Finit Answers Oracle EPM and Hyperion Enterprise Support

Finit Answers: Oracle EPM and
Hyperion Enterprise Support

December 14, 2012
Greg Barrett
gbarrett@finitsolutions.com

www.finitsolutions.com

Finit Answers: Oracle EPM and Hyperion Enterprise Support

Finit Introduction The Finit Solutions Series

Finit Solutions specializes in consulting services in the Oracle Hyperion Enterprise
Performance Management Solutions suite of products:
Financial Close and Consolidation Planning and Business Intelligence
 Financial Management (HFM)  Planning
 Hyperion Enterprise  Core Planning
 Financial Close Management (FCM)  Modules (Workforce, CapEx,
 Disclosure Management Project Financial Planning)
 Account Reconciliation Module (ARM)  Essbase (ASO / BSO)
Integration Reporting Tools
 Financial Data Quality Management (FDM)  Financial Reporting
 Oracle Data Integrator (ODI)  Smart View / Essbase Excel Add-In
 Enterprise Performance Management  OBIEE
Architect (EPMA)  Financial Management Analytics
 Data Relationship Management (DRM) (OFMA)
 Other (ERPi, EIS, etc.)  Web Analysis

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Finit Services The Finit Solutions Series

Finit’s consulting services cover a broad range of implementation
and post implementation options.

Finit Solutions: Implementation Services

– Full cycle implementations – Infrastructure Services
– Discovery and Requirements – Data Services (historical data, GL data
– Global Design integration)
– Detailed Design and Build – Project / Program Management
– Testing and Training – Product Upgrades
– Deploy – Redesign / Enhancements

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Finit’s Focus The Finit Solutions Series

We strongly believe that Service + Solutions = Maximum Value
Service
 Our compensation model is based upon client satisfaction with consultant’s
work, not how many hours they charge.
 Finit has no external owners and Finit partners are involved in every full-
cycle implementation.
 Finit uses its own employees, no subcontractors.

Solutions
 Finit consultants are Hyperion product experts who enjoy designing, building
and deploying great solutions, applications and processes.
 Finit works closely with Oracle Hyperion development on product strategy
and beta testing.

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Finit’s Values The Finit Solutions Series

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Finit’s Client Service The Finit Solutions Series

Our client service approach has led to 100%
customer satisfaction for every Finit client (170
and counting) for every Oracle Hyperion project
(over 300 and counting).

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About the Presenter The Finit Solutions Series

Greg Barrett (gbarrett@finitsolutions.com)

• Ten years Hyperion Experience
• Essbase, FDM, HFM, Hyperion Enterprise
• Highly Customized Solutions
• Project Manager
• Partner at Finit

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Agenda The Finit Solutions Series

 Overview of the End of Premiere Support (April 2013)
 What Premiere Support Means (HFM / Hyperion Enterprise)
 What does this mean for your company?
 Options
 Finit Answers Introduction
 Features & Benefits
 Support Tiers
 The world’s simplest ticketing system
 Demo
 Q and A

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The Finit Solutions Series

Oracle’s
Application Support Policies



Oracle Support Levels - Premier The Finit Solutions Series

Premier Support – Premier support is the most comprehensive
support level that Oracle provides. Premier Support includes some
of the following items:
• Active Development by Oracle – Oracle will work to certify and create
patches for versions on premier support for new third-party or Oracle
products. This will also include development for product bug fixes or
enhancements.
• Technical Support – Oracle will assist you with technical troubleshooting.
• Certification with most new third-party products/versions
• Certification with most new Oracle products
• Premier support runs for 5 years on a version from its general availability
date (GA)

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Oracle Support Levels - Extended The Finit Solutions Series

Extended Support – Extended support lets you stay competitive,
with the freedom to upgrade on your timetable.
• If you take advantage of Extended Support, it provides you with an extra
three years of support for specific Oracle releases for an additional fee
• Major product and technical releases
• Technical Support – Oracle will assist you with technical troubleshooting.
• Certification with most new third-party products/versions
• Certification with most new Oracle products
• Extended Support may not include certification with some new third-party
products/versions

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Oracle Support Levels - Sustaining The Finit Solutions Series

Sustaining Support – Sustaining Support includes the following
items:
• Products on Sustaining support can receive the technical support from
Oracle as long as maintenance is current. With this, Oracle will answer and
address your support tickets (SR’s).
• The big difference is that Oracle has halted development on the product
version. This means no development for any reason (new 3rd party
components, bug fixes, enhancements, etc.)
• With Hyperion Enterprise, since 6.5.1.1 is the terminal release of the
product, no new development will exist on the product for any reason when
it moves to Sustaining support in April 2013.

