DOAG Conference 2012 - Call for Papers

As every year the DOAG (German Oracle User Group) Conference will take place Nürnberg/Germany from the 20th November until 22nd November 2012.

The Call for Papers is already open and ends on 30th June 2012:

German Link: http://www.doag.org/de/events/konferenzen/doag-2012/fuer-referenten.html
English Link: http://www.doag.org/en/events/konferenzen/doag-2012/fuer-referenten.html

Once again, I will be in the election board for the streams (MySQL & Fusion Middleware) to rate/choose the presentation which will be shown on the conference.

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Oracle Traffic Director available for download

During the official announcement of Oracle WebLogic Server 12c on 1st December 2011, Oracle also announced the new Oracle Traffic Director.

Oracle Traffic Director 11g is a high-performance caching HTTP proxy server. It is designed to take advantage of the unique engineered systems features of Oracle's Exalogic computing platform, providing a highly-available, on-board load-balancing reverse proxy for Oracle Fusion Middleware and Applications

Today I saw, that the Oracle Traffic Director 11.1.1.6.0 is available for Linux x86-64 in Oracle TechNet:

The Software can be found under: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/webtier/downloads/traffic-director-1373931.html
The Oracle Traffic Director Documentation can be found under: http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E23389_01/index.htm

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asmcmd non-interactive commands in MS-DOS Batches

In the last days I was fighting with a nice behaviour of the asmcmd non-interactive mode in MS-DOS batches.

I wanted to delete several files located in ASM within a MS-DOS batch:

REM Script: asm_cleanup_DB112.cmd
set ORACLE_BASE=E:\oracle
set ORACLE_HOME=E:\oracle\product\grid-11.2.0
set ORACLE_SID=+ASM
set PATH=%ORACLE_HOME%\bin;%PATH%
asmcmd rm -f +TEMP/db112/temp_01.dbf
asmcmd rm -f +TEMP/db112/temp_02.dbf
asmcmd rm -f +REDO1/db112/redog1m1.dbf
asmcmd rm -f +REDO1/db112/redog2m1.dbf
asmcmd rm -f +REDO1/db112/redog3m1.dbf
asmcmd rm -f +REDO1/db112/redog1m2.dbf
asmcmd rm -f +REDO1/db112/redog2m2.dbf
asmcmd rm -f +REDO1/db112/redog3m2.dbf

 
As soon as I run the batch, the first file got deleted, but then the batch execution stops without continuing the next steps :-( I try to place the files into Single-Quotes, into Double-Quotes, but nothing helps, after the first asmcmd command the batch execution stops ...
This behaviour even occurs with "ls" commands and so on.
 
Oracle Metalink search = 0
Oracle Technet Forums = 1 thread with the same problem, but no answer since more then 2 years
 
After a little playing and re-thinking, I only found following solution: Build a FOR Loop in my batch.
I just created a textfile with my files which I want to delete:
 

# Content of File asm_file_list.txt
+TEMP/db112/temp_01.dbf 
+TEMP/db112/temp_02.dbf
+REDO1/db112/redog1m1.dbf
+REDO1/db112/redog2m1.dbf
+REDO1/db112/redog3m1.dbf
+REDO1/db112/redog1m2.dbf
+REDO1/db112/redog2m2.dbf
+REDO1/db112/redog3m2.dbf

 
Then I changed my batch to the FOR loop, which simple reads my above textfile with the list of my files to be delete and executed for each line the "asmcmd rm -f" command:
 

REM Script: asm_cleanup_DB112.cmd
set ORACLE_BASE=E:\oracle
set ORACLE_HOME=E:\oracle\product\grid-11.2.0
set ORACLE_SID=+ASM
set PATH=%ORACLE_HOME%\bin;%PATH%
for /f %%a in (asm_file_list.txt) do ( 
asmcmd rm -f %%a
)

Run the batch again and be happy :-)

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Long live Oracle Forms - New Statement of Direction

Oracle (Grant Ronald) published today (15th March 2012) an updated Statement of Direction for Oracle Forms and Reports.

