3 Minimum Technical Requirements

Table 3-1 identifies the required and optional software components of the MetaSolv Solution environment.

Every MetaSolv Solution environment is different. The environment is affected by the product functionality being used, mix of transactions, API usage, hardware capacity, network speed and capacity, how the servers are tuned, and so on. For best results using each software component, Oracle recommends that you take the following actions:

• Stay abreast of notices on products referenced in this section that are no longer supported to ensure your software environment is fully supported.

• To upgrade outside the supported versions, contact Oracle Support to determine available options. Recommendations may include migrating to a newer version of MetaSolv Solution.

The following provides information on the MetaSolv Solution database server.

Software requirements:

• Operating system: Refer to the Oracle Database documentation for information on supported OS versions.

• Database: Oracle Database Enterprise Edition. See Software Required to Install MetaSolv Solution for information on required software versions.

Storage: A high performance, fault tolerant disk subsystem should be used.

Fault tolerance: Fault tolerance is important when provisioning the database server. If this server fails, the MetaSolv Solution software cannot function. There are several commercial clustering solutions available for Oracle servers. Oracle recommends that you work with its hardware vendor to implement a clustering solution.

Scalability: Scalability is achieved through the use of a server with multiple and/or faster processors.

Sizing for existing customers: See Deployment Configuration Examples for sizing information that includes examples for small, medium, and large deployments.

Additional information:

• Because disk sizing is approximate, adjust sizing based on your data requirements.

• MetaSolv Solution is certified to work with Oracle's Dictionary Managed Storage.

• Required tablespaces are DATA and INDEXES, which can be either Dictionary or Locally Managed. These are required as default tablespaces for creating new objects.

• This release of MetaSolv Solution is certified to work with the version of Oracle Enterprise Edition listed. Work with Oracle Global Customer Support to determine the recommended patch level for your intended platform/version combination.

• Ensure that you set the recommended database initialization parameters for the Oracle Database version that you are using. Table 3-2 lists the recommended initialization parameter settings.

  Table 3-2 Oracle Database Recommended Initialization Parameter Settings

  Oracle Database Version	Initialization Parameter	Recommended Value	Example
  12cR1	O7_DICTIONARY_ACCESSIBILITYFoot 1 _grant_secure_role1 optimizer_features_enableFoot 2 optimizer_adaptive_featuresFoot 3	TRUE TRUE 12.1.0.2.1 FALSE	O7_DICTIONARY_ACCESSIBILITY=TRUE _grant_secure_role=TRUE optimizer_features_enable=12.1.0.2.1 optimizer_adaptive_features=FALSE
  12cR2	O7_DICTIONARY_ACCESSIBILITY1 _grant_secure_role1 _enable_secure_sub_role1	TRUE TRUE TRUE	O7_DICTIONARY_ACCESSIBILITY=TRUE _grant_secure_role=TRUE _enable_secure_sub_role=TRUE
  18c	O7_DICTIONARY_ACCESSIBILITY1 _grant_secure_role1 _enable_secure_sub_role1	TRUE TRUE TRUE	O7_DICTIONARY_ACCESSIBILITY=TRUE _grant_secure_role=TRUE _enable_secure_sub_role=TRUE

  ^Footnote 1

  This parameter ensures that the install script completes successfully.

  ^Footnote 2

  This parameter must be set to the version of the database.

  ^Footnote 3

  This parameter optimizes database performance.

The MetaSolv application server supports the MetaSolv Solution application code running in the middle tier. Clients connect to the application server using HTTP or IIOP (both over TCP/IP), and the application server connects to the database server using JDBC connection pools. The MetaSolv Solution APIs also run on the application server. The application server is compliant with OMG CORBA 2.4 and JEE 1.8 specifications.

Fault Tolerance: Fault tolerance is provided by clustering multiple application servers together. Because the application server is a critical component, Oracle recommends multiple application servers be implemented in a clustered configuration in a production environment. Oracle WebLogic software provides clustering mechanisms, although other load balancing/high availability solutions may be used. Oracle recommends the application servers and database servers run on separate computers in a production environment.

