Application Server Cluster

Question

I am in the process of rebuilding our Application Servers.  I was able to Install JDK, Weblogic, and Forms and Reports.
I can start Oracle Enterprise Manager Fusion Middleware Control and WebLogic Server Admin Console.
What I am starting to review is the clustering.
1. I have some basic questions on what can be clustered.  Can I cluster OHS, Reports/Forms, what objects can I cluster?
2. Can you point me to the correct documentation on setting up clustering.  We are in just trying test it out at this point.
3.  Since I already installed JDK, weblogic, and Forms/Reports on one system.  Can I somehow create another system and cluster the two.
      Do i need to take down my current installs and re-install as a cluster.
Thanks in advance and sorry about not being direct as I am learning as I go.

Answer 1

I am not sure whether you are using 11.1.1.x or 11.1.2.x release of Forms and Reports but regardless Forms and Reports makes it pretty easy to set up a cluster via the installer/configuration tool.
Q1: OHS itself cannot be clustered but you can configure the Weblogic Plugin (mod_wl_ohs) of OHS for WebLogic Cluster routing. Yes Forms/Reports managed servers will be in a WLS Cluster.
Q2: Documentation time. Not knowing the version I will guess 11.1.2.2. If that is not the version let me know and I can get you links to the proper docs.
Installation and Configuration Screens for Oracle Forms and Reports - 11g Release 2 (11.1.2) - A.2.9.3 Expand Cluster
Configuring High Availability for Oracle Portal, Forms, Reports, and Discoverer - 11g Release 1 (11.1.1) -
See :
Section 14.1, "Overview of Oracle Portal, Forms, Reports, and Discoverer"
Section 14.3, "Oracle Reports and High Availability Concepts"
Section 14.4, "Oracle Forms and High Availability Concepts"
Section 14.6, "Configuring Oracle Portal, Forms, Reports, and Discoverer for High Availability"
There is no 11.1.2 High Availability Guide so just ignore Portal and Discoverer sections/parts.
Now, High Availability is a Cluster but a Cluster does not have to be highly available. I want you to review the HA guide because it explains concepts which I think are important even if you are not making it Highly Available.
If you want High Availability then the HA Guide has all the steps including vips shared storage and the like.
Q3: So you have already configured a domain and instance on the first node. You then have to "expand cluster" on the second node.
There is one Gotcha before this. When you configured node 1 did you check mark the "Clustered" box on this screen?:
This step is documented in the HA guide which is another reason it is a good reference.
Configuring High Availability for Oracle Portal, Forms, Reports, and Discoverer - 11g Release 1 (11.1.1)
Step 6:
"In the Configure Components screen, choose which products to install and configure.
Ensure that Management Components - Enterprise Manager is also selected.
Select Clustered.
Click Next."
So you are ready to expand the cluster now.
Back to the HA guide: Configuring High Availability for Oracle Portal, Forms, Reports, and Discoverer - 11g Release 1 (11.1.1)
Everything is the same as the first node up until you hit the configuration part(these links look the same by they are not):
Configuring High Availability for Oracle Portal, Forms, Reports, and Discoverer - 11g Release 1 (11.1.1)
Notice step 3:
"In the Create Domain screen, select Expand Cluster and enter these values:
    Host Name: Name of the host running the WebLogic Administration Server, for example: APPHOST1.mycompany.com
    Port: The Administration Server port. For example: 7001
    User Name: Administration Server administrator account name.
    User Password: Password for the Administration Server administrator account.
Click Next."
On node 1 you did create domain here.
That is how you would create a cluster for Forms and Reports.
If you want it to be a High Availability setup then the HA Guide has all the additional steps needed.
HTH,
Nick