OBIEE 12c Architecture vs 11g

Quite a lot has happened architecturally under the covers with the release of OBIEE 12c.

OBIEE 12c Architecture diagram

OBIEE 11g Architecture Diagram

There is one major difference...... OPMN is gone in OBIEE 12c.

OBIEE components are now started via a series of commands run from {DOMAIN_HOME}/bitools/bin

• start
• stop 
• status

and it is also possible to run the 'commands' to stop and start the components in (the new look) FMW Enterprise Manager.

OBIEE 12c - the correct location for the tnsnames.ora file

Where is the correct location for the tnsnames.ora file in OBIEE 12c?

Create or copy your tnsnames.ora file to 

         {DOMAIN_HOME}/config/fmwconfig/bienv/core  

(e.g. /.../Oracle_Home/user_projects/domains/bi/config/fmwconfig/bienv/core/tnsnames.ora)

Note: This would also include other OCI files, such as sqlnet.ora if used.

This is documented in the Metadata Repository Builder's Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition 12c

see: Setting Up Oracle Database Data Sources

OBIEE 12c - RCU - Create Repository

There are a few dependencies when running the OBIEE 12c RCU, one of which is that the database must be at least 11.2.0.4.

After that the next thing you notice after starting the RCU is the options available.

You now have the ability to generate the RCU scripts and pass them on to a DBA to run in seperately, rather than beg for admin access, organise meetings etc... just to run the RCU.

If you have the permissions already then nothing has changed and the top option System Load and Product Load is for you.

The remaining two options are to generate scripts and then load in the product information

• Select Prepare Scripts for System Load if you are unable to provide login credentials for a user with DBA privileges. RCU will create the necessary SQL scripts for creating the component schema and also update schema_version_registry entry for selected components and change the status to "LOADED." Once the scripts are generated, another user with DBA privileges can run the scripts using SQL*Plus to complete the system load phase. 
• Select Perform Product Load only after the system load phase scripts have been run to update the schema_version_registry and set the status to "VALID." Users with non-DBA privileges are able to select and execute this option. During the system load phase, some components will generate an additional post-data load script that requires DBA permissions. These scripts will also be run during the product load phase.

This means that the DBA gets to keep control, and you get your repository without ruffling too many feathers.

OBIEE 12c is Out!

Just arrived OBIEE 12c. This from a message on the Business Analytics - Proactive Support blog

I'm having a look and will have a play.

Find out more here

It looks like there is no in place upgrade, more a install and migrate, but, like I say, I'll let you know how I get on.

OBIEE - Remember Username and Password

I came accross this 'hack' and thought it may be worth a mention if used sparingly on a non-production (i.e. DEVELOPMENT) environment.

Use at your own risk.

Remember Username and Password in Obiee11g

Go to your BIPS config path, for example like below,
D:\OBIEE11G\instances\instance1\config\OracleBIPresentationServicesComponent\coreapplication_obips1

and the search Security tab in your instanceconfig file and add

<AllowRememberPassword>true</AllowRememberPassword>

Then save it and restart bips servervices.
Include the elements and their ancestor elements as appropriate, as shown in the following example:

<Security>
<!--This Configuration setting is managed by Oracle Enterprise Manager Fusion Middleware Control-->
<ClientSessionExpireMinutes>210</ClientSessionExpireMinutes>
<AllowRememberPassword>true</AllowRememberPassword>
<CookieDomain>value</CookieDomain>
<CookiePath>/analytics</CookiePath>
<InIFrameRenderingMode>prohibit</InIFrameRenderingMode>
</Security>

Save your changes and close the file.

Restart Oracle Business Intelligence Presentation Services using OPMN

Login to your BI Home page ..then logout and login again. OBIEE will remember your Username and Password and go straight to your BI home page.

For More please refer to the Oracle documentation,
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E23943_01/bi.1111/e10541/psconfigset.htm#BIESG1292

OBIEE 11g : RPD Consistency Check

A Consistency Check ensures that the repository is in a fit state to process any queries passed through.

A "Consistency Check" is a feature of the Administration Tool that checks whether a repository has met certain requirements, such as the following:

•  All logical columns are mapped directly or indirectly to one or more physical columns.
•  All logical dimension tables have a logical key.
•  All logical tables have a logical join relationship to another logical table.
•  There are at least two logical tables in the business model: a logical fact table and a logical dimension table. Both can map to the same physical table. 
• There are no circular logical join relationships. 
• A subject area exists for the business model.

You can check consistency for the entire repository or for a single object:

For the entire repository: select File > Check Global Consistency.  or Tools > Show Consistency Checker.

For an individual repository object: select the object, right-click and select Check Consistency. You can select multiple objects and check their consistency.

When you check in changes to a repository you are also prompted to Check Consistency before saving, this however is for the entire repository. A large repository can take some time to complete a check.

It is good practise to keep checking consistency in the local area you are working and making changes. You may even notice that the consistency checker has reported no errors but has 'fixed' some inner workings. It may be worth digging in to what is actually being adjusted automatically to suit what the consistency checker expects. If anyone knows please drop me a line.

Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition 11.1.1.9.0

Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition 11.1.1.9.0 is now available.

The newest version of OBIEE is now available to download from OTN.

The patching and upgrading looks fairly straightforward and I'll let you know what happens and how it happened as soon as I've done the upgrade.

Instructions and documentation on upgrading are available here.

General documentation about 11.1.1.9 is available here.

Until then