Undeploy multiple SOA composites with WLST or ANT

As part of our current project the Build Management team asked for a solution to undeploy multiple composites at one time. Of course you have the “Undeploy All From This Partition” menu option in Enterprise Manager but since we have a lot of deployments every day the guys wanted to have a script solution. It is even more important for the nightly deployments on our continuous integration environment – strange, we couldn’t find anybody who wants to do the undeployment via Enterprise Manager manually every night ;-)

However with WLST or ANT the SOA Suite comes with two options to undeploy composites via script. In this article I’d like to explain you both ways.

Undeployment with WLST

You can test the steps below on Oracle's Pre-built Virtual Machine for SOA Suite and BPM Suite 11g.

1) Change to the WLST directory under MIDDLEWARE_HOME/Oracle_SOA1/common/bin.

cd /oracle/fmwhome/Oracle_SOA1/common/bin/

2) Open WLST

./wlst.sh

3)  Connect to the SOA server

wls:/offline> connect('weblogic','welcome1','t3://soabpm-vm:7001')
Connecting to t3://soabpm-vm:7001 with userid weblogic ...
Successfully connected to Admin Server 'AdminServer' that belongs to domain 'dev_bpm'.

wls:/dev_bpm/serverConfig>

4) Run the delete command for the appropriate partition

wls:/dev_bpm/serverConfig> sca_deletePartition('test')

partitionName = test

Partition was successfully deleted.

wls:/dev_bpm/serverConfig>

Please take into account that the command deletes all composites as well as the partition itself. If you need the partition for future deployments just recreate it with the sca_createPartition WLST-command. Also check the Oracle Fusion Middleware WebLogic Scripting Tool Command Reference for a complete list of SOA Suite Custom WLST Commands.

Undeployment with ANT

Another option is to use ANT for the undeployment of multiple composites. The key here is to reference the file ant-sca-mgmt.xml within your custom ANT-target. The file comes with SOA Suite as well as JDeveloper. See my quick example below:

<target name="sca_deletePartition">

  <echo>Undeploy Composites</echo>      

  <ant antfile="/oracle/fmwhome/Oracle_SOA1/bin/ant-sca-mgmt.xml"

     inheritall="false" target="deletePartition">         

      <property name="host" value="soabpm-vm"/>         

      <property name="port" value="7001"/>         

      <property name="user" value="weblogic"/>         

      <property name="password" value="welcome1"/>         

      <property name="partition" value="testPartition"/>      

  </ant>   

</target>

Again this command deletes all composites of the given partition as well as the partition itself. See the Developer's Guide - Managing SOA Composite Applications with Script for more details.

Update: After reading this article Christoph Burmeister from our Build Management team created a pom-snippet for this to make the maven fans happy as well :-) Many thanks Christoph!!

OOW 2012: Oracle BPM / Oracle ADF Integration Best Practices

Unfortunately Oracle Open World 2012 is already the past. It was a great conference in a wonderful city. I am looking forward to meet all the interesting people and friends next year again. In this article I'd like to share the slides from my session with Andrejus Baranovskis. We really enjoyed to share our experiences from the last couple of years. The room was almost fully booked with interested BPM- and ADF-users and the feedback afterwards was very nice.

What was the target of our session? 

With this session we wanted to bring valuable practical experiences from the Oracle BPM / ADF integration field, based on our technical involvement into several Oracle Fusion projects. We shared different customer cases, where we applied Oracle BPM / ADF solutions. We focused on Oracle BPM Human Task reusability, Oracle BPM Data Control packaging and integration into ADF application - how to make it maintainable and reusable for large development teams and many human interactions.

Furthermore we introduced technical patterns for BPM / ADF applications developed in our projects. One of these patterns was the Generic Task Handler, which allows to minimize the number of BPM Human Task Definitions, especially in large BPM/ADF implementations. The pattern decouples the dependency between the Data Control related to the BPM Human Task and its consuming ADF UI application. As Andrejus described this is the key to develop more flexible ADF User Interfaces and to reduce the development time of human centric processes significantly.

Oracle BPM / Oracle ADF Integration - Best Practices | Oracle Open World 2012

Always having performance, maintenance and product or process migrations in mind - we additionally provided examples for the following Best Practices:

• Decoupling of business data from process instance data
• Customizing of BPM Workspace with ADF
• Housekeeping for BPM and ADF (Purging, Monitoring)
• Architecture based on multiple layers
• Re-execution of processes (Fault Management, Replay, Entry Points, etc.)
• ADF security integration
• Useage of MDS to share metadata

If you have problems accessing the embedded slideshare presentation please let us know.

