One of the newer packages from Oracle is the Business Intelligence Foundation Suite (BIFS). The package consists of:
Oracle Business Intelligence Publisher 11g
- The industry's most scalable and easy-to-use solution for delivering high-fidelity, pixel-perfect reports in multiple formats
- Create and modify web-based reports from a 100% thin-client browser interface as well as design and publish high-volume reports using popular desktop tools
Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition 11g
- Create ad hoc queries, reports, and interactive dashboards
- Common enterprise information model provides centralized metadata management, common query request generation and data access, and a rich spectrum of visualization, collaboration, and search features
Oracle Essbase
- The market-leading OLAP server for forward-looking analysis features an advanced calculation engine, multi-user write back capabilities, and flexible data storage options
- Ideal for scenario modeling, forecasting and planning, management reporting, and profitability analysis
Oracle Scorecard and Strategy Management
- Set strategic goals and objectives that can be cascaded to every level of the organization and linked to key performance indicators so that performance can be measured, tracked, and managed
Oracle Essbase Analytics Link
- Deliver effective management and financial analytic reporting to a broad user community by facilitating the real-time or on-demand transfer of financial information from Oracle Hyperion Financial Management to Oracle Essbase
So BIFS, in essence, is a term for the collection of all of these products (which have existed for quite some time). However, the strategic products in this package have value in its entirety by providing a cohesive single business Intelligence platform that can deploy all the associated capabilities and requirements of a EPM/BI system - reporting, dashboarding, scorecarding, analyzing, modeling, and forecasting, etc. The idea is to get the ability to create reports and consume data without the reliance on IT.
For Hyperion users, what does this mean?
- Essbase can be used as a data source in dashboards along with any other data source such as EBS, PSFT, Siebel, SAP, BI Apps - all in the same dashboard splash screens
- OBIEE Answers can be used as a front-end for HFM as well
- Drill through capable
- Much better ways to visualize data
Visualization capabilities include charts, graphs, geospacial views, interactive pivots, scorecarding views, etc. - all with fantastic mobile integration with common hand held devices.
Considering EPM and BI especially for midsize companies, the common question is how to get started quickly and cheaply. How can companies lay the software down and get BIFS introduced to the organization in a useful way without breaking the bank?
Answer: Have Linium get BIFS up and running with the software installation, a starter application, a couple of dashboards, a handful of reports, and we will train you to take it from there!
Linium BIFS FastTrack Solution:
This week, Linium introduced BIFS FastTrack. For an easy-to-swallow fixed fee, Linium will perform an accelerated low cost BIFS system that will...
- Install & configure OBIEE on a single server environment
- Setup 1 application that includes 1 year of data
- Setup 5 Analysis Views with Prompts
- Setup 2 Dashboards
- Setup 2 BI Publisher Reports
- Setup a flat file or 1 direct ODI integration
- Security for up to 10 users
- Conduct 2 days of knowledge transfer
- Conduct 2 days of end-user training
....all within 1 month!
Limited time offer. For more information, please contact: insight@linium.com or 518.689.3198.
Oracle Hyperion EPM 11.1.2.3 is now available for download! A couple of neat new things, from an infrastructure perspective:
What's New
- You can use the config tool to remove an EPM Oracle Instance
- If you install FDM Enterprise edition, ODI is automatically installed
- You can configure Oracle HTTP server on a shared drive location
- MSI client installers for EPM Architect, Strategic Finance, Interactive Reporting, and SQR Production Reporting
- You can do vertical scaling now for Essbase and most of the web services
- There is a new Log Analysis tool command line utility
- Workspace integration with OBIEE
- You can access the database repository with an LDAP based URL
- There is a Port Manager in the config tool that manages port uniqueness and detects if a port is already in use
- Documentation is available in MOBI and EPUB formats
Upgrading
There is a new EPM System Cumulative Feature Overview Tool that offers a simple way to determine the features developed between releases to assist you in upgrades. You can get the tool here: https://support.oracle.com/epmos/faces/DocumentDisplay?id=1092114.1
Upgrade Paths
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Current version
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Methodology
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11.1.2.x
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Apply in-place maintenance release 11.1.2.3
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11.1.1.4.x
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Lift-and-shift upgrade to 11.1.2.3
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11.1.1.x
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Apply maintenance to 11.1.1.4 and then lift-and-shit upgrade
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9.3.3.x
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Lift-and-shift upgrade to 11.1.2.2 and then apply 11.1.2.3
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9.3.x and lower
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apply maintenance patch 9.3.3, then Lift-and-shift upgrade to 11.1.2.2 and then apply 11.1.2.3 maintenance release.
