Developing with your local Oracle Release 12 VM

Quick Access details for the Release 12 VM we got running in an earlier post.

Unix
Use Putty to telnet to ebs.example.com
login as applmgr (password as you set on first boot)
Source the environment file /u01/install/VISION/EBSapps.env (. ./u01/install/VISION/EBSapps.env)
All the Application Top's will now be set-up and you can access the database
sqlplus apps/apps

Desktop 
You will need to install
Oracle Instant Client
Oracle Forms
Oracle Reports
Oracle Workflow
Oracle BI Publisher Desktop
Oracle jDeveloper

I run these on a windows 7 VM; the main thing is to run in compatibility mode (with XP) and as administrator when installing.  If you want a Release 11 toolset too, install those first (Forms 6,  Reports 6).

How to get Release 12 Virtual Machine running on a Macbook - the fastest Apps you've ever seen

Oracle have made available almost ready to run Virtual Machines for Oracle Applications 'Vision' databases; (Vision is the demo instance with data and set-up already done).  Ideal for developing against and learning.  Some background and details here: https://blogs.oracle.com/stevenChan/entry/oracle_vm_virtual_appliances_available

The following is my steps to get running on a Mac host.  I was amazed at the speed, especially at database level.  Fastest Apps I've ever seen!

Updated with notes for Mac VMware.  Also tested against Virtual Box on Windows host.  Added login defaults and apps URL.

Download
Download the zip files from the Oracle website https://edelivery.oracle.com/oraclevm
For 12.2.4 use https://edelivery.oracle.com/EPD/Download/get_form?egroup_aru_number=18255187
Download the 16 zip files under the name:
Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.2.4 Single Node Vision Install X86 (64 bit)
I use firefox and the add-on DownloadThemAll - it allows restarts on downloads.
Once you have all the zip files, move them to your mac and unzip them, then concatenate them together.
You now have a big OVA file ready to run inside Virtual Box (or VMWare)

Oracle Virtual Box
Download and install Virtual Box (For Mac for me).
You could also use VMWare - it works too.

Get Running
Open the ova file and let it import. Will take 1 to 2 hours.

I had a few goes at this to get the networking correct.  I wanted to be able to access the DB from a windows VM (running in parellels), run Oracle Applications on the Mac (native).  To do this I got some advice from this Article http://www.lecloud.net/post/52224625343/the-ultimate-setup-guide-ubuntu-13-04-in

First define networks in Virtual Box Preferences; then add the following adapters to your R12 VM.  This bit took a few attempts to get right...

1. Adapter 1 NAT
2. Adapter 2 Host
3. Adapter 3 Internal

If you're on VMWare add 'Shared with Mac'  (NAT) 'Bridge' (Host) and 'Private' networks.

If you're on Windows, use Host, Nat, Internal as adapter 1,2,3.  Strange - but it works.

Now start up your R12 VM.

You will be promted with the username prompt.  Take a snapshot at this point in case you need to change any settings later.

Follow the prompts, setting passwords for accounts and watch it build the database and config.  Take a snapshot now so you can go back to it if needed.

Up and Running
Your R12 VM should pick up 192.168.56.101
Add this on the mac to /etc/hosts (sudo vi /etc/hosts)
192.168.56.101 ebs.example.com ebs
On your Windows VM add the same line to
c:\windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts (You may need to alter the permissions on this file to edit it)
Add a tnsnames entry:
EBS=
        (DESCRIPTION=      
                (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)
                (HOST=ebs.example.com)(PORT=1521))
         (CONNECT_DATA=
                (SID=EBSDB)
          )
        )
     

Apps Login
http://ebs.example.com:8000

Logins are defaulted as follows:

- SYSADMIN/sysadmin
- MFG/welcome
- OPERATIONS/welcome
- SERVICES/welcome
- MRC/welcome
- HRMS/welcome

Enjoy the fastest Apps install you've ever seen!