Industrialized SOA – Thema des Business Technology Magazin 3.12

Auch wenn es ruhiger geworden ist um SOA, beerdigt ist das Konzept noch lange nicht. Ganz im Gegenteil, über die Jahre hat es einen neuen Maturity Level erreicht. Hype-Themen wie Cloud Computing oder Big Data haben SOA aus den Schlagzeilen verdrängt, aber "ersetzen die neuen Hype-Themen die Serviceorientierung nicht, sondern bauen darauf auf". 

Die Autoren dieses Magazins zählen im deutschsprachigen Raum zu den SOA-Pionieren. Für diese Ausgabe von Business Technology haben Sie ihr kollektives Wissen zusammengetragen und ein einzigartiges Bild des aktuellen Zustands von SOA geschaffen. Nach ihrer Überzeugung entwickelt sich SOA evolutionär weiter, in Richtung Fabrikansatz, in Richtung Industrialisierung, in Richtung "ganzheitliche Plattform" zu einer neuen Industrialized SOA.

 

Die Ausgabe 3.12 des BT Magazins bekommen Sie als iPAD-App, per Post oder am Kiosk! 

Weitere Informationen auf www.bt-magazin.de

Undeployment of composites when soa-infra is down

Did you already have the problem that you couldn’t restart your server because of a certain (maybe broken) composite? Did you ever wish to perform an undeployment of your composites while soa-infra is down? In some of our projects we already had this requirement. Below you’ll find an explanation with a step-by-step example of how-to get rid of your composites – even when the soa-infra is not reachable.

Enterprise Manager with a list of the deployed composites (relevant for this post: HelloWorld 1.0.0)

Problem

A restart of the Managed Server failed because one of the composites referred to a file that could not be found. Therefore we received the following error message:  

weblogic.work.ExecuteThread.run(ExecuteThread.java:176)

Caused By: java.io.IOException: oracle.mds.exception.MDSException: MDS-00054: The file to be loaded oramds:/deployed-composites/default/HelloWorld_rev1.0.0/… does not exist.

        at oracle.mds.internal.net.AbstractOraMDSURLConnection.getPDocStream(AbstractOraMDSURLConnection.java:388)

        at oracle.mds.internal.net.AbstractOraMDSURLConnection.getInputStream(AbstractOraMDSURLConnection.java:176)

        at oracle.mds.internal.net.OraMDSURLConnection.getInputStream(OraMDSURLConnection.java:67)

        at java.net.URL.openStream(URL.java:1010)

        at oracle.fabric.common.metadata.MetadataManagerImpl.getInputStreamFromAbsoluteURL(MetadataManagerImpl.java:276)

        at oracle.integration.platform.common.MDSMetadataManagerImpl.getInputStreamFromAbsoluteURL(MDSMetadataManagerImpl.java:555)

        at oracle.integration.platform.common.MDSMetadataManagerImpl.transferFile(MDSMetadataManagerImpl.java:852)

        at oracle.integration.platform.common.MDSMetadataManagerImpl.transferFiles(MDSMetadataManagerImpl.java:839)

        at oracle.integration.platform.common.MDSMetadataManagerImpl.copyTree(MDSMetadataManagerImpl.java:820)

        at

How-to fix it?

Since redeployment is not possible because of a non-reachable soa-infra, we needed to look for the available options to delete the current deployment in an offline mode. This should help us to restart the server again. For this we did some research in the web but unfortunately most of the suggested solutions are only applicable when soa-infra is online. One of these examples is the export / import functionality for the MDS via Enterprise Manager - see the article Undeploy composites manually for more details. The functionality is very useful but it requires a running soa application. After that I tried to export the deployed-composites.xml as described in the above blog using WLST – unfortunately the result wasn’t satisfying:

Command:

wls:/domain/serverConfig> exportMetadata(application='soa-infra',server='<MY_MANAGED_ SERVER_SOA>',toLocation='<MY_TO_LOCATION>',docs='/deployed-composites/deployed-composites.xml')

 

Result:

Location changed to domainRuntime tree. This is a read-only tree with DomainMBean as the root.
For more help, use help(domainRuntime)
Executing operation: exportMetadata.