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Oracle Support Levels

How do these support policies affect my organization?
 Planning your Upgrade
 Usage of third party products – Office 2010, Windows 7, etc.
 EPM 11.1.2 versus 11.1.2.2
• Currently ALL 11.1.2 versions would go off of Premier Support in April 2015
• No official guidance has been given on 11.1.2.3 yet
• This is an important distinction when planning your upgrade

Oracle’s Lifetime Support Policy can be found here:
http://www.oracle.com/us/support/library/lifetime-support-
applications-069216.pdf

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Oracle Support Levels

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Hyperion Enterprise Status



Hyperion Enterprise Announcement The Finit Solutions Series

• Oracle released a ‘Statement of Direction’ on Hyperion Enterprise in January
2012. The announcement mentioned a few key items:
• Version 6.5.1.1, released in Oct 2011, will be the last release of Hyperion Enterprise
(it is the terminal release).
• Starting in December 2012, Hyperion Enterprise will move to controlled availability.
Starting in December 2012, sales related to Hyperion Enterprise licenses will be
limited to existing customers only.
• Hyperion Enterprise and Enterprise Reporting versions 6.5.1.1 and 6.5.1.0 will move
from Premier Support to Sustaining Support in April 2013. Sustaining Support will
continue indefinitely (as long as you are current with your Oracle support
maintenance).
• This announcement does not mean that Hyperion Enterprise will become ‘un-
supported’ in April 2013. Hyperion Enterprise will move to Sustaining Support
with no end date and you can keep running it for some time.
• This is a major difference and worth noting. Hyperion Application Link (HAL) did become ‘un-
supported’ in June 2010 (Sustaining Support End Date) but this is not the case with Hyperion
Enterprise in that no Sustaining Support End Date exists.

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Hyperion Enterprise Releases The Finit Solutions Series

• Premier Support for Hyperion Enterprise and Enterprise Reporting
6.5.x (6.5.1.1 / 6.5.1.0) expires in April 2013. At this time
Enterprise will go on Sustaining Support.

• All versions of Hyperion Enterprise and Enterprise Reporting 6.4.x
and lower (i.e. 6.3.1, etc.) are now currently on Sustaining
Support.

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Hyperion Enterprise 6.5.1.1 The Finit Solutions Series

• Hyperion Enterprise and Enterprise Reporting version 6.5.1.1
release focused on providing new third party component support
and did not release any new functionality in the product.

• The following new third party component support was offered in
6.5.1.1:
• Support for Retrieve and Smart View for Microsoft Office 2010 (32 bit mode only)
• Support for Microsoft Server 2008 R2 operating system
• Support for Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 and FireFox 3.6 for Hyperion Enterprise
Web and Hyperion Enterprise Web Reporting
• Windows 7 client operating system support (32 bit and 64 bit)

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Hyperion Enterprise 6.5.1.1 Cont. The Finit Solutions Series

• Complete third party support with version 6.5.1.1:
Item Version
Microsoft Server Operating - Server 2008 (sp1)
System (32 bit) - Server 2003 (sp2)
Microsoft Server Operating - Server 2008 (R2)
System (64 bit) - Server 2008
- Server 2003
Microsoft Client Operating - Windows 7
System (32 bit or 64 bit) - Vista
- XP Pro (SP3)
Microsoft Excel - Office 2010 (32 bit only)
- Office 2007
- Office 2003
Web Browsers (for Web) - Internet Explorer 6, 7, 8
- Firefox 2.0.0.3, 3.5.x, 3.6.x

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Hyperion Enterprise 6.5.1.1 Cont. The Finit Solutions Series

• Complete key Hyperion support with version 6.5.1.1:
Item Version
Financial Data Quality - 9.3.3
Management (FDM) - 11.1.1.3
- 11.1.2.1
Smart View for Office - 9.3.1.2
- 9.3.3
- 11.1.1.3
- 11.1.2.1

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Hyperion Enterprise
Considerations



Key Considerations The Finit Solutions Series

• Hyperion Enterprise moving into Sustaining Support provides your company
with the ability to stay on Hyperion Enterprise for some time. However, since no
development will be occurring on Hyperion Enterprise beyond April 2013, the
risk grows the longer companies stay on Hyperion Enterprise.

