Installing Oracle Analytics Server 2023 Update

Oracle Analytics Server 2023 Update has been released recently and in this article I'm going to illustrate how to install it step by step.  Note that this is a complete, fresh installation, not an update or upgrade to an existing installation.

Verifying Certification and System Requirements

Before installing is always a good practice to check in the certification matrix which are the supported operating systems and databases for hosting the mid-tier schemas created by the Repository Creation Utility (RCU).

Downloading Binaries and Patches

The first step is to download binaries and patches for the appropriate operating system from the Oracle website.

At the moment of writing the following files are required:

• Java SE Development Kit 8u361
• Oracle WebLogic Server 12.2.1.4 Fusion Middleware Infrastructure Installer
• Oracle Analytics Server 2023 Update Installer
• Patch 28186730
• Patch 34974729
• Patch 34839859
• Patch 34542329
• Patch 34944256
• Patch 33950717
• Patch 34549208
• Patch 35024228

Please refer to the latest Critical Patch Update (CPU) Advisor for Oracle Analytics Server about any required change to the above list.

Preparing the Installation Environment

Create the required directory structure:

In the above example, /opt/oracle/product/oas-2023 is the Oracle Home, and /opt/oracle/config/domains is the Domain Home. Despite the fact the Configuration Assistant suggests to create the Domain Home under the Oracle Home, it's a good practice to keep them separate: by keeping binaries and configuration data separate, we avoid having issues when new major releases are available since they'll be installed in a new Oracle Home while configuration and application data will always reside in the same Domain Home.

Make sure that the /etc/hosts file contains a fully qualified name for the server:

Edit the /etc/security/limits.conf file, and add the following lines at the end to change the open file and processes limits:

Ensure that required Linux packages are installed, and reboot the host computer:

Installing Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure

Unzip the Oracle WebLogic Server 12.2.1.4 Fusion Middleware Infrastructure file, and start the installer:

In the Welcome screen, click on the Next button (Figure 1).

In the Auto Updates screen, tick the Skip Auto Updates radio button, and click on the Next button (Figure 2).

In the Installation Location screen, specify your Oracle home, and click on the Next button (Figure 3).

In the Installation Type screen, tick the Fusion Middleware Infrastructure radio button, and click on the Next button (Figure 4).

In the Prerequisite Checks screen, verify that all prerequisites have been met, and click on the Next button (Figure 5).

In the Installation Summary screen, click on the Install button (Figure 6). Do not forget to click on the Save Response File button if you want to save a response file (with all the values provided so far) that can be used to install Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure in silent mode in other environments.

In the Installation Progress screen, click on the Finish button once the progress bar shows 100% to close the installer (Figure 7).

To install the Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure in silent mode using a response file on additional servers, execute the following command:

Installing Oracle Analytics Server

Unzip the Oracle Analytics Server 2023 Update file, and start the installer:

In the Welcome screen, click on the Next button (Figure 8).

In the Auto Updates screen, tick the Skip Auto Updates radio button, and click on the Next button (Figure 9).

In the Installation Location screen, specify your Oracle home, and click on the Next button (Figure 10).

In the Prerequisite Checks screen, verify that all prerequisites have been met, and click on the Next button (Figure 11).

In the Installation Summary screen, click on the Install button (Figure 12). Do not forget to save a response file if you want to install Oracle Analytics Server in silent mode in other environments.

In the Installation Progress screen, click on the Finish button once the progress bar shows 100% to close the installer (Figure 13).

To install the Oracle Analytics Server in silent mode using a response file on additional servers, execute the following command:

Applying Required Patches

Upgrade OPatch to the latest version (Patch 28186730) before patching Oracle Fusion Middleware and Oracle Analytics Server:

Apply the Oracle WebLogic Server Stack Patch Bundle 12.2.1.4.230112 (Patch 34974729):

Apply the Oracle Web Services Manager Bundle Patch 12.2.1.4.221128 (Patch 34839859):

Apply Patch 34542329:

Apply the Oracle ADF Bundle Patch 12.2.1.4.230103 (Patch 34944256):

Apply the Oracle OPSS Bundle Patch 12.2.1.4.220311 (Patch 33950717):

Apply the Oracle WebCenter Core Bundle Patch 12.2.1.4.220825 (Patch 34549208):

Apply the Oracle OSS Bundle Patch 12.2.1.4.230128 (Patch 35024228):

Configuring the Oracle Analytics Server Domain

Start the Configuration Assistant utility:

In the Welcome screen, click on the Next button (Figure 14).

In the Components screen, select the components that you want to include in the domain, and click on the Next button (Figure 15). It's important to remember that once the domain has been configured, it's no longer possible to include additional components.

In the Prerequisite Checks screen, verify that all prerequisites have been met, and click on the Next button (Figure 16).

In the Define Domain screen, specify your domain home, domain name, and the credentials for the new domain. Then click on the Next button (Figure 17).

In the Database Schema screen, tick the Create new schemas radio button, specify the database details and credentials to create the required schemas, and click on the Next button (Figure 18). If you want more options for tablespace and schema management, the RCU schemas can also be created using the rcu command located in the $ORACLE_HOME/oracle_common/bin folder.

In the Port Management screen, accept the defaults, and click on the Next button (Figure 19).

In the Initial Content screen, tick the Clean installation (default) radio button, and click on the Next button (Figure 20).

In the Summary screen, click on the Configure button to configure the Oracle Analytics Server domain (Figure 21). Do not forget to save a response file if you want to configure the domain in silent mode in other environments.

In the Configuration Progress screen, click on the Next button once the progress bar shows 100% (Figure 22).

In the Configuration Complete screen, click on the Finish button to close the Configuration Assistant (Figure 23).

To configure the Oracle Analytics Server domain in silent mode using a response file on additional servers, execute the following command:

Congratulations, your Oracle Analytics Server should now be available at http://<SERVER_NAME>:9502/dv (Figure 24)!

Conclusion

The 2023 Update includes several new features, enhancements and fixes for Oracle Analytics Server that significantly improve the suite such as support for parameters in Data Visualization, files in datasets with multiple tables, a new Content Management page, OCI Functions and Vision integration, and many others.

If you are looking into Oracle Analytics Cloud and want to find out more, please do get in touch or DM us on Twitter @rittmanmead. Rittman Mead can help you with a product demo, training and assist within the migration process.