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Log Analysis Tool
Finally, we get a log analysis tool that will simplify looking at logs. We no longer have to hunt and scour the filesystem to locate logs. This tool lists errors from the entire EPM system by time, by functional issues, etc. You can also trace the activities of a user session across all EPM system component by tracing a Execution Context ID (ECID) which is a unique identifier. The Log analysis tool creates an HTML format based report with a time-stamped filename.
C:\Oracle\Middleware\user_projects\epmsystem1\bin\loganalysis.bat
ITAM Fast Fact #29:
In summary - we at Linium have found countless benefits for our customers by working with them to implement a comprehensive ITAM project. In this "30 days of ITAM" series we have explored many of the facets of such a program, and some of the many benefits that can be realized. In the end, we believe that a commitment to ITAM using the ServiceNow platform will provide many benefits to your business, while maximizing the return on your ServiceNow investment.
30 Days of ITAM Blog Series:
Linium's Principal Solution Architect, Sean Caron, created this 30-day blog series with the goal of providing knowledge that allows readers to dig deeper into their organizations current IT infrastructure and discover ways in achieving complete visibility into their IT Asset Management technology.
For more information on Linuim's ITAM services, contact Sean Caron at optimize@linium.com or 518.689.3198.
Check in tomorrow for the next posting!
Previous ITAM Facts:
Fast Fact #1, Fast Fact #2, Fast Fact #3, Fast Fact #4, Fast Fact #5, Fast Fact #6, Fast Fact #7, Fast Fact #8, Fast Fact #9, Fast Fact #10, Fast Fact #11, Fast Fact #12, Fast Fact #13, Fast Fact #14, Fast Fact #15, Fast Fact #16, Fast Fact #17, Fast Fact #18, Fast Fact #19, Fast Fact #20, Fast Fact #21, Fast Fact #22, Fast Fact #23, Fast Fact #24, Fast Fact #25, Fast Fact #26, Fast Fact #27, Fast Fact #28
ITAM Fast Fact #28:
Why do it? - in the end, why do my customers implement IT asset management? The reasons are as different and varied as individual customer requirements. In general though, it is safe to say that most organizations implement IT asset management to: better control their assets, and reduce costs. A close number three would be to enforce regulatory compliance. Service Now is very well-positioned to enable customers to achieve all three of these major program initiatives.
30 Days of ITAM Blog Series:
Linium's Principal Solution Architect, Sean Caron, created this 30-day blog series with the goal of providing knowledge that allows readers to dig deeper into their organizations current IT infrastructure and discover ways in achieving complete visibility into their IT Asset Management technology.
For more information on Linuim's ITAM services, contact Sean Caron at optimize@linium.com or 518.689.3198.
Check in tomorrow for the next posting!
Previous ITAM Facts:
Fast Fact #1, Fast Fact #2, Fast Fact #3, Fast Fact #4, Fast Fact #5, Fast Fact #6, Fast Fact #7, Fast Fact #8, Fast Fact #9, Fast Fact #10, Fast Fact #11, Fast Fact #12, Fast Fact #13, Fast Fact #14, Fast Fact #15, Fast Fact #16, Fast Fact #17, Fast Fact #18, Fast Fact #19, Fast Fact #20, Fast Fact #21, Fast Fact #22, Fast Fact #23, Fast Fact #24, Fast Fact #25, Fast Fact #26, Fast Fact #27
ITAM Fast Fact #27:
Notifications in ServiceNow ITAM - Notification is a major part of any ITAM process. ServiceNow excels in the ability to notify interested parties whenever events occur within the ServiceNow system. Examples of notification in IT asset management include: assets affected by an expiring contract, oversubscription of a software title, the purchase of new software license rights, the end-of-life of a particular IT asset, and many more.
30 Days of ITAM Blog Series:
Linium's Principal Solution Architect, Sean Caron, created this 30-day blog series with the goal of providing knowledge that allows readers to dig deeper into their organizations current IT infrastructure and discover ways in achieving complete visibility into their IT Asset Management technology.
For more information on Linuim's ITAM services, contact Sean Caron at optimize@linium.com or 518.689.3198.
Check in tomorrow for the next posting!