• Based on the announcement and the support situation, a few things are valid:
• You don’t need to panic and try to rush a migration from Hyperion Enterprise before the April
2013 date. If you had already planned to migrate off of Hyperion Enterprise – great. If you are
not ready – you have time and you don’t need to rush. You can expect to continue to stay on
Hyperion Enterprise for years to come.
• If you do decide to stay on Hyperion Enterprise after April 2013, you should work to minimize
risk as much as possible. Your Hyperion Enterprise environment is very dependent on third-
party components and you should work to have a controlled environment.
• This announcement does mean that you will have to move off of Hyperion Enterprise
eventually. Staying on Hyperion Enterprise for the next few years can be a viable strategy.
Staying on Hyperion Enterprise to 2020 carries more risk. Eventually the third party
components will drive your need to move off of Hyperion Enterprise.

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Key Next Steps – Control your Environment The Finit Solutions Series

• Use two Server Environments at a Minimum
• If you decide to stay on Hyperion Enterprise while it is on Sustaining Support, you
should have two server environments (Production and then a second environment
(Development / QA / Test)).
• Part of moving to a more ‘controlled’ environment is having a server environment
where all patch updates can be applied and thoroughly tested prior to pushing them
to Production.
• It is recommended that this environment contain at least 1 server of each major
component from your Production environment. For example, if you have 2 Citrix
servers, 1 Application server and 1 Data server, then your Test environment should
contain a minimum of 1 Citrix server, 1 Application server and 1 Data server.
• The servers do not need to match the full specifications of your Production environment as
the goal is not large concurrency testing, but admin team / power user testing. For
example, if your Production Application server has 4 processors and 8 GB of RAM, your
Test environment could have 2 processors and 4 GB of RAM.

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Key Next Steps – Control your Environment The Finit Solutions Series

• Develop controlled ‘Maintenance’ policies
• Once Hyperion Enterprise is on Sustaining Support, it is important to keep in mind
that the responsibility to test all third party patches now lies solely on your
organization (as Oracle will not be doing it). Therefore, you should develop a very
controlled ‘Maintenance’ policy if it does not exist today.
• This Maintenance policy should be a joint IT / Finance set of procedures that are
followed every month to minimize risk in your Production environment. A few key
items of this should include:
• IT / Finance teams review all potential third party patches and upon agreement, apply
them to the Development / Test environment.
• The patches should be applied off-hours and preferably over a weekend when users will
not be in the system. This is to minimize potential user down time if something goes
wrong.
• Reboots should only occur outside business hours and preferably over weekends.
• Hyperion Enterprise admins / key users run through set of tests after the patches have
been applied to verify that the patches did not ‘break’ anything.
• All of these steps should be completed with sufficient time prior to the next close starting.
This will give time to apply the patches to Production and then retest in that environment.

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Key Next Steps – Determine IT Rollout Schedules

• IT Rollout Plans for Third Party Products
• Your IT department likely has plans in place currently to upgrade to Windows 7,
Internet Explorer 8 and / or Office 2010 if you are not currently on these versions.
• In addition to those client based components, you will want to see if they plan on
moving off of Server 2003 for server operating systems and only using Server 2008.
• You will want to find out what their deployment schedules are for these products as
it may impact your timing and plans for upgrading to Hyperion Enterprise 6.5.1.1.
• This level of communication is also important in the future. Windows 8 was made
available in October, Office will have another release in the next few years. If your IT
group plans on implementing those soon, you will want to know that as those new
versions will not be compatible with Hyperion Enterprise 6.5.1.1 and that may drive
the timing of a Hyperion Enterprise project.

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Key Next Steps – Upgrade to 6.5.1.1?

