Creating Storage Containers for Backups/Archive using Oracle Storage Service Console

In this blog shall discuss on the creation of Storage containers for backups using the Oracle Cloud Storage Service Console.Storage Containers are a mandatory prerequisite setup required for provisioning of Java Cloud Service, SOA Cloud Service and also any Database Cloud Service provisioned and planned to be used with Java Cloud Service and SOA Cloud Service should use a Backup.

For Creation of Storage Containers there are multiple ways of doing the same.

i) Oracle Storage Service Console
ii) GUI Based tool like Cloud Berry
iii) Command Line approach using REST API
iv) During provisioning of a Java Cloud Service, SOA Cloud Service etc you have an option to create a storage container check box which would create a storage container during instance provisioning.

In this blog we shall go through the Oracle Storage Service Console option of creating a Storage Container. Detailed steps of the same would be listed below.

1. First Login to your cloud Dashboard.
    URL for your Oracle Cloud Dashboard will be in the following format                                                    https://myservices.us.oraclecloud.com/mycloud/<IdentityDomain>/faces/dashboard.jspx

     Everyone using their specific Oracle Cloud instances would need to replace their specific    
     environment identity domain provided for their environments.

     Once logged into Oracle Cloud Dashboard it would look as below

   

2. Once in your Cloud Dashboard click on the Storage link as shown below

             

3. Once you have clicked on the Storage link it would take you to the Storage Cloud Service details page as shown below

4. Once in the Storage Cloud Service Details page click on the Open Service Console button once clicked you would be in the Storage Service console. Here we get to see all the available containers created and their current storage usage details. We can go ahead and delete storage containers which are not currently used and do not have any data. But it is not suggested to delete the existing storage containers as they might be related with existing Database or Java or SOA cloud Service and once a container is being linked with an existing service then you cannot delete the container.

5. Once in the Storage Cloud Service console click on Create Container button. It would take you to Storage Container window where you would need to provide the storage container name of your choice, Storage Class of the container whether the container is standard or archive and if you want encryption to be enabled then the same can be enabled.

6. Once you enter the container details, choosing the storage class of the container and click on Create the container will be created which could be used in provisioning of instances or any other storage requirements on the cloud.

Note: In all the screen shots would have masked the identity domain and user name details for confidentiality purpose, if you are doing this activity in Oracle cloud instances of self then would be able to notice the identity domain and other user name details.

Oracle Integration Cloud Service Overview

Oracle Integration Cloud Service Overview

Following is a broad overview of my understanding after using Oracle Integration Cloud Service  (ICS).Basically will try giving the overview through a sort of questions and answers so that this will clear out the questions in a way i had prior to using Integration Cloud Service

1. What is Integration Cloud Service and how is it different from SOA/SOA CS?

     ICS is equivalent of Oracle Service Bus on Cloud with few functionalities added whereas  SOA/SOA CS is a full blown functionality of Service orchestration

2.  Can Integration Cloud Service run on premise?

     Yes.  
     Integration Cloud Service has two agents
     (i)   Connectivity agent manages connectivity of on premise applications to ICS on Cloud
     (ii)  Execution Agent which can be downloaded and configured on premise which is an ICS               instance on premise (few adapters are restricted with ICS on premise)

3.   What Integration Patterns are available in ICS? 

     ICS has four integration pattern

      (i)    Map my Data (Point to Point mapping between two service)

      (ii)       Orchestration (Condition based activity orchestrating different systems)

      (iii)     Basic Publish to ICS

      (iv)      Basic Subscribe to ICS

4.  How to use an ICS integration?

   ICS integration is a Web Service which can be called by any application with capability to call    web service (like JCS, Java Application, SOA etc.). ICS Integration can be scheduled to do an    activity at a specific point of time in case of File Transfer integrations.

5.When to go for ICS and when to go for SOA/SOACS ?

   If the existing application foot print is more on Cloud then ICS is best suited for integrations.

    SOA / SOACs is preferred in the following cases

     (i)    In case of pure one premise integration

     (ii)   If the integrations are too complex and would require Human interventions in the form             of approvals etc., event processing, Single Sign on support

     (iii)  If the amount of data transfer involved is large as ICS restriction of messages per                    connection is 100000/day.(Note that ICS connection will not reject a message after                  100000)

6. Security in ICS?

    ICS only point of communication to an on premise application is via a connectivity agent and     oracle messaging cloud service which is bundled in an ICS subscription. Also ICS is not             multitenant and every customers will have their dedicated instance.For Webservice                   Connections created in ICS Username and Password Token policy is currently used.

7. Any restrictions in ICS as such?

   As per the documentation message size should not exceed 512KB but the same has been            enhanced to 5MB. In case of File adapter, there is no such file size restriction unless there is a    transformation involved on the file.

8. Any additional tool support for ICS?

    Additional Support for ICS is available, tools like Jdeveloper12c  can be used to import the         ICS mappings and modify the same in the XSLT Map editors

9. Can Generic Integration and Mappings be provided for customers for reuse?

    Yes.ICS integrations can be done at a broad level with the mappings for two Cloud                   environments and put out on a cloud market place which customer can use for their                 implementations.These Integrations can be imported into an existing customer ICS instance.

    10. Can Multiple Integrations and Mappings be provided for customers for reuse?

         Multiple Integrations can be packaged into a single package and the same can be put up for       customers to use. Packages are packaged as .par file and integrations are packaged as .iar       file.These Integration packages can be imported into an existing customer ICS instance.

    11. How can systems be connected if there are no adapters available?

         Customers/Partners can build their own adapters using the SDK provided and also put it up       for usage in ICS via Cloud Marketplace

     Future enhancements if provided in ICS which could be really useful

      1.    Event Framework in Fusion HCM and ERP SAAS clouds for usage in ICS as available in Sales      Cloud SAAS

      2.    Identity Federation (Single Sign on) support if available then it would really a great addition      to existing username/password token policy for web services

      3.    Additional components/Adapters (for Workday and other systems etc.) could really help in        taking up ICS case further