Installing Oracle Linux 8.4 With Apex 21/ Tomcat 9 running in pluggable Oracle XE 21c database(pdb)

Installing Oracle Linux 8.4 With Apex 21/ Tomcat 9 running in pluggable Oracle XE 21c database(pdb)

//Software download URL’s at the end of this document.

//Custom Template for server config and password attached to this document.

Network

Hostname ????????????

Server ip ????????????

Network mask ????????????

Gateway ????????????

DNS ????????????

Passwords

General password policies:

General Administrative password	[Admin Password]	????
PUBLIC accounts password	[PUBLIC Password]	????
Service Password	[SERVICE Password]	????

Specific username and passwords:

Root password

[root Password]

????????

Tomcat Admin password
user: admin

[Tomcat Password]

?????

Apex Instance Manager
Workspace: internal
User: admin

[Apex Instance Password]

?????

SYS password

[SYSDBA password]

?????

Schema passwords:

APEX_LISTENER	[SERVICE password]
APEX_REST_PUBLIC_USER	[PUBLIC Password]
ORDS_PUBLIC_USER	[PUBLIC Password]
APEX_PUBLIC_USER	[PUBLIC Password]

Roadmap

Create Virtual Machine
Install Oracle Linux 8.4
CockPit (optional)
Install Apache Tomcat 9.0.53
Install Oracle Database 21C XE
Oracle Enterprise Manager Express setup (optional)
Install Oracle Apex 21.1.0.0
Install Oracle REST Data Services (ORDS)
Oracle APEX patch 5.

Create Virtual Machine

VirtualBox Installation

Memory: 4Gb

DIsk; 50GB (min. 20GB)

Settings:
Network -> Adapter 1 = “Bridged Adapter”

Oracle Linux 8.4 installation

PRE

Load install media in cdrom drive and start serverVirtualBox:Settings -> Storage:Controller IDE, highlight CD(empty) and add installation media under Optical Device

INSTALL Software

Installation starts automatically if the install media was mounted correctly.

Choose English (Denmark) as language for the installation and click Continue
Next window show all settings that need to be completed before starting the installation.
Start in this order:
1. “Network and Host”
  1. Enable Ehternet, set hostname and configure IPv4 with a static IP
2. “Time & Date”
  1. Set Europe, Copenhagen as timezone.
3. “Software Selection”
  1. Choose Server & Development Tools
4. “Installation Destination”
  1. Just confirm it by clicking Done.
5. Root Password
  1. Set Root password to [root password]
Begin Installation
1. This takes a while.
Reboot Server

INSTALL updates and tools//Get latest updates.

as root

dnf update -y

//disable firewall completely

systemctl stop firewalld
systemctl disable firewalld

//Add your servers ip to the hosts file

vi /etc/hosts

Generic

192.168.1.191 apex apex.bluegecko.local

//add server to clients host file. (conditional)
Note: If your server name does not resolve on your client you can add it to you local host file, so it at least resolves from your specific client.
In windows you need to start notepad as administrator in order to edit the file.
You can do that by locating the notepad icon in the windows start menu, right click it
and choose “run as administrator” from the file menu you can then easily open and edit

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

//entry to add

192.168.1.191 apex apex.bluegecko.local

//Setup Cockpit (Optional)

systemctl enable --now cockpit.socket

//Update system from Cockpit Interface.
Expecting no updates to be found, but done to make initial updates to internal catalogs.
Username: root/[root password]

https://apex.lyretech.local:9090/

Navigate to Software updates and wait until interface states

“System is up to date”

STAGE software(optional)

See the “Software” section for a list of software needed and their download instructions.Either mount /software to your external software archive or place the software in a local directory.Note:

Using VirtualBox’s “Shared folder” function to map local download folder with /software works perfectly, but requires installation of VirtualBox Guest Extensions on the server.

mkdir /software
chmod 775 /software

//Stage the software in /software using ftp, wget etc.

ls -Shog

total 2,6G
-rw-r--r--. 1 2,2G Sep 30 09:16 oracle-database-xe-21c-1.0-1.ol8.x86_64.rpm
-rw-r--r--. 1 220M Oct  1 05:59 apex_21.1.zip
-rw-r--r--. 1  99M Oct  2 10:55 OpenJDK8U-jdk_x64_linux_hotspot_8u302b08.tar.gz
-rw-r--r--. 1  70M Oct  3 03:57 ords-21.2.4.243.1032.zip
-rw-r--r--. 1  12M Oct  2 07:44 apache-tomcat-9.0.53.tar.gz
-rw-r--r--. 1 3,0M Oct  3 08:03 p32598392_2110_Generic.zip
-rw-r--r--. 1  31K Oct  3 04:24 oracle-database-preinstall-21c-1.0-1.el8.x86_64.rpm

NullPOSTThis is a good time for a backup of the virtual machine.
OS is installed, updates applied, network confirmed and software staged on the server.

