Overview of Server Manager
This chapter introduces Oracle Server Manager and gives you an
overview of its major components.
This chapter covers the following topics:
-
A description of Server Manager
-
An overview of Server Manager's organization
-
An introduction to Server Manager's pull-down menus
-
A discussion of connecting to one or more databases and managing multiple
Server Manager windows
-
A description of Server Manager's online Help system
What is Server Manager?
Server Manager is Oracle's database administration tool. The graphical
component of Server Manager (Server Manager/GUI) allows you to perform
database administration tasks with the convenience of a graphical user
interface (GUI). The line mode component of Server Manager (Server Manager/LineMode)
provides a line mode interface.
Server Manager and Database Administration
Server Manager is designed to provide administrative functionality via
an easy-to-use interface. You can use Server Manager to:
-
Perform traditional administrative tasks, such as database startup, shutdown,
backup, and recovery. Rather than manually entering the SQL commands to
perform these tasks, you can use Server Manager's graphical interface to
execute the commands quickly and conveniently by pointing and clicking
with the mouse.
-
Concurrently perform multiple tasks. Because you can open multiple windows
simultaneously in Server Manager, you can perform multiple administrative
and non-administrative tasks concurrently.
-
Administer multiple databases. You can use Server Manager to administer
a single database or to simultaneously administer multiple databases.
-
Centralize database administration tasks. You can administer both local
and remote databases running on any Oracle platform in any location worldwide.
In addition, these Oracle platforms can be connected by any network protocol(s)
supported by SQL*Net and the MultiProtocol Interchange.
-
Dynamically execute SQL, PL/SQL, and Server Manager commands. You can use
Server Manager to enter, edit, and execute statements. Server Manager also
maintains a history of statements executed. Thus, you can re-execute statements
without retyping them, a particularly useful feature if you need to execute
lengthy statements repeatedly.
-
Perform administrative tasks using Server Manager's line mode interface
when a graphical user interface is unavailable or undesirable.
Portability
Server Manager is available for multiple GUI environments, yet adopts the
native look and feel of the platform on which it is running. So, Server
Manager running on Motif looks like a Motif application. And, Server Manager
running on Windows looks like a Windows application.
Supported Oracle Server Releases
You can use Server Manager to administer any database running Oracle7 release
7.0 or later. You can also simultaneously administer different databases
running different releases of Oracle7.
Server Manager/LineMode
For those environments that do not support a graphical user interface,
or for those times when a command line interface is desirable, Server Manager
for Line Mode provides a conversational line mode. In line mode, you can
explicitly execute commands on a command line.
You may want to use Server Manager in line mode when a graphical device
is unavailable (such as when dialing-in from a non-GUI terminal) or when
performing unattended operations (such as when running nightly batch jobs
or batch scripts that do not require user intervention).
For more information about using Server Manager in line mode, see Chapter
12, "Using Server Manager in Line Mode."
Using Server Manager
To use Server Manager to administer a database, you must install Server
Manager on your personal computer. You must also install several views
on the databases you wish to administer
Additional Information: For instructions on installing Server
Manager, see your operating system-specific Oracle documentation. For example,
for instructions on installing Server Manager on a Windows system, see
the Oracle Server Manager for Windows Installation Guide.
Installing Server Manager Views
You must install the Server Manager views on each database you wish to
administer. Even if you use one copy of Server Manager to administer several
databases, the Server Manager views must be installed on each database.
The script CATSVRMG.SQL
creates the views used by Server Manager, as well as a public synonym called
SM$VERSION. SM$VERSION contains the script's version number, which appears
in Server Manager's version banner. The CATSVRMG.SQL script is included
with Server Manager on your distribution media.
In Oracle7 release 7.1 and later, the CATSVRMG.SQL script is run automatically
by CATALOG.SQL.
If you wish to use Server Manager to administer a database running Oracle7
release 7.0, you must run the CATSVRMG.SQL script manually. You can run
this script from a SQL Worksheet or while using Server Manager in line
mode.