• Should you upgrade to 6.5.1.1?
• If your company is planning on moving to Office 2010, Windows 7 and / or Server
2008 and you plan to stay on Hyperion Enterprise for some time, then you will have
to upgrade to 6.5.1.1. Without upgrading, you will not be able to support these new
third party technologies.
• Even if your company is not planning on moving to those third party components,
but your company is planning on staying on Hyperion Enterprise for a few years, then
you may want to perform an upgrade. This would allow you to go into Sustaining
Support with the latest application version.
• A few key items related to the upgrade:
• 6.5.1.1 is a full installation. It is not just a ‘DLL copy & paste’ patch approach.
• No conversion is needed going from 6.5.1.0 to 6.5.1.1. You can just open the application in the new
version.
• Previous releases would require an upgrade.
• A Patch Set Update (PSU) exists for 6.5.1.1 (PSU 101).

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Key Next Steps – Licensing

• Should you buy more licenses in 2012?
• Based on our understanding, you will be able to buy additional Hyperion Enterprise
licenses if you are an existing customer past April 2013.
• As a result, you don’t have to rush to buy licenses this year if you do not need them.
You could buy them next year or in future years.
• One item to note – if you stop paying your Oracle maintenance support, you will
probably not be able to buy additional licenses without first paying back
maintenance fees.
• Terms of your licensing and the license cost will be based on your contractual terms
with Oracle and you should contact your Oracle sales rep for any questions regarding
licensing.

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Finit Answers: Oracle EPM and
Hyperion Enterprise Support


Finit Answers The Finit Solutions Series

Finit Solutions Official Support Offering:
Answers & Support with Efficient, Responsive Service
Finit Answers provides the proper support offering for your Business
 Hyperion Product Expertise: Finit has been offering Oracle Hyperion EPM services and support as a
company since our inception (July 2002) - staffed by our Hyperion Subject Matter Experts.
 Finit is providing a unique pledge for Hyperion Enterprise Customers: Any Hyperion Enterprise related fees
can be applied to a future project to replace Hyperion Enterprise with Finit Solutions.
 Allow Finit Answers to be your personal Hyperion Insurance Policy
 Flexibility: We offer a ‘pay as you go’ option (pay for only the time you use) along with several other levels
of support that we can customize to meet your needs:

1. Time And Materials Support: You only pay for the time you use (no monthly fees)
2. Dedicated Critical Support: Technical Application Support with a guaranteed 2-hour response time
3. Remote Consulting Assistance: Ask us to review your HFM Rules, Essbase Calcs, consolidations, FDM Integrations,
custom reports, etc.
4. Managed Services: Application Administrator Assistance (Primary or Secondary)

 http://www.finitsolutions.com/Support_Finit_Answers.html

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Standard In-House Finit Answers Support
Support
Full-Time Dedicated Resources (Expensive) Lower your Support Expenses

Your Employees are full-time, but Finit Answers allows you to increase your
Hyperion Usage and Support is cyclical efficiency
throughout the month

New resources – hard to find Finit is On-Demand

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Flexible and Scalable

1. Time And Materials Support: You only pay for the time you use (no monthly fees)
2. Dedicated Critical Support: Technical Application Support with a guaranteed 2-
hour response time
3. Remote Consulting Assistance: Ask us to review your HFM Rules, Essbase Calcs,
consolidations, FDM Integrations, custom reports, etc.
4. Managed Services: Application Administrator Assistance (Primary or Secondary)


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Features and Benefits

 Ability to log “Critical” level tickets
 No limit to the number of support tickets you can log
 Easy to use Ticketing System
 DIRECT Access to true Hyperion Experts (Finit Answers is staffed by our Full-
Time Consultants): No subcontracting / No off-shoring
 SLA (Service Level Agreement) guarantees a timely response


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IPAD???

 Yes, It does work on
the IPAD

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Thank you for attending! The Finit Solutions Series

Questions? - > Insights@finitsolutions.com

- > General Questions
Email us for a  Greg Barrett
(gbarrett@finitsolutions.com)
copy of the slides or  Joe Mizerk
(jmizerk@finitsolutions.com)
link to the recording.

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Finit Answers Oracle EPM and Hyperion Enterprise Support

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