1 Introduction

This guide describes how to configure and manage databases for Oracle WebLogic Portal. The guide also contains a data dictionary and information about Data Definition Language (DDL) modules, which are the SQL scripts that create WebLogic Portal database objects.

For detailed information about 9.2 database upgrade tasks, see the Oracle Fusion Middleware Upgrade Guide for Oracle WebLogic Portal.

This chapter includes the following sections:

• Section 1.1, "Introduction to Using Databases with WebLogic Portal"

• Section 1.2, "How This Guide Fits into the Portal Life Cycle"

1.1 Introduction to Using Databases with WebLogic Portal

The WebLogic family of products uses Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) to interact with the databases that store program and application data. JDBC is a standard Java API that consists of classes and interfaces written in the Java programming language. Application, tool, and database developers use JDBC to write database applications and execute SQL statements.

WebLogic JDBC enables programmers to interact with different database management systems (DBMSs) including Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Sybase, and IBM DB2. WebLogic Portal executes DDL commands for each DBMS it interacts with, so you must ensure that your configuration is supported by reviewing the document "Oracle Fusion Middleware Supported System Configurations."

You can perform basic JDBC setup using the WebLogic Configuration Wizard. The Configuration Wizard allows you to set up JDBC connection pools and data sources for WebLogic Portal. The wizard is described in Oracle Fusion Middleware Creating Domains Using the Configuration Wizard.

You can use the WebLogic Server Administration Console to enable, configure, and monitor JDBC connection pools, data sources, and MultiPools. For detailed information on these tasks, see Oracle Fusion Middleware Configuring and Managing JDBC for Oracle WebLogic Server.

The remaining chapters of this book describe database management tasks and reference information that is specific to WebLogic Portal.

1.2 How This Guide Fits into the Portal Life Cycle

In general, the tasks that you perform to plan your WebLogic Portal database structure occur as part of the architecture phase of the portal life cycle; these tasks are described in the Oracle Fusion Middleware Overview for Oracle WebLogic Portal. The tasks that you perform to manage your WebLogic Portal database structure can occur during any other phase of the portal life cycle; for this reason, this book is not organized according to the portal life cycle structure.