Last Day in my Consulting Life

Today will be my last day in my consulting life :-) After several years as consultant, time is coming to settle down.
But at first XMas vacation will be starting today and from 1st January 2011 I will have a new position at Philip Morris International.
But I will still work in the Oracle Section and I will still continue to blog here about my favorite stuff Oracle Fusion Middleware :-)
So, stay tune for the next post . . .

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WebLogic Server Logfiles

I am actually giving an Oracle University Course "Oracle WebLogic Server 11g: Administration Essentials". Today we reach the chapter Logfiles and an interesting question came up from one student:

Is it possible to define one logfile for multiple Managed Server and the global Domain Logfile? So that I don't have to go through multiple logfiles for investigation of problems or errors

So, we just tested it live as I never came to this idea to merge the Managed Server Logfiles into the Domain Logfile.
I just copy the fullpath of the Domain Logfile into the logfile defintion of one Managed Server of the Domain, saved this changes and did a restart of the Managed Server and ... Its working :-) All Managed Server related log entries were captured in the Domain Logfile :-)

Even as a teacher you can learn from time to time something during holding a course :-)

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Oracle 11g Release 2 Interactive Quick Reference

Today I discover the new available Oracle 11g Release 2 Interactive Quick Reference. The Quick Reference can be downloaded from following link http://www.oracle.com/go/?&Src=7027600&Act=54&pcode=WWOU10044054MPP047
The download contains 2 files, one Flash Player executable and a PDF.
The Flash Player executable is really cool :-) nice work from Oracle. Its contains all DBA-Views, all Oracle Processes and an Oracle Architecture Diagram. The PDF contains just teh Oracle Architecture Diagram.

I hope they will also provide a version of the Interactive Quick Reference for Non-Windows users :-)

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Creating a Windows Service for Oracle WebLogic Server

In case you are using the Oracle WebLogic Server under Windows, you may want to run your WebLogic Server as a Windows Service instead of all time running the provided cmd files to startup your WebLogic Server.
For this Oracle provides us a small script to create a Windows Service for our WebLogic Server, the script is located in %WL_HOME%\server\bin with the name installsvc.cmd. The best way to use this script is to build up a small wrapper script with all the necessary variable declarations and a call on the installsvc.cmd:

echo off

SETLOCAL
set DOMAIN_NAME=DemoDomain
set USERDOMAIN_HOME=D:\oracle\fmw-11.1.1\user_projects\domains\DemoDomain
set SERVER_NAME=DemoAdminServer
set PRODUCTION_MODE=true
set JAVA_VENDOR=BEA
set JAVA_HOME=D:\oracle\fmw-11.1.1\jrmc-4.0.1-1.6.0
set MEM_ARGS=-Xms256m -Xmx512m
call "D:\oracle\fmw-11.1.1\wlserver-10.3.3\server\bin\installSvc.cmd"
ENDLOCAL

Just adjust the above example to your settings and run the wrapper script, this will create you a Windows Service "beas %DOMAIN_NAME%_%SERVER_NAME%", if you dont like the naming convention for the Windows Service to be created, just edit the installsvc.cmd script. Nearly at the end you will find following line:

"%WL_HOME%\server\bin\beasvc" -install -svcname:"beasvc %DOMAIN_NAME%_%SERVER_NAME%" -javahome:"%JAVA_HOME%" -execdir:"%USERDOMAIN_HOME%" -maxconnectretries:"%MAX_CONNECT_RETRIES%" -host:"%HOST%" -port:"%PORT%" -extrapath:"%EXTRAPATH%" -password:"%WLS_PW%" -cmdline:%CMDLINE%

Just adjust the option -svcname to your prefered settings.

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Oracle Universal Content Management 11g in another way

Today I discover the "Adventures of ECM 11g" from Billy Cripe (Fishbowl Solutions). That's really another cool way how to learn about Oracle Enterprise and Universal Content Management :-)

Enjoy it ...

That,s just part 1, right now you'll find 4 parts under Youtube

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The Oracle Universal Content Management Handbook - available

Under my post http://dirknachbar.blogspot.com/2010/05/review-of-oracle-universal-content.html in May 2010 I recommended the book "Oracle Universal Content Management Handbook" from Dmitri Khanine. Now the book is published and ready to buy or order.

