Upcoming November System Outages for Oracle Financials Systems - FINDINI 4.0.12 Release

October 12, 2017

This November 2017 FINDINI 4.0.12 release will be available to users on Monday November 20, 2017.

Short Summary:

The main focus of this release is to upgrade the Oracle Financials Database from version 11.2.0.4 to 12.1.0.2. This will ensure our database version is supported by Oracle for several years to come. We will also be patching the entire application suite with the latest Oracle EBS 12.1.3 RPC5 (Rollup Patch Collection Set 5) functional application patches. This RPC5 will bring our EBS application to the most current bug free state of functionality available in version 12.1.3. Not only will we get fixes to some existing bugs, but we will also get some new functionality that we can look into using to improve our business processes. Oracle can also support our application more efficiently and effectively at this current patching baseline level. 

Oracle Financials Outage - 6:00pm on Friday, November 17th until 9:00am on Monday, November 20th to accommodate the installation of this release. CPATH (Capital Planning at Harvard), DMS Financial Data Warehouse, CREW Reporting, & OBI environments will also be offline at times during this outage window. CPATH & DMS Financial Data Warehouse are also having a release during this weekend.

JAVA JRE will need to be updated to version 1.8.0_141 on 11/20.

Please review the Detailed Summary below for much more pertinent information regarding what this release may mean to you.

Detailed Summary:

One of the main focus of this major OFPI Phase 2 release is to upgrade the Oracle Financials Database from 11.2.0.4 to 12.1.0.2 including any needed database prerequisite patching. This will ensure our database version is supported by Oracle for several years to come. Another main focus of this release will also be patching the entire application suite with the latest Oracle EBS 12.1.3 RPC5 (Rollup Patch Collection Set 5) functional application patches. This RPC5 will bring our EBS application to the most current bug free state of functionality available in version 12.1.3.Not only will we get fixes to some existing bugs, but we will also get some new functionality that we can look into using to improve our business processes. Oracle can also support our application more efficiently and effectively at this current patching baseline level.

Why all of this patching? Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.1.3 has been available for a while, and over its lifetime has been significantly enhanced in numerous ways by Oracle. These enhancements and fixes are provided as individual patches, product family Release Update Packs (RUP), and product-specific Recommended Patch Collections (RPC). For example, there are Recommended Patch Collections for Financials products such as General Ledger and Payables. On the technology side, there are patchsets such as the OA Framework 12.1.3.1 Consolidated Update Patch. Identifying and applying all the individual patches, RUPs, and RPCs we need can be time-consuming. Complicating matters further, patchsets across multiple product families are generally not tested together. The latest and greatest RPC5 includes all the recommended patches, along with their dependencies. Applying this patch in a single downtime patching window saves effort and time, rather than applying each recommended patch individually.

In addition during this release, we will address the standard security and compliance software and database patching in order to keep the EBS, CPATH, & OBI Replication systems (including Golden Gate) up to date with many industry security regulations and requirements. These will include updates for PSU, ATG, CPU, JDK, JRE, & Linux & Weblogic Operating System patching. Finally, we will attempt to address some additional bug fixes and system enhancements from our current Project & Product Backlogs.

We will continue to nurture and utilize the Automated Testing Framework OATS (Oracle Application Testing Suite) for application functional/performance testing within this release.

The key deliverables of the Oracle Financial Platform Improvement (OFPI) Phase 2 FINDINI 4.0.12 Release include:

  • Upgrading the EBS database to version 12.1.0.2

  • Applying the Oracle EBS 12.1.3 RPC5 application patches

  • Applying Misc Patches not included in Recommended Patch Collection 5 & Patches from Known issues found by other schools related to the 12c Database Upgrade

  • Applying the standard software security patching, weblogic upgrading, and database upgrading in order to keep the EBS, CPATH, & OBI Replication systems (including Golden Gate) up to date with many industry security regulations and requirements. These will include the July-2017 updates for PSU, CPU, JDK, JRE, Weblogic middleware, & Linux Operating System patching

