alert.log from sqlplus

With OEM, I can run tasks and dba support easily,
we also create custom scripts to monitor system activity, like max extents, tablespace etc.
With firewalls blocking our systems, seems so much trouble to monitor databases using OEM, I have to check which ports need to open etc.
Any suggestion to use a more generic non multiple ports connection to monitor a database, like to create a special trigger while an ORA- errors happen ?
Is there anyway we can look alert.log from sqlplus as well

thanks
vedi

you would need to use utl file or some other method reading the alert log into a table so you can query it.

Http://asktom.oracle.com has an example

If you're using 9i then an external table might also be an option. You may want to look into any security aspects associated with allowing reads/writes to that directory.

are you looking for something like http://www.dbasupport.com/oracle/ora9i/alert_log.shtml

What a pain, you still have to deal with firewalls and permissions.

Have you looked at what can be monitored in 9i with OEM?

I mean how long would it take you to write a script that check for
> node down,
> listener down
> archive hung,
> error in the alert log
> broken jobs,
> disk almost full
> CPU at 100% for x timeframe
...yadda yadda yadda...

And this is just for starters. You still have to gather that info from each server and pass it through the firewall and compile it in some useful manner.

I'd take the time to setup OEM and research the firewall requirements