Once again, if you are working with the Oracle Universal Content Management, this book might help you :-)

Details for Dmitri's book can be found under https://www.packtpub.com/oracle-universal-content-management-ucm-handbook/book

@Dmitri: Really good work :-)

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New Book: Oracle JRockit - The Definitive Guide

A couple of weeks ago I receive a request from Packt Publishing, if I am interested in reviewing and writing a short summing up of the new book "Oracle JRockit - The definitive Guide" and here we go :-)

The book are written by Marcus Hirt and Marcus Lagergren, two developers of the original JRockit therefore they really know about what they are writing :-) and the blurb of the book dont't distend that "this book helps you gain in-depth knowledge of Java from the JVM's point of view". What they promise, you will really get :-)

The book is well structured, starting with a classical "Getting Started" chapter, steping over to Code Genereation and Memory Management and Threads & Synchronization. After that my personal favorit chapters following.
The chapter about "Benchmarking and Tuning" is pretty good, starting with different types of Benchmarking, why we need them and how to decide which Benchmarking could be the right one for you. Logically in the same chapter you will find after your benchmarks a section about tuning.
The chapter about "JRockit Mission Control" is in my opinion the best one of the book (but that's just my personal opinion) and in combination with the chapter about "The Flight Recorder" it's unbeatable :-) Here the authors show how to use this powerful tool really in a practical way, so that you gain in-depth knowledge and you learn how to use it in your day-to-day tasks.
The chapter about "The Memory Leak Detector" is also really usefull if you run in such problems.
Moreover there is an interesting chapter about the brandnew "JRockit Virtual Edition", which will be in my opinion the future of how to use and implement a JVM.

My personal conclusion about this book: It's really a must for everybody who is working with the Oracle JRockit, no matter if you are a developer or a WebLogic Server Administrator. So checkit out either in your bookstore or just go the Packt Publishing Website.

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Enterprise 2.0 - How Iron Man would work - Presentation by Emiliano Pecis

Today I discover a really good presentation by Emiliano Pecis from Oracle (http://blogs.oracle.com/woa/) about Enterprise 2.0

Enterprise 2.0. How Iron Man would work...

View more presentations from Emiliano Pecis.

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Oracle Web Tier Utility Configuration Error INST-07281: JRF is not set up in the specific domain

You may receiving following the error message "INST-07281: JRF is not set up in the specific domain" during the configuration of the Oracle Web Tier in order to connect your Web Tier with an existing Oracle WebLogic Server.

The problem is really simple, the necessary JRF Libaries are not by installed configured in a WebLogic Server Domain if you had used the standard template for the domain configuration.

Therefor you have to extend your WebLogic Server Domain, just startup under the WL_HOME/common/bin the script config.sh and chose the option "Extend an existing WebLogic Server Domain". Then chose in the tree your WebLogic Server Domain, after that you will reach below provided screenshot and chose under "Extend my domain automatically to suppoprt the following added products" the option "Oracle JRF - 11.1.1.0".

After the extension of your WebLogic Server Domain is finished, you have to restart your WebLogic Server Domain AdminServer in order to load the newly added Libaries.

After the restart of the AdminServer you can try again your configuration of the Oracle Web Tier and you will see, that now the configuration process will proceed.

The most practical way is, if you install your Oracle Web Tier at first with the option "Install only", after that you run the WL_HOME/common/bin/config.sh script to add the necessary Oracle JRF components to your WebLogic Admin Server, perform a restart of your Admin Server and as last you run the config.sh script for the Oracle Web Tier in the directory WebTier_ORACLE_HOME/bin and go through the configuration steps.

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Oracle Application Express (APEX) 4.0 available

I just saw, that Oracle Application Express (APEX) 4.0 is now available for downloads in the Oracle TechNet:
http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/database/application_express/download.html

The most interesting new features in my opinion are the Websheet and the Oracle Application Express Listener. The full list of the new features can be found under: http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E17556_01/doc/user.40/e15517/what_new.htm#HTMDB01050

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Oracle Code Ninja Chronicles Episode 127.0.0.1

Sometimes Oracle knows how to produce cool promotions :-)

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Call for Papers DOAG Conference 2010

The DOAG Conference 2010 (the biggest Oracle User Conference in Europe) is still looking for presentation for MySQL Stuff (for DBA's & Developers) as MySQL is now part of the great Oracle Community :-)

The DOAG Conference 2010 will take place in Nuernberg/Germany from 16th November until 18th November 2010.

