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FAQ

What is PeopleSoft Cloud Architecture (PCA)?

How is PCA delivered?

When will PCA be available?

Do I need to purchase PCA?

Will PCA change the commercial terms for PeopleSoft (licensing and/or support)?

Does PCA turn PeopleSoft into a SaaS solution?

Now that PeopleTools delivers patches using Deployment PacKages (DPKs) for Linux and Windows, where do I get them?

I understand that DPKs are provided for Linux and Windows operating systems, but I don’t run on those – is PCA still applicable to me in some way?

How do DPKs differ from Oracle VM templates or VirtualBox appliances that were previously delivered?

Besides the flexibility in configurations, the automation capabilities, and the compatibility with multiple virtualization technologies, are there other benefits that PCA will provide?

Is that it? Are there any other benefits of PCA?

I’ve heard that DPKs will simplify how PeopleTools patching is performed, but how?

Will DPKs change how I currently use Update Images and PUM?

What is PeopleSoft Cloud Architecture (PCA)?I have my own processes in place to provision PeopleSoft environments. Can I continue to use them or are Deployment Packages required?

Will PCA help me with refreshing environments, and if so, how?

Each time I apply a PeopleTools patch, I need to tweak some settings in the environment – will DPKs overwrite my changes?

Update Images required a bare metal install – do DPKs also have this requirement?

Is deploying PeopleSoft to the cloud using PCA a requirement?

Where can I find more information on PCA?

 

 

 

What is PeopleSoft Cloud Architecture (PCA)?

Oracle's PeopleSoft Cloud Architecture (PCA) is a set of features and products that will enable PeopleSoft customers to experience the benefits of software deployment on cloud - rapid provisioning (including cloning), automated patching, dynamic scaling to name a few - regardless of underlying infrastructure. These capabilities will improve the deployment and lifecycle management of PeopleSoft environments, regardless of whether customers are running in a public, private, or hybrid cloud, as well as traditional on-premise installation.

How is PCA delivered?

PCA is available starting with PeopleTools 8.55 and the introduction of the new Deployment Framework. This new delivery mechanism will be provided for PeopleTools using Linux and Windows operating systems. PT 8.55 utilizes Deployment Packages which contain all the software created by PeopleSoft as well as the required components pre-installed and fully patched, along with a deployment and configuration automation system.

In addition, all Update Images delivered after 8.55 will also take advantage of the Deployment Framework, and will be comprised of Deployment Packages.

When will PCA be available?

PCA is now available with PeopleTools 8.55.

Do I need to purchase PCA?

No. PCA is included with PeopleTools.

Will PCA change the commercial terms for PeopleSoft (licensing and/or support)?

No

Does PCA turn PeopleSoft into a SaaS solution?

No, Oracle has no plans to offer PeopleSoft as a SaaS solution.

Now that PeopleTools delivers patches using Deployment PacKages (DPKs) for Linux and Windows, where do I get them?

PeopleTools patches are all found on MyOracleSupport (MOS), including the fully installable media utilizing DPKs for Linux and Windows. The Virtual CD is still provided on OSDC (eDelivery) for all PeopleTools supported platforms.

I understand that DPKs are provided for Linux and Windows operating systems, but I don’t run on those – is PCA still applicable to me in some way?

DPKs are used in conjunction with Automated Configuration Manager (ACM), and ACM supports all PeopleTools operating systems and databases. ACM can help you automate the configuration of environments, including things like automating the set up of process schedulers, Integration Broker and SES. In addition, DPKs can be used to install the PeopleTools development client in a fast, automated fashion.

How do DPKs differ from Oracle VM templates or VirtualBox appliances that were previously delivered?

PeopleTools updates will now be delivered with DPKs; OVM templates will no longer be offered. The DPK technology offers more flexibility than OVM templates or the VBox appliances. One significant difference is that DPKs do not deliver an operating system. Instead, DPKs offer an automated installation on supported operating systems that are provisioned on a choice of infrastructure – bare metal, popular virtualization platforms such as OVM, VMware, Hyper-V or IaaS providers. Using DPKs, you have flexibility to customize the configuration to match the purpose of the environment you need. An important benefit of PCA is that your configurations are saved, and can be reused to create environments with newer PeopleTools patches, or clone environments.

