Upgrading WebLogic on Auth. Mgr. appliances

[DavidHettlinger]

Hello, my organization recently asked me to assist with our RSA Authentication Manager environment (so I'm just getting started in this area).  I've been told that I need to upgrade the WebLogic instances running on the RSA Auth. Mgr. appliances.  Can someone give me or point me to a high-level overview of how that is done?  For example, do I need to deploy a whole new (virtual) appliance file from RSA (if we're using virtual appliances)?  Or should I upgrade WebLogic just as if it were installed on a (Linux) server?  (I've searched through documentation and posts on this site but haven't found an answer.)

[EdwardDavis · Accepted solution]

All updates to the RSA Authentication Manager servers must come from RSA official patch releases, as the system is considered a 'black box implementation' in full, and components including WebLogic are integrated and hardened in 'RSA specific' ways. At this time the current version is 8.3.0.1.0. It is not intended to treat the servers as a separate Suse Linux OS running separate WebLogic and that each piece can have it's own independent updates.

[DavidHettlinger]

Thanks for the guidance, Edward.  I take it that following RSA's procedures to upgrade Auth. Mgr., such as those specified in RSA Authentication Manager 8.3 Setup and Configuration Guide's appendices A & B, will result in upgrading WebLogic, correct?

[JayGuillette]

Yes, though there would always be a delay from the time a new version of Web Logic was announced by Oracle until when it is deployed into a version of the Authentication Manager appliance.  Similar situation with Suse Linux.  As Ed pointed out, this is an integrated appliance with a small security profile through limited number of installed server packages, it is not a server running various applications.