Under following link you can register your presentation https://mydoag.doag.org/termine/cfp.php The Call for Papers will be closed on 30th June, so hurry up ...

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Recommended Reading - Rework by Jason Fried and David Hansson

This post is nothing about Oracle Stuff or Technology, it's just a recommendation for a book, which might help you in your daily work :-)

It's the book "Rework by Jason Fried and David Hansson".

An excerpt of the book can be found under following link: http://s3.amazonaws.com/37assets/svn/Rework-by-Jason-Fried-and-David-Heinemeier-Hansson-Excerpts.pdf

Enjoy the reading :-)

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Did you forget your WebLogic Admin User password?

Several month ago you install your Oracle Fusion Middleware Environment, you didn't connect to the WebLogic console and now you realize, that you forget the password of the WebLogic Server Admin User "weblogic".
Here is a small How To in order to reset the Admin User "weblogic" password.

1st Step: Stop your Weblogic Server, if it's running

oracle@server>cd $MW_HOME/user_projects/domains/<your_domain>/bin
oracle@server>./stopWebLogic.sh <your_server>

2nd Step: Source the necessary environment variables for your WebLogic Server

oracle@server>cd $MW_HOME/user_projects/domains/<your_domain>/bin
oracle@server>./setDomainEnv.sh

3rd Step: Creation of a new WebLogic Server Admin User

oracle@server>cd $MW_HOME/user_projects/domains/<your_domain>/security

# the first value after the command "java weblogic.security.utils.AdminAccount"
# is the new username
# the second value is the password for the new Admin User
# IMPORTANT !!! After the password value you must place a "." (dot) !!!!
# This command will update the DefaultAuthenticatorInit.ldift
# configuration file

oracle@server>java weblogic.security.utils.AdminAccount myadmin oracle11g .

4th Step: Delete the file DefaultAuthenticatormyrealmInit.initialized

oracle@server>cd $MW_HOME/user_projects/domains/<your_domain>/servers/AdminServer/data/ldap
oracle@server>rm DefaultAuthenticatormyrealmInit.initialized

5th Step: Startup the WebLogic Server

# Depending if you are using a boot.properties file
# you must choose between the two following options
# a) Without boot.properties configuration file

oracle@server>cd $MW_HOME/user_projects/domains/<your_domain>/bin
oracle@server> ./startWebLogic.sh <your_domain>

# Here you will be prompted for your WebLogic Server Admin User and his Password
# Use now your newly created Admin User

# b) With a configured boot.properties configuration file
# Remove your boot.properties configuration file

oracle@server>cd $MW_HOME/user_projects/domains/<your_domain>/servers/AdminServer/security
oracle@server>rm boot.properties

# Startup your WebLogic Server

oracle@server>cd $MW_HOME/user_projects/domains/<your_domain>/bin
oracle@server> ./startWebLogic.sh

# Here you will be prompted for your WebLogic Server Admin User and his Password
# Use now your newly created Admin User

For the above mentioned two options see my Blog Post http://dirknachbar.blogspot.com/2009/08/security-hole-in-fusion-middleware-11g.html

6th Step: Login to your WebLogic Server Console with your newly created Admin User and change the password of the original WebLogic Server Admin User "weblogic"
# Navigate to "Security Realms"
# There you'll see two Admin Users: weblogic and your newly created Admin User
# Change the password of the user weblogic

7th Step (optionally): If you was using a boot.properties configuration file before, you must recreate it with the new values for the Admin User and the reseted password

Additional Note (26.01.2011): Please be aware that the above described procedure is NOT working with a database security store !!! (Thanks for the input from Nazir, see comments below)

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Last post "Review of The Oracle Universal Content Management Handbook written by Dmitri Khanine" removed

To anybody who is looking for my last post "Review of The Oracle Universal Content Management Handbook written by Dmitri Khanine", I had to remove it temporarily due to an request by the publisher of Dmitri Khanine upcoming book "The Oracle Universal Content Management Handbook".

As soon as the book is published, I will change my book review post to be active again.


