Complete the installation planning requirements.

Ensure that your system environment meets the general installation requirements for Oracle Fusion Middleware as well as Oracle Web Tier.

Section 2.1, "Performing the Pre-Installation Tasks"

2 - Ensure that a WebLogic Server domain containing Oracle JRF and Enterprise Manager (EM) is already configured.

A WebLogic Server Domain can be configured from a number of other Oracle Fusion Middleware products, such as Oracle SOA Suite, or Oracle Application Developer.

For more information, see the installation guide for any other Oracle Fusion Middleware product (for example, Oracle Fusion Middleware Installation Guide for Oracle SOA Suite).

3 - Obtain the software, and start the installer.

Download the software from Oracle Technology Network, and start the Oracle Web Tier installer.

Section 2.3, "Getting Started"

4 - Install and configure Oracle Web Tier.

Use the installer to install Oracle Web Tier. Choose the Install and Configure option on the Select Installation Type Screen.

On the Specify Installation Location Screen ensure that you specify the existing Middleware home directory that was used to create the WebLogic Server domains.

Ensure that you select Associate Selected Components with WebLogic Domain on the Configure Components Screen.

Section 3.1, "Installing and Configuring Oracle Web Tier"

For more information about the installation types, see Section 2.4, "Choosing the Installation Type".

5 - Perform the post installation tasks.

After installation and configuration are complete, there may be some post-installation tasks you need to perform, depending on your specific topology and configuration.

Section 3.2, "Performing the Post-Installation Tasks"

6 - Verify the installation

After the installation and configuration are complete, you can verify if it was successful.

Section 3.3, "Verifying the Installation"


1.3.3 Tasks for Associating Oracle Web Tier With Fusion Middleware (EM) Control Post-Installation

Table 1-3 describes the high-level tasks for installing Oracle Web Tier, then creating a WebLogic Server domain, and then associating the components with that WebLogic Server domain. The table also provides information on where to get more details on each task.

Table 1-3 Tasks for Installing Oracle Web Tier, Creating a Domain, and Then Associating the Components With the Domain

Task Description Documentation

1 - Complete the installation planning requirements

Ensure that your system environment meets the general installation requirements for Oracle Fusion Middleware as well as Oracle Web Tier.

Section 2.1, "Performing the Pre-Installation Tasks"

2 - Install Oracle WebLogic Server and create the Middleware home directory

If you choose to associate your components with a WebLogic Server domain and you do not already have an existing domain, you must first install Oracle WebLogic Server in order to create a domain before you install Oracle Web Tier.

To download the latest Oracle WebLogic Server, see "Product Distribution" in the Oracle Fusion Middleware Installation Guide for Oracle WebLogic Server.

For installation instructions, see "Running the Installation Program in Graphical Mode" in the Oracle Fusion Middleware Installation Guide for Oracle WebLogic Server.

3 - Obtain the Oracle Web Tier software, and start the installer

Download the software from Oracle Technology Network, and start the Oracle Web Tier installer.

Section 2.3, "Getting Started"

4 - Install but do not configure Oracle Web Tier

Use the installer to install Oracle Web Tier. Choose the Install Software - Do Not Configure option on the Select Installation Type Screen.

On the Specify Installation Location Screen, ensure that you specify the Middleware home directory that was created when you installed Oracle WebLogic Server.

Section 4.1, "Following the Installation Instructions"

For more information about the installation types, see Section 2.4, "Choosing the Installation Type".

5 - Create the WebLogic Server domain

Go to the Oracle Common home directory and run the Configuration Tool to create a WebLogic Server domain.

Ensure that that the WebLogic domain you create contains Oracle Java Required Files (JRF) and Enterprise manager.

Section 2.2.1, "Creating a WebLogic Server Domain for Your Oracle Web Tier Components"

6 - Configure Oracle Web Tier

Run the Configuration Tool to configure and your Oracle Web Tier components.

On the Configure Components Screen, ensure that you select Associate Selected Components with WebLogic Domain.

Section 4.2, "Following the Configuration Instructions"

7 - Start Node Manager.

You must start Node Manager if you are associating your Web Tier components with a WebLogic Server domain.

Section 2.2.2, "Starting the Node Manager When Registering Oracle Web Tier With a WebLogic Server Domain"

8 - Perform the post installation tasks.

After installation and configuration are complete, there may be some post-installation tasks you need to perform, depending on your specific topology and configuration.

Section 3.2, "Performing the Post-Installation Tasks"

9 - Verify the installation

After the installation and configuration are complete, you can verify if it was successful.

Section 4.3, "Verifying the Installation"


1.4 Installation Topology

Figure 1-1 shows the directory structure of a simple Oracle Web Tier installation on a single host, using all of the default values.

Figure 1-1 Directory Structure of Oracle Web Tier Installation

Description of Figure 1-1 follows
Description of "Figure 1-1 Directory Structure of Oracle Web Tier Installation"

Note:

Although Oracle WebLogic Server is not required in order to complete an Oracle Web Tier installation in stand-alone mode, the directory structure for the Middleware home must still be present. This is to make the directory structure for Oracle Web Tier consistent with other Oracle Fusion Middleware products, all of which require the existence of WebLogic Server and its corresponding directory structure.

In the case of an Oracle Web Tier installation in stand-alone mode, the directory structure will still be created despite the absence of Oracle WebLogic Server.