TOMCAT 9.0.53 Installation

//Assuming software has been downloaded and placed in public readable directory /software
as root create tomcat owner.

useradd tomcat
mkdir -p /opt/tomcat
chown tomcat:tomcat /opt/tomcat

//Install Java specifically for Tomcat

su - tomcat
mkdir -p /opt/tomcat/java
cd /opt/tomcat/java
tar xvf /software/OpenJDK8U-jdk_x64_linux_hotspot_8u302b08.tar.gz
ln -s jdk8u302-b08 latest

//Install Tomcat

cd /opt/tomcat
tar xvf /software/apache-tomcat-9.0.53.tar.gz
ln -s apache-tomcat-9.0.53 latest

//Update Environment
// Add environment settings to login profile

vi /home/tomcat/.bash_profile

#Tomcat Environment
export JAVA_HOME=/opt/tomcat/java/latest
export CATALINA_HOME=/opt/tomcat/latest

//Log out and in again and start/stop Tomcat
set environment and create default tomcat configuration.

exit
su - tomcat

Generic

$CATALINA_HOME/bin/startup.sh
$CATALINA_HOME/bin/shutdown.sh

//Enable remote access to html interfaces and define admin user
INSIDE the “tomcat-users” tag add the user definition:
Obs! Alter the password [Tomcat Password]

vi $CATALINA_HOME/conf/tomcat-users.xml

<user username="admin" password="[Tomcat Password]" roles="manager-gui, admin-gui"/>

//Create manager.xml with following tag

vi $CATALINA_HOME/conf/Catalina/localhost/manager.xml

<Context privileged="true" antiResourceLocking="false" 
         docBase="${catalina.home}/webapps/manager">
    <Valve className="org.apache.catalina.valves.RemoteAddrValve" allow="^.*$" />
</Context>

Null//Create host-manager.xml with following tag

vi $CATALINA_HOME/conf/Catalina/localhost/host-manager.xml

<Context privileged="true" antiResourceLocking="false" 
         docBase="${catalina.home}/webapps/host-manager">
    <Valve className="org.apache.catalina.valves.RemoteAddrValve" allow="^.*$" />
</Context>

//Start Apache Tomcat

$CATALINA_HOME/bin/startup.sh

//Output;

Using CATALINA_BASE:   /opt/tomcat/latest
Using CATALINA_HOME:   /opt/tomcat/latest
Using CATALINA_TMPDIR: /opt/tomcat/latest/temp
Using JRE_HOME:        /opt/tomcat/java/latest
Using CLASSPATH:       /opt/tomcat/latest/bin/bootstrap.jar:/opt/tomcat/latest/bin/tomcat-juli.jar
Using CATALINA_OPTS:
Tomcat started.

//Check access to Tomcat Landing page
http://apex.bluegecko.local:8080/

Tomcat Web Application Manager
http://apex.bluegecko.local:8080/manager/html
username: admin password: [Admin Password]

Tomcat Server Status
http://apex.bluegecko.local:8080/manager/status
username: admin password: [Admin Password]

Notes

su - tomcat
$CATALINA_HOME/bin/startup.sh
$CATALINA_HOME/bin/shutdown.sh

Oracle XE 21C Installation

INSTALL//Assuming database software is available in /software
Note: Oracle Database Preinstall Check is automatically downloaded and execute when running the database install on a Oracle Linux platform, but in the time of writting a bug requires you to run it manually to created home directory correctly.
//Verify, install and setup user/group requirements before installing database software by running “Oracle Database Preinstall Check”as root

dnf -y localinstall  /software/oracle-database-preinstall-21c-1.0-1.el8.x86_64.rpm

Null

OUTPUT

Installed:
  compat-openssl10-1:1.0.2o-3.el8.x86_64
  gssproxy-0.8.0-19.el8.x86_64
  keyutils-1.5.10-6.el8.x86_64
  ksh-20120801-254.0.1.el8.x86_64
  libX11-xcb-1.6.8-4.el8.x86_64
  libXtst-1.2.3-7.el8.x86_64
  libXv-1.0.11-7.el8.x86_64
  libXxf86dga-1.1.5-1.el8.x86_64
  libdmx-1.1.4-3.el8.x86_64
  libnsl-2.28-151.0.1.el8.x86_64
  libverto-libevent-0.3.0-5.el8.x86_64
  lm_sensors-libs-3.4.0-22.20180522git70f7e08.el8.x86_64
  nfs-utils-1:2.3.3-41.el8_4.2.x86_64
  oracle-database-preinstall-21c-1.0-1.el8.x86_64
  rpcbind-1.2.5-8.el8.x86_64
  sysstat-11.7.3-5.0.1.el8.x86_64
  xorg-x11-utils-7.5-28.el8.x86_64
  xorg-x11-xauth-1:1.0.9-12.el8.x86_64

Complete!

