What’s New in OBIEE 11.1.1.5 (PS1)?
May 8th, 2011 by Mark Rittman
The long-awaited 11.1.1.5 release of OBIEE became available on OTN last Friday, and we’ve been downloading it and putting it through its paces over the weekend. This is the first major patch release after the initial release of OBIEE 11g, with enhancements promised in terms of platforms and data sources supported, simplification of the install process, and a number of new features (documentation is here). So now it’s out, how does it look?
From what we’ve seen so far, the changes in 11.1.1.5 compared to 11.1.1.3 are along these lines:
Option for a smaller-footprint install
One of the criticisms of the first OBIEE 11g release was that it took up about twice as much RAM as the 10g release, due to the move to WebLogic Server as the underlying JEE application server, and more importantly the mandatory use of both a WLS administration server, and a managed server, for the infrastructure. This meant that you really needed a laptop or PC with 4GB of memory to run or demo OBIEE 11g properly. The 11.1.1.5 release changes the “Simple” install type within the Universal Installer to instead, lay down just a WLS administration server and put all of the Java components in this instead.
This reduces the memory requirement for OBIEE 11g by around 700MB and also makes administration a bit simpler for demo / POC situations. One side-effect is that when running in this single JEE server mode, OBIEE runs under port 7001 instead of 9704, something that also happened with 10g when you ran it under WebLogic. But this change is certainly welcome and will make setting up demo and training environments a lot simpler and easier.
Improvements to the Install Process
There’s also a bunch of other improvements and updates to the install process including: the 64-bit install on Linux now lays down the 64-bit JVM rather than the 32-bit one in error, meaning that you don’t have to do a separate “Software Only” install to get the correct JVM architecture; the 64-bit Windows installation now installs an Administration Tool that works in 64-bit mode, avoiding the need for a separate install; there’s also now an installer for Sun Solaris SPARC to go with 32 and 64-bit Windows and Linux.
From what we can tell so far, it looks like going from 11.1.1.3 to 11.1.1.5 would be what Oracle term an “out-of-place upgrade”, meaning that you would need to install 11.1.1.5 in a separate Middleware Home to 11.1.1.3 (including creating new BIPLATFORM and MDS schemas using the RCU), and then manually migrate your BI artifacts from the old environment to the new. One of the changes in 11.1.1.5 is that you can point it to an existing MDS schema (something useful if you’ve already deployed MDS, as part of FMW11g, elsewhere), but it doesn’t look like you can point it to your previous (11.1.1.3) MDS schema. Keep an eye out on the blog in the next few months though for more coverage of upgrades, as Oracle plan to release an improved upgrade guide in the near future and we’ll be covering it extensively. UPDATE : There is actually an in-place upgrade process, see the comments to this article. I’ll be covering this on the blog in the next week or so.
Changes to Startup Process
Just a small change here, but the script that starts OBIEE (Start BI Services.cmd) now remembers your WebLogic username and password after first use (by writing it to the boot.properties file(s)), avoiding the need for you to keep entering credentials each time you start up the system. Still no (out of the box) Windows services for the WebLogic administration and managed servers though.
Oracle BI Repository and Data Source Improvements
SAP B/W Native connections, Oracle OLAP connections direct to the AW, and TimesTen in-memory database support are provided with this patchset, as well as a new data model diagrammer that means that I’ll need to redo all the screenshots in the RPD modelling book chapter that I’ve just written :-(
I think with the new data sources supported, we’ll have to put these through our paces before “signing them off” for general use. For example, whilst TimesTen will be supported, we’ll have to really wait for improvements to core TimesTen functionality in terms of support for fast aggregations, use of analytic functions and so on before it’s really ready for prime-time use with OBIEE. Similarly, whilst direct Oracle OLAP connections now seem to be supported, as with Essbase support “the devil will be in the detail” and I would expect there to be a couple of releases before this new datasource works smoothly. Another welcome new RPD feature in this release is the new “validaterpd” utility, alongside the current command-line RPD utilities, which will be useful in scripting the deployment of an RPD and making sure it’ll work once in production.
