1) read the reference guide documentation (that's the best advice...) to get a nice general view of all things, even if you just read it quickly and will come back to it when doing the things 2) read the JSR-168 specification. it's not boring... and very usefull, whatever portal you use 3) database : you can take the jboss + portal package. Database configuration are not dependant from this. You can configure your database whenever you want. 4) start with : install the portal, make it run "as it is delivered". Follow the installation chapter in ref guide doc. This to make sure everything is setup properly and run. Play around with it. Then configure the datasource to the database you want (oracle). Switch to your new (Oracle) datasource before to create important data for your test (like users, etc...). 5) to set the database. Advice : set a different database/datasource for a) portal objects, b) user and roles, c) CMS. This way, you have separate database (isolation) of things that are fully independant. And a enhanced architecture, for prod. 6) to set the datasources : set the hibernate configuration to different datasources, in folder : "...\deploy\jboss-portal.sar\conf\hibernate". example : change <property name="connection.datasource">java:PortalDS</property> | to <property name="connection.datasource">java:PortalUSERSDS</property> | 7) add the datasource description (PortalUSERSDS) in the file portal-xxxxxx-ds.xml, in folder : "...\deploy\jboss-portal.sar\conf\hibernate". You can make several "-ds.xml" files, for easiest modifications. Like "portal-users-and-roles-mysql-ds.xml". 8) change the name of the datasources in the modules that use them, in all the jboss-service.xml files. Search for portalDS and set the datasource to the one needed. (ie : PortalUSERSDS in the user and role modules, PortalCMSDS in the CMS module, etc...). Look at it, you will understand what I mean. 9) the conf/hibernate files, "-ds.xml" files, and jboss-service.xml files, are the only three place to setup/change for databases/datasources. 10) To make a new datasource, just create the database (empty). Then Hibernate rebuild the default tables with default data if they are not there (when you first launch the jboss server again). 11) Windows or linux does not matter. My dev is with windows, my prod on linux or apples OSX search for post in the forum, there are plenty of stuff to help you for your trial (I think I have posted on database configuration and separating the databases...). And post if needed... View the original post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=viewtopic&p=4037854#... Reply to the post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=posting&mode=reply&a...