Previous ITAM Facts:
Fast Fact #1, Fast Fact #2, Fast Fact #3, Fast Fact #4, Fast Fact #5, Fast Fact #6, Fast Fact #7, Fast Fact #8, Fast Fact #9, Fast Fact #10, Fast Fact #11, Fast Fact #12, Fast Fact #13, Fast Fact #14, Fast Fact #15, Fast Fact #16, Fast Fact #17, Fast Fact #18, Fast Fact #19, Fast Fact #20, Fast Fact #21, Fast Fact #22, Fast Fact #23, Fast Fact #24, Fast Fact #25, Fast Fact #26
What is SSL
SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer, and is usually the technology behind the https protocol. It allows websites to both encrypt data and verify their identity. Using public and private key cryptology, SSL allows for encryption both ways, ensuring that even if data is intercepted it cannot be read. It also allows for identity verification through signed certificates from Certificate Authorities - trusted third parties that verify the identity of the certificate holder for a fee.
Why SSL in EPM
There is really only one reason to use SSL for the Oracle EPM system: to make sure that only the people who should be seeing the data can see the data. EPM systems by their very nature move financial data, so security is always a concern. The main use case scenario for SSL in an Oracle EPM system is allowing access to the system from outside the corporate firewall. Many deployments of EPM systems are only accessed from computers already behind the corporate firewall, and the traffic never goes outside the safe bounds of the corporate intranet. If, however, any traffic might travel over the internet, you should definitely think about using SSL.
Even if the data will never travel over the internet, if internal security is at all a concern, SSL is something to look at. Given that SSL isn’t that terribly hard to implement, it would certainly be resources well spent for the peace of mind.
How can we use SSL in EPM?
There are two ways to implement SSL in the EPM environment. The first is where SSL stops at what is called the SSL off loader. This could be a load balancer, a simple external web server that is your exposure point to the outside world, or you can even use the already existing OHS server, though that takes a little finesse. This is the most simple avenue to pursue as far as obtaining certificates is involved, because you only need one. Interestingly enough though, it requires a little more network configuration, because the same web server talks on two different ports using two different protocols.
The second way to implement SSL in the EPM environment is what Oracle calls a Full SSL Deployment, where all the connections, basically*, are over SSL. This means that the WebLogic and OHS are both SSL enabled on each machine that plays host to those services. This is more straightforward from a network configuration perspective, as each machine talks only over SSL, but requires a bit more as far as certificates are concerned, you need at least one per machine, two if you follow the steps Oracle provides for a Full SSL Deployment.
*I say basically above because database connections, whether for the metadata or Essbase, are secured independently, meaning you can choose whether or not to encrypt them. Also, Essbase only allows for one-way encryption, from Essbase to the receiving client. If you want to use SSL for communication with the metadata database server, you will want to set that up during the initial run through the EPM System Configurator, and consult the appropriate documentation for your database server on how to enable SSL for that platform.
Best Practices and Tips
I recommend setting up SSL after you have your EPM system up, running, and tested, not during the initial installation and configuration (except as mentioned above for database connections). This will allow you to verify that the system works fine without SSL, and greatly decreases the number of troubleshooting steps necessary if something goes wrong. It will also make it much easier for Oracle Support to help you out if it comes to that.
An important thing to note is that once you have created a public and private key pair for a given webserver, WebLogic or OHS, if you want to create a signed certificate against that key pair, you must import that certificate against that exact key pair. If you have never worked with SSL before, that might be a little confusing, so I’ll explain a little further.
SSL encryption, as mentioned above, requires a public and private key for encryption and decryption, stored in a keystore. You create a keystore and a public and private key using a tool like java keytool or Oracle Wallet Manager. You then create a certificate request against that key pair, and send that request off to a Certificate Authority for signing. The Certificate Authority will send you back a signed certificate. At that point, the certificate, though it may have your domain name or server name on it, is only good for verifying the identity of the key pair that originated the request, meaning if you have deleted the keystore, deleted the key pair from the key store, or try to import the certificate against a different key pair, the certificate won’t work. You must import that certificate against the key pair you used to generate the request.
Another small problem people can run into is forgetting to enable SSL on the WebLogic admin server when they are doing a full SSL deployment. If all your WebLogic apps/servers are talking on SSL, obviously your WL Admin server is going to need to talk over SSL as well, so don’t forget to configure that for SSL when you are setting up the rest of your WebLogic servers.