Generic

//Install Oracle Software in /opt/oracle

dnf -y localinstall /software/oracle-database-xe-21c-1.0-1.ol8.x86_64.rpm

Null

OUTPUT

Installed:
  oracle-database-xe-21c-1.0-1.x86_64

Null//Create and configure database
Note: When prompted set SYS, SYSTEM and PDBADMIN password for [Admin Password]

/etc/init.d/oracle-xe-21c configure

NullNow go outside and play.. this take a while..
OUTPUT:

100% Completed.
Database Information:
Global Database Name:XE
System Identifier(SID):XE

Connect to Oracle Database using one of the connect strings:
     Pluggable database: apex.lyretech.local/XEPDB1
     Multitenant container database: apex.lyretech.local

Null

//Setup Oracle environment by adding entries to .bash_profile

su - oracle
vi /home/oracle/.bash_profile

Null

export ORACLE_SID=XE
export ORAENV_ASK=NO
. oraenv

Null//Set Oracle environment (CDB)

exit
su - oracle
lsnrctl status

Null

Services Summary...
Service "XE" has 1 instance(s).
  Instance "XE", status READY, has 1 handler(s) for this service...
Service "XEXDB" has 1 instance(s).
  Instance "XE", status READY, has 1 handler(s) for this service...
Service "cdba8e5749a64368e053b901a8c02fef" has 1 instance(s).
  Instance "XE", status READY, has 1 handler(s) for this service...
Service "xepdb1" has 1 instance(s).
  Instance "XE", status READY, has 1 handler(s) for this service...
The command completed successfully

Generic
//Enable Autostart of Oracle Listener and Database as root

systemctl daemon-reload
systemctl enable oracle-xe-21c

Generic

Now reboot system and verify that database(s) are up and running.

reboot

Generic

//Verify that the Oracle listener at least services XE and xepdb1

su - oracle
lsnrctl status | grep instance

GenericOUTPUT:

Service "XE" has 1 instance(s).
Service "XEXDB" has 1 instance(s).
Service "cdba8e5749a64368e053b901a8c02fef" has 1 instance(s).
Service "xepdb1" has 1 instance(s).

HTML//Verify that both container database( and the pluggable database(xepdb1) is running

sqlplus / as sysdba
show con_name
select * from dual;

alter session set container = xepdb1;
show con_name
select * from dual;

exit;

Generic

Oracle EM Express setup (optional)

Note: Oracle EM Express will be depreciated in next version of the database.// connect to CDB container

su - oracle
sqlplus / as sysdba

show con_name
exec dbms_xdb_config.sethttpsport(0);
exec dbms_xdb_config.setglobalportenabled(TRUE);

alter session set container=XEPDB1;
show con_name
exec dbms_xdb_config.sethttpsport(5500);

GenericVerify that you can login to Oracle Enterprise Manager Express

//username: system password: [ADMIN password]

https://apex.lyretech.local:5500/em

BACKUP

This is a good time for a backup of the virtual machine.

OS is installed, updates applied, network confirmed and software staged on the server.
Tomcat is installed and setup.
Oracle database and its environment has been setup.
Databae is starting automatically.

Oracle APEX Installation

PRE
//Connect to PDB and create dedicated tablespaces for APEX data

su - oracle
sqlplus / as sysdba

alter session set container = xepdb1;
show con_name

Null

CREATE TABLESPACE APEX_DATA
DATAFILE 
  '/opt/oracle/oradata/XE/XEPDB1/apex_data01.dbf' SIZE 200M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 10M MAXSIZE 2G
LOGGING
DEFAULT 
  NO INMEMORY
EXTENT MANAGEMENT LOCAL AUTOALLOCATE
BLOCKSIZE 8K
SEGMENT SPACE MANAGEMENT AUTO
FLASHBACK ON;

Null

CREATE TABLESPACE APEX_FILES
DATAFILE 
  '/opt/oracle/oradata/XE/XEPDB1/apex_file01.dbf' SIZE 100M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 10M MAXSIZE 250M
LOGGING
DEFAULT 
  NO INMEMORY
EXTENT MANAGEMENT LOCAL AUTOALLOCATE
BLOCKSIZE 8K
SEGMENT SPACE MANAGEMENT AUTO
FLASHBACK ON;