When running the CATSVRMG.SQL script, you must be connected with the
schema SYS. So, in a release 7.0 database, you must connect as either SYS
or INTERNAL. In a release 7.1 or later database, you can connect with either
SYSDBA or SYSOPER privileges.
To verify that the Server Manager views have been installed, you can
examine the version banner in the Administration window or query SM$VERSION
(SELECT * FROM sm$version). Figure
1 - 1 illustrates the version banner in the Administration window.
Dropping Server Manager Views
The script CATNOSVM.SQL drops all the objects created by CATSVRMG.SQL.
Other Scripts Needed for Server Manager
Server Manager also relies on other scripts. For information about Server
Manager and the UTLXPLAN.SQL script, see Chapter 7,
"Viewing Schema Objects." For information about Server Manager and the
UTLMONTR.SQL script, see Chapter 10, "Overview of
the System Monitors."
Additional Information: The script
names given above are the standard names. On some operating systems, the
names and locations of these scripts may differ. See your operating system-specific
Oracle documentation for details.
Figure
1 - 1. Administration Window Version Banner
Privileged Operations
To perform an operation or task using Server Manager, you must have the
appropriate privileges. For example, to create a tablespace using Server
Manager, you must have the CREATE TABLESPACE system privilege.
Because many of Server Manager's windows include information selected
from data dictionary tables, you need the SELECT ANY TABLE system privilege
to fully utilize Server Manager's interface. The SELECT ANY TABLE system
privilege is also part of the DBA role.
Server Manager does not enable any additional roles, so any privileges
you need must be part of your default role(s) and privileges.
For information about privileges and roles, refer to the Oracle7
Server Concepts and Oracle7
Server Administrator's Guide.
Starting Up Server Manager
The method for starting up Server Manager depends on your platform.
Additional Information: For information
about starting up Server Manager, see your operating system-specific Oracle
documentation. For information on starting Server Manager with Windows,
see Appendix F, "Windows-Specific Operations."
Preliminary Server Manager Windows
When you start up Server Manager, the copyright window appears. The copyright
window disappears in seven seconds. You can also type any key or click
anywhere in the window to make the window disappear immediately.
Next, the Connect dialog box appears. You may connect to an Oracle instance
at this time or close the dialog box. For more information about connecting
to an instance, see "Connecting to an Instance" .
Skipping to a Specified Window
You can start up Server Manager and jump to a specified window in the interface.
This allows you to skip any intermediate windows. This facility is called
launch in context.
For a description of how to use launch in context, see "Launching Server
Manager in Context" .
Server Manager Organization
Server Manager's graphical interface is divided into three major components:
The following sections give you an overview of these components.
Administration Manager
The Administration Manager is the primary administrative component of Server
Manager. You will probably use the Administration Manager to perform most
of your administrative tasks.
The Administration Manager divides database administration tasks into
categories:
-
Managing instances and sessions
-
Backing up and recovering a database
-
Managing a replication environment
Each of these categories is associated with its own pull-down menus and
dialog boxes.
The Administration Manager and these categories of tasks are discussed
in detail in Part II , "The Administration Manager."
SQL Worksheets
A SQL Worksheet allows you to dynamically enter SQL statements, PL/SQL
code, and Server Manager commands. You can also run scripts from a SQL
Worksheet.
A SQL Worksheet maintains a history of the commands you have entered.
Thus, you can use the SQL Worksheet to edit and re-execute an earlier command
without having to retype it.
You can have multiple SQL Worksheets open at a time, each of which is
separate from the others. So, you can commit or roll back work in each
worksheet independently.
SQL Worksheets are discussed in detail in Part III, "The SQL Worksheet."
System Monitors
The System Monitors allow you to gather and inspect performance statistics.
These statistics can be useful for tuning your database.
The types of System Monitors are:
-
Library Cache · System I/O
By selecting which aspects of system performance you want to monitor, you
can view performance statistics. You can sample these statistics as frequently
as you like by setting sampling intervals.
The System Monitors and the specific types of statistics you can monitor
are discussed in detail in Part IV , "System Monitors."
