Centralized ASCP Instance

Question

Gurus,
We have a 11.5.10 CU2 (9208-RAC/PCP) instance running SCM_PF.J
Management is planning to implement APS/Demand Planning. I have worked in distributed environments where we have a source ERP instance and a target ASCP instance and do a data pull via DB link and run collection/memory based planner programs.
However, management wants to consider the idea of running both in a single environment/instance since its theoretically possible.
-- Can someone share your views on the gotchas of this setup?
-- I am aware that the planner programs are resource intensive. Is there a benchmark of the hardware capacity needed for this setup?
-- Is Express server extinct now or do we still need it ?
-- What are the extra patches that we need for this implementation.Any general docs/papers concentrating on the architecture ?
-- Any special considerations for RAC ?
Regards,
Arun

Answer 1

Since you have PCP, you have everything you need for RAC'd ASCP. Just create a Standard Manager 1 and Standard Manager 2, and use include/exclude to force the ASCP processes onto one node:
RAC Configuration Setup For Running MRP Planning, APS Planning, and Data Collection Processes
http://metalink.oracle.com/metalink/plsql/ml2_documents.showDocument?p_database_id=NOT&p_id=279156.1
Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) Implementation Notes & White Papers
http://metalink.oracle.com/metalink/plsql/ml2_documents.showDocument?p_database_id=NOT&p_id=280052.1
Express server has been obsoleted in 11.5.10. Oracle Demand Planning uses the OLAP engine in 9i or higher databases. Oracle will charge you additional licenses fees for database OLAP if you use Oracle Demand Planning, even though you already purchased Oracle Demand Planning licenses. You can however implement Oracle Demantra Demand Planning which does not use the OLAP engine. There was a one for one license swap from Oracle Demand Planning to Oracle Demantra Demand Planning, but I would check with your Account Representative to make sure.
Demantra, OracleAS 10.1.3 and the E-Business Suite
http://blogs.oracle.com/schan/2007/05/22#a1585
Oracle Unveils Demantra 7.1.1
http://www.oracle.com/corporate/press/2007_jun/demantra.7.html?rssid=rss_ocom_pr
EBS-Demantra Integration Installation Overview and Diagram
http://metalink.oracle.com/metalink/plsql/ml2_documents.showDocument?p_database_id=NOT&p_id=434991.1
Oracle Demantra Installation for Release 7.1.1
http://metalink.oracle.com/metalink/plsql/ml2_documents.showDocument?p_database_id=NOT&p_id=428495.1
About Oracle Demantra Supply Chain Planning for Release 7.1.1
http://metalink.oracle.com/metalink/plsql/ml2_documents.showDocument?p_database_id=NOT&p_id=416107.1
Oracle Demantra V7.1 Demand Management Documentation Library
http://metalink.oracle.com/metalink/plsql/ml2_documents.showDocument?p_database_id=NOT&p_id=421343.1
A Centralized ASCP/DP instance is simpler in a non-RAC environment. I have a RAC customer that recently switched from Centralized RAC 11.5.10.2 to decentralized with the planning instance on HP-UX 64-bit and the source instance on 64-bit Linux. This enabled them to move away from PCP since they were on ATG.H RUP 4 and could use Queues in stead of Pipes for transaction manager communication via the Concurrent:TM Transport Type profile option:
FAQ: PO Document Approval Manager / Real Application Cluster (RAC) Frequently Asked Questions
http://metalink.oracle.com/metalink/plsql/ml2_documents.showDocument?p_database_id=NOT&p_id=419609.1