The major statement within this Statement of Direction is:

Oracle has no plan to discontinue support of Oracle Forms. Furthermore, a new version of Forms, Oracle Forms 12c, is planned for delivery as a component of Oracle Fusion Middleware 12c.

Thats really a clear and positive statement from Oracle :-)

 
The complete Statement of Direction can be found under following link: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/issue-archive/2010/toolssod-3-129969.pdf

Lets wait for Oracle Forms & Reports 12c :-)

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ASM-00203 and Windows 2008 R2

I was fighting right now with my favorite Operating System and ASM :-)

I just installed Oracle Grid Infrastructure on a standalone Windows 2008 R2 server (successfully) and wanted to stamp some disks with the tool asmtoolg.exe. After I started the asmtoolg from a command prompt, I receive immediately an error message:

ASM-00203: No valid devices found

Cool :-) Oracle Metalink brings back following result:

After a little bit playing, I found following solution:
Open your Windows Explorer, navigate to your %ORACLE_HOME%\bin and do a right-click on the tool asmtoolg.exe and chose the Option "Run as administrator" and be happy :-) Now I could run the asmtoolg.exe without any error messages.

I was logged in as a local administrator and the above error message came up for me, only after I used above method I could stamp my disks. I really love my favorite Operating System ...

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Oracle WebLogic Server 12c (12.1.1) for download available

Since Friday 9th December 2011 the latest release of the Oracle WebLogic Server 12c (12.1.1) is available for download in the Oracle Technology Network under following link: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/middleware/weblogic/downloads/wls-main-097127.html

Following Versions are available:

• Installer with Oracle WebLogic Server 12c, Oracle Coherence and Oracle Enterprise Pack for Eclipse (for Linux x86 with JVM 32bit, Windows x86 with JVM 32bit and Mac OS X with 32bit)
• Installer with Oracle WebLogic Server 12c and Oracle Coherence (for Linux x86 with JVM 32bit, Windows 32bit with JVM 32bit and a generic version for 64bit platforms)
• Zip Distribution with Oracle WebLogic Server 12c only intended for WebLogic Server development only (for Linux, Windows and Mac OS X)

The documentation for the new Oracle WebLogic Server 12c (12.1.1) can be found under following Link: http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E24329_01/index.htm

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Bye bye WebCache - Welcome Oracle Traffic Director

I am currently sitting here and listen to the WebCasts for the new Oracle WebLogic Server 12c Release.

Some highlights:

• More then 200 new features
• Java EE 6 fully profile certified
• Seamless upgrades (let's see the reality :-) )
• Introduction of Oracle Traffic Director

In my opinion one of the highlights is the introduction of the Oracle Traffic Director, which will be the replacement of the Oracle WebCache on Exalogic platforms. I will miss the WebCache, I really learnt over the years to love this tool ;-)
Oracle Traffic Directory will be officially supported only with Exalogic platforms, but also runable on 64bit OEL platforms ;-)

The downloads for the new Oracle WebLogic Server 12c (12.1.1.0) should be available on Oracle Technology Network from the 5th of December 2011 going.

Note 2nd December 2011: There is also a Data Sheet for the new Oracle Traffic Director available http://www.oracle.com/us/products/middleware/application-server/oracle-traffic-director-ds-1389582.pdf

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Oracle Weblogic Server 12c Launch announced

The Oracle Weblogic Server Release 12c is coming soon :-)

Oracle will unveiling the Oracle Weblogic Server 12c on 1st December 2011.

