Oracle AS Basics- Part VI- The Infrastructure Instance

The infrastructure instance is front-ended by an Apache web listener.
 
An infrastructure instance offers these services to middle tier instances:

• Configuration management
  
• Oracle Internet Directory
  
• Single Sign-On
  
• Certificate Authority
  

The infrastructure includes an Oracle database that is used to store configuration information for all the middle tier instances in the farm, the data maintained by the Oracle Internet Directory, and the repositories required by some middle tier components.

The Oracle Internet Directory is an LDAP-compliant directory service used by middle tier applications for maintaining user accounts and privileges.

The Single Sign-On facility allows end users to connect to many middle tier applications on many middle tier instances after responding to just one logon prompt.

The Oracle Certificate Authority can issue digital certificates to enable use of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) communications and authentication.