Personally I don't understand why the publisher don't want postive feedback about the upcoming book before it's published, in my opinion such reviews are a free advertisment :-)

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Review of The Oracle Universal Content Management Handbook written by Dmitri Khanine

Some days ago, I receive a message through LinkedIn from Dmitri Khanine (http://www.stellentexperts.com), if he could mention my blog in his upcoming Book "The Oracle Universal Content Management Handbook".

My answer was short: "Of course yes :-)" and I offer Dmitri as soon as his book is out, I will buy a copy and take a look at it and write a review.
Dmitri's reply was also quite short: "He just provided my a draft (nearly final version) of his book :-)"
In the last days I got the chance to read his book and my summing up is: BUY IT !!

Dmitri's book is mainly for beginners with the Oracle Universal Content Management (http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/content-management/ucm/index.html). He guides from the basic concepts up to the installation, configuration, usage, integration and security with Oracle UCM.
What I personally like, when I am reading a book title like "Handbook" I am excepting, that inside the book, I will be guided through all necessary installation, configuration or development steps. Dmitri's book is in my opinion really a "Handbook" :-) For every important step you will find a screenshot with explaination and the steps between screenshots are in detail explained. So the reader is nowhere lost and can follow anytime. This book will really help you for a successfull implementation of Oracle UCM.

Even administrators or developers which are working already with Oracle UCM will find in Dmitri's book usefull information.

According to Dmitri and Packt Publishing (the publisher) the book "The Oracle Universal Content Management Handbook" will be published in July 2010. More details about the book you can find under https://www.packtpub.com/oracle-universal-content-management-ucm-handbook/book.
If you are a starter or already a administrator or developer of Oracle UCM, take a look at this book or better buy it :-)

@Dmitri: When you read this, really good work and thanks for providing me the pre-release of your book. I will buy the final release of your book !!

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New Layout of my blog

After blogging 2 years with the same layout it was time to change the old layout (really old fashioned) to something new :-)

So, if you are a regular reader of my blog, dont be shocked, you are still at the right blog :-)

Hope you will like the new layout? If not, feel free to complain :-)

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Oracle Grid Control 11g (11.1.0.1.0) for Solaris available

After the Linux Releases (x86 & x86-64) now Oracle Grid Control (Enterprise Manager) 11g (11.1.0.1.0) for Solaris (SPARC) is available under following link http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/products/oem/htdocs/solsoft.html

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Oracle WebLogic Server Virtual Edition

Nearly silent Oracle announce this time a really cool new stuff: Oracle WebLogic Server Virtual Edition

The concept is really simple but cool: Install a JRockit Virtual Edition directly (native) on Oracle VM (without any Operating System) and run your WebLogic without any overhead of a Operating System directly on the JRockit Virtual Edition.

The download can be found under: http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/products/ias/htdocs/wlsve.html

A datasheet of the Oracle WebLogic Server Virtual Edition can be found under http://www.oracle.com/us/products/middleware/application-server/wls-virtualization-ds-067888.pdf
Within the next days I will test this cool new stuff :-)

Update January 2011: Oracle has moved the download page of the Oracle WebLogic Server Virtual Edition to http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/middleware/ias/downloads/wlsve-083102.html

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Oracle Grid Control 11g Release 1 (11.1.0.1.0) - First Screenshots

In my last post "Oracle Grid Control 11g (11.1.0.1.0) for Linux available" you could see that almost one week before the official launch of Oracle the new Release of Oracle Grid Control / Enterprise Manager 11g Release 1 (11.1.0.1.0) is available for download.

Today I will show you some screenshots of the new Grid Control / Enterprise Manager. If you are expecting a complete new layout and look'n feel, you will be dissappointed. The layout remains the same.
The startpage in Grid Control looks the same like the previous release:

Under the link "About Oracle Enterprise Manager" you will see, thats really a 11.1.0.1.0 release :-)

The database section looks the same like before.

Only if you click the tab "Performance" you can see that the webpage has been changed to ADF.

Under section Middleware you will find your Oracle WebLogic Server, as the Oracle WebLogic Server is a prerequirement to install the new Oracle Enterprise Manager 11g Release 1.

If you access the Oracle WebLogic Server included in your section Middleware, you will find the classical WebLogic Server Administration Console

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