2.3 Building A Topology Using Fusion Middleware Composer

For multi-host patching, a prerequisite is to define your configuration in a topology file. Use Fusion Middleware Composer to create this file and provide information about your environment to OPatchAuto. This file allows OPatchAuto to identify the topology you want to patch and automatically perform the patching steps without manual intervention.

The following topics provide an overview of how to use Fusion Middleware Composer, as well as an example for how to build a topology file that you can provide to OPatchAuto:

• Starting Fusion Middleware Composer
  You can start and access Fusion Middleware Composer from the ORACLE_HOME/oracle_common/bin directory.
• Getting Started with Fusion Middleware Composer
  Fusion Middleware Composer provides several graphical interface tools. Use these tools to complete tasks in Fusion Middleware Composer, such as adding and defining items in the workspace, to build a topology file.
• Example of Building a Topology File
  To start building a topology file, use the graphical tools to add and define the hosts and components in the workspace. You can then assign the components to the appropriate hosts.
• Creating a New Topology
  To start adding and defining items in the workspace, create a new topology file where you will save configuration information about your environment. Every time you make changes in the workspace, make sure to save your work to this file.
• Loading a Wallet File
  Credentials that are used to connect to the environment and required to run OPatchAuto, such as the credentials for connecting to the domain’s Administration Server, must be stored and available in a separate wallet file. In Fusion Middleware Composer, use the Settings page to load and edit an existing wallet file or to create a new wallet.
• Adding the Hosts
  Building a topology in Fusion Middleware Composer starts with creating a host, which is a physical or virtual machine that can be associated with an Oracle home and domain. A host is defined in the topology by its IP address.
• Adding the Oracle Home
  After you create and define the hosts, add and define the Oracle home(s) available in the environment. To define an Oracle home, you must provide the absolute path to the Oracle home directory.
• Building the WebLogic Domain
  For a multi-host environment, you need to build and define a WebLogic domain, which typically includes an Administration Server and a cluster of Managed Servers.
• Adding the Node Managers
  If you have Node Managers being used in the environment, each Node Manager has to be defined in the topology file.
• Assigning Components to Hosts
  After all the components in the environment have been defined, map the components on the right side of the Fusion Middleware Composer workspace to the appropriate hosts on the left to finish building the topology.