Tenant Support within the Presentation Catalog and the Catalog Manager Utility
One of the limitations in earlier releases of OBIEE when you wanted to deliver BI as a “shared” or “tenanted” service, was around keeping everything separate in the catalog shared and user directories. The 11.1.1.5 release of the Catalog Manager has new command-line options for provisioning and de-provisioning tenants within a Catalog which looks like it’ll make this easier. I haven’t tried this myself yet, but it’s a useful new feature to know about. UPDATE: I’ve been advised by the development team that this new feature is at an early stage, and is more in support of forthcoming future functionality. Be careful at this stage if you plan to try this new feature, as I’m not sure it’s fully “supported” yet.
BI Composer, a Simplified Analysis Creator
11.1.1.5 also introduces (though you need to install it separately) a simplified, alternative interface for creating analyses called “BI Composer”. This appears to be an interface initially aimed at the “accessibility” sector that takes you through steps in a wizard to create an analysis, but also might be a cut-down report creation UI that you can embed in other ADF applications.
Again, it’s not something we’ve had a chance to play around with yet, but keep an eye on the blog later this week for some first impressions.
iPad and iPhone Mobile Clients
For end-users, this is the main “headline” new feature in 11.1.1.5. Whilst OBIEE 10g had an iPhone client, it was fairly limited in functionality and also required you to put the Presentation Server in “non-Flash” mode, which impacted everyone else using the regular HTML dashboard interface. With 11.1.1.5, Oracle have “re-imagined” the iPad and iPhone experience and brought out dedicated clients for the IOS platform, with Android likely to follow later on. The screenshot below is courtesy of the Oracle PR Flickr page, and there’s more screenshots of the mobile client here:
New “List” Selector in BI Publisher, and new SampleAppLite BIP Demos
Another welcome new UI improvement is in BI Publisher, which now features a Qlikview-like “list selector” that you can include in layouts created with the Online Layout Editor. You can try this out yourself if you install 11.1.1.5 as it’s part of a new BI Publisher demo that ships with it, based around analyzing passenger traffic at SFO. BI Publisher has come on a long way in the 11g release, and I’d encourage you to take a look at it if you’ve not investigated BI Publisher properly before (I call it “OBIEE 11g’s best-kept secret”.
Some Updates and Improvements to the KPI Editor
If you’re using the Scorecard and Strategy Management feature within OBIEE (for KPIs and scorecards), the KPI editor has seen a couple of changes, including “thresholds” being renamed as “states” and a new feature for adding custom attributes to the KPI. If you’re coming to our BI Forum event in Atlanta in May, one of the sessions is on futures for Scorecard and Strategy Management and I’ll be keen to see where this product is going.
Support for Oracle BI Applications
Separate to this release but enabled by it, the 7.9.6.3 release of Oracle BI Applications introduces support for using OBIEE 11g as a BI platform. For users of the BI Apps, this is probably the headline feature and it now means that you can use features such as the new user interface, OLAP analysis using hierarchical columns, and whatever new features in 11g Oracle could bring through to this (probably final) BI Apps version before BI Apps 11g. Again courtesy of the Oracle PR Flickr website, here’s a screenshot of BI Apps 7.9.6.3 in all it’s 11g-glory (more screenshots here):
So, now that 11.1.1.5 is in the bag, what’s next? Well, due to Oracle’s revenue recognition rules, no-one outside of Oracle knows for certain, but I’d be expecting further minor patch releases in the near future to fix issues as they arise, and then maybe another major patch release (11.1.1.6?) towards the end of this year to deliver some substantial new visualization and metadata modeling new features, plus closer integration with mid-tier data sources such as Essbase and TimesTen. I think we’re also fairly likely to see an Exadata-style BI appliance getting unveiled at this year’s OpenWorld, bringing together perhaps a couple of Exadata cells, maybe something ExaLogic and also TimesTen delivered embedded as an in-memory layer. All this is just speculation though at this point, so keep an eye on the blog for more news as it becomes available.