Generic

ALTER DATABASE DATAFILE '/opt/oracle/oradata/XE/XEPDB1/users01.dbf'
AUTOEXTEND ON
NEXT 1280K
MAXSIZE 250M;

Null

ALTER DATABASE DATAFILE '/opt/oracle/oradata/XE/XEPDB1/sysaux01.dbf'
AUTOEXTEND ON
NEXT 10M
MAXSIZE 1G;

Null

ALTER DATABASE DATAFILE '/opt/oracle/oradata/XE/XEPDB1/system01.dbf'
AUTOEXTEND ON
NEXT 10M
MAXSIZE 2G;

Null

//exit sql*plus

exit

Generic
INSTALL
//Upzip Apex files

su - oracle
cd /opt/oracle
unzip /software/apex_21.1.zip
cd apex

Null

//Install APEX into pluggable database XEPDB1

sqlplus / as sysdba
alter session set container=xepdb1;

Null

@apexins.sql apex_data apex_files temp /i/

Null

OUTPUT:

timing for: Phase 3 (Switch)
Elapsed: 00:00:59.95
timing for: Complete Installation
Elapsed: 00:06:09.81

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
1 row selected.

...null1.sql

//Create APEX instance administratorNote: When prompted:Enter the administrator’s username [ADMIN]
Enter ADMIN’s email [ADMIN] admin@lyretech.dk
Enter ADMIN’s password [Apex Instance Password]

@apxchpwd.sql

Generic

"Created instance administrator ADMIN."

Null

//unlock the APEX_PUBLIC_USER account and set new password [PUBLIC Password]

sqlplus / as sysdba
alter session set container = xepdb1;
show con_name

alter user APEX_PUBLIC_USER account unlock;
alter user APEX_PUBLIC_USER identified by [PUBLIC Password];

HTML

// Make the account APEX_PUBLIC_USER used for Oracle REST Data Services never expires (default = 180 days)

CREATE PROFILE "APEX_PUBLIC_USER" LIMIT
  SESSIONS_PER_USER UNLIMITED
  CPU_PER_SESSION UNLIMITED
  CPU_PER_CALL UNLIMITED
  CONNECT_TIME UNLIMITED
  IDLE_TIME UNLIMITED
  LOGICAL_READS_PER_SESSION UNLIMITED
  LOGICAL_READS_PER_CALL UNLIMITED
  COMPOSITE_LIMIT UNLIMITED
  PRIVATE_SGA UNLIMITED
  FAILED_LOGIN_ATTEMPTS 10
  INACTIVE_ACCOUNT_TIME 365
  PASSWORD_LIFE_TIME UNLIMITED
  PASSWORD_REUSE_TIME UNLIMITED
  PASSWORD_REUSE_MAX UNLIMITED
  PASSWORD_LOCK_TIME 1
  PASSWORD_GRACE_TIME 7
  PASSWORD_VERIFY_FUNCTION NULL;

  ALTER USER APEX_PUBLIC_USER PROFILE APEX_PUBLIC_USER;

Generic

//exit sql*plus

exit

Generic

Oracle REST Data Services(ords) installation with Tomcat

PRE
//Create dedicated tablespaces for ORDS

su - oracle
cd /opt/oracle/apex
sqlplus / as sysdba

Null

alter session set container=xepdb1;

Null

CREATE TABLESPACE ORDS_PUBLIC_USER
DATAFILE 
  '/opt/oracle/oradata/XE/XEPDB1/ords_public_user01.dbf' SIZE 100M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 10M MAXSIZE 1G
LOGGING
DEFAULT 
  NO INMEMORY
EXTENT MANAGEMENT LOCAL AUTOALLOCATE
BLOCKSIZE 8K
SEGMENT SPACE MANAGEMENT AUTO
FLASHBACK ON;

CREATE TABLESPACE ORDS_METADATA
DATAFILE 
  '/opt/oracle/oradata/XE/XEPDB1/ords_meta01.dbf' SIZE 100M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 10M MAXSIZE 1G
LOGGING
DEFAULT 
  NO INMEMORY
EXTENT MANAGEMENT LOCAL AUTOALLOCATE
BLOCKSIZE 8K
SEGMENT SPACE MANAGEMENT AUTO
FLASHBACK ON;

//Setup RESTfull Services

When prompted use [SERVICE Password] for APEX_LISTENER and APEX_REST_PUBLIC_USER

show con_name 
!pwd #/opt/oracle/apex
@apex_rest_config.sql

Generic

exit

Generic//create install directory and unzip ORDS software

su - oracle
mkdir -p /opt/oracle/ords
cd /opt/oracle/ords
unzip /software/ords-21.2.4.243.1032.zip

