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Oracle 10g Administration

Using Oracle's Block Browser and Editor tool : In a prior article on Oracle's Block Browser and Editor tool (BBED), the installation of the tool was covered. In this article, we'll look at starting a session using a simple database and see how to view data.

Installing Oracle Block Browser and Editor tool (bbed) : What if you could directly read and manipulate data at the block level? Oracle provides such a tool to do exactly that, but you have to build it yourself. The Block Browser and Editor tool, or bbed for short, is your ticket into the contents of data blocks within an Oracle database.

Monitoring Databases : Monitoring tools range from the expensive variety to homegrown, simplistic shell scripted type. Before pursuing one or more approaches, identify what it is you want to monitor, how that information should be surfaced, and by what means you want to capture events.

Revisiting Oracle Passwords : Some common reasons a DBA might want to view plaintext passwords are the use of legacy applications, relatively high personnel turnover, and poor password management/documentation in the first place. Learn how to find those passwords using an Oracle password cracker.

Oracle on Windows, Revisited : This article revisits a series written around five years ago regarding running an Oracle database on Windows. There have been quite a few changes--but one aspect that has not changed is Oracle Corporation's commitment to making the RDBMS not only run, but also run well, on the Windows platform.

Connecting Oracle BI Publisher to SQL Server : One of the main features of Oracle Business Intelligence Publisher (BIP) is its ability to connect to pretty much every major RDBMS on the market. Steve Callan shares the little documented steps of how to establish a connection to SQL Server.

Inter-process communication with DBMS_ALERT : DBMS_ALERT may not be the most elegant way to communicate between processes but it does provide a quick and easy method. Read on to learn more...

A Mirror between Oracle and SQL Server : Imagine an Oracle database facing a SQL Server database as if each were looking at a mirror and seeing their somewhat distorted reflections. In some areas the mirroring will match; read on to learn about database mirroring in MSSQL and how it corresponds to what takes place in Oracle.

Oracle Support Notes – “Complete Guides” Usually Aren’t : Learn how to tell the difference between Oracle concepts that appear to be the same at one level, but are in fact different.

Oracle Concepts: Splitting Hairs : Learn how to tell the difference between Oracle concepts that appear to be the same at one level, but are in fact different.

Installing Oracle E-Business Suite R12 on Windows 2003 : Learn how to install EBS, starting from scratch and walk away with an up and running EBS instance using the Vision Enterprises database.

Oracle Reports for DBAs : As an Oracle DBA you might think that Oracle Reports have nothing to do with you, and you might be missing out on a simple means of generating reports to identify a source file, create an external table, write an SQL script and more.

Oracle: MOVE vs SHRINK Commands : This article discusses re-organizing a table using the move and shrink commands, then compares how the rows are compacted within Oracle blocks and how row chaining is resolved.

Oracle Automatic Storage Management : ASM provides many benefits, but also requires learning new concepts, commands, utilities, and administration tasks. Sean Hull examines what ASM solves, and what it takes to manage and weigh the pros and cons.

Oracle Applications:

Programming, Perl + Oracle : Perl is a powerful scripting language that can meet your day-to-day scripting needs as a database administrator, and if used prudently, and responsibly, as a language to build large web-based applications. Here's a quick introduction to using Perl with Oracle.

Create your own reports with Oracle’s Snapshot Information : If you are tired of running the same old Oracle AWR reports, not getting to the data quickly, or just need to write your own, then this article will get you started.

Licensing and Auditing in Oracle : Steve Callan discusses what can take place during the Oracle licensing or renewal process.

Oracle: Unusable Indexes : JP Vijaykumar examines what happens to an index when it becomes unusable.

Managing Oracle's Undo Tablespaces : With the advent of Automatic Undo Management (AUM), Oracle abstracts the management of undo space for you. Read along as Steve Callan explains the intracacies of undo tablespaces.

Migrating MySQL to Oracle Part 2 : This two-part article discusses all of the steps involved in migrating a database and its attendant applications. Part 2 covers moving production data to development systems, Oracle Migration Workbench, database application migration and more.

Migrating MySQL to Oracle Part I : This two part article discusses all of the steps involved in migrating a database and its attendant applications, questions to ask yourself, what to watch out for, and how to perform the whole thing within a limited window of downtime.

Oracle Library Cache—Part II : Part two of this article looks at issues that arise in the Library Cache, how to find those issues and offers solutions to fix them.

Oracle Library Cache—Part I : Gaining an understanding of internal Oracle structures is essential to becoming better DBAs and servicing our end user community. Oracle's library cache is one such internal structure that can help eliminate some very nasty denial of service requests originating from application users. Read on to learn more.

Oracle’s Transportable Automatic Workload Repository : Oracles Automatic Workload Repository provides a whole new way of gathering, comparing and storing statistics. Read on to learn how AWR differs from the old statspack reports.

Oracle: Synonyms’ Synonyms : Oracle restricts the length of object names (tables, columns, views, procedures) to 30 characters, but does not impose the 30 characters length restriction on synonym names. Read on to learn how to create synonym names of any length.