After configuring SSL, it is important to note that disabling non-SSL ports is a manual task. If you did not disable them as part of you set up steps, you will want to make sure to do that. Setting strict firewall rules are the easiest way to ensure that those ports are still unavailable from the outside.
One other thing to keep in mind is that SSL does come with a cost. Performance of the system will take a hit, as the secure handshake and encryption/decryptions have a real cost.
Linium has implemented many secure EPM solutions, and any organizations interested can contact us at: insight@linium.com or 518.689.3198.
ITAM Fast Fact #26:
Things my customers have done with their ITAM data: I have several customers that use their ITAM data as the basis for information about assets that are not tracked through change control. Comprehensive change control is not an appropriate option for all business assets. Usually assets such as desktops, laptops, and mobile devices would overwhelm the ability of an organization to manage change if they were included. By tracking and managing information about these types of assets in ITAM, businesses can control their exposure to financial and compliance risk for these types of assets, without having to manage them in a formal change control process.
30 Days of ITAM Blog Series:
Linium's Principal Solution Architect, Sean Caron, created this 30-day blog series with the goal of providing knowledge that allows readers to dig deeper into their organizations current IT infrastructure and discover ways in achieving complete visibility into their IT Asset Management technology.
For more information on Linuim's ITAM services, contact Sean Caron at optimize@linium.com or 518.689.3198.
Check in tomorrow for the next posting!
Previous ITAM Facts:
Fast Fact #1, Fast Fact #2, Fast Fact #3, Fast Fact #4, Fast Fact #5, Fast Fact #6, Fast Fact #7, Fast Fact #8, Fast Fact #9, Fast Fact #10, Fast Fact #11, Fast Fact #12, Fast Fact #13, Fast Fact #14, Fast Fact #15, Fast Fact #16, Fast Fact #17, Fast Fact #18, Fast Fact #19, Fast Fact #20, Fast Fact #21, Fast Fact #22, Fast Fact #23, Fast Fact #24, Fast Fact #25
Hyperion Financial Management 11.1.2.3
Web form and grid usability enhancements:
- Save more POV settings in form definitions (show or hide dimensions and reorder them)
- Save POV members as favorites for easier access (no need to open the POV Member Selector panel every time)
- Support for dynamic POV memberlists
- Support for on-demand rules launched per form
Other new HFM features:
- General UI improvements (POV and Member Selector settings persist across HFM modules)
- Security user access UI implemented in ADF
- HFM modules that are not used (for example Process Control and IC Transactions) can be disabled and thus hidden from the menus by administrators via the Module Configuration panel
- Audit log for differences after loading metadata
- LCM supports additional HFM artifacts: application, data, audit, process management, Extended Analytics templates
Hyperion Planning 11.1.2.3
- Support for ASO databases in Planning applications
- Support for flexible custom dimensions that may differ in each plan type
- Ability for end-users to create dimension members on the fly (only in separate modules such as Project Financial Planning). This feature can be enabled or disabled per hierarchy.
- Outline Load Utility implemented in the web interface: allows metadata to be imported and exported from the Planning UI
- Access to Planning metadata in Smart View (add or update members, build hierarchies)
- Export/import Planning metadata and data to/from a relational database
- Task list visualizations for easier tracking (by task status, type, users etc.)
- Planning Cloud Service: Service to be released later this year. Based on Planning 11.1.2.3.
Financial Data Quality Management (FDM) 11.1.2.3 and beyond
- FDM rebranded as Financial Data Quality Management, Enterprise Edition (FDMEE)
- FDMEE combines classic FDM and ERP Integrator into a single product built on the ERPI platform (ODI installed and configured automatically)
- 11.1.2.3 will be the terminal release for classic FDM - new customers may only buy FDMEE
- FDMEE will be released in phases (11.1.2.3 GA, 11.1.2.3 Patch Set 1 and Patch Set 2)
- Core FDM features present in GA version but features like full HFM adapter functionality will follow later in PS1 and 2.
- Some functions to be introduced in PS1 and PS2:
- Scripting in Jython
- Integration with DRM
- Data synchronization between all EPM application types
- HSF adapter
- FDMEE UI is integrated in EPM Workspace
Financial Reporting 11.1.2.3
- Old dogs learn new tricks - FR reports and books to be supported on mobile devices via native browsers on each platform:
- iPhone and iPad (iOS5 and 6)
- Android phones and tablets (Android 3.x and 4.x)
- Mobile support allows read-only access with POV selection, prompts etc. but no authoring or scheduling features.