Scalability: Scalability is achieved by running multiple application server processes or using more powerful servers. Performance levels in the application server tier is heavily dependent on tuning the environment and configuring to optimize communication between the database, application server, and client. The sizing numbers shown in this section provide a general guideline for determining hardware requirements. Customers should follow installation and configuration guidelines available from the application server vendor.

Software: Table 3-3 shows the component software required by each platform that MetaSolv Solution supports for 6.3.x.

Additional information:

• The application server supports 64-bit Java Virtual Machine (JVM). It is possible that 64-bit JVM may support a large number of users per application instance as a sizable amount of memory can be allocated to the java heap. An individual application server instance using the 64-bit JVM can support 80 or 120 users if 8 GB or 12 GB of memory is allocated to the java heap.

• Sizing of the application server should be based on the expected maximum number of requests, or concurrent transactions, sent to the application server at the same time. This number is considerably less than the number of clients using the application server, typically 15-20 percent of the total number of users logged on to the system. For more specific sizing and configuration guidelines, see MetaSolv Solution Installation Guide.

• More servers may be employed in a software- or hardware-based cluster. This approach provides more redundancy and reduced impact if a server in the cluster fails. However, the dispatcher functionality should be run on multiple servers to ensure redundancy.

• Oracle does not support running the application server on Citrix.

• If you plan to use an external load balancing mechanism, it must support sticky sessions, and it cannot modify WebLogic cookies. In addition, the network configuration needs to support requests from the application server to the load balancer.

• The application server must be able to obtain graphics settings from the host to provide graphics functionality in the application. Oracle does not endorse or certify functionality of the third-party packages. To enable graphic installation, one of the following options must be implemented:

  • Enable xhost to allow remote connections to the console (run “xhost" as root user).

  • Install a graphics card in the host computer.

  • Install and configure PJA library. For additional information, see:

    http://www.eteks.com/pja/en

  • Install and configure XVFB, 'X Virtual Frame Buffer.' For additional information, see:

    http://www.xfree86.org

Software:

Operating System:

• Windows 8.1 Professional

• Windows 10 Professional

• Windows Server 2012 R2

• Windows Server 2016

Network: HTTP/HTTPS

Database client: N/A

Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Microsoft Edge 40 or later

Reader: Adobe Acrobat Reader 15 or later

Storage: 0.5 GB. No persistent user data is stored.

Fault Tolerance: No special requirements are needed. Should any client fail, a user may resume work on any client computer.

Scalability: A faster processor in the client computer will improve performance. Increased memory often has a significant improvement on desktop performance, especially if multiple applications are used simultaneously. Additional clients may be added as needed, and the servers may need to be scaled to handle the additional load, as noted in each of the server descriptions. Specific sizing recommendations are shown below.

Sizing (client computer):

CPU:

• 2.6 GHz (minimum)

• 3.4 GHz (recommended for Inventory Management users)

Memory: 8 GB

Colors: True color (24 bit)

Resolution: 1024 x 768

Disk: 0.5 GB

Additional information:

• CPU and memory requirements assume other applications will be running on the client computer. Client hardware configuration will impact general performance of MetaSolv Solution client applications. If the client hardware has only the minimum configuration, processes may take significantly longer to run than they would on a computer with the higher recommended configuration.

  Customers need to determine optimal requirements based on how MetaSolv Solution is used in their business.

• Only the Small Fonts setting for Font Size in the Display Properties is supported.

• The Text Size setting in the browser must be set to Medium.

• Select the following check boxes for the HTTP 1.1 settings on the Advanced tab of the Internet Options window:

  • Use HTTP 1.1

  • Use HTTP 1.1 through proxy connections

The Background Processor processes MetaSolv Solution user work in the background when the option is available and a user selects it. Users place tasks in a queue and the background processor pulls requests from it. Results are available to users through another table. There is no direct communication between the users and the Background Processor. The Background Processor runs the same code as the end user clients, but it does not have an interactive user interface.

