Thursday, September 6, 2007

Configuring the Oracle Database 10g installation

Configuring the Oracle Database 10g installation

Learning objective

After completing this topic, you should be able to recognize how to configure the Oracle Database 10g installation.

1. Selecting database configurations

When configuring the Oracle Database 10g installation using the Oracle Universal Installer (OUI), you can choose from the following database templates:

  • General Purpose
  • Transaction Processing
  • Data Warehouse
  • Advanced
General Purpose
The General Purpose template is a starter database that you can use for a wide range of tasks.
Transaction Processing
The Transaction Processing template is a starter database that you can use for transaction-heavy applications.
Data Warehouse
The Data Warehouse template is a starter database that is optimized for data warehousing purposes.
Advanced
The Advanced template is a customizable starter database. This option provides total flexibility in the creation of the starter database, but takes longer to build.

Each of these templates includes preconfigured files that enable you to build your database quickly, except for the Advanced template, which takes longer to build.

To select a starter database, you first ensure that the Create a starter database option is selected.

In this example, you want to select a database template that can be used for a wide range of tasks.

Select the General Purpose option, and click Next.

This brings you to the Specify Database Configuration Options page.

If you choose to create a starter database, a series of pages prompt you for information to configure the starter database.

Note

If you decide not to create a starter database, the summary page displays next.

The Specify Database Configuration Options page asks you for information on the following:

  • database naming
  • database character set
  • database examples
database naming
The Database Naming section prompts you for the database name. The default name is orcl.
database character set
The Database Character Set section prompts you for the character set the database uses to store your data.

You can modify the character set at a later stage, but this can be time-consuming and may require downtime for your database.
database examples
The Database Examples section enables you to create the database with a set of optional sample schemas for demonstrations and training.

In this example, you choose to keep the default name orcl as the global database name.

You now want to select the database character set. The current setting - WE8ISO8859P1 - doesn't support the euro symbol (€), so you want to select a character set that does.

In the Database Character Set section, you select Unicode Standard UFT-8 AL32UTF8 from the drop-down menu.

Next you want to specify that your starter database be created with sample schemas.

In the Database Examples section, you select the Create database with sample schemas option.

You then click Next to continue.

This brings you to the Select Database Management Option page, where you can choose to manage the database centrally or locally.

Question

Match the database templates to a description of when to use them.

Options:

  1. General Purpose
  2. Transaction Processing
  3. Data Warehouse
  4. Advanced

Targets:

  1. A starter database used for data warehousing purposes
  2. A starter database used for a wide range of tasks
  3. A customizable starter database
  4. A starter database used for transaction-heavy applications

Answer

The Data Warehouse template is a starter database used for data warehousing purposes. The General Purpose template is a starter database used for a wide range of tasks. The Advanced template is a customizable starter database, and the Transaction Processing template can be used for transaction-heavy applications.

The General Purpose template is designed for general purpose usage, and has preconfigured files that enable you to build your database quickly.

The Transaction Processing option is optimized for transaction-heavy applications. It has preconfigured files to facilitate a speedy database build.

The Data Warehouse template is optimized for data warehouse applications. It has preconfigured files, enabling you to build your database quickly.

The Advanced option provides total flexibility in the creation of the starter database, but does take longer to build.

Question

Suppose you are installing an Oracle database using the OUI. You want to select a starter database suitable for your application, and specify the appropriate database configuration options. You have navigated through the OUI to the Select Database Configuration page.

This question requires you to select the database template suitable for transaction-heavy applications, and then choose the option that creates the database with sample schemas. Which option performs this task?

Options:

  1. In the Select Database Configuration page, you select the General Purpose option, and click Next. In the Database Examples section, you select the Create database with sample schemas option.
  2. In the Select Database Configuration page, you select the Transaction Processing option, and click Next. In the Database Examples section, you select the Create database with sample schemas option.

Answer

In the Select Database Configuration page, you select the Transaction Processing option, and click Next. In the Database Examples section, you select the Create database with sample schemas option.

2. Configuring storage, backup, recovery, and passwords

In the Select Database Management Option page, you can choose to manage your database using

  • Grid Control
  • Database Control
Grid Control
Grid control manages several databases, either on one machine or many machines.
Database Control
Database control manages a single database.

You accept the default option, which is database control, and click Next.

This brings you to the Specify Database File Storage Option page.Here you can choose a file storage mechanism for your database from the following:

  • File System
  • Automatic Storage Management (ASM)
  • Raw Devices
File System
The File System option allows you to specify the location of files in your OS-configured file system.
Automatic Storage Management (ASM)
The Automatic Storage Management (ASM) option creates and manages files automatically. It also provides for the use of mirroring and striping.
Raw Devices
The Raw Devices (Partitions) option supports disk partitions that don't contain file systems.

You shouldn't use this option unless you're familiar with using raw partitions.

For information on setting up and maintaining raw partitions, you can check your OS documentation.

You want to use the file system for your database storage.

You select the File System option, and click Next.

This brings you to the Specify Backup and Recovery Options page. Here you can choose to enable automated backups for your database files.

You should set up a backup plan at some stage, but you have the option to do so later by accepting the default, Do not enable Automated backups.

You choose to enable backups now. You select the Enable Automated Backups option and click Next to continue.

When you enable automated backups, you can either specify the recovery area location or choose to use ASM.

In this example, you enter

/home/oracle/product/10.1.0/
flash_recovery_area/
as the storage location for the backups.

