3 Data Connections

Oracle Real-Time Integration Business Insight provides the ability for business users to create an abstract model of an application, and then map that model to implementation on various Oracle Fusion Middleware technologies such as SOA Suite and Service Bus. Mapped models can then be activated and the system observes the application for business activity. Both mapping and runtime extraction of metrics is done using connections. Data connections allow the system to communicate with a runtime engine, and must be configured with appropriate location and authentication information. These integrations are hosted on various technologies such as SOA and Service Bus.

You can use the Real-Time Integration Business Insight REST API to collect metrics for integrations that are not implemented using compatible versions of SOA Suite or Service Bus.

A user with the role permissions of an InsightAdmin or an InsightConnectionCreator have the privilege to create and manage connections. For more information about data connections, see Working with Data Connections in Using Oracle Real-Time Integration Business Insight.

3.1 Creating a Data Connection

Only users with the role InsightConnectionCreator/InsightAdmin can create connections.

To create a data connection:

  1. Click the Administration tab or the navigational shortcut on the Home page.
    The Data Connections page opens.
  2. Click Create Connection.
    The Create Connection dialog opens.
  3. Enter the following details:
    1. Name: an appropriate name for the connection
    2. ID: enter a unique ID for the connection. By default, this field is populated by the value you entered in the Name field.
    3. Description: enter a suitable description for the connection
    4. Type: select the type of connection, SOA or Service Bus
    5. Host Name: the host name for the connection

      Note:

      You can create a connection to a SOA Suite Server or Service Bus running within the same domain or on a different domain . The SOA Suite /Service bus Insight Agents should be running on the SOA Suite/Service bus servers for the insight data connections to connect to them .Also note that this version of Insight does not support multiple instances of Insight that are mapped to a single agent.
    6. Port Number: an appropriate port number for the connection
    7. Select SSL Enabled if you want the connection to be enabled with SSL.

      Note:

      When creating a connection to SOA Suite/Service Bus SOA Cloud Service instances, you must use the Public IP address of the instance, select SSL Enabled, and use port 443, regardless of the port you normally use to access the instance.
    8. Login: the user name to be used for the connection
    9. Password: the password to be used for the connection
  4. Click Test Connection to test if a successful connection is established to the Server with the provided parameters.
    If the connection is established successfully, you see a Configured message.

    For more information, see Testing a Data Connection.

  5. Click Create.

    Figure 3-1 Create Connection Dialog

    Description of Figure 3-1 follows
    Description of "Figure 3-1 Create Connection Dialog"
After a connection is created, there are 3 states a connection can be in.

  • Draft state if the connection has not been testes yet

  • Configured state if the connection has been tested either while creating or editing it, and the test has passed

  • Disconnected state if the connection has been tested either while creating or editing it, and the test has failed.

3.2 Editing a Data Connection

Only users with the role InsightConnectionCreator/InsightAdmin can edit/update connections.

To edit a connection:

  1. Click the Administration tab or the navigational shortcut on the Home page.
    The Data Connections page opens.
  2. Click the Edit icon (the pencil icon) next to the connection you want to edit.

    Figure 3-2 Edit Connection

    Description of Figure 3-2 follows
    Description of "Figure 3-2 Edit Connection"
    The Edit Connection dialog opens.

    Figure 3-3 Edit Connection Dialog

    Description of Figure 3-3 follows
    Description of "Figure 3-3 Edit Connection Dialog"
  3. Click Retest Connection to test the connection with the changes you have made.
    The connection state changes to Configured if the test passes or Disconnected if the test fails.
  4. Make the required updates and click Save.
The data connection is edited with the changes you made.

3.3 Testing a Data Connection

Testing a data connection is essential, because it ensures that the credentials entered are valid and the connection can be used for implementation.

You can use tested connections for implementing mappings in new models. Only users with the role InsightConnectionCreator/InsightAdmin can test connections.
To test a data connection:
  1. Click the Administration tab or the navigational shortcut on the Home page.
    The Data Connections page opens.
  2. Click the Test Connection icon against the connection you want to test.
    The state of the connection changes to Configured if the test passes. Else the state changes to Disconnected if the test fails. The test may fail because of either of the following reasons:

    • the provided credentials are incorrect

    • the Server referred to in the connection is unavailable.

    Figure 3-4 Connection Tested

    Description of Figure 3-4 follows
    Description of "Figure 3-4 Connection Tested"
  3. Click Test All on the Data Connections page to test all the connections at a time.

    Note:

    You cannot test the connections with the Test All button if the connections are in Draft state.

3.4 Deleting a Data Connection

To delete a data connection:
  1. Click the Administration tab or the navigational shortcut on the Home page.
    The Data Connections page opens.
  2. Click the Delete Connection icon against the connection you want to delete.
    The Delete Connection icon will be enabled only if the data connection is in a :

    • Disconnected state

    • Draft state

    • Configured state but not used in any active model.

    Note:

    You cannot delete a data connection if it is being used in an activated model.

    Figure 3-5 Delete Icon for a Data Connection

    Delete Icon for connection
The selected data connection is deleted.