OBIEE 11.1.1.6.2 BP1 SampleApp v207 on Virtual Box 4.2.12

You might have read of how long and complex it is to install OBIEE directly onto Redhat.

OBIEE SampleApp v207 Desktop

This year I heard that there was a new Virtual Box image of OBIEE. The idea being: you install and start Virtual Box, then use the OBIEE virtual machine. Great idea. You should be able to get on with actually using OBIEE, not struggling with its installation, startup, and administration.

However, that would assume that all the components work. Like any technology stack.

Unfortunately for me, they did not.

Installing Virtual Box 4.2.12 r84980:   

Installing OBIEE on 64 Bit Redhat Linux 5.5 The Big Picture

Unfortunately, installing OBIEE on 64 bit Redhat Linux 5.5 is neither simple or straightforward. It is a complex multistep process. Usually requiring that you read dozens of documents and webpages, sometimes for one detail alone.

Here is the big picture, or  high level steps on what to do. And some detail, on a few of the gotchas I had.

For more gory details, you can see:

Oracle’s online document:
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E14571_01/doc.1111/e14770/biee.htm

And, the 120 page installation document from Oracle: e10539.pdf
Oracle Fusion Middleware
Installation Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence
11g Release 1 (11.1.1)
E10539-02

And the many other links referenced below.

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Prerequisites:

A Linux server, with lots of memory, disk space, and CPU power
Redhat Linux 5.5 installed on the server. Install -every- package on the DVD.

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Steps:

Read the OBIEE certification matrix
Download the appropriate software
Double check that the Linux installation has the required packages
Install the Oracle database software, if it is not installed already
Install Java JDK, 64 bit
Create a database for the repository
Run the Repository Creation Utility (RCU)
Install WebLogic with generic .jar
Install OBIEE as “software only”
Run configuration assistant to configure OBIEE
Write scripts to start and stop OBIEE

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First, check the OBIEE certification matrix, and compare it to your environment. This can keep you busy for a while. I used: bi-11gr1certmatrix-166168.xls

What Version of Weblogic Is It?

Ever wonder what version of weblogic is on your server? Here is how to find out.

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First, set the environment variables in $DOMAIN_HOME