May 8th, 2011 at 11:58 am
“This reduces the memory requirement for OBIEE 11g by around ???”
Probably the figure is missing.
May 8th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Hi Mark,
I also did the install. First I had some problems downloading the files on Windows 7. Again some complaints about corrupt zip files.
The blog states that you don’t have to input the username+password for starting up and shutting down. In my version this is only with starting up. With shutting down you still have to provide the login details by default.
Do you know when the iPhone/iPad application will be released?
May 8th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Mark,
Thank you very much for your overview. It was timely and precise as usual.
You wrote about ‘Exadata-style BI appliance’ as a kind of future of BIEE. What did you mean?
As I understand Exadata is software/hardware product that includes a Oracle Database installed on Sun cluster with RAC and set of other software tools to support it.
You mean RAC support of BIEE? Or something else?
It is very interesting to know your opinion.
Regards,
Roman
May 8th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
Roman,
My understanding is that Oracle plan to take what they’ve learnt with products like Exadata and Exalogic (packaging of hardware and software, in a highly-tuned configuration) and use this to create a BI appliance. What this appliance will contain beyond core OBIEE, presumably the BI Apps and TimesTen, is difficult to say as they do not share plans. But I would imagine they would try and include Exadata in there, possibly Oracle OLAP, and they’ll launch it at Open World this year. This information came from a presentation Oracle’s development VP gave at Collaborate’11 this year, but there were no specific details beyond this general statement of where they would like to take the product.
regards, Mark
May 8th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
Michael
Did you get the zip files to uncompress OK in the end? Other people have contacted us and mentioned the same problem. I downloaded 11.1.1.5 direct from OTN, and installed it on Windows Server 2003 SP1, 32-bit.
Well spotted with the shutdown error – I’ll correct the article now.
regards, Mark
May 8th, 2011 at 9:02 pm
@Andrey
Fixed now, article got posted before I had a chance to enter the memory figure.
Mark
May 9th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
As an fyi,
“From what we can tell so far, it looks like going from 11.1.1.3 to 11.1.1.5 would be what Oracle term an “out-of-place upgrade”
The upgrade is ‘in-place’ similar FMw stack
i.e. – backup, patch WLS to 10.3.5, apply software-only to upgrade binaries, then post upgrade steps.
Here is the Patching Guide
http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E21764_01/doc.1111/e16793/patch_set_installer.htm#CHDCCEAC
Highlights (high level):
3.3.5 Patch Oracle WebLogic Server
3.4.1.1 Product Installers
Note:
When using the Oracle Business Intelligence product installer to patch an existing Oracle Business Intelligence environment, make sure you select the Software Only Install option on the Select Installation Type screen.
3.7.10 Post-Patching Tasks for Oracle Business Intelligence
Hope that helps. Great post as usual.
May 9th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
Hi Mark
The Windows 64 bit download failed on Windows 7 but was succesfull on Windows 2008. Used same connection and same browser. Terrible to download 5gb’s and get these CRC errors.
The iTunes download is now also available.
May 10th, 2011 at 8:29 am
Hello Mark,
Once again Kishore here :)
thanks for new update..
I’m experiencing a problem with installing new version, while i’m running, simple installation of BI provided with BIPLATFORM, MDS schema details. Here i’m using the older versions of repository. There is no problem with BIPLATFORM schema, but whenever i use the old MDS schema credentials and move on to next step experiencing error saying: “MDS repository version 11.1.1.2.0 is older than minimum required repository version 11.1.1.4.0″. Do anybody got the same error?
Anyways, there is software available on OTN to upgrade the repository to minimum required version. But, i decided to drop and re-create the schemas with new RCU software.
Am i in right track? or missing anything else.
Please provide your valuable suggestions on this.