Server Manager Menus
Server Manager includes four main pull-down menus:
Some windows include other menus as well. For example, when you open the
Tablespaces folder in the Administration Manager, a pull-down menu called
Tablespace is added to the menu bar.
When a menu item is dimmed, it is not currently available. Menu items
that end with an ellipsis (...) indicate that you will be asked to enter
more information to complete the command.
File Menu
The File menu items allow you to open or close Server Manager windows and
create new connections.
The following figure illustrates the File menu.
Figure 1 - 2. File
Menu
The File menu is described below:
Connect
Displays the Connect dialog box to connect to an instance and open an
Administration window for that database.
Administration Window
Brings the associated Administration window forward, or displays a new
Administration window.
New Worksheet
Starts a new SQL Worksheet.
Monitor
Displays the Monitor dialog box, which allows you to choose a System
Monitor to start.
Close
Closes the current window.
Exit
Exits Server Manager.
The Administration window, New Worksheet, and Monitor menu items are
only available from a window connected to an instance. These items display
a window associated with that connection.
Edit Menu
The Edit menu contains the standard editing menu items for your platform.
These commands are useful when editing text in the SQL Worksheet or in
the filters in the System Monitors. On some platforms, these editing capabilities
may also be available for use in dialog boxes, although sometimes via keyboard
equivalents only.
The following figure illustrates the Edit menu.
Figure 1 - 3. Edit
Menu
Warning: The Undo menu item, when available, undoes the last
edit you performed on text. It does not undo the last operation
performed on the database you are administering.
Window Menu
The Window menu contains a list of all the Server Manager windows you have
open. To bring a window forward, choose its name from the Window menu.
The following figure illustrates a sample Window menu.
Figure 1 - 4. Window
Menu
Help Menu
From the Help menu, you can access the Server Manager online Help system.
For more information about Server Manager online Help system, see "Using
Online Help" .
The following figure illustrates the Help menu.
Figure
1 - 5. Help Menu
Using Help
Displays a dialog box containing information about the Help system.
See "Using Online Help"
for information about the Help dialog box.
Help About This Window
Displays a dialog box containing information about the current window.
About Oracle Server Manager
Displays a dialog box containing version information about Server Manager
and its components. See Figure 1 - 6.
Figure
1 - 6. About Oracle Server Manager Dialog Box
Connecting to an Instance
You can connect to an Oracle instance using the Server Manager Connect
dialog box. When you start up Server Manager, the Connect dialog box appears.
You can connect to an instance, or click Cancel and connect later. You
can also display the Connect dialog box by choosing Connect from the File
menu.
The following figure illustrates the Connect dialog box.
Figure
1 - 7. Connect Dialog Box
The elements of the Connect dialog box are described below:
Username
Your Oracle username for the database to which you are connecting.
Password
Your Oracle password for the database to which you are connecting.
Service Name
SQL*Net service name for the database to which you are connecting.
Server Manager accepts connections using SQL*Net Version 1 or SQL*Net
Version 2. Server Manager recognizes SQL*Net Version 1 connect strings,
such as T:BOSTON:A, and SQL*Net Version 2 service names, such
as NY_FINANCE.
Connect As
Pop-up menu containing Normal, SYSOPER, and SYSDBA for Oracle7 release
7.1 or later. Only Normal is allowed for release 7.0.
Connect
Initiates connection.
Cancel
Exits dialog box without connecting.
Help
Displays help information.
Additional Information: If you do not
specify a database service name, you connect to the default database for
your platform. Refer to your operating system-specific Oracle documentation
and SQL*Net documentation for more information.
Multiple Connections
In Server Manager you can have multiple connections open simultaneously.
For each connection you initiate, you can have one Administration window,
multiple SQL Worksheets, and one of each type of System Monitor.
The service name you
specify when you connect becomes part of the title for each window associated
with that connection. If you do not specify a service name, the title of
each window associated with the connection begins with the word "Default".
This scheme distinguishes windows associated with different connections,
and organizes them conveniently in the Window menu.
Opening New Windows
Using the File menu, you can open new windows from the Administration Manager,
a SQL Worksheet, or a System Monitor. When you open a new window, it is
associated with the instance and username of your current window.
