When overlooking the past year we have seen a large increase in deployments where only some parts of the WebCenter Suite infrastructure has been used. The most common from my personal perspective is a domain topology that includes: WebCenter Custom Portal, WebCenter Content and Oracle HTTP Services
Today its very common to see installation where the whole suite is installed when the use case only requires the custom portal and some sub component like WebCenter Content.

This post will go into detail on how to minimize the deployment time and effort by only laying down the necessary managed servers needed, by following this proposed method you will minimize the configuration steps and only install the required components and schema's, configure only the necessary components and minimize the impact of architectural changes through reduced dependencies.

Assumptions:

• Oracle 11g Database installed
• SYS or equivalent access to Database to setup schema's via RCU
• Running Operating System supporting JDK 7 Update 2 (Check support matrix here)
• Good understanding of WebLogic Architecture

Binaries:

• Oracle JDK 7 Update 2 (1.7.0_02) (Download)
  
• Oracle WebLogic 10.3.6 (Download)
• Oracle WebCenter Binaries (11.1.1.6) (Download)
• Oracle WebCenter Content Binaries (11.1.1.6) (Download 1) (Download 2)
• Oracle HTTP Services (11.1.1.6) (Download)
• Oracle Repository Creation Utility (11.1.1.6) (Download Linux or Windows)

Schema's:

• MDS - Meta Data Services (WebCenter and OWSM)
  
• WebCenter (WebCenter Schema)
  
• OCS (Oracle WebCenter Content)
  
• Activities (WebCenter Activities)
  
• OPSS (Policy Store for WebCenter)

Installation Structure:

- [Installation Home]/Middleware
    - Oracle_WC1 (WebCenter Installation)
    - Oracle_WT1 (Oracle WebTier)
    - Oracle_ECM (WebCenter Content)
    - wlserver_10.3 (Weblogic installation)
- [Installation Home]/domains
    - webcenter (WebCenter Domain)
    - instances (OHS/OPMN instance)
- [Installation Home]/applications
- [Installation Home]/JDK1.7.0_02

Installation and Configuration Steps:

• Install Java and configure Java Home
  
  1. Extract the Java Installable (jdk-7u2-linux-x64) to [Installation Home]/JDK1.7.0_02
  2. Add JAVA_HOME to Environment Settings (JAVA_HOME=[Installation Home]/JDK1.7.0_02)
  3. Update PATH in Environment Settings (PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH)
• Install WebLogic Server (Middleware Home)
  
  1. Run the installer / execute jar file (java - jar wls1036_generic.jar)
  2. Create the Middleware Home under [Installation Home]/Middleware
• Install WebCenter Portal (Extend Middleware Home)
  
  1. Extract the compressed file (ofm_wc_generic_11.1.1.6.0_disk1_1of1.zip) to a temp folder
     
  2. Execute runInstaller under folder (DISK1/) with following command (runInstaller -jreLoc $JAVA_HOME)
  3. Make sure to install in following structure ([Installation Home]/Middleware/Oracle_WC1)
     
• Install WebCenter Content (Extend Middleware Home)
  
  1. Extract the compressed files (ofm_wcc_generic_11.1.1.6.0_disk1_1of2.zip & ofm_wcc_generic_11.1.1.6.0_disk1_2of2.zip) to the same temp folder
  2. Execute runInstaller under folder (DISK1/) with following command (runInstaller -jreLoc $JAVA_HOME)
  3. Make sure to install in following structure ([Installation Home]/Middleware/Oracle_ECM)
• Configure Initial Domain (Domain name webcenter)
1. Execute configuration tool - [Installation Home]/Middleware/wlserver_10.3/common/bin/config
2. Select "Create a New Weblogic Domain"
3. Select following template (Basic Weblogic Server Domain, Oracle Enterprise Manager, Oracle WSM Policy Manager, Oracle JRF)
4. Create new domain with name webcenter under following location ([Installation Home]/domains) for applications ([Installation Home]/applications)
5. Select Production Mode
   
