Simplifying Agent Installation for Java Management Service

With the August 2024 update of JMS, the Oracle Management Agent (OMA) installation process for JMS is more streamlined and user-friendly thanks to improvements in the installer. This post will highlight the benefits of this new installer and provide detailed steps to set up your systems to be managed by JMS.

The New Installer

The new installer bundle makes installing OMA seamless, efficient, and user-friendly.

Java Included in the Installer:

A critical pre-requisite for running OMA effectively is having a Java installation that is independent of the system Java. The management agent should NOT rely on a shared Java Runtime.
The new installer addresses this requirement by including its own JDK 8. For users who don’t have a JDK 8 installation already, this eliminates the extra step of installing it. For those that already have a JDK 8 installation, it avoids the temptation of using a JDK not dedicated to the agent.

Enhanced Reliability:

By bundling JDK 8 with the installer, the installation process becomes more reliable. Users no longer need to worry about installing the right JDK 8 update release, compatibility issues, or manual setup errors. The installer takes care of everything, providing a streamlined and error-free installation and, later, updates.

Time Efficiency:

The automated setup saves significant time for users, allowing them to deploy OMA quickly and efficiently. This is particularly beneficial in environments where multiple agents need to be installed across various systems.

By incorporating these improvements, the new installer ensures a smoother, faster, and more reliable installation process, leading to better performance and user satisfaction.

JMS Onboarding

Pre-requisites

Before proceeding with the installation, ensure the following:

JMS OCI Environment Setup: Make sure your Oracle Cloud Infrastructure environment is set up correctly to allow communication between all required components and cloud services.
Fleet Creation: Users must have created a JMS fleet.

Users wanting to manage Java workloads in OCI using JMS Fleets should follow the instructions for setting up Oracle Cloud Agents in OCI systems.

For non-OCI systems:

Step 1: Download the Installer from JMS Fleets

From the JMS console in OCI, navigate to the Fleet Details page and Download Installer for your operating system and architecture.
The download includes two files:

The installer bundle (.tar.gz or .zip depending on the target Operating System)

A configuration file named JMS_agent_configuration.rsp

Note: The installer bundle and configuration file can also be downloaded programmatically using the JMS Fleets API.

Step 2: Transfer to Host and Extract the Installer Bundle

Transfer both the downloaded installer bundle and the JMS_agent_configuration.rsp file to the host(s) you want to monitor using JMS Fleets.
Ensure both files are placed in the same directory on the host machine(s). This is crucial for the installer to function correctly.
Extract the contents of the bundle on the host(s). The package will include:
- installJMSAgent.sh (or installJMSAgent.ps1 for Windows)
- JDK 8 binaries
- OMA installation files
(Optional) Configure the Installation
- The installation can be configured using parameters in the JMS_agent_configuration.rsp.
- Refer to the Configuration Parameters for detailed instructions on setting these parameters.

Step 3: Execute the Installer

Navigate to the directory containing the extracted bundle.
Execute the Installation Script:
- Linux/MacOS: Execute installJMSAgent.sh:
  sudo ./installJMSAgent.sh
- Windows (make sure to start PowerShell with administrator permissions): Execute installJMSAgent.ps1:
  .\installJMSAgent.ps1
Verify Installation:
- After the installation completes, verify that the agent is installed and properly configured to report to the JMS fleet by:
- Reviewing the script output and installer logs for any errors.
- Navigating to the Managed Instances table in the JMS Fleet Details page or the Agents page in OCI console.
  - You may see the host listed there after a delay of up to 30 minutes following a successful installation.

Further Exploration

Fleet Management in JMS allows Java users to group Java Virtual Machines running in Desktops, Servers, or Cloud deployments into fleets, obtain insights into their Java usage, and manage their Java workloads. Fleet Management provides reporting and management capabilities through Oracle Cloud Infrastructure platform services to monitor and observe Java usage (on-premises or in the cloud), as well as potentially identify issues that may be present in their usage. Fleet Management reduces the challenges of inventory, stability, performance, security baseline and compliance, tuning, troubleshooting, and cost optimization for stakeholders involved in the end-to-end life-cycle of Java applications, starting with design and development all the way to production and maintenance.