Each new SQL Worksheet automatically initiates a separate physical connection
to an instance; you do not have to re-enter your connection information.
The first System Monitor you open also creates a new physical connection.
However, subsequent monitors share the same connection.
Limits on the Number of Connections
On some platforms there may be a limit on the number of connections you
can have open simultaneously.
Additional Information: For information
about the limit on open connections, see your operating system-specific
Oracle documentation.
Using Online Help
Server Manager includes an online Help system that provides you with help
information for every window and dialog box. The Help system is context
sensitive, but you can also search through help information to find a particular
topic.
Accessing Online Help
There are two ways of accessing the online Help system. In a main window,
such as the Administration window, you can access the Help system by choosing
Help About This Window from the Help menu. Figure
1 - 5 illustrates the Help menu.
In a dialog box, click Help to access the online Help system. Figure
1 - 7 shows the Connect dialog box and its Help button.
On Microsoft Windows, Server Manager provides a native online help system.
Refer to your Microsoft Windows documentation for information on using
online help.
On Motif systems, Server Manager also provides an online help system.
See Appendix E, "Motif-Specific Operations," for
instructions on using the online help when running Server Manager for Motif.
Launching Server Manager in Context
Using the launch in context facility, you can start up
Server Manager and immediately access a specific window or dialog box.
You specify the location to jump to using command-line parameters.
With the command-line parameters, you can bypass initial windows that
require user input (such as the Connect dialog box) and jump directly to
Server Manger's Administration Manager, SQL Worksheet, or System Monitor
components. For example, the statement:
svrmgrm user=scott password=tiger service=t:oraserv:smtg71
subsystem=administration area=requestlog
does the following:
-
starts up Server Manager in a Motif environment
-
connects as SCOTT with the password TIGER to the database specified by
the service name T:ORASERV:SMTG71
-
starts the Administration Manager and opens the Request Log folder in the
Replication drawer
-
displays the Request Log object list
Suggestion: You can use launch in context under your own command-line
interface or via menu items and commands in management consoles.
Additional Information: Starting Server
Manager using the launch in context facility varies with specific operating
systems. For information about using the launch in context facility, see
your operating system-specific Oracle documentation. For information on
using launch in context with Windows, see Appendix F,
"Windows-Specific Operations."
Jumping to the Administration Manager
When accessing the Administration Manager, you can specify:
-
the object to select in the folder's object list
-
the menu command to execute
Jumping to a SQL Worksheet
When accessing a SQL Worksheet, you can specify:
-
a SQL statement or PL/SQL block to execute
Jumping to a System Monitor
When accessing System Monitors, you can specify the monitor to display.
Global Parameters for Launch in Context
The global parameters for launch in context control your database connection
and the Server Manager component you access when you start up Server Manager.
Table 1 - 1 lists the various global
parameters you can use with launch in context.
Global Parameter |
Value |
Specifies |
user |
username |
Name of user to connect as. |
password |
password |
Password for the user. |
service |
service name |
SQL*Net service name for the database to which
you are connecting. |
as |
normal | sysdba | sysoper |
Privileges with which to connect. Default is
normal. |
subsystem |
administration | monitor | worksheet |
Subsystem to access. Default is administration. |
Table 1 - 1. Global Launch in Context Parameters
Specifying Connect Information
When you start up Server Manager without any command-line parameters, the
copyright window and Connect dialog box appear. See Figure
1 - 7
for an example of a Connect box.
However, if you specify the connect information
on the command line, you bypass the copyright window and Connect dialog
box.
If you do not specify enough information on the command line for Server
Manager to complete the connection, the Connect dialog box appears partially
filled in. For example, if you specify a service name but omit the user,
Server Manager opens the Connect dialog box with the service name filled
in.
You must supply the missing information to complete the connection and
click Connect to proceed.
Suggestion: For security reasons, you may want to omit the password
parameter and require that users enter a password in the Connect dialog
box when using the launch in context facility.
Specifying a Subsystem
Server Manager normally proceeds to the Administration Manager after connecting
to a database. However, you can specify a different subsystem
to jump to using the SUBSYSTEM parameter.