How to Fix Yosemite + Itunes 12 + ios 8 = iTunes Unexpected Error - Quit

Yosemite + Itunes 12 + ios 8 = iTunes Unexpected Error - Quit

iTunes 12 is the problem, so we need to revert back to 11 to perform update

1) Copy the iTunes 12 library file -/home/youruser/Music/iTunes/iTunes Library.itl to Previous iTunes Libraries in the same diretory and rename to iTunes Library 12.itl

2) Copy the latest .itl file from Previous iTunes Libraries to /home/youruser/Music/iTunes/iTunes Library.itl (my latest was iTunes Library 2012-12-01 1.itl) 

3) Uninstall itunes 12.  I used appzapper.  Download, install, goto preferences, untick 'Protect Apple Applications' then drag itunes from the Applications fold into appzapper.  Zap itunes 12.

3) Install itunes 11 from Apple site

4) Restore your phone to ios 8 using the iOS 8 file - Hold option key and press 'Restore iphone' in itunes.

5) Let itunes update your phone to ios 8

6) Do not restore or anything else.  Disconnect phone. Quit itunes and install itunes 12 (from Software Update in System Preferences)

7) Now copy back the /home/youruser/Music/iTunes/Previous iTunes Libraries/iTunes Library 12.itl  to /home/youruser/Music/iTunes/iTunes Library.itl 

8) Open itunes 12 and restore from backup. Alternatively you can restore from icloud on the phone.

Calories - Fitbit vs Garmin 610 vs Garmin FR70 vs MyFitnessPal

Having written about Fitbit vs Garmin in terms of distance and speed, I was interested recently in the calories burnt numbers. First comparison shows up big differences; some research shows there is a fairly wide variation and many calculations and methods in use.  Here are the results from the same walk;

	Garmin 610	Garmin  FR70	Fitbit	MyFitnessPal
Distance	2.87		3.26
Average HR	94	94	N/A
Calories	194	211	385	215

The surpirse result is the Fitbit at 386 calories.   I have posted before about the calibration I have done with the fitbit and distance and all settings are the same across all these option in terms of age/weight/height.

I also used myfitnesspal to calculate a calories burn number, using 18min/mile = 3.3 mph which gives between 200 and 230 to try and understand the big difference on the Fitbit number but the MyFitNessPal number is more like the Garmin.

Garmin 610

Garmin FR70

Fitbit

Heart Rate.  Both Garmins were paired to the same strap;  happily, both show record exactly the same results.

Garmin 610

Garmin FR70

Garmin 610

Garmin FR70

Learning Spanish

I've been learning Spanish recently, I've tried alot of resources, websites, apps, and lessons; here's my favorite links 

Online lessons via Skype www.spanology.com live from Madrid!
Online resources and articles www.blogdeespanol.com 
Vocabulary help and excercises www.duolingo.com 
Spanish Dictionary www.spanishdict.com
Spanish Newspaper www.elpais.com/ 
Quick Translation http://translate.google.com 
Another lookup http://www.wordreference.com/es/en 
Conjugator www.123teachme.com

One of the best uses of Skype I've have come across has been learning Spanish over the internet with teachers actually in Spain.  I am taking two lessons a week and trying with some home work between lessons.

You can even order a printed El Pais newspaper from your newsagent in the UK.  The Saturday edition is £1.60 from most newsagents.

Oops! The lift is out of service

Whilst it may feel safe from the flood waters swamping the North of UK at the moment, floor 12 in the Hilton Leeds may not seem so great when the lifts are out of service!

Armed with the Fitbit Ultra though I thought it would make good research whilst I'm still checking the numbers and statistics.  I hit the start button at the ground floor and headed up.  Here's the results - clever how it knows the number of floors. 

New Fit Bit One

A month into using the Fit Bit Ultra, a new product is coming out, the Fit Bit One.

My pre order is done, so review to follow but essentially it adds a sync via bluetooth (no dock) directly with your iphone type device. Additioanlly some kind of alarm for waking you up at the best time.  This follows the popularity of some of the iPhone sleep apps in the iTunes store.

More to follow.  In the meantime, read below my progress with how I am getting on with the Fit Bit Ultra.