- Improved Smart View support (full FR formatting available when using Function Grids in Word and Excel)
- Create a cover page before TOC in report books
Smart View
- Upcoming SV features (some already present in 11.1.2.2.310):
- OBIEE functionality added (view created content, program OBIEE objects in VB etc.)
- Performance improvements
- Improved ad-hoc functionality: change POV on the grid, perform operations on multiple cells etc.
- Expanded VBA toolkit
Hyperion Strategic Finance 11.1.2.3
- Smart View functionality greatly extended to provide full MS Office integration (complements the HSF Windows client)
Disclosure Management 11.1.2.2.300
- Note: Release already available.
- New publishing options: PDF generation, EDGAR-ready HTML output
- Variables for automating common text and TOC items
- Several UI improvements in Report Manager
Financial Close Management 11.1.2.3
- Lots of new features in ARM (Account Reconciliation Manager):
- Advanced user assignments (backup assignments, team/group assignments etc.)
- Extended Auto Reconciliation module
- Improved data load functions
- UI improvements
Hyperion Profitability And Cost Management (HPCM) 11.1.2.3
- Addition of Calculation Rules for combining existing model artifacts, assignment rules and drivers into a single function
- Simplifies definition of assignment logic for groups of sources
- HPCM is certified on Exalytics since 11.1.2.2.350
- Smart View integration for drill-through links and custom queries to Excel
ITAM Fast Fact #25:
Things my customers have done with their ITAM data: I have a customer that produces our regular reports from the ITAM data. This report shows with a red-yellow-green "traffic light" report the status of information about the assets for particular business units. "Traffic lights" indicate the percentage of assets owned by the organization which are in compliance with IT governance standards, and the perceived amount of risk from ITAM assets that don't meet corporate standards. Since creating, and widely circulating, this "traffic light" report, my customer has achieved a massive increase in their ability to discover, scan, and enforce compliance of their IT business rules for distributed assets.
30 Days of ITAM Blog Series:
Linium's Principal Solution Architect, Sean Caron, created this 30-day blog series with the goal of providing knowledge that allows readers to dig deeper into their organizations current IT infrastructure and discover ways in achieving complete visibility into their IT Asset Management technology.
For more information on Linuim's ITAM services, contact Sean Caron at optimize@linium.com or 518.689.3198.
Check in tomorrow for the next posting!
Previous ITAM Facts:
Fast Fact #1, Fast Fact #2, Fast Fact #3, Fast Fact #4, Fast Fact #5, Fast Fact #6, Fast Fact #7, Fast Fact #8, Fast Fact #9, Fast Fact #10, Fast Fact #11, Fast Fact #12, Fast Fact #13, Fast Fact #14, Fast Fact #15, Fast Fact #16, Fast Fact #17, Fast Fact #18, Fast Fact #19, Fast Fact #20, Fast Fact #21, Fast Fact #22, Fast Fact #23, Fast Fact #24
ITAM Fast Fact #24:
Things my customers have done with their ITAM data: I have a customer who centralized ownership of all of their corporate's IT software. This saved my customer more than 2 1/2 million dollars. Why? Because, in this organization, as in many that I work with, software was "owned" by the cost centers which purchased it. In organizations that manage software this way, it is exceptionally common that one cost center will be purchasing software that another cost center has on the shelf unused. The costs of additional software procured by organizations that use cost center ownership of software can run to many millions of dollars.
30 Days of ITAM Blog Series:
Linium's Principal Solution Architect, Sean Caron, created this 30-day blog series with the goal of providing knowledge that allows readers to dig deeper into their organizations current IT infrastructure and discover ways in achieving complete visibility into their IT Asset Management technology.
For more information on Linuim's ITAM services, contact Sean Caron at optimize@linium.com or 518.689.3198.
Check in tomorrow for the next posting!
Previous ITAM Facts:
Fast Fact #1, Fast Fact #2, Fast Fact #3, Fast Fact #4, Fast Fact #5, Fast Fact #6, Fast Fact #7, Fast Fact #8, Fast Fact #9, Fast Fact #10, Fast Fact #11, Fast Fact #12, Fast Fact #13, Fast Fact #14, Fast Fact #15, Fast Fact #16, Fast Fact #17, Fast Fact #18, Fast Fact #19, Fast Fact #20, Fast Fact #21, Fast Fact #22, Fast Fact #23