EPM 11.2.11 Brief Overview

EPM 11.2.11 is the latest release of the EPM Suite from Oracle.  This version, like its predecessors since 11.2.9, is not a full standalone version.  Instead, they are patch-sets installed on top of a base 11.2.8 system.

These patch sets are a series of updates that address new version in the Oracle Middleware stack (WebLogic and Java) as well as various fixes for EPM issues.  All of this can be found in the ReadMe here.

Of particular note, are the following version changes:

• Java 8 Update 341.

• WebLogic Patch Set Update 12.2.1.4.220711.

• Fusion Middleware (FMW) Third Party Bundle Patch Set Update 12.2.1.4.220616.

• OHS Patch Set Update 12.2.1.4.220608.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that there is a feature available when applying these latest releases to ‘verify’ the install package before applying it to the servers in question.  I highly recommend leveraging it, as it prevented me from mis-applying this release to a server I had thought was running 11.2.8, but was in fact still on 11.2.7.  Had I applied it, I would have broken the environment.  The command is the standard application command with -verify appended to the end:  .\ApplyUpdate.ps1 <MIDDLEWARE_HOME> -verify

It is also worth pointing out the backup steps Oracle recommends before applying this version (and for .9 and .10 as well).  Oracle recommends backing up:

• EPM Oracle Home. The default EPM Oracle home location is MIDDLEWARE_HOME/EPMSystem11R1.

• EPM Oracle Instance. The default location for the EPM Oracle Instance is MIDDLEWARE_HOME/user_projects/epmsystem1.

They also recommend you backup the cacerts files, if SSL is in use.  I find it easier (and perhaps more complete) to simply .zip the entire /Oracle folder, but what level of backups you make are up to you as an administrator.

As always, thanks for tuning in, and if you need assistance with patching or any other Oracle EPM or Cloud Services assistance, iArch Solutions is here to help.