Spicing-up Oracle on Windows : This article covers the use of setting some extra string values in the registry, how to display what the values are set to, and how to work around the missing tool known as oerr.

Manual Standby Database under Oracle Standard Edition : Oracle's Standby technology has been rebranded as DataGuard in recent versions of Oracle. But what about the folks on Standard Edition Oracle; are they left out in the cold? It turns out that it is still possible to create a *manual* standby database on Oracle SE. Here's how you do it.

Partition Pitfalls in Oracle : There are some partition pitfalls you should avoid, and knowing what they are ahead of time can help prevent hours of down time. Read on to learn more.

Managing Tables: Logging versus Nologging : Using the NOLOGGING option can be a time saver, but it can also put you at risk if you do not use it wisely.

Oracle DML Error Logging : There are at least three ways to make an otherwise fatal error benign or harmless, two of which you are probably quite familiar with, and a lesser known, but very versatile third method.

Rolling Back Layers of Automatic Undo Management : This article discusses why you receive the ORA-01555 error in Oracle 10g when using Automatic Undo Management (AUM).

Super-Sizing A Database: Oracle 10g Tablespace Enhancements : Oracle 10g's daunting array of new features like extended FLASHBACK technology, Automated Storage Management, and Grid Computing sometimes overshadow the more mundane -- yet no less impressive! - improvements to its logical storage capabilities. This article illustrates several enhancements to Oracle's already robust logical storage structures, including the SYSAUX tablespace, BIGFILE tablespaces, tablespace groups, and tablespace renaming.

A View of Creating an Oracle User - Part II : After an Oracle user has been created and schema objects have been built, best practices dictate that you should not run your applications as the schema owner. Here is a shell procedure and methodology to assist you in maintaining this segregation of application user from database schema owner.

A View of Creating an Oracle User - Part I : Before any schema objects can be created, you must first create a user that will own these objects. This somewhat simple procedure is often overlooked and it can open wide holes in security and portability.

Collecting Real Time Wait Events : There are two common ways of collecting wait event information: the Oracle extended trace (10046 event) and using V$ views. Learn how to collect wait event information using V$ views.

Collecting Oracle Extended Trace (10046 event) : The most importing thing in collecting trace data is collecting properly scoped data. Learn the pitfalls of doing it wrong and the rewards of doing it right.

Oracle Session Tracing

Making a Connection from Oracle to SQL Server : SQL Server is gaining popularity and there are many shops that I know of that have this database system within their walls. Learn how to make a connection from Oracle to SQL Server using Oracles heterogeneous Services ODBC agent.

The Oracle 10g Scheduler

Automate the Sizing of your SGA in Oracle 10g : There are plenty of options available for tweaking the SGA. However, without a complete understanding of what our applications are doing in the background, our ability to guess the appropriate amount of memory to give each of these individual components is not always optimal. Oracle now has methods to determine most of the major parameters all on its own.

True Session Wait Activity in Oracle 10g : Catching a session waiting on a resource used to be hit or miss. James Koopmann examines how Oracle 10g expedites this process.

Oracle's Sample Schemas: Saying Goodbye to Scott : Did you know that Oracle's "Scott" schema is slated for the bone yard? How many thousands of people have learned SQL, SQL*Plus, and PL/SQL on the back of poor old Scott? Steve Callan introduces the new 'crew'--HR, OE, PM, QS and SH.

Multiple Temporary Tablespaces in Oracle10g : The creation and use of temporary tablespaces has just taken another leap in performance and manageability, which should make us all re-think how we have created and assigned our users to temporary tablespaces.

Transferring Operating System Files from within Oracle : As new versions of Oracle are released, we are less likely to access the operating system. The ability to move data files from within Oracle is just one more great hook to the operating system that aids DBAs in their daily tasks.

Oracle Administration - Part 2 : Part one of this series covered some important aspects of Oracle administration (MetaLink and licensing). Part two of this mini-series highlights the Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) and Oracle sales/reselling.

Oracle Administration - Part 1 : This two-part series provides an overview of Oracle administration, including the use and licensing of Oracle's software.

Connecting with Oracle - Ensuring Sufficient Privileges : Be honest now, how many times have you encountered the ORA-01031 error? Without a deeper understanding of the "how do I authenticate thee, let me count the ways?" relationship between the operating system and Oracle, you are doomed to encounter this error time and time again.

Connecting with Oracle: The Password Game : Steve Callan reviews the use of Oracle's internal password function and the use of a SQL script for verifying password complexity.

Connecting with Oracle: Accessing Oracle via Access and Excel : Giving your users the ability to access an Oracle database using either Access or Excel is easy to do. It takes all of three minutes to set up the link or connection. Learn how in Connecting with Oracle, Part 4.

Connecting with Oracle: Oracle Ports : 1521. 1810. 2481. 7778. These are just a few of the port numbers Oracle uses in networking. Everyone knows 1521 is the typical port number used by a listener, but how sacrosanct is that? This article will help clarify some facts about port usage related to Oracle.