Traceback (innermost last):
  File "<console>", line 1, in ?
  File "/opt/oracle/Middleware/oracle_common/common/wlst/mdsWLSTCommands.py", line 237, in exportMetadata
  File "/opt/oracle/Middleware/oracle_common/common/wlst/mdsWLSTCommands.py", line 727, in executeAppRuntimeMBeanOperation
  File "/opt/oracle/Middleware/oracle_common/common/wlst/mdsWLSTCommands.py", line 697, in getMDSAppRuntimeMBean
UserWarning: MDS-91002: MDS Application runtime MBean for "soa-infra" is not available. "exportMetadata" operation failure.

Solution

Besides other options like direct access to MDS via Java (Full access to MDS Repository) or SQL (MDS_PATHS Table) we discovered a new and up-to-date Metalink-Note ([ID 1380835.1]) which described basically what we wanted. Thanks a lot to Markus Lohn (Oracle) for his support! We successfully followed the steps within the note and after that the server came up. Below I describe the approach with the above Hello World example. 

1. Download and copy the ShareSoaInfraPartition.ear from Oracle to access the MDS offline (Download it from the Metalink note). 

2. Connect to WLST and deploy the above application on the AdminServer. Use the WLST under $MIDDLEWARE_HOME/ oracle_common/common/bin.

3. Run the below command to export the metadata from the AdminServer. Change the values appropriate to your environment.

Command:

wls:/domain/serverConfig> 

exportMetadata(application='ShareSoaInfraPartition',server='<MY_ADMIN_ SERVER>',toLocation='<MY_TO_LOCATION>',docs='/deployed-composites/deployed-composites.xml')

Result:

Executing operation: exportMetadata.
Operation "exportMetadata" completed. Summary of "exportMetadata" operation is:
List of documents successfully transferred:
/deployed-composites/deployed-composites.xml
1 documents successfully transferred.

4. Open the deployed-composites.xml within deployed-composites folder under <MY_TO_LOCATION>.

5. Delete the composite series or revision which is causing the problem and save the file.

<composite-series name="default/HelloWorld" default="default/HelloWorld!1.0.0">
  <composite-revision dn="default/HelloWorld!1.0.0" state="on" mode="active" location="dc/soa_09001e40-be6f-4bc4-8a96-201f3848c38d">
    <composite dn="default/HelloWorld!1.0.0*soa_09001e40-be6f-4bc4-8a96-201f3848c38d" deployedTime="2012-03-09T13:15:14.139+01:00"/>
  </composite-revision>
</composite-series>

6. Import the updated file under <MY_FROM_LOCATION> into MDS.

Command:

wls:/domain/serverConfig> importMetadata(application='ShareSoaInfraPartition',server='AdminServer',fromLocation='<MY_FROM_LOCATION>',docs='/deployed-composites/deployed-composites.xml')

Result:

Executing operation: importMetadata.

Operation "importMetadata" completed. Summary of "importMetadata" operation is:
List of documents successfully transferred:

/deployed-composites/deployed-composites.xml
1 documents successfully transferred.

7. Restart your SOA server or soa-infra.

Enterprise Manager with a list of the deployed composites (note that HelloWorld 1.0.0 is not available)

Oracle Partner Community Forum 2012 in short

Last week (07.02.2012 until 10.02.2012) I joined the Oracle Webcenter & SOA & BPM & Weblogic Partner Community Forum in Málaga. My overall conclusion: excellent, excellent excellent! For me it was already the 4th time and it is really impressive to see how Jürgen Kress an Hans Blaas organized an event that cannot be better! More than 200 people attended this time.

Impressions from the city of Málaga

My own goal was to get the latest information about Oracle Fusion Middleware products, to use the bootcamp for hands-on experience on the newest versions and to meet a lot of interesting people and old friends who are working in the same field.  

During the first two days we saw many interesting presentations about:

• Oracle Fusion Middleware Strategy & Direction
• ADF overview and roadmap
• New features in Weblogic 12c
• Live-Demo of Oracle Social Network
• Whats new in BPM Suite
• Oracle WebCenter
• Strategy and Direction of Oracle SOA Suite     
• and many more...