// Move Images to Tomcat.
as root

su - 
cp -r /opt/oracle/apex/images /opt/tomcat/latest/webapps/i
chown -R tomcat:tomcat /opt/tomcat/latest/webapps/i
exit

Generic// Create directory for configuration and install ORDS

su - oracle
mkdir -p /opt/oracle/ords/config  
cd /opt/oracle/ords
java -jar ords.war install advanced

Enter the location to store configuration data: /opt/oracle/ords/config
Specify the database connection type to use: [ENTER] (BASIC)
Enter the name of the database server :[ENTER] (localhost)
Enter the database listen port: [ENTER] (1521)
Enter 1 to specify the database service name, or 2 to specify the database SID: [ENTER] (1)
Enter the database service name: XEPDB1
Enter 1 if you want to verify/install Oracle REST Data Services schema or 2 to skip this step: [ENTER] (1)
Enter the database password for ORDS_PUBLIC_USER: [PUBLIC Password]
Enter the administrator username: sys
Enter the database password for SYS AS SYSDBA: [Admin Password]
Enter the default tablespace for ORDS_METADATA [SYSAUX]:ORDS_METADATA
Enter the temporary tablespace for ORDS_METADATA [TEMP]: [ENTER] (temp)
Enter the default tablespace for ORDS_PUBLIC_USER [SYSAUX]:ORDS_PUBLIC_USER
Enter the temporary tablespace for ORDS_PUBLIC_USER [TEMP]:[ENTER] (temp)
If using Oracle Application Express or migrating from mod_plsql then you must enter 1: [ENTER] (1)
Enter the PL/SQL Gateway database user name [APEX_PUBLIC_USER]: [ENTER] (APEX_PUBLIC_USER)
Enter the database password for APEX_PUBLIC_USER: [PUBLIC Password]
Enter 1 to specify passwords for Application Express RESTful Services database users (APEX_LISTENER, APEX_REST_PUBLIC_USER) or 2 to skip this step [1]: [ENTER] (1)
Enter the database password for APEX_LISTENER: [Service Password]
Enter the database password for APEX_REST_PUBLIC_USER: [PUBLIC Password]
Enter a number to select a feature to enable:[ENTER] (SQL Developer Web (Enables all features))

Completed installation for Oracle REST Data Services version 21.2.4.r2431032. Elapsed time: 00:00:16.109

Enter 1 if you wish to start in standalone mode or 2 to exit [1]: 2 (EXIT)

//Deploy ORDS to Tomcatas root

su -
cp /opt/oracle/ords/ords.war /opt/tomcat/latest/webapps
chown tomcat:tomcat /opt/tomcat/latest/webapps/ords.war

Generic

//Start Tomcat

su - tomcat
cd /opt/tomcat/latest/bin
./startup.sh

Generic

//Verify apex

Workspace: internal, username: admin & password [APEX Instance Password]

http://apex.bluegecko.local:8080/ords

When logged in check APEX versin in lower right corner of page

Application Express 21.1.0

APEX Patch Installation

PRE

//Shutdown Tomcat to restrict access to ORDS while patching.

su - tomcat
$CATALINA_HOME/bin/shutdown.sh
exit

Generic
INSTALL//When prompted for passworh then enter [Admin Password]

su - oracle
mkdir -p /opt/oracle/apex/patches
cd /opt/oracle/apex/patches
unzip /software/p32598392_2110_Generic.zip
cd 32598392
sqlplus sys@//localhost:1521/xepdb1 as sysdba @catpatch.sql

GenericAs Root

su -
\cp -rf /opt/oracle/apex/patches/32598392/images/*.* /opt/tomcat/latest/webapps/i

Null
POST

// Start Tomcat to make ORDS available again.

su - tomcat
$CATALINA_HOME/bin/startup.sh

Generic

//Verify apex version

Workspace: internal, username: admin & password [APEX Instance Password]

http://apex.bluegecko.local:8080/ords

When logged in check APEX versin in lower right corner of page

Application Express 21.1.5

Now go outside and play.

URLs

Tomcat manager apps
https://apex.bluegecko.local:9090/
admin/[Admin Password]

Oracle Enterprise Manager Express
https://apex.bluegecko.local:5500/em
username: system password: [Admin Password]

Cockpit
https://apex.bluegecko.local:9090/
root/[root Password]

Oracle APEX Instance Manager
http://apex.bluegecko.local:8080/ords

Workspace: internal, username: admin, password [APEX Instance Password]