Besides the flexibility in configurations, the automation capabilities, and the compatibility with multiple virtualization technologies, are there other benefits that PCA will provide?

Yes. Provisioning environments has typically been a tedious and labor-intensive task that has encouraged customers to maintain as few environments as possible to reduce costs. Using PCA to efficiently provision, clone and maintain environments, the maintenance costs drop significantly. With lower environment costs, it’s often more effective to create more environments and use them on an ad-hoc basis as projects come up. This allows for rapid iteration, reduced lead times, increased responsiveness to the business and higher productivity, especially when combined with fast cloning tools (thin provisioning).

Additionally, DPKs rapid provisioning of middle tiers now allow for the deletion of application and web server tiers associated with dormant databases. When needed, the middle tiers can quickly and easily be recreated. This allows for a more efficient use of hardware, serving more environments to a wider user base utilizing the same hardware resources.

Is that it? Are there any other benefits of PCA?

Another benefit of PCA is the ability to use the yaml configuration file to easily show how an environment was created, should a request be made by auditors. Parameters may be exported from existing PeopleTools 8.55 environments, to show how a current environment is configured as well.

I’ve heard that DPKs will simplify how PeopleTools patching is performed, but how?

Unlike the patches of PeopleTools 8.54 and previous releases, PT 8.55 patches delivered with DPKs provide a fully installable media, meaning a complete set of binaries, including PeopleTools code and required components such as Tuxedo and WebLogic that are fully patched. You don’t need to find and manually download the required components, patch them, and then apply a PeopleTools patch, too. All the components you need (Tuxedo, WebLogic, SES, etc) are automatically installed using DPKs, including the PeopleTools patches. There is no need for checking versions, obtaining multiple patches for various components or downloading components from different places….it’s all there for you in one convenient and automated fashion.

Will DPKs change how I currently use Update Images and PUM?

Yes and No. If you want to continue using Update Images as you have done previously with Virtual Box, you can continue to do so. The advantage here is that the UI is nearly identical to what was used in PT 8.54 and no additional user training is required.

However, we would encourage you to start taking advantage of DPKs in the PUM environment, which provides the following advantages:

 

I have my own processes in place to provision PeopleSoft environments. Can I continue to use them or are Deployment Packages required?

We strongly encourage you to review your process in the context of the DPKs if you are deployed on Linux or Windows. It is possible that DPKs will simplify or provide more flexibility to your process. DPKs are our strategic direction for delivering updates.

Will PCA help me with refreshing environments, and if so, how?

Yes. All PeopleTools 8.55 patches will be delivered with DPKs for Linux and Windows. Any previous customizations you have made using DPKs and ACM can be reused and additional environments can be created with the new version of DPKs. Since updates utilizing DPKs contain all the fixes to PeopleTools and the other required components (such as WebLogic, Java, Tuxedo) it will significantly reduce the time required to refresh if you were to do it manually.

Each time I apply a PeopleTools patch, I need to tweak some settings in the environment – will DPKs overwrite my changes?

When using PCA you may easily incorporate your own environment settings. Custom environment settings for unique configurations or roles are captured in a separate file and will be automatically incorporated when a new PeopleSoft instance is configured or patched. These separate files are not overwritten when you receive updated DPKs from Oracle, and are reusable with each new environment associated with a role.

Tweaks or configuration customizations should be put into a separate file so that DPKs can apply them automatically each time an environment is provisioned. If you have different configurations or roles, a separate file will be maintained for each environment role (test, QA, demo, etc).

Update Images required a bare metal install – do DPKs also have this requirement?

No, DPKs use the open source Puppet runtime scripts that can run on bare metal, cloud infrastructure or virtualization platforms such as Oracle Public Cloud, Amazon, Azure, Hyper-V, OVM or VMware. You decide what infrastructure best fits your needs.

Is deploying PeopleSoft to the cloud using PCA a requirement?

No, but PCA does simplify the process if your business wants to move toward Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) or Platform as a Service (PaaS).

Where can I find more information on PCA? 

For more information on anything related to PeopleSoft, check out peoplesoftinfo.com