For the Online Launch Event registration just go here: http://tinyurl.com/cfpud2v

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Why you should never create own objects under SYS

I got many times the request by developers to create objects under the SYS schema and my comment is normally "NO". Here is a nice showcase, why the creation of own objects under the SYS schema can become really dangerous:

conn / as sysdba
select count(*) from dba_objects where status = 'INVALID';
COUNT(*)
----------------
        0
-- Now lets create a simple table named SYSTEM under the SYS schema
create table SYS.SYSTEM (id number);
Table created.
-- Now check for invalid objects again.
-- Note: I didnt do anything special after the creation of the table SYS.SYSTEM
select count(*) from dba_objects where status = 'INVALID';
COUNT(*)
----------------
      149

The critical point here is the name of the created table. As soon as you are creating a table named SYSTEM under the SYS schema, you will get immediately a huge number of invalid objects under SYS, most of them are DBMS-Packages, ALL-Views and DBA-Views. The number of invalid objects you will get is depending on your Oracle Release, even a recompile with utlrp.sql will not validate all objects, there will still be invalid objects.

To get ride of this problem, just drop the table SYS.SYSTEM and recompile all with the utlrp.sql script.

This shows clearly why you should not allow the creation of application related objects under the SYS schema.

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Oracle Forms 11g Release 2 (11.1.2.0.0) now for Linux x86-64 available

Last week you could read in my blog post "Oracle Forms 11g Release 2 (11.1.2.0.0) available" that Oracle Forms 11g Release 2 is available for Linux x86 and Windows x86. Now Oracle released also the Linux x86-64 version of Oracle Forms & Reports 11g Release 2 (11.1.2.0.0).

The download can be found under http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer-tools/forms/downloads/index.html

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Oracle Forms 11g Release 2 (11.1.2.0.0) available

Oracle released the latest version of Oracle Forms 11g Release 2 (11.1.2.0.0) for Windows x86 and Linux x86 today.

The download can be found under: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer-tools/forms/downloads/index.html

There is also a short new features paper available under http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer-tools/forms/forms11gr2newfeatures-497502-en-gb.pdf

The necessary installation documentation can be found under http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E24269_01/index.htm

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Oracle Enterprise Manager Cloud Control 12c for Linux x86 available

Since today in addition the Oracle Enterprise Manager Cloud Control 12c (12.1.0.1.0) for Linux x86 is available in OTN and in Oracle Edelivery.

OTN Download: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/oem/grid-control/downloads/index.html

The Oracle Edelivery: https://edelivery.oracle.com/

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Oracle Enterprise Manager Cloud Control 12c - First screenshots

In my post from yesterday "Download available for Enterprise Manager Cloud Control 12c Release 1 (12.1.0.1) for Linux x86-64" you could see that the new Oracle Enterprise Manager Cloud Control 12c 12.1.0.1.0 for Linux x86-64 is available for download.

Here are some first impressions:

• According to a presentation from Oracle "What's New in Enterprise Manager 12c Install" the installation should be really simplified now: TRUE :-) It's only 6 screens (under optimal conditions) !!!
• The fight with a correct WebLogic Server Release and which JDK to use is now eliminated :-) Everything is bundled in the installation sources
• The only pre-requirement what you will need is an Oracle Database

My starting position:

• Oracle Enterprise Linux 5 Update 3 x86-64
• Oracle Database Enterprise Edition 11.2.0.1.0 (no additional patches)

Extract the 2 zipfiles em12_linux64_disk1of2.zip and em12_linux64_disk2of2.zip on your server and start the runInstaller:
At first the typical Welcome screen with the optional declaration of my My Oracle Support credentials

As next we can define if we want to download directly possible available patches from My Oracle Support.

Then the prerequirement checks are running, I receive an error due to a minor version of my installed glibc-devel, so I decided to ignore it and everything works for me well :-)

After that we have to chose the installation type. The Simple option is really simple, it installs you all the necessary stuff (JDK, WebLogic Server, OMS and Agent) and configures your new Enterprise Manager Cloud Control 12c.

As next we have to define the Password for the adminstrative Users (Weblogic Admin-User, SYSMAN and OMS registration) and the Database Connectivity for the Enterprise Manager.

After the connectivity check you normally get some errors/warnings (eg. that a Stats Gathering Job must be disabled and that some Database Settings are not aligned). The Stats Gathering Job can be disabled directly from the Installer :-) the other warnings in my case were minor and could be aligned after the installation.

