Google Search Appliance (GSA) Connector

Fishbowl's Google Search Appliance (GSA) Connector combines the power of Oracle Content Management with Google Enterprise Search - New Version 2.0

New! Watch the Version 2.0 Video Demo

Google Search Appliance & Oracle ECM

The Google Search Appliance (GSA) provides fast search for your intranet or website. Fishbowl Solutions provides a connector for the Google Search Appliance to integrate it with the Oracle Content Server while retaining the security benefits of Oracle ECM. Google Search Appliance Integration gives customers an alternative to the standard database search options. After Oracle dropped support for Verity, customers have struggled to find a viable alternative to enable robust full-text search and relevance ranking when searching for content. This integration enables customers to use the most popular search engine in the world for their enterprise content.

Where can I use the GSA?

Intranets: Fishbowl's GSA Adapter can connect to your organization's Oracle ECM-based intranet to the GSA intranet making it easy to find the information you need.

Websites: Convert your website visitors into satisfied customers by delivering the information they need to facilitate purchase decisions, streamline support, and engage fully with your online brand.

With the GSA You Can:

Search Multiple Content Servers
Allow employees to search your intranet and public-facing site from one location
Increase employee productivity by empowering your employees to gain instant access to the content and data they need.
Leverage the value of your existing business content and ECM investment by encouraging reuse and making information easier to find.

Google Enterprise Partner Logo - Med

“Google is pleased to add Fishbowl Solutions to the Google Enterprise Partner program. We’re looking forward to Fishbowl Solutions extending the power and reach of the Google Search Appliance by offering content connectors for Oracle UCM to customers.”

Brent VerWeyst
Search Partner Lead for Google Enterprise

Google Search Appliance Connector Small PNG Logo

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Contact Us to learn more, schedule a demo, or request a quote.

Case Study: Fairview Health Services Utilize Google Search Solutions for Oracle WebCenter

Case Study: Manufacturer Improves Website with Google-Powered Search and Navigation Capabilities

Looking for information about the Google Search Appliance? Fishbowl Solutions is a Google Search Appliance Reseller. To learn more about the Google Search Appliance, and how to buy, visit our reseller page.

Connector Overview

Q: What version of Oracle UCM and Google Search Appliance software does the connector support?

A: Fishbowl’s GSA Connector for Oracle UCM supports Oracle UCM 10g and 11g. The current GSA supported versions are 6.8 - 6.14.

Q: What is required to install the connector (i.e. what software is needed?)

A: The basic software components needed include:

· Apache Tomcat

· Fishbowl Solutions Connector for Oracle UCM (contained in custom WAR file)

· Google Search Appliance (GSA) Device – Model 7007 or 9009

· Oracle UCM 10g or 11g

Q: Is the connector installed as part of the GSA itself or on a separate server?

A: Fishbowl Solutions GSA Connector for Oracle UCM is configured on the GSA device itself. Here are the basic steps needed to install and configure the connector:

Configure Fishbowl Solutions GSA Connector Component on Oracle Content Server.

Download and install Apache Tomcat and place it into a convenient location so that it resides in its own directory.

Download and deploy Fishbowl’s GSA Connector (WAR file) for Oracle UCM to the Tomcat instance.
Register the Fishbowl GSA Connector in the GSA Admin console.

Q: How long does it take to setup?

A: This would depend on the amount of configuration necessary. If you are starting from step 1 – installing an instance of Apache Tomcat – and then completing each step thereafter, basic configuration should take no longer than 8 hours.

However, such things as the customer’s environment (firewalls and antivirus software instances running), amount of documents in the Oracle UCM repository, etc., may all impact how much configuration is necessary. Testing, troubleshooting and resolving issues should also be considered.

Features and Functionality

Q: Can the default GSA Search Results page be customized? If yes, what scripting tools are needed?

A: There are two ways to modify the search and search results pages.

Create custom Content Server or SiteStudio templates and use the services provided with Fishbowl's connector to interface with the GSA. Fishbowl provides one such template for use within Oracle UCM with the purchase of the connector.
The GSA's front-end interface can be customized using XSLT (Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations). This scripting language enables you to transform XML documents into other formats. Google supplies information on how to do this here: http://code.google.com/apis/searchappliance/documentation/610/admin_searchexp/ce_user_interface.html

Q: Where is the index data stored?

A: The index data is stored internally on the Google Search Appliance device.