For example, the statement:
svrmgrm subsystem=worksheet
starts up Server Manager and immediately displays the Connect dialog box.
Once you have specified the connect information and connected to a database,
Server Manager jumps to a SQL Worksheet.
Parameters for the Administration Manager
The Administration Manager parameters control the drawer that is opened,
the folder that is displayed, the object that is selected, and the menu
command that is executed.
Table 1 - 2 lists the Administration
Manager parameters you can use with launch in context.
Administration Parameter |
Value |
Specifies |
area |
folder_name |
Name of the folder to open. Server Manager infers
the correct drawer to open. See "AREA Parameter" . |
object |
object_name |
Name of the object to select. See "OBJECT Parameter" . |
menu |
menu_item | default |
Menu command to execute for the folder specified.
See "MENU Parameter" . |
Table 1 - 2. Administration Manager in Context Parameters
AREA Parameter
Use the AREA parameter to specify the folder to
open in the Administration Manager. Because the folder names are unique,
Server Manager infers the corresponding drawer to open.
Folder names for the AREA parameter must be entered:
-
without any spaces between words
For example, the statement:
svrmgrm user=scott password=tiger service=t:oraserv:smtg71
area=requestlog
does the following:
-
connects as SCOTT to the specified database
-
opens the Request Log folder in the Replication drawer
Suggestion: Because Server Manager normally proceeds to the Administration
Manager after connecting, you can omit the SUBSYSTEM parameter when you
want to jump to any location in the Administration Manager.
Table 1 - 3 lists the possible folder
names for the AREA parameter.
Area Argument |
Specifies |
|
tablespaces |
Storage drawer |
Tablespaces folder |
datafiles |
Storage drawer |
Datafiles folder |
rollback |
Storage drawer |
Rollback folder |
users |
Security drawer |
Users folder |
profiles |
Security drawer |
Profiles folder |
roles |
Security drawer |
Roles folder |
audit |
Security drawer |
Audit folder |
database |
Instance drawer |
Database folder |
initialization |
Instance drawer |
Initialization folder |
transactions |
Instance drawer |
Transactions folder |
sessions |
Instance drawer |
Sessions folder |
backup |
Recovery drawer |
Backup folder |
recovery |
Recovery drawer |
Recovery folder |
redologs |
Recovery drawer |
Redo Logs folder |
optimizer |
Schema drawer |
Optimizer folder |
explainplans |
Schema drawer |
Explain Plans folder |
snapshots |
Schema drawer |
Snapshots folder |
snapshotlogs |
Schema drawer |
Snapshot Logs folder |
links |
Schema drawer |
Links folder |
synonyms |
Schema drawer |
Synonyms folder |
packages |
Schema drawer |
Packages folder |
triggers |
Schema drawer |
Triggers folder |
constraints |
Schema drawer |
Constraints folder |
schemas |
Replication drawer |
Schemas folder |
objects |
Replication drawer |
Objects folder |
registeredsnapshots |
Replication drawer |
Registered Snapshots folder |
masters |
Replication drawer |
Masters folder |
conflictresolution |
Replication drawer |
Conflict Resolution folder |
deferredtransactions |
Replication drawer |
Deferred Transactions folder |
errors |
Replication drawer |
Errors folder |
requestlog |
Replication drawer |
Request Log folder |
Table 1 - 3. Values for the AREA Parameter
OBJECT Parameter
Use the OBJECT parameter to specify the object
you want to select in the object list. The entry in the first column is
the identifier for each object.
Object names for the OBJECT parameter:
-
must be one of the object names listed in the first column of the object
list
For example, the statement:
svrmgrm user=scott password=tiger service=t:oraserv:smtg71
subsystem=administration area=tablespaces object=SYSTEM
does the following:
-
connects as SCOTT to the specified database
-
opens the Storage drawer and Tablespaces folder
-
selects the tablespace SYSTEM in the Tablespace object list
Note: "Tablespace" is the first column of the Tablespace object
list. SYSTEM is the identifier for the object and is located in the "Tablespace"
column.
