HFM 11.1.2.2 User Interface

In this post I will show you what the HFM web interface looks like in the new EPM 11.1.2.2 release. There are quite a few changes - partly because the technical foundation has been changed and partly for the reason that HFM applications now support virtually unlimited number of custom dimensions.

EPM 11.1.2.2 Installation and Configuration - First Impressions Part 2

I know many of you have been waiting to see more details about the EPM 11.1.2.2 release. I have been really busy at work as my calendar is pretty much full of EPM upgrade projects... But here's the update I promised with details about:

• EPM Deployment Report
• Enterprise Manager
• The new HFM web interface and more

EPM 11.1.2.2 Installation and Configuration - First Impressions Part 1

Yesterday I did an installation of some basic Oracle EPM 11.1.2.2 modules (HFM, Planning, Essbase) on a virtual machine running Server 2008 R2. Here are my thoughts about the installation and configuration process concentrating mainly on what's different compared to previous versions. If you want to install a sandbox environment on your own VM you should see the Rapid Deployment guides available on the EPM 11.1.2.2 Documentation Library site (there's one available for HFM, Planning and Essbase each).

EPM 11.1.2.2 is out!

The latest release of the Oracle Enterprise Performance Management System is now available on the Oracle Software Delivery Cloud (the Oracle Press Release was already published on April 4th). I'm downloading the packages while typing this so be sure to come back later to read my comments about the installation and configuration process! And also remember to read the friendly Readme files before starting to install as they may save you some headaches.

EPM 11.1.2.2 media on eDelivery

Updated certification document: EPM 11.1.2.x System Requirements and Supported Platforms

Update (April 12th): The EPM Documentation section on Oracle Technology Network has been updated with a complete EPM 11.1.2.2 Documentation Library.


New Features in this Release
(Note: From the installation and configuration point of view - pretty much straight out of  epm_1112200_readme.pdf. Consult the product-specific readme files in the EPM Documentation Library for product specific changes.)

• IBM WebSphere 7.0.0.19+ (AS, ND) is now supported as an application server.
• FireFox 10.x+ and Internet Explorer 9 are now supported Web browsers.
• Microsoft Office 2010 64 bit is now supported.
• After completing an EPM System deployment, you can generate a deployment report that provides information about configured Web applications, Web servers, databases, and data directories used by EPM System. This report can help you troubleshoot issues that might arise in your deployment.
• The Oracle Enterprise Manager “Fusion Middleware Control” is now installed and deployed with EPM System. You can use this tool to manage the WebLogic domain and all Java Web applications in EPM System out of the box.
• The EPM System Media pack on Oracle Software Delivery Cloud has been simplified. Software downloads have been merged together. See the Media Pack Readme for a list of downloads needed for your domain/product.
• Installation of Oracle HTTP Server is now optional. If you choose not to install Oracle HTTP Server, for example in a development environment, Oracle Hyperion Enterprise Performance Management System Installer installs an embedded WebLogic HTTP Server as part of Oracle Hyperion Foundation Services that acts as a proxy server. In a production environment, Oracle recommends that you install Oracle HTTP Server for use with Oracle WebLogic Server or IBM HTTP Server for use with WebSphere. You can also install and manually configure Apache HTTP Server with WebLogic Server.
• Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI) Client Installers are now provided for Oracle Essbase Client, Oracle Essbase Administration Services Console, Oracle Essbase Studio Console, and Oracle Hyperion Financial Management Client.
• Three new “rapid deployment” documents provide step-by-step instructions for building a typical Oracle Hyperion Planning, Financial Management, or Essbase development environment on a single server running Microsoft Windows. These documents are available on the Deployment tab of the EPM System Documentation Library (http://www.oracle.com/technology/documentation/epm.html). [NOTE: The EPM Documentation Library has not been updated yet (as of April 10th). The rapid deployment guides are included in the Installation Documents package available on eDelivery though.]
• A new Oracle Enterprise Performance Management System Standard Deployment Guide outlines the best-practice approach for deploying EPM System products. This approach is based on creating a base deployment of the products and then scaling out the services to handle the needed capacity.
• A new “Account Reconciliation” Web application has been added to the Oracle Hyperion Financial Close Management managed server. See the Financial Close Management documentation for information about using the functionality provided by this new Web application.
• A new “ADF” Web application has been added for Financial Management.
• You can now manage Financial Management clusters from one machine. Cluster information is now stored in Oracle Hyperion Shared Services Registry rather than in the Windows registry. Other usability enhancements have also been made for Financial Management configuration.
• The Oracle Hyperion Financial Reporting Print Server is now part of the Financial Reporting Web application. You no longer have to install the Print Server as part of the Financial Reporting Studio installation, and you no longer need Microsoft Office on the Print Server.
• You can now deploy EPM System Web applications to a single managed server (compact server) in Development, Test, and Production environments. This reduces the overall memory requirement of EPM System and reduces startup time.
• The Oracle Enterprise Performance Management System High Availability and Disaster Recovery Guide has been merged into the Oracle Enterprise Performance Management System Installation and Configuration Guide.
• Online Help content for EPM System products is served from a central Oracle download location, which reduces the download and installation time for EPM System. You can also install and configure online Help to run locally. For more information, see the Oracle Enterprise Performance Management System Installation and Configuration Guide.

Index Of Current Patch Set Updates For EPM Products

"Patch Set Update" or PSU is the Oracle equivalent for update packages that used to be called Service Packs in the Hyperion times. An article which lists the currently available PSUs for the following EPM products has recently been published on Support.

• Financial Management (HFM)
• Reporting and Analysis
• Financial Reporting
• Interactive Reporting
• Planning
• Essbase
• Financial Data Quality Management (FDQM)
• Enterprise Performance Management Architect (EPMA)
• Calculation Manager

Bookmark the article or add it to your Favorites list on Oracle Support so you can easily go back and check the latest recommended updates for the products installed in your EPM/Hyperion environment.

Oracle Support: Available Patch Sets and Patch Set Updates for Oracle Hyperion Enterprise Performance Management Products [ID 1400559.1]

Updated Tuning Guides For EPM 9.3.1, 11.1.1 and 11.1.2

Ahmed Awan kindly notified us on the EPM/BI Product Assurance Engineering blog that the EPM tuning guides have been updated and are publicly downloadable via the blog. Get the contents via these posts:

• EPM 11.1.1 - EPM Infrastructure Tuning Guide v11.1.1.3
• EPM 11.1.2 - EPM Infrastructure Tuning Guide v11.1.2.1

The section called Top Tuning Recommendations is a good starting point to make sure that the most important performance related settings are correct in your environment.