Q: Can the GSA search include metadata also?

A: Yes. Fishbowl’s GSA Connector includes the ability to search text, data, and integer metadata fields as well as selectively include or exclude metadata fields from search index per Oracle Content Server instance.

Q: How often is content typically indexed?

A: This is configurable. The Google Search Appliance locates web and file system content for indexing through a process called crawl or crawling which can be continuous or scheduled. The Google Search Appliance locates content in a content repository using a process called traversal. Traversal is a process in which the connector issues queries to the repository to retrieve content files and the metadata associated with each content file. The content files and metadata are then fed to the Google Search Appliance as a content feed.

Q: Does the connector support friendly URLs?

A: Yes. It uses some of the same Site Studio functionality to create friendly URLs using the wcmUrl idoc script function for site studio pages. Actual content files are assigned the standard document URL, which is the same one a user would see on the content information page.

Q: Does the GSA support phonetic search in the documents?

A: Yes. The GSA takes into account that a large majority of documents have spelling mistakes, and the search indexing process is able to accommodate mistyped search entries or phonetic searches for those words that may be incorrectly spelt. The GSA, just like Google.com, includes a spell checker and supports synonyms and stemming in multiple languages.

Q: Do the UCM index status & release status flags still apply? For example, can you specify (either globally or per doc via metadata) whether a document should be indexed while in workflow or will it wait for workflow to complete before indexing?

A: For documents, only metadata and the original file of the CURRENT version are indexed. Documents in workflow would not be considered CURRENT versions and therefore would not get indexed. Additionally, renditions and previous versions are not indexed.

Searchable File Formats

Q: What file types can be searched and indexed?

A: The GSA can search more than 220 file types, including HTML, Microsoft Office, PDF, PostScript, WordPerfect, Lotus and many others.

Q: Can “Do Not Crawl URLs Patterns” be applied using this connector?

A: Yes. Many file formats are excluded from the crawl by default, including common graphic formats such as .jpg. This setting is configured from the GSA Crawl and Index > Crawl URLs link.

Security

Q: What levels of security are provided with the product?

A: Fishbowl’s GSA Connector for Oracle UCM has 3 options related to security:

1. Public - All content indexed via the connector is flagged as public in the Google search index. Users can query on all the content without security and see cached version.

2. Secure - Oracle Content Server security groups/accounts are used to determine access to search results. Users will be required to authenticate to see search results.

3. Mixed - Content is indexed as both public and secure through the connector. Users have the ability to search public content without logging in, or both public and secure with login. Any content that is viewable by the anonymous user through the content server when indexed is flagged as public. If changes are made to the security configuration in the content server it may be required to re-index for those changes to be reflected in the index if anonymous access has changed.

Q: Does the user need to authenticate on each search?

A: No. Fishbowl’s GSA Connector works with the authentication mechanisms configured within the GSA device and can be configured to provide authentication and authorization without the need for users to enter their credentials.

Pricing and Licensing

Q: How is the connector licensed?

A: The Fishbowl GSA Connector for Oracle UCM is licensed per Oracle Content Server. For pricing information, please contact Fishbowl Sales at 952-465-3426 or sales@fishbowlsolutions.com

Q: Is there a trial version available?

A: Yes. Please contact Fishbowl Solutions sales at 952-465-3426 or sales@fishbowlsolutions.com

Q: Do you sell the connector without the appliance?

A: Fishbowl’s GSA Connector for Oracle UCM can be sold stand alone. If you already have a GSA device and you would like to search content in Oracle UCM intranets and websites, you would only need to purchase the Oracle UCM Connector from Fishbowl Solutions.

Google Search Adapter Product Specs

Product Features:

Search using standard and custom metadata fields: includes support for searching text, date, and integer types
Search using full text: can search just full text, just metadata, or both
Support for metadata operators: matches, contains
Only documents that the user has read access to are returned in the search results
- Public and Secure search results provided based on UCM user roles/accounts through content server user roles, security groups and accounts.
Ability to crawl additional sources including a WCM based website
Index is updated automatically as content is updated: handles updates, expirations, deletions and additions.
On-demand full search collection build/rebuild through GSA
Results will link to Oracle WCM websites as applicable based on the metadata values.
- A single data file will only be returned once, even if it is displayed on multiple pages
- The link will go to the WCM website available
- Hidden website itesm will not be indexed
Ability to use custom search result templates
Ability to use custom search interfaces