EPM and Modern Antivirus Issue

In corporate IT server security has become increasingly high profile and as a result IT tools such as antivirus tools are becoming more and more standard as well as more aggressive in their functionality.  Over the past two years I have found most of my installation and configuration issues have been due to antivirus software on the servers during installation and configuration.

Even if we have requested antivirus been turned off or put in passive mode I find IT organizations still try to have real time scanning enabled during install configuration.

Prior to release 11.2.15 Oracle has taken a soft stance on the issue. Their install guides, in preparing a server section, simply mention antivirus software can cause issues and suggest excluding the Oracle home directory from automatic scanning.  This has casued no end of heartburn in the field as IT departments assert there is no directive to disable the software, so they refuse to.

In 11.2.15, Oracle has reworded the section. The section now directs that antivirus be turned off during Installation and configuration. This is an excerpt:

"Disable the anti-virus software before you install and configure EPM System Release 11.2.15. Ensure that you have the anti-virus software disabled for the entire duration of the installation and configuration process. Anti-virus software can be re-enabled when the installation and configuration is complete."

Now, we have documentation to back up the request to disable antivirus software, and future installations should have less issues.