PL/SQL Access Provider 

The PL/SQL Access Provider is the function within the Oracle Database (Base Server) by which the framework actively connects and sends messages to the Application Server (Extended Server). The PL/SQL Access Provider needs a couple of configuration settings to function properly, these settings are:

• The URL to the Extended Server web server
• A username used for authentication (should always be IFSPLSQLAP)
• Password used to authenticate the user (IFSPLSQLAP)

Contents

• Implementation
• Initial Setup
• Changing the PL/SQL Access Provider settings
• Verifying the PL/SQL Access Provider Settings

Implementation

All these settings are stored in the PLSQLAP_ENVIRONMENT_TAB database table. This table only have to columns, NAME and VALUE (thus containing name - value pairs). Since especially the password for the IFSPLSQLAP user is very sensitive information, there is not client GUI used to modify the values in this table, neither is there any Logical Unit or database view exposing this database table to any end users. If you want to manually modify the values in the table you will have to use SQL Plus or a similar tool, logged on as application owner.

The parameters CONN_STR, USER and PASSWORD are entered by the installer when Extended Server is created or reconfigured.

The parameters HTTP_PER_CONS, SSL_WALLET_PATH and SSL_WALLET_PASSWORD must be entered manually if they are needed.

Initial Setup

The PL/SQL Access Provider is automatically configured correctly by the Installer tool during installation/reconfiguration as long as you remember to check the Set connection to this Application Server checkbox. During installation/configuration the URL to the Extended Server web server is entered into the ORACLE ACL (Access Control List).

Changing the PL/SQL Access Provider settings

There are two cases when you might want to change the PL/SQL Access Provider Settings:

1. When creating a copy of your system (copying the database as is usually done to create a TEST environment based on an existing PRODUCTION environment).
   
   To update the settings for the PL/SQL Access Provider, start the Installer and reconfigure your server instance. Make sure the Set Connection to this Application Server is selected in the Import data into database form. This will automatically configure the PL/SQL Access Provider according to the password you entered to the IFSPLSQLAP internal user and the System URL specified in the Installer wizard.
2. If you have to use an internal web server for the Extended Server agent servers such as the Batch Server or Connect Server. Such an internal web server will also be used by the PL/SQL Access Provider.
   
   This scenario is not supported by the installer, you have to configure it manually using SQL Plus or a similar tool.
   Make sure the PLSQLAP_ENVIRONMENT_TAB contain the following lines (the columns are named NAME and VALUE):
    

   Name	Value
   CONN_STR	<host>:<port>/fndext/internalsoapgateway
   USER	IFSPLSQLAP
   PASSWORD	<password for IFSPLSQLAP>

   
    

Verifying the PL/SQL Access Provider Settings

There is an entry in the Application Monitoring Console feature in IFS Solution Manager that can be used to verify the settings. One important thing to note, though - the monitoring entry only verifies that the PL/SQL Access Provider can access the configured Extended Server instance, not that it is the correct server instance!
Please make sure the CONN_STR value (URL) mentioned above actually refers to the Extended Server instance used together with your database instance.