Software:

Operating system:

• Windows 8.1 Professional

• Windows 10 Professional

• Windows Server 2012 R2

• Windows Server 2016

Database: N/A

Network: HTTP/HTTPS

Storage: Disk requirements are minimal. No persistent user data is stored.

Fault Tolerance: Fault tolerance is achieved with multiple computers. Each computer can process the same work queue, and in the case of a failure, the surviving computer continues processing the work queue.

Scalability: Scalability is achieved with multiple computers (horizontal scaling) or the use of more powerful servers.

Sizing: Table 3-4 describes the background processor sizing requirements:

Additional information:

• Hardware sizing is not directly affected by the number of users. User behavior affects the load placed upon these servers and subsequent hardware requirements.

Description: Citrix executes the MetaSolv Solution client software for the end user, transmits screen updates to a thin client, and receives mouse and keyboard data from the thin client. Use of Citrix is recommended for any customer with end users running across a WAN. Citrix minimizes the response time delays caused by network latency. Other benefits include ease of software distribution, reduction of WAN bandwidth requirements, and reduced client specifications.

Software:

OS: Any OS version that supports the MSS client. For example, Windows 10 Professional and Windows Server 2016.

Database: N/A

Network: CA/RDP over TCP/IP

Colors: The color setting depends on the operating system you use.

Sizing: For information on sizing a Citrix configuration, see the Citrix documentation or contact Citrix Systems, Inc.

Storage: Disk requirements are minimal. No persistent user data is stored.

Fault Tolerance: Fault tolerance is achieved with multiple computers in a farm. Citrix provides the capability to direct client requests to one of many servers in a farm.

Scalability: Scalability is achieved with multiple computers (horizontal scaling), or the use of more powerful servers. Generally, better results are obtained by limiting the server size to two CPUs.

Additional information:

• This software runs on Windows platforms only. Other platforms are not supported.

• Citrix is optional.

Description: This is one of three optional peripheral applications that require client computers to execute special activities.

Software:

Operating system:

• Windows 8.1 Professional

• Windows 10 Professional

• Windows Server 2012 R2

• Windows Server 2016

Network: Oracle Database Client. See Software Required to Install MetaSolv Solution for information on required software versions.

Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Microsoft Edge 40 or later

Sizing (client computer):

CPU:

• 2.6 GHz (minimum)

• 3.4 GHz (recommended for Inventory Management users)

Memory: 8 GB

Colors: 256

Resolution: 1024 x 768

Disk: 0.5 GB

Description: This is one of three optional peripheral applications that require client computers to execute special activities.

Software:

Operating system:

• Windows 8.1 Professional

• Windows 10 Professional

• Windows Server 2012 R2

• Windows Server 2016

Network: Oracle Database Client. See Software Required to Install MetaSolv Solution for information on required software versions.

Browser: Internet Explorer 11

Sizing (client computer):

CPU:

• 2.6 GHz (minimum)

• 3.4 GHz (recommended for Inventory Management users)

Memory: 8 GB

Colors: 256

Resolution: 1024 x 768

Disk: 0.5 GB

Description: This is one of three optional peripheral applications that require client PCs to execute special activities.The MetaSolv Solution Utilities client enables you to do various maintenance and setup activities for MetaSolv Solution.

Software:

Operating system:

• Windows 8.1 Professional

• Windows 10 Professional

• Windows Server 2012 R2

• Windows Server 2016

Network: Oracle Database Client. See Software Required to Install MetaSolv Solution for information on required software versions.

Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Microsoft Edge 40 or later

Sizing (client computer):

CPU:

• 2.6 GHz (minimum)

• 3.4 GHz (recommended for Inventory Management users)

Memory: 8 GB

Colors: 256

Resolution: 1024 x 768

Disk: 0.5 GB