3 Database Tools on Windows

Database Tools and Operating System Compatibility

Almost all database tools are available on all supported versions of Windows. The exceptions are:

• Oracle Advanced Security includes Enterprise Security Manager Console and Oracle Wallet Manager. These are available only with Oracle Database Enterprise Edition and Oracle Database Personal Edition, and not Oracle Database Standard Edition. To learn whether they were installed or not, see your installActions.log at C:\program files\Oracle\Inventory\logs.

• Oracle Enterprise Manager and its optional management packs have additional integrated tools to assist in managing databases. See Oracle Enterprise Manager Concepts for more information.

• Microsoft Management Console must be obtained from Microsoft Corporation for use with Windows NT 4.0.

Preferred Database Tools

Table 3-1 lists various database tools you can use to perform common database administration tasks. Oracle recommends you use tools listed in the "Preferred Database Tool" column of the table. After choosing a tool to perform a task, go to Table 3-2, "Starting Database Tools from the Start Menu", for instructions on how to start the tool.

D:\> exp system/manager full=y volsize=100m;
LRM-00101: unknown parameter name 'volsize'
EXP-00019: failed to process parameters, type 'EXP HELP=Y' for help
EXP-00000: Export terminated unsuccessfully

Starting Database Tools in Multiple Oracle Homes

If you have multiple Oracle homes on your computer from previous releases, then see Chapter 2, " Multiple Oracle Homes and Optimal Flexible Architecture" for a description of differences between Oracle homes before and after Oracle Database 10g.

Starting Database Tools from the Start Menu

Table 3-2 describes how to start assistants and other tools from the Start Menu. It also tells where to go for further information on using these products. All Start Menu paths begin with Start > Programs > Oracle - HOME_NAME >.

Starting Database Tools from the Command Line

Table 3-3 describes how to start Oracle Database tools from the command line, and where to go for further information on using these products.

Starting Windows Tools

Table 3-4 describes how to start each Windows tool and where to go for more information on using these products.

C:\> regedt32

Windows Processing Options

This section discusses possible values for the Operating System Dependent (OSD) file processing specifications string option, referred to in "SQL*Loader Control File Reference" in Oracle Database Utilities.

INFILE mydata.dat "str '\n'"

INFILE mydata.dat "str x'0a'"

RECORDS DELIMITED BY '\n'

RECORDS DELIMITED BY 0x'0a'

INFILE "mydata.dat" "var n"

Case Study Files

The distribution media for SQL*Loader contains case study files for control files, datafiles, and setup files in ulcase1,...ulcase11 in the following directory: Oracle_Home\rdbms\demo.

Specifying the Bad File

When SQL*Loader executes, it can create a file called a bad file or reject file in which it places records that were rejected because of formatting errors or because they caused Oracle Database errors. If you have specified that a bad file is to be created, it overwrites any existing file with the same name; ensure that you do not overwrite a file you wish to retain.

Control File Conventions

When preparing SQL*Loader control files (.ctl), you must follow certain syntax and notational conventions.

In full path descriptions, backslashes do not require escape characters or other special treatment. When embedding a single or double quotation mark inside a string delimited by double quotation marks, place a backslash escape character before the embedded quotation mark.

When specifying datatypes in the SQL*Loader control file, note that the default sizes of native datatypes shown in Table 3-5 are specific to Windows. These datatypes can be loaded with correct results only between systems where they have the same length in bytes. You cannot override these defaults in the control file. If the byte order is different between the systems, you can indicate the byte order of the data with the BYTEORDER parameter, or you can place a byte-order mark (BOM) in the file.

Using Event Viewer to Monitor a Database

Event Viewer lets you monitor events in your system. An event is an important occurrence in the system or application (such as Oracle Database) that requires user notification. While messages for major events can appear on-screen as you work at your computer, events not requiring your immediate attention are recorded by Windows in the Event Viewer log file. You can then view this information at your convenience.

Event Viewer can be used to monitor Oracle Database events, such as:

• Initialization of System Global Area for active instance

• Initialization of Program Global Area (PGA) for background processes of active instance

• Connection to Oracle Database using AS SYSDBA

In addition, the operating system audit trail is logged to Event Viewer.

Using Microsoft Management Console to Administer a Database

Microsoft Management Console provides a central location for network administration. Microsoft Management Console hosts applications (called snap-ins) that administrators can use to manage their networks. Oracle snap-ins enable database administrators to:

• Configure Oracle Database administrators, operators, users, and roles so the Windows operating system can authenticate them

• Configure OracleServiceSID

• Modify registry parameters for all Oracle homes on the computer

• Modify the computer hostname, username, and password for the database being monitored by Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor

• View and terminate an Oracle Database thread

Using Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor

Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor is integrated into Windows Performance Monitor. This tool enables you to view performance of processors, memory, cache, threads, and processes. Performance information provided includes device usage, queue lengths, delays, throughput measurements, and internal congestion measurements. This information is provided as charts, alerts, and reports.

You can use Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor to monitor key Oracle Database information, such as:

• Library cache

• Buffer cache

• Data dictionary cache

• Redo log buffer cache

• Thread activity

You can use your findings to improve database performance.

Using Registry Editor to Modify Configuration Information

Oracle Database stores its configuration information in a structure known as the registry. You can view and modify this configuration information through Registry Editor. The registry contains configuration information for your computer and must not be accessible for editing by inexperienced users. Only experienced administrators should view and change this information.

Registry Editor displays configuration information in a format similar to Windows Explorer. In the left-hand window is a tree-like format consisting of keys (or folders). When one of these keys is highlighted, parameters and values assigned to that key are displayed in the right-hand window.

When you install products from your CD-ROM, configuration parameters are automatically entered in the registry. These parameters are read each time your Windows computer is started and whenever an Oracle Database product is started. These parameters include settings for:

• Oracle home directory

• Language

• Company name

• Oracle home subdirectories for individual products

• Individual products such as SQL*Plus

• Services

  
  

  See Also: Chapter 14, " Configuration Parameters and the Registry" for definitions of Oracle Database configuration parameters and specific instructions on using the registry to modify Oracle Database configuration parameters

  
  

Using Task Manager to Monitor Applications and Processes

Task Manager has three tabs:

• Applications tab displays what applications are running. This is useful for identifying and ending unresponsive tasks. (Oracle Database does not appear as an application because it runs as a service.)

• Processes tab displays details of currently running processes and their resource usage. Columns are customizable.

• Performance tab graphically displays real-time CPU and memory usage, which is useful for spotting sudden changes.

Using Local Users and Groups to Manage Users and Groups

Local Users and Groups enables you to manage users and groups on Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Specifically, you can:

• Create and modify local user accounts

• Create and modify user profiles

• Create, add, and delete local groups

Using User Manager to Manage Users

User Manager enables you to manage Windows computer security and create user accounts on Windows NT. With User Manager, you can:

• Grant Oracle Database roles

• Use operating system authentication for user accounts (For example, you can grant DBA access to a Windows user.)

• Create a Windows user account that enables you to make secure client connections to Oracle Database without a password

  
  

  See Also: "Manually Administering External Users and Roles" for specific instructions on using User Manager to perform Oracle Database administration