  • Developing Oracle EBS Application retrofit changes for RICE objects to seeded/custom code needed due to the 12c upgrade & RPC5 patching

  • Processing any Configuration changes required due to patching

  • Completing the implementation the new file handling process for internal interfaces to/from Oracle AP/AR/GL

  • Upgrading of the CitiBank TS2 Platform

  • Implementing the CAPS Soft Close Initiative & several other CAPS enhancements

  • Implementing other additional Backlog fixes & enhancements for GL, HCOM, Payables, CSMA, & Assets

  • Ensuring seamless Oracle EBS integration with all upstream and downstream applications/systems including Data Warehouse, Reporting, Concur, CPATH, GMAS, HUBS, PeopleSoft, SIS, etc.

  • Updating the OATS existing automated functional & performance test scripts related to RPC impacts

  • Successful testing cycles of all of the above including performance testing

Outages:

The University's financial systems will be unavailable from Friday, November 17 at 6:00pm until Monday, November 20 9:00am to complete the installation of this release. The Oracle EBS Financial systems that will be offline during this time include:

  • Accounts Payable

  • Accounts Payable Adjustment Form for Assets

  • Accounts Receivable

  • iReceivables & Collections

  • Bottomline

  • CAPS

  • Cash Management (CMRA)

  • Chart Security Maintenance Application (CSMA)

  • Chart of Accounts GL Validator

  • FedEx

  • General Ledger

  • Harvard Oracle Assets

  • HCOM & iProcurement

  • PCard

  • Vendor Request

  • Web ADI

  • Web Reimbursement

Also, CPATH (Capital Planning at Harvard), DMS Financial Data Warehouse, CREW reporting, & OBI environments will also be offline at times during this outage. CPATH & DMS Financial Data Warehouse are also having a release during this same window. OBI/Replication will need a catch up period that will make some reports unavailable over the weekend.

 

Additional Release Details for FINDINI 4.0.12:

 

The FINDINI 4.0.12 release will include a JRE update to 1.8.0_141. When logging in for the first time after November 20, users will be required to download this updated Java JRE. If users receive a popup message that a more recent version is available, they should NOT act upon the request. The CADM HUIT End Point team will also be pushing the Java JRE 1.8.0_141 update to all HUIT supported users with LANDesk who currently have Java 1.8.0_121 beginning on 11/20. It is highly recommended that non supported HUIT schools do the same where possible after 11/20. This latest version of the JRE will better support the various available browsers that have been upgraded as well.

 

Appendix:

 

Summary of changes include:

 

Summary of Changes
Summary of Changes (cont)

 

Oracle Financials desktop standards can be found on site http://huit.harvard.edu/pages/computer-standards under the Enterprise Application Supported Desktop Configurations section. These desktop standards will be updated for this release. Further helpful tips & release information can be found on site http://fss.finance.harvard.edu/popular-resources & http://oracle.fss.finance.harvard.edu/releases.

Click here for further E-news publication information regarding this release: Coming soon

For questions please contact the HUIT Service Desk at ithelp@harvard.edu or call them at 5-7777.

 

FINDINI 4.0.12 Training Tips:
 

Effective with this FINDINI release, receiving thresholds in HCOM will be adjusted to only require receiving (3-way match for payment) for all purchase orders (sponsored and non) $2,500 or greater. This change is consistent with several peer institutions and presents an opportunity for departments to realize greater administrative efficiencies for low dollar purchase order transactions. The new process has been reviewed and approved through Central Administration’s Financial Administration (including Strategic Procurement, Accounts Payable, Office for Sponsored Programs, Risk Management and Audit Services, and the Office of the Controller). More information, including links to detailed FAQ’s and training aides, will be provided in future issues of the eNews and posted on a new Accounts Payable webpage found at https://oc.finance.harvard.edu/hcom-receiving-threshold