6. Finish Configuration wizard
7. Setup username for startup scripts - Add a new file called boot.properties to ([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/servers/AdminServer/security)
   Add following lines to boot.properties
   username=weblogic
   password=[password clear text, it will be encrypted during first start]
8. Start AdminServer in the background ([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/bin/startWeblogic)
   
• Install and Configure Oracle WebTier (OHS Server)
  
  1. Extract compressed file (ofm_webtier_linux_11.1.1.6.0_64_disk1_1of1.zip) to a temp folder
  2. Execute runInstaller under folder (DISK1/) with following command (runInstaller)
  3. Select Install & Configure option
  4. Deselect Oracle WebCache
  5. Auto Configure Ports
• Configure Schema's with RCU (Repository Creation Utility)
  
  1. Extract compressed file (ofm_rcu_linux_11.1.1.6.0_disk1_1of1.zip) to a temp folder
  2. Execute rcu with following command ([temp]/rcuHome/rcu)
  3. Make sure database meets RCU requirements, particular (PROCESSES is 200 or more)
     Using SQLPLUS and sys user tou can update this configuration in the database with following procedure:
     ALTER SYSTEM SET PROCESSES=200 SCOPE=SPFILE
     shutdown immediate
     startup
  4. Create and Configure following schemas:
     MDS - Meta Data Services (WebCenter and OWSM)
     WebCenter (WebCenter Schema)
     OCS (Oracle WebCenter Content)
     Activities (WebCenter Activities)
     OPSS (Policy Store for WebCenter)
  5. Remember selected schema prefix and password (will be used later)
     
• Configure WebCenter Portal instance (WC_CustomPortal)
  
  1. Execute following command to start configuration wizard ([Installation Home]/Middleware/Oracle_WC1/common/bin/config)
  2. Select Extend an Existing WebLogic domain
  3. Select the existing webcenter domain ([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter)
  4. Select Extend my domain using existing extension template
     Browse to ([Installation Home]/Middleware/Oracle_WC1/common/templates/applications)
     Select oracle.wc_custom_portal_template_11.1.1.jar
  5. Select to configure (Managed Servers/Clusters/Machines)
  6. On the Managed Server Screen you can now configure 1 or more WC_CustomPortal managed servers (name them WC_CustomPortal[n] (skip numbering if not clustered))
  7. In case of two WC_CustomPortal Servers then create a Cluster (any name) and make sure the managed servers join the new cluster
     
  8. Create a new machine with same name as the current machine
     
  9. Make sure the AdminServer and WC_CustomPortal[n] managed servers joins the machine
  10. Finish the configuration wizard
  11. Stop AdminServer ([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/bin/stopWeblogic)
  12. Start AdminServer in the background ([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/bin/startWeblogic)
  13. Start WC_CustomPortal in the foreground (([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/bin/startManagedServer WC_CustomPortal))- repeat for each WC_CustomPortal instance on the host
      Give credentials for weblogic user on start up
      
  14. Copy folder security including file boot.properties - from ([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/servers/AdminServer/) to ([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/servers/WC_CustomPortal/)
      Result should be ([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/servers/WC_CustomPortal/security/boot.properties)
• Configure WebCenter Content instance (UCM_server1)
  
  1. Execute following command to start configuration wizard ([Installation Home]/Middleware/Oracle_ECM/common/bin/config)
  2. Select Extend an Existing WebLogic domain
  3. Select Oracle Universal Content Management - Content Server
  4. Select to configure (Managed Servers/Clusters/Machines)
  5. On Managed Server Screen create only one managed server instance (UCM_server1 on port 16200 (you can select any other available port))
  6. Make sure the UCM_server1 managed server joins the machine
  7. Finish the configuration wizard
  8. Stop AdminServer ([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/bin/stopWeblogic)
  9. Start AdminServer in the background ([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/bin/startWeblogic)
  10. Start UCM_server1 in the foreground ([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/bin/startManagedServer UCM_server1)
      Give credentials for weblogic user on start up
      