Below are some future topics and teasers:

• Out of the box scheduler
• Develeoper improvements like renaming of components and copy/paste of activities
• Instance migration
• Case management and improved task lists
• Debugging and testing enhancements
• OVAB support for WebLogic 12c
• Simplified Deployment and Management with Virtualization
• Exalogic support
• EM-integration of SOA/BPM/OSB consoles
• Support for Java EE 6 applications in Oracle Public Cloud

My own session was about SOA Suite migration from 10g to 11g. In 10 steps I descibed how we went through the upgrade in different projects, explained the problem of instance migration between 10g and 11g and talked about process architecture improvements for future migration scenarios and further developments. I had some very nice chats afterwards and of course I also enjoyed the speakers dinner :-)

WLS 12c Bootcamp

During the last two days I used the WLS 12c Bootcamp to put my fingers on the new version of the Weblogic Server. We learned a lot about new features like Seamless Upgrade, Much Higher Performance, Enhanced High Availability + Disaster Recovery and Integrated Traffic Management. One of our trainers - Jesús María Guerra - provided also some valuable links for us:

• Sample code
• Building a Virtual Box image with Oracle RAC
• Using a Oracle RAC template with Oracle VM
• Oracle Virtual Developer Day

Additionally I would like to say special thanks to Simone Geib and Flavius Sana who have been very patient with me when I asked more than once for the latest product information and material ;-) Overall it was very exciting and I am looking forward to meet a lot of experts again in the near future!

SOA, BPM & Integration Days vom 29.02.2012 - 01.03.2012

Vom 29. Februar bis 01. März 2012 präsentiert das Business Technology Magazin in München die nächsten SOA, BPM & Integration Days.

Als Softwarearchitekt, Projekt- oder IT-Leiter fragen Sie sich auf jeder Konferenz: Welche Inhalte bringen mir wirklich etwas und welche führen nicht nur zum hundertsten Mal in ein Thema ein. Die Idee der SOA, BPM & Integration Days ist es, diese Einführungen wegzulassen. Hier erhalten Sie erstklassige Informationen, fundierte Entscheidungshilfen und Know-how für Ihre geschäftskritischen Projekte. Dabei profitieren Sie von einer Auswahl der besten Experten, Vordenker und Praktiker aus dem jeweiligen Themengebiet.

Im besonderen Fokus der dritten SOA, BPM & Integration Days stehen diesmal die drei Schwerpunkte: Adaptive Prozesse, SOA-Security sowie Systemintegration.

Alle werden in den Projekten zurzeit heiß diskutiert. Erleben Sie zwölf Sessions, ein Speaker Panel, zwei Keynotes und sechs Power Workshops, die Ihnen zeigen, worauf es wirklich ankommt. Vor Ort erleben Sie beispielsweise die Autorenrunde des SOA Spezial Magazins (Publikation von Software & Support Media), bekannte Buchautoren sowie hochkarätige Sprecher der Jax-Konferenzen. Dieses einzigartige Konferenz-Highlight sollten Sie nicht verpassen!

Alle Infos finden Interessenten auf: www.soa-bpm-days.de

Welcome to the Oracle Fusion Middleware EMEA Partner Community Forum – February 7th & 8th 2012, Malaga Spain

SOA & WebCenter & BPM & WebLogic Partner Communities
Take this opportunity and register now for the Oracle Fusion Middleware Partner Community Forum that will be held in Malaga on February 7th and 8th. Registration is free of charge, except in case of cancellation or no show (cancellation fee € 150).

During this highly informative event you can learn about partner success stories, participate in an array of breakout sessions and exchange information with other partners. My own session on February 8th 2012 is about “From 10g to 11g – A customer case on Oracle SOA Suite migration”. Please find the overall agenda of this event on the SOA Community Blog by Jürgen Kress.

What are the Benefits?

• meet with Oracle SOA, BPM, WebCenter and WebLogic Product Management
• exchange knowledge and have access to competitive intelligence
• learn from successful SOA, BPM, WebCenter and WebLogic implementations
• learn about WebCenter Sites and WebLogic12c
• network within the Oracle SOA & BPM Partner Community, the Oracle WebCenter Partner Community and the Oracle WebLogic Partner Community

Additionally to the Fusion Middleware Partner Community Forum, you can participate in technical hands on workshops on February 9th and 10th. The goal of these workshops is to prepare you for customer implementations.

To Register and for more information on the agenda, logistics and contact, please click here.