Connecting with Oracle: Finding and Setting a Configuration File Location : You can have a 'good' tnsnames.ora file, but 'reject' its use due to not knowing where it is. You can have a 'bad' tnsnames.ora file in a location you know about, and try to 'accept' its use. Both situations are bad. Fortunately, each is easy to correct. Learn how to set a location for your tnsnames.ora file and where to look for that location.

Connecting with Oracle : Avoiding the "ORA-12154: TNS: could not resolve service name" error: Steve Callan discusses a common error frequently seen in Oracle Net Services. Learn how to avoid the "ORA-12154: TNS: could not resolve service name" error.

Oracle's SPFILE - Part 2 : In part two of this series, Amar Padhi examines practical example of working with the SPFILE.

Oracle's SPFILE - Part 1 : Server Parameter File (SPFILE) is an extension of the initialization parameter storage mechanism, which allows some additional advantages as compared to the simple text based init.ora file. Learn which parameters can be dynamically modified to affect the present instance, and which require the instance to be brought down so that changes can take affect.

Materialized View Enhancements

Oracle 10g Materialized View Enhancements, Part 2 : The final article of this series demonstrates how to utilize the new Partition Change Tracking features of 10gR2 to speed the refresh of a partitioned materialized view and how Partition Maintenance Operations help improve performance for partitioned materialized views.

Oracle 10g Materialized View Enhancements, Part 1 : Learn about materialized views in Oracle 10gR2, including enhancements to join-only materialized views, new optimizer hints for improved QUERY REWRITE analysis, and improved materialized view debugging tools.

Migration

Database Migration – It's More than Running exp and imp : Part 2 of this series provides a checklist/plan covering steps and procedures for the before, during, and after phases.

Database Migration – A Planned Approach : Migrating from one version to another may be as simple as exporting the old and importing into the new, but chances are there is a lot more involved than first meets the eye.

Oracle Migration Workbench - Part 5 : Part five of this series looks at issues related to the SQL Server to Oracle migration process.

Oracle Migration Workbench - Part 4 : Part four of this series goes into more detail about SQL Server and how it compares to Oracle. This part of the series also covers the setup and preparation to use Oracle Migration Workbench to migrate the Northwind database from SQL Server to Oracle.

Oracle Migration Workbench – Part Three : The end of Part Two of this series, finished with loading data from the MySQL database into the Oracle database/repository. Part Three will go into more detail about the Migration Workbench console and learn how to configure some options.

Oracle Migration Workbench - Part Two : At the end of Part One, we were at the point where MySQL was ready to be installed. In part two of this series, we will go through some quick setup steps, create a user with some privileges, and load data - using several methods - into a MySQL database. Once the setup of the MySQL database is complete, we will be ready to start using Migration Workbench.

Oracle Migration Workbench - Part 1 : By the end of this series, not only will you be familiar with two other widely used and popular database systems, but you will also know how to migrate data from these systems into an Oracle database.

Replication

Very Large Databases and High Availability Evaluating Replication Options : Sreeram Surapaneni discusses various replication technologies and the need to plan how to use replication prior to choosing or developing a replication tool.

Oracle Multi-Directional Data Replication : Part one of this series illustrates the procedures for setting up bi-directional data replication and conflict resolution between two databases using Oracle 10g Streams. This month we look at the steps to add a new source site into our existing bi-directional replicated environment.

Data Replication Using Oracle Downstream Capture : Vincent Chan describes how to effectively leverage and set up Oracle archived-log downstream capture technology to replicate your enterprise data.

Oracle Bi-Directional Data Replication : Part one of this two part series provides the procedures for setting up bi-directional schema-level replication and conflict resolution between two databases using Oracle 10g Streams.

Automatic Storage Management (ASM)

ASM Enhancements : This article discusses using ASMCMD to identify diskgroups and data files, finding where controlfile is located, reclaiming disk space and more.

Why Oracle's Automatic Storage Management? : Oracle Database 10g's Automatic Storage Management (ASM) makes Linux and UNIX database environments disk space management a snap.

Oracle 10g Automatic Storage Management (ASM), Part 3: Advanced Features : This article navigates the myriad ASM file naming conventions and templates, provides examples of ASM storage management commands for adding and removing disks and disk groups, and discusses how to convert an entire Oracle database to use ASM storage instead of regular file system storage.

Oracle 10g Automatic Storage Management (ASM), Part 2: Sample Implementation : Oracle 10g's Automatic Storage Management (ASM) features offer powerful tools to Oracle DBAs to create and manage a robust, flexible, scalable file storage system ready for access by any existing Oracle database instance. This article -- the second in this series -- provides a simple yet practical demonstration of setting up an ASM instance in both the Linux and Windows NT environments for purposes of exploration and experimentation, including how to migrate existing tablespaces to the ASM storage environment.

Oracle 10g Automatic Storage Management, Part 1: Overview : Oracle 10g's new Automatic Storage Management (ASM) features allow an Oracle DBA to take advantage of a robust, flexible, scalable file storage system that any Oracle database instance can access. This article - the first in this series -- provides a high-level overview of the ASM architecture, and should be helpful to any DBA contemplating the adoption of ASM for storing Oracle database files as part of a high-volume storage solution.

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