12.2 An Introduction.

Oracle 12.2 has some major changes in terms file system and technology
stack .usability improvements and new versions of technology stack
components (Oracle Database 11g R2 and Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g R1
as the application server), but the most important and impressive new
feature of course will be online patching. Online patching is supposed to
change the game as they say it.
Oracle plans for moving the application to next level of high availability,
although not completely yet. With introduction to 2 file systems, online
patching option, it has already started in that direction and with Weblogic in
Tech Stack, it has scope for failover and clustering of application services.
In 2008 Oracle Acquired BEA for 8.5 Billion dollars and reason for such huge
acquisition was Weblogic and exalogic from BEA, which Oracle needed
desperately .As before that there were many sites calling Oracle Fusion talks
as confusion and with introduction of WebLogic it seems gone good in market
.Now with introduction of WebLogic in 12.2, Oracle is back to integration
lines. Integration of fusion product with EBS now would be easier. We are
going to see something in terms of ERP consolidation with this release, which
means use of 12.2 EBS with fusion Middleware and Fusion Apps Products is
going to have a good scope.
With introduction of Edition Based Redefinition in 11gr2, it is now possible
to upgrade the database component of an application while it is in use,
thereby minimizing or eliminating down time. Upgrade an application while it
is in use, you copy the database objects that comprise the application and
redefine the copied objects in isolation. Your changes do not affect users of
the applicationthey continue to run the unchanged application. When you
are sure that your changes are correct, you make the upgraded application
available to all users.
Just to add more on online patching, although it can be reduced with various
techniques (e.g. staged APPL_TOP), some downtime is still required to apply
a number of changes. Online patching will not eliminate downtime
completely, but will reduce it significantly by using Edition Based
Redefinition (EBR) at the database level and using a secondary applications
file system for online patching. In fact, all patching activity will be an online
operation; downtime will be required only to switch from one version to

another. Online Patching means that patches that change EBS database
objects can be applied while the E-Business Suite production instance is fully
operational. Only a short downtime will be required to complete the
patching process. This wills make patching downtimes more predictable.

Online Patching the game changer

EBS 12.2 will use the 11gR2 Database's Edition-Based Redefinition features
to provide support for Online Patching. Edition-Based Redefinition is really
exciting new technology.
In R12.2 downtime will be measured in minutes not hours or
days. It is a customary thought process to wait for suitable time when
to apply new patch, how to get approval for business applications
downtime and usually you will get a slot on weekend nights.
Online patching will use the latest features of Oracles Integrated Stack
like Edition Based Redefinition (EBR) & Web Logic Server
Patches will be applied to a Copy of Production
EBS will use both the file system and the database to store the code
and data that make up the application Copy the Code, NOT the Data
Comparison with downtime and Online Patches.
Downtime Patches
No online Users
Wall clock time very important
Consumes all resources
Upgrade designed to run as fast as possible

Online Patches
Users remain online
Wall clock time is no longer an overriding concern
Online Users share resources
Data upgrades designed to not affect the running application
Replacing OC4J with WebLogic Server

EBS 12.2 will use WebLogic Server from Fusion Middleware 11g in place of
OC4J 10g as part of the release's internal technology stack. Other additional
new Fusion Middleware 11g components used will include WebLogic JSP and
UIX 11g.
External Integrations

Release 12.2 includes enhancements to support integration with Oracle

WebCenter and Oracle BPEL Process Manager using the new
technology stack components in the application tier.
Additionally, Oracle Application Framework now integrates with
AutoVue Document Print Services.
Diagnostics for Secure Configuration

Release 12.2 enhances the tests that are provided to help ensure an
Oracle E-Business Suite system is secured appropriately. Successful
execution of these tests verifies that various accounts, profiles,
parameters and configuration settings are set up in accordance with
Oracles best practices recommendations for security.
WLS Datasource Connection Pool
The AOL/J connection pool implementation is replaced with an
implementation of the WLS Datasource Connection Pool.
64-bit Java Support
Oracle E-Business Suite now supports 64-bit implementations of Java,
which can handle very large amounts of data better than 32-bit
implementations.
Native Oracle Database 11g Release 2 Caching for Profiles
Profile caching now uses the native Oracle Database 11g Release 2
PL/SQL Function Result Cache feature for improved performance in
fetching profile option values.
Uptake of AUTO Sampling Statistics Gathering Feature in
Oracle Database 11g Release 1
The Oracle E-Business Suite FND_STATS package that gathers statistics
for query optimization will by default use the improved
DBMS_STATS.AUTO_SAMPLE_SIZE feature that was introduced in Oracle
Database 11g Release 1. FND_STATS generates faster and more
accurate statistics with AUTO_SAMPLE_SIZE.