Attention: If the object list is long, the selected object may
not be visible. Scroll down the list to display the object.
If you specify an object that does not exist, Server Manager opens the
folder you specified but does not select any objects in the folder's object
list. If there are multiple objects with the same identifier in the first
column, the first object that matches is selected.
MENU Parameter
Use the MENU parameter to specify the menu command
to execute on a selected object.
Menu commands for the MENU parameter must be either:
-
a number starting with 1, which is the position of the menu command from
the top of the pull-down menu
Attention: The position number includes menu separator lines. See
Figure 2 - 3
for an example of a pull-down menu. In that menu, Add Datafile is in position
5.
-
the word "default", which represents the menu command that would be executed
if you double-clicked on the selected object in the object list
For example, both statements:
svrmgrm user=scott password=tiger service=t:oraserv:smtg71
subsystem=administration area=tablespaces object=SYSTEM
menu=2
and
svrmgrm user=scott password=tiger service=t:oraserv:smtg71
subsystem=administration area=tablespaces object=SYSTEM
menu=default
do the following:
-
connect as SCOTT to the specified database
-
open the Storage drawer and Tablespaces folder
-
select the tablespace SYSTEM in the Tablespace object list
-
display the Alter Tablespace property sheet for the SYSTEM tablespace
Note: The Alter menu command is the second menu item from the top
of the Tablespace pull-down menu.
Equivalently, double-clicking on SYSTEM in Tablespaces object list
also executes the Alter command.
Parameters for the SQL Worksheet
The launch in context parameter for the SQL Worksheet is the COMMAND parameter.
Use the COMMAND parameter to specify a statement, command, or script to
execute.
The value for COMMAND:
-
can be any valid SQL or PL/SQL statement, or Server Manager command
-
must be enclosed in quotation marks if the command or statement contains
multiple words
-
must use the '@' operator to run a script
Attention: When running under Windows,
you can only use the COMMAND parameter to specify a script to execute.
For example, the statement:
svrmgrm user=scott password=tiger service=t:oraserv:smtg71
subsystem=worksheet command=@utlxplan
does the following:
-
starts up Server Manager in a Motif environment
-
connects as SCOTT to the specified database
-
opens a SQL Worksheet and runs the UTLXPLAN.SQL script
The COMMAND parameter is optional. You can specify SUBSYSTEM equals worksheet
without including the COMMAND parameter. In this case, Server Manager just
starts a SQL Worksheet.
Parameters for the System Monitors
The launch in context parameter for the System Monitors is the MONITOR
parameter. Use the MONITOR parameter to specify
the type of monitor to start.
You may only start one monitor with the MONITOR parameter.
Monitor names for the MONITOR parameter must:
-
include any punctuation present in the name of the monitor
For example, the statement:
svrmgrm user=scott password=tiger service=t:oraserv:smtg71
monitor=systemi/o
does the following:
-
connects as SCOTT to the specified database
-
starts the System I/O monitor
Suggestion: If you specify a monitor type with the MONITOR parameter,
you can omit the SUBSYSTEM parameter.
Table 1 - 4 lists the possible monitor
names for the MONITOR parameter.
Monitor Arguments |
Specifies |
circuit |
Circuit monitor |
dispatcher |
Dispatcher monitor |
filei/o, file |
File I/O monitor |
latch |
Latch monitor |
librarycache, library |
Library Cache monitor |
lock |
Lock monitor |
process |
Process monitor |
queue, q |
Queue monitor |
rollback |
Rollback monitor |
session |
Session monitor |
sharedserver, shared |
Shared Server monitor |
sqlarea, sql |
SQL Area monitor |
systemi/o, sio |
System I/O monitor |
systemstatistics, ss |
System Statistics monitor |
tableaccess, table |
Table Access monitor |
tablespace |
Tablespace monitor |
Table 1 - 4. Values for the MONITOR Parameter
The MONITOR parameter is optional. You can specify SUBSYSTEM equals
monitor without including the MONITOR parameter. In this case, Server Manager
jumps to the Monitor dialog box from which you can select the type of monitor
to start.