–
Kishore Guggilla
May 10th, 2011 at 5:07 pm
Mark, thanks for the great post and mentioning of one of the great new features of BI Publisher. Just of the reference, the full list of the BI Publisher 11.1.1.5 new features can be found at here:
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/middleware/bi-publisher/bip-11115-newfeatures-395605.pdf
May 10th, 2011 at 7:21 pm
Mark,
Awesome article, as always!
We are very interested in the new Mobile capabilities of OBIEE, but in my company most of the employees use Blackberries… are these devices supported or going to be supported by Oracle any time soon?
Thanks again!
Juan F
May 11th, 2011 at 7:09 am
I don’t think so, not in the short-term. Oracle’s support is being driven by the market, which is overwhelmingly (for tablets) around IOS and the iPad at the moment, followed by Android. I don’t see them therefore putting the engineering time and investment into Blackberry and WP7 clients, as there’s not the size of market to justify the spend on their part.
May 11th, 2011 at 7:10 am
Kilshore,
This is something I intend to look at properly in the next few days. Keep an eye on the blog.
Mark
May 11th, 2011 at 7:11 am
Steve,
Thanks very much for the comment. I’ll be looking in more detail at the 11.1.1.3 > 11.1.1.5 upgrade process on the blog shortly, and I’l be following this in-place upgrade process. Thanks for the tip-off.
Mark
May 11th, 2011 at 11:39 am
Mark,
great article.
looks like this release has solved many of the 11.1.1.3 issues I will be speaking about at the BI forum in Brighton – DOH!
Still, I’m sure there will be “lot’s of devil in the detail” to keep us all occupied, and also give Oracle an excuse to release more patches to keep us all gainfully employed ;-)
cheers
Mike
May 11th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
Mark,
Thanks, your blogs been very help full for me to installing and configuring 11.1.1.3. But we unable to go on production as per our organization we need SAML2 SSO. This SAML2 SSO is third party.
Currently weblogic supports SSO of all Oracle application that is using weblogic as deployment server. Is it possible to do SAML2 SSO with third party IDP.
Thanks,
Vivek
May 12th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Hi mark, thanks for your article. Do you have “tasted” in deep the new mobile (Ipad and Iphone) features of the new release? What are your comments? These features could be compared with other BI Mobile Apps?
May 12th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Mark, interesting write up and articale. What about 11.1.1.4? My understanding is that this version will provide better connectivity to BEA Weblogic 10.3 vs 9.3. Do you have any information on this possible release? Please let me know. Thanks
May 13th, 2011 at 7:49 am
Hi Jim
The version number 11.1.1.4 was skipped, to keep OBIEE in line with general FMW 11g version numbering. I’m not sure about your comment about WebLogic – OBIEE 11g has always shipped with WebLogic, the original version supported was 10.3.3, now version 11.1.1.5 supports 10.3.5.
regards, Mark
May 13th, 2011 at 7:50 am
Hi Paulo
No, I’ve not looked at the mobile client yet. I’m hoping to take a closer look in the next week or so.
regards, Mark
May 13th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
Hi,
Any clue where can i download the patch to upgrade the OBI version 11.1.1.3.0 to 11.1.1.5.0
Regards,
Sikander
May 13th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
Hello Mark and thanks – excellent post as always.
I was curious if you’ve gotten to an upgrade document from OBIEE 11.1.1.3 or where to look for something like this. I hear it can be messy and am thinking about just doing a fresh install of .5 but I want to brave the upgrade (with an expert’s help, mind you).
Thank you,
James.
May 13th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
Ok looks like I spoke too soon. I just caught your blog entry here and will have to dive in this next week. Thanks!
http://www.rittmanmead.com/2011/05/in-place-upgrading-of-obiee-11-1-1-3-to-11-1-1-5/
May 14th, 2011 at 7:26 am
Sikander,
To patch OBIEE 11.1.1.3 -> 11.1.1.5, you’ll need two pieces of software; the OBIEE 11.1.1.5 installer from OTN, and the WLS 10.3.5 Upgrade Installer from metalink, for which you’ll need a login for My Oracle Support. For Windows 32-bit, the patch number for the WLS upgrade installer is 12395560.
regards, Mark
May 17th, 2011 at 4:36 am
Does anyone know if the column freeze options on analysis that was promised first on 11g, then on 11.1.1.4, is now out on 11.1.1.5?
