Banner 8 vs Banner 9: What Actually Changed?
Banner 9 replaced Oracle Forms with web-based Admin Pages and rebuilt Self-Service. A clear comparison of Banner 8 and Banner 9 for IT and functional teams.
What is the difference between Banner 8 and Banner 9?
Banner 9 moved Banner's administrative interface from Oracle Forms (Internet Native Banner, or INB) to browser-based Admin Pages that run on Java application servers, and rebuilt Self-Service as modern web applications. The Oracle database and most business logic stayed the same, but the user interface, deployment model, single sign-on and extensibility options changed significantly.
Overview
Banner 9 is a new application layer on top of the same Banner database. The big changes were the user interface, the technology stack and the way Banner is deployed and extended.
Side-by-side comparison
| Area | Banner 8 | Banner 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Admin interface | Internet Native Banner (Oracle Forms) | Banner Admin Pages in the browser |
| Navigation | Forms menus, direct form names | Application Navigator with search |
| Self-Service | Banner 8 SSB (PL/SQL web pages) | Banner 9 Self-Service applications |
| Application tier | Oracle Forms server | Java web applications on Tomcat or WebLogic |
| Browser plugin | Java applet required | No plugin, runs in modern browsers |
| Customisation | Form modifications | Banner Extensibility and Page Builder |
| Single sign-on | Limited | CAS and SAML 2.0 support |
| Install/upgrade | Manual scripts | Ellucian Solution Manager (ESM) |
What stayed the same
- The Oracle database, tables (such as
SPRIDENandSFRSTCR) and most PL/SQL packages. - Page names and business processes. A registrar still uses SFAREGS for registration.
- Job submission and population selection concepts.
What teams had to learn
- Application server administration: deploying and tuning Banner 9 applications on Tomcat or WebLogic.
- SSO configuration with CAS or SAML identity providers.
- Extensibility: replacing old form modifications with supported extension points. See what Banner Extensibility is.
- ESM-based upgrades: see what Ellucian Solution Manager does.
Tip: If your institution still carries Banner 8-era modifications, review them now. Many can be retired in favour of delivered Banner 9 functionality or Extensibility, which makes every future upgrade cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
No. Ellucian ended support for Banner 8 Internet Native Banner at the end of 2018, and institutions are expected to run Banner 9 Admin Pages and Self-Service.
The core Oracle database and table structures largely carried over. Banner 9 mainly changed the application tier and user interface.
Yes. Pages keep their familiar seven-character names such as SPAIDEN, GJAPCTL or FGAJVCD, which you can type into Application Navigator search.
Last reviewed by the ITCadence Banner team. Ellucian product capabilities vary by version and licence; confirm details against current Ellucian documentation.