  11. Copy folder security including file boot.properties - from ([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/servers/AdminServer/) to ([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/servers/UCM_server1/
      Result should be ([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/servers/UCM_server1/security/boot.properties)
      
• Post Configure WebCenter Content instance for WebCenter Portal
  
  1. Open a browser where you have support for Java applets - navigate to http://host:port/cs
  2. WARNING: The page that you are presented with after authentication will only appear once for each instance
  3. WARNING: Make sure you set correct storage options - also remember to consider file sharing options if you like to cluster your Content Server instance over multiple hosts
  4. Set an appropriate Auto number prefix
  5. Update the Server Socket Port: Commonly set to (4444)  used for RIDC communication (a requirement for WebCenter Portal)
  6. Update the IP Address Filter to include the IP that is planned to access the server over RIDC - at the minimum add the ip address of the current host (this option can be updated later via EM)
  7. Stop UCM_server1 ([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/bin/stopManagedServer UCM_server1)
  8. Start UCM_server1 in the background([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/bin/startManagedServer UCM_server1)
  9. Open a browser where you have support for Java applets - navigate to http://host:port/cs
  10. Navigate to Administration/Admin Server
  11. Go to General Configuration
      Check Enable Accounts
      In Additional Configuration Variables (Add on two lines)
      AllowUpdateForGenwww=1
CollectionUseCache=1
  12. Save the changes and go to Component Manager
  13. Click on the link advanced component manager
  14. Enable following components
      Folders_g, WebCenterConfigure, SiteStudio, SiteStudioExternalApplications, DBSearchContainsOpSupport
  15. WARNING: Make sure that following component is disabled: FrameworkFolders
  16. Stop UCM_server1 ([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/bin/stopManagedServer UCM_server1)
  17. Start UCM_server1 in the background([Installation Home]/domains/webcenter/bin/startManagedServer UCM_server1)
  18. Open a browser where you have support for Java applets - navigate to http://host:port/cs
  19. Navigate to Administration/Site Studio Administration and update - Do not forget to save and submit each page
      Set Default Project
      Set Default WebAssets
      
• Post Configure Oracle WebTier (OHS) to include Content Server and WebCenter Portal application context
  
  1. Update following file - [Installation Home]/domains/instances/instance1/config/OHS/ohs1/mod_wl_ohs.conf
  2. For single add lines from following example: Link
  3. For clustered environment add lines from following template (note the clustering in example on applies to WC_CustomPortal): Link
  4. For more information on this: http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E23943_01/core.1111/e12037/contentsvr.htm#WCEDG318
     
• Optional - Configure JOC
  
  1. Follow instructions:
     
  2. http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E23943_01/core.1111/e12037/extend_wc.htm#WCEDG264
• Optional (Recommended) - Configure Node Manager
  
  1. Follow instructions:
  2. http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E23943_01/core.1111/e12037/node_manager.htm#WCEDG277
• Optional (Mandatory for clustered environments) - Re-Associate Policy Store to Database or OID
  
  1. Follow instructions:
  2. http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E23943_01/webcenter.1111/e12405/wcadm_security_credstore.htm#CFHDEDJH
• Optional - Configure Coherence for Content Presenter
  
  1. Follow instructions in Blog Post (This post is for PS4):
  2. https://blogs.oracle.com/ATEAM_WEBCENTER/entry/enabling_coherence_for_content_presenter
     

Other Recommended Post

Cloning WebCenter Custom Portal - https://blogs.oracle.com/ATEAM_WEBCENTER/entry/cloning_a_webcenter_portal_managed
Improving WebCenter Performance through caching - https://blogs.oracle.com/ATEAM_WEBCENTER/entry/improving_webcenter_performance