As last step we can review the summing up and start with the installation and configuration. This all what we have to do :-) Really simple and straight forward !!!

As last the Installer shows us the Finish screen with a small summing up of the necessary URL's.

To access the new Enterprise Manager Cloud Control 12c just go to the URL displayed in the Finish screen. The new login screen looks now more blue and from the look'n feel like the Fusion Middleware Login Screens. For the Login you have to use the username SYSMAN.

The first new feature you will see directly after the login. You can now chose your preferred "home page view", e.g. Databases, Middleware, SOA and so on.

The Website of an Oracle Database:

The Website of a WebLogic Server:

The Website of a Host (Oracle Enterprise Linux):

Conclusion: Installation simplified :-) Look'n Feel cool :-) preferred home page view great idea. Seems to be a great new Release from the first look. So let's test deeper ...

Additional Note: For everybody who is searching for the documentation (like me :-) ): http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E24628_01/index.htm I just found the documentation, sometimes its better to read the documentation before you start with the installation, according to the installation guide, I had to apply for my Oracle Database 11.2.0.1.0 two additional patches :-)

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Download available for Enterprise Manager Cloud Control 12c Release 1 (12.1.0.1) for Linux x86-64

3rd and most important post for today about Oracle Enterprise Manager 12c: Enterprise Manager 12c is available for download in Oracle Technet !!!



Under the link http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/oem/grid-control/downloads/linuxx8664soft-085949.html is the Linux x86-64 Release available:

My download is already started :-)

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Next Next update on Oracle Enterprise Manager 12 Launch

Just some hours ago, I posted "Next update on Oracle Enterprise Manager 12 Launch" and here we go with the next update on Oracle Enterprise Manager 12 (Grid Control) :-)

I just saw in My Oracle Support a Note (ID 1363757.1) dated from 3rd October 2011 which is related Oracle Enterprise Manager 12.1.0.1.0 (12c). Seems that the naming convention is confirmed with 12c

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Next update on Oracle Enterprise Manager 12 Launch

On 4th August 2011, I posted "Oracle Enterprise Manager 12 Launch - 15.11.2011 on DOAG Conference". Now some more proofs, that the new Oracle Enterprise Manager (Grid Control) 12 will come soon :-)

In My Oracle Support you can find already under the Patch Section a selection for Oracle Grid Control 12.1.0.1.0 (see last line in the drop down list). So we know at least the Release Number, but if the new release will be named "12c" is still unconfirmed.

So stay tuned for the next updates ...

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Mobile My Oracle Support available

I just saw that the My Oracle Support (MOS) website offers now a Mobile Support :-)

Just go to http://support.oracle.mobi/

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Oracle Database 11g XE not longer BETA

In my blogposts from 1st April 2011 and 2nd April 2011 I was talking about the newly released Oracle Database 11g XE BETA (11.2).

The BETA is now removed for the Oracle Database 11g XE :-)

The downloads can be found under http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/express-edition/downloads/index.html

But still are only 2 versions available, one release for Linux x64 and one release for Windows x32.

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Tanel Poder's Oracle Troubleshooting TV show available

For anybody who has missed Tanel Poder's "Secret Hacking Session - about full scans, direct path reads, object level checkpoints, ORA-8103s" its now available under:

http://blip.tv/tanel-poder-oracle-troubleshooting-tv/oracle-troubleshooting-tv-show-season-1-episode-2-5459181

This show is really a must-see :-)

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Oracle Enterprise Manager 12 Launch - 15.11.2011 on DOAG Conference

During the DOAG (German Oracle User Group) Conference on 15.11.2011 to 17.11.2011 Oracle will present the new Oracle Enterprise Manager Release 12 (Oracle Grid Control 12) within a keynote. The presentation will be done by Richard Sarwal, Oracle Corporation.

Link to the Conference Program (unfortunally in german language) can be found here: http://mydoag.doag.org/konferenz/2011-konferenzplan.php

I am really curious what will be the new features/options, I am expecting them as it will be a new major release :-)

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