You also specify the operating system credentials that the backup job uses. You enter oracle as the username and password, and then click Next.

This opens the Database Schema Passwords page, where you can provide passwords for the SYS, SYSTEM, SYSMAN, and DBSNMP administrative users.

You can provide a password for each user separately by selecting Use different passwords for these accounts and entering the relevant password in the Enter Password and Confirm Password fields.

Or you can provide one password for all. To do this, you select the Use the same password for all accounts option, enter a password, and confirm it for all administrative users.

In this example, you configure one password for all users and then click Next to continue.

The Summary page appears.

Here you can view all the products and settings you chose for the installation.

Question

Match each file storage mechanism to the correct description.

Options:

  1. File System
  2. ASM
  3. Raw Devices

Targets:

  1. Creates and manages files automatically
  2. Specifies disk partitions that don't contain file systems
  3. Specifies the location of files in your OS-configured file system

Answer

The ASM creates and manages files automatically. The Raw Devices option specifies disk partitions that don't contain file systems, and the File System option specifies the location of files in your OS-configured file system.

You can select File System or the other storage mechanisms on the Specify Database File Storage Option page of the OUI.

Automatic Storage Management (ASM) also provides support for mirroring and striping.

For information on setting up and maintaining raw partitions, you can check your OS documentation.

Question

Suppose you want to select appropriate storage mechanism and backup and recovery options for your application. You have navigated through the OUI to the Specify Database File Storage Option page.

This question requires you to select the file storage mechanism that creates and manages files automatically, and then enable automated backups. Which option performs this task?

Options:

  1. In the Specify Database File Storage Option page, you select the Automatic Storage Management (ASM) option, and click Next. In the Specify Backup and Recovery Options page, you select the Enable Automated Backups option.
  2. In the Specify Database File Storage Option page, you select the File System option, and click Next. In the Specify Backup and Recovery Options page, you select the Enable Automated Backups option.

Answer

In the Specify Database File Storage Option page, you select the Automatic Storage Management (ASM) option, and click Next. In the Specify Backup and Recovery Options page, you select the Enable Automated Backups option.

3. Completing the install

Once you have checked the summary details, the next step is to start the installation by clicking Install.

You can watch the progression of the installation on the Install page.

At the end of the install, the Configuration Assistants page displays the following configuration assistant options:

  • iSQL*Plus Configuration Assistant
  • Oracle Net Configuration Assistant
  • Oracle Database Configuration Assistant
iSQL*Plus Configuration Assistant
The iSQL*Plus Configuration Assistant configures the OC4J (Oracle Containers for Java) instance that iSQL*Plus uses. It also configures tools to connect to the Oracle database.
Oracle Net Configuration Assistant
The Oracle Net Configuration Assistant configures standard network components such as listener names and protocol addresses, naming methods for clients to resolve connect identifiers to connect descriptors, net service names in a tnsnames.ora file, and directory server usage.
Oracle Database Configuration Assistant
The Oracle Database Configuration Assistant creates the starter database you have selected.

The Database Configuration Assistant window appears, displaying the progress of the installation.

When the database has been created, the Database Configuration Assistant displays a summary of the database details.

You click OK to continue.

When installing on a Linux (or UNIX) OS, or if you didn't create a starter database, the OUI prompts you to run the script root.sh as root.

This script updates or creates a file with details about ORACLE_HOME databases and location. On a Linux installation, the file is called /etc/oratab.

You need to open a new terminal window to execute root.sh as the root user.

Once you've run the root.sh, you return to the Setup Privileges page, and click OK.

This brings you to the End of Installation summary, which displays the URLs for the Oracle applications that have been deployed.

You access the iSQL*Plus URL and the Enterprise Manager URL via a web browser.

You can find the ports shown in the summary in

$ORACLE_BASE/product/10.1.0/db_2/portlist.ini

You click Exit to end the installation process.

Finally, you click Yes to exit.

Question

Match each configuration assistant to the correct function.

Options:

  1. iSQL*Plus Configuration Assistant
  2. Oracle Net Configuration Assistant
  3. Oracle Database Configuration Assistant

Targets:

  1. Creates the starter database you selected
  2. Configures the OC4J
  3. Configures basic network components during installation

Answer

The iSQL*Plus Configuration Assistant configures the OC4J, the Oracle Net Configuration Assistant configures basic network components during installation, and the Oracle Database Configuration Assistant creates the starter database you have selected.

The iSQL*Plus Configuration Assistant uses the OC4J (Oracle Containers for Java) instance to connect to the Oracle database.

The basic components that Oracle Net Configuration Assistant configures include listener names and protocol addresses, naming methods the client will use to resolve connect identifiers to connect descriptors, net service names in a tnsnames.ora file, and Directory server usage.

The Oracle Database Configuration Assistant uses the selection you made to create the database.

Summary

When using the OUI to configure the Oracle Database 10g installation, you have a choice of several starter database templates. When you select one, you're prompted for configuration details, such as the database character set and the database name. You're also given the option to include sample schemas in your database.

The OUI lets you choose whether your database is managed locally or centrally. You can also specify the type of file storage system you want for the database. You can protect your database by enabling automated backups and setting passwords for all the administrative users.

You can view a summary of database details before you run the installation. When installing on a Linux or UNIX OS, or if you didn't create a starter database, the OUI prompts you to run the script root.sh as root to complete the installation process.

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