OBIEE 11g, Setup Client DSN for Administration Tool - How-To Video

After installing the OBI 11g client tools each OBI developer or administrator will need to access the Oracle BI RPD using the OBI Administration Tool. The Administration Tool is the GUI that connects to the Oracle BI Server RPD in Online mode (or on the network in offline mode) allowing development and administration functionality of the RPD. The informal video below highlights the process in which to create an ODBC data source connection to the Oracle BI server and test that the connectivity is working.

This video how-to makes the assumption that the client workstation already has the OBI 11g binaries installed on the machine from any of the install options via the OBI11g installer.

This video is part of a series of videos on OBI 11g installation and configuration.

Simplifying Migration Process – Changing Environment Specific Variables in RPD

When it comes to migrating repository file between environments (Dev - TEST-Prod), one of the common questions from OBIEE environment administrators is if there is a way to change the connection information without having to change them manually in all the places.

Creating repository variables for DSN and DSN Username solves the issue to an extent. However, imagine having to deal with changing multiple DSNs and their respective usernames. Moreover, there is the setting password to the DSN username. One way to automate the setting of the variables is to store the values in a file and set them via admin tool command line mode.

First, define repository variables that can be used in the connection pool.

Reference the DSN information in the connection pool.

Now create a control file SetVariables.txt with the environment specific values.

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'To Open rpd - Open <rpdname> <Administrator User> <administrator password>

Open YourRpd.rpd Administrator SADMIN

'Setting OLAP DSN variable

SetProperty "Variable" "OLAP_DSN" Initializer " 'QA_DSN' "

' Setting OLAP DSN Username variable

SetProperty "Variable" "OLAP_DSN_USER" Initializer " 'QA_User' "

'Setting OLAP DSN User QA database password

SetProperty "Connection Pool" "AppDW"."Connection Pool" "Password" "QAPassword"

Save

Close

Exit

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Create one per environment.

In the command line run the following command:

AdminTool.exe /command SetVariables_QA.txt

And the repository is now prepped for the other environment (QA in this case).