PeopleTools 8.55 has introduced a new automated mechanism for installation and configuration of the PeopleSoft infrastructure, Deployment Framework. Using the Deployment Framework, all elements of the traditional PeopleSoft installation are consolidated into a single Deployment Package (DPK). The DPK automates installation of all software associated with each tier of the PeopleSoft architecture, and along with Automated Configuration Management (ACM) forms the core of the PeopleSoft Cloud Architecture (PCA).
Deployment Packages (DPKs) are available for each major component in the PeopleSoft architecture, with separate DPKs provided for PeopleTools, the application tier (HCM, FSCM, Campus, etc.), and complementary technologies such as Elasticsearch. As delivered, the DPK will create a basic default implementation, but customization of the deployment may be accomplished through an editable text file.
DPKs are deployed using Open Source scripting tools from Puppet Labs provided within the DPK itself. The Puppet scripts allow for customization of the deployment using a plain text configuration file referred to as a YAML file. The custom YAML file overrides all default settings and allows for a wide variety of custom settings to suit the specific needs of a given target server. Each target may have different custom YAML files to support different requirements on different servers. For example, in production there may be a need to separate the Application Server from the PIA server, therefore each would have a unique custom YAML file. Further, if there are multiple App Servers and PIA servers, the custom YAML files could be replicated across all like targets to ensure common configuration. This provides the ability to rapidly scale out an environment by replicating middle-tier servers quickly on demand.
While Production servers may require isolation of the mid-tier components, the lower environments can be configured using a YAML file which creates all PIA, App, and Process Scheduler domains on a single server, or multiple App Servers pointing at different target database instances. The options are limited only by the resource constraints of the target server.
All customization of the deployment process as contained in the custom YAML file is retained as new DPKs are downloaded and deployed. The delivered process will incorporate all existing YAML customizations automatically, eliminating the need to reapply these changes when applying PeopleTools updates.
The adoption of the Deployment Framework by leveraging the DPK model will significantly simplify server administration and maintenance needs for PeopleSoft environments and provide the tools necessary to manage the process in an automated, repeatable, and auditable manner, freeing server admin team to focus on higher-value tasks.
DPKs automate the creation of new instances and/or environments. It is intended to facilitate the quick deployment of new images.