May 17th, 2011 at 7:28 am
I don’t think it’s there, I haven’t seen it or read about it in the 11.1.1.5 new features documentation section.
May 19th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Hi Mark,
nice article again.
Let me add that the installation also worked fine on Win Server 2008 R2. Simple install!
Close to the end of the installation the start of the obips failed, but I started it manually using opmnctl.bat and proceeded successfully.
Cheers,
Knut
May 25th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
Hi Mark,
Great article as usual!!
Is there any complete report of bugs fixed in 11.1.1.5 as compared to a version lower available on Oracle Network/ Oracle Support for partners? I found a document in similar lines for FMW, however it doesnt contain the OBIEE part.
Any pointers would be of great help.
Thanks,
Padma
May 31st, 2011 at 6:17 am
Hi Mark,
Good to have your Article.
Also need suggestion from you.
In OBIEE 11.1.1.3 there are list of bugs many are corrected in OBIEE 11.1.1.5. But trying to understand still are there any bugs in this to use in realtime projects for our clients.
Regards
Srinivas Chindam
June 6th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
I have already done round 1 of in-place upgrade.
Had 2 issues both related to system-jazn-data.xml, but both are easy to live with
It replaced our complete existing security with seeded file. Its hard to merge our text again.
Also same file was missing some tags which were resolved by using this note
Access Denied Error Installing OWSM Policy to
GenericSoapService: “GenericSoapPort” failed to preload on startup in Web application: “idcws.war”" [ID 1304441.1]
Testing is on, it fixed our long running “act as” issue, didnt fix our usage tracking issue with big SQLs
IK
June 6th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Forgot to mention that this is on RHEL Linux 5 with fairly heavy customizations both in architecture and application
IK
June 7th, 2011 at 4:33 am
“MDS repository version 11.1.1.2.0 is older than minimum required repository version 11.1.1.4.0″
Please use RCU version 11.1.1.5.0
Hope this helps! Thanks!
June 9th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
I am having problems installing on Windows Server 2008 (not R2) 64bit with SQL Server Back-end. Anybody succeed in this yet? Any rough instructions? (Ent Install? Generic Install? Tweaks?)
I get a sawsrvr.exe failure at software only install, and then after configing a domain the presentation server will not start up reporting cannot find ODBC name/driver/etc.
Thoughts?
June 27th, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Anyone succeed in installing this latest version on a 64-bit Windows platform ?
We are getting segmentation faults, missing dll functions, when OBIPS, OBIS, the Scheduler, tries to launch.
June 28th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Rex: we are having the same issue.
Did you dload the installs from edelivery ?
November 7th, 2011 at 9:38 pm
I am working with a client to add OBIEE 11g for the first time to a 3-server cluster running Hyperion Planning and Essbase. My instinct is to dedicate a 4th server for OBIEE. The client as 64-bit servers but happens to have an available 32-bit server. My further instinct is to deploy OBIEE 11g on a 64-bit server given the chance to do so. Do you agree with the direction I am leaning for OBIEE 11g introduction here? I will appreciate comments and advice. Thanks!
December 14th, 2011 at 8:19 am
Hi Mark,
Thanks for sharing knowledge.
We are on version 11.1.1.5 and want to migrate DB Repository to another database, just wondering if you have any tips or recommendation on this ?
Regards,
Babak
April 1st, 2012 at 3:53 am
Hi Mark,
In which of these can I install OBIEE 11.1.1.5 (complete install, i mean server, oracle database, client ….)
Windows 7 Home Premium
Windows 7 Professional
Windows 7 Ultimate
Regards
Prema