SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 5, 2019 / Samba TV, the leading provider of global TV data and audience analytics, today announced that it has expanded its integration with Moat by Oracle Data Cloud to measure viewability and invalid traffic across its CTV (Connected TV) impressions. 'With over four billion available impressions for brands every month, and 100 percent of them. There is no legal obligation to use Oracle Measurement Tool, complete its questionnaire, or use its other third-party verified tools. Even though Oracle habitually calls in outside consultants for.
It's now September and if your company have a ULA that is up for renewal in May 2020. You need to start preparing for the renewal.
You have 3 months to get your house in order. If you don’t do these steps, you might as well renew your Oracle ULA for another 12-60 months.
Look at this chart to see the benefits and risks by waiting for your Oracle ULA. The earlier you begin the better results can you expect, such as:
- Less money paid to Oracle for license shortfalls
- Maximize current agreement & optimize licensing. (You want to exit your Oracle ULA with as many licenses as possible)
- Better pricing and a stronger contract protecting you against future non-compliance.
I have now been helping companies manage their Oracle Unlimited License Agreements (ULAs) for 5 years. Along with license audits, ULA is one of the most common reasons why companies hire Oracle license experts.
My experience during these 5 years is helping large and mid size customers in UK, US, France, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden renew or exit their ULAs.
The first clients I helped with ULAs was mostly ad-hoc as we didn't know about all the pitfalls that comes with Oracle ULA. But as with all consulting, the more times you do something, the better you become, and you minimize the mistakes and maximize the success.
This roadmap is currently our methodology on a high level. I am sharing it so that you can take/use whatever you need to better prepare for your Oracle ULA. But also help you understand why you need to take some of these steps.
The project goals we want to achieve are:
- Have zero noncompliance at the end of your Oracle ULA
- Provide best possible advice on what you have deployed to enable you to:
- Understand which products you potentially want to include in a new ULA.
- Stronger negotiation position when the ULA renewal date is up. (It's good to able to say 'No' to Oracle offer if the price is not good enough! But it can be a difficult thing to do if you are uncertain about your compliance position.
No matter your 'Certification/Exit' process text.
Oracle will want to count your licensing and want you to run their data measurement tools on your Oracle environment.
If you run their data measurement tools and hand them the raw output:
If you do that, it may cost your company millions of £/$/€
I haven’t come across a single company that have been compliant with their Oracle ULA, no matter what SAM tool they are using. And most are using some tool.
Checklist for reviewing the ULA contract
Customer definition
Which legal entities are using software from the Oracle Unlimited License Agreement? There is almost always a subsidiary list of who can access the software.
Action: Ask business/IT, if your corporation have acquired any legal entities during the ULA that are now using the Oracle software. If the answer is yes, most Oracle ULAs you a contractual right to add them to the ULA if the acquired entity is less than 10% of your company in employees or revenue. Make sure you follow the process for doing so.
Territory
You will only have the right to physically deploy Oracle software in the specified countries or territory. We either see you have 1 or several countries, the best Oracle ULAs have worldwide usage territory.
Recommendation: Check where you have Oracle deployed so that you follow the licensing agreement. If you have deployed outside of your territory right, you have a problem that will cost your company money if they find out.
Certification Process
Ask yourself, what is the contractual process for exiting your Oracle ULA? Oracle contractual text around this exit/certification is always vague and seem very easy by reading the contract. But it is never easy, and Oracle will ask you to provide far more information about your deployments than ever thought was possible. Yes, you can say 'no' to everything Oracle asks for, but then your Oracle ULA exit/certification might take a year and they still have the right to audit you straight ULA exit.
Recommendation: If you follow the road map you won't mind sharing the scripts with Oracle, or you might already have signed a new ULA. The certification/exit process is only difficult for customers that have not done the preparation work.
Check for limited use & risky clauses
Check in the ordering document for 'others' that’s usually where Oracle puts in different limitations on your usage. Many customers have one opinion about a contract clause and Oracle has a completely different. If you don’t have enough courage or expertise you can end up in trouble.
Recommendation: You must have someone on your team that has experience in reading ULA contracts. If you do, they will easily see any of these contract risks and identify them for you. If there is a risk, you can together make an analysis of its implications and build a strategy for how to manage it. You might do everything correct with licensing, counting all your processors correctly, but if you misunderstood your ULA contract you might still be millions of euros, pounds or dollars in financial risk.
Common-end-scenarios following this methodology
If you do a proper ULA renewal here are a few common 'end-scenarios'
Scenario 1
- They run data measurement tools and work with and Oracle licensing expert. To help them measure compliance and optimize the ULA.
- They are compliant at the end of the Oracle ULA. (No risk)
- They also were able to optimize licensing by using Oracle policies on soft partitioning and deploying on large servers they managed to increase their software licenses from 1000 processors to 1500. While they don't need those 500 extra processor licenses, but as soon as the Oracle ULA has ended, they optimize their licensing so that they have a 500-processor license buffer. It can then be used for future license needs but also making sure that if there is a license audit in the future you have a large buffer of licenses. Those 500 processors of Oracle licenses could have a value of 500 x 47 500 $ = 23,750 000 $ - And remember that support will not increase if you exit your ULA with far more licenses than what Oracle expected.
Scenario 2
- They run data measurement tools and work with and Oracle licensing expert. To help them measure compliance and optimize the ULA.
- They understand by the compliance results that they are noncompliant for Oracle software for 30m €/$/£ . Instead of paying that money to Oracle. They tell their Oracle sales rep that they are willing to renew their Oracle ULA (but also include the new products in the new ULA) for 2m €/$/£. And Oracle never finds out that there was a license gap.
- In addition to getting a good price, the company also leverages the expertise of the Oracle licensing expert to negotiate stronger contract terms to protect them against future compliance risks but also make it easier to exit the new ULA when it ends.
Top3 mistakes customers are making with Oracle ULAs
- Run Oracle data measurement tools and hand over the raw output to Oracle. If you do that you are in the mercy of Oracle and i believe 90% chance that Oracle will come back with a large license gap.
- That you read your Oracle ULA contract, and that you have one opinion and Oracle has another. If you cant back up your opinion with arguments and expertise. Oracle will run you over.
- That you don't negotiate the certification clause so that you can count your cloud deployments towards any exit number.
If you have not signed your first Oracle ULA, I am sharing some thoughts in the video below on what should be the most important consideration. Unlimited Licensing can be a great deal for some companies, but for others it can become your a nightmare.
If you want know more about Oracle ULAs, my colleague Morten recently wrote an article '21-must-ask questions about the Oracle ULA agreement'
We also have a free online 2-hour training on Oracle ULAs and other enterprise style agreements. You can register or view the training 'on-demand' simply visit this page
Are you under an Oracle license audit and Oracle wants you to pay for vmware? Read this article to better understand that Oracle audits are not fair. 'Oracle Audit Pay or Don't pay?
If you are looking at reducing support fees for Oracle, ULA agreements is the worst agreement you can sign. Read more at '22-must-ask question when you want to reduce Oracle support fees'
f you just got a Oracle license audit letter and wants to know how to manage or win your Oracle license audit. I recently wrote a guide '22-must-ask-questions in an Oracle license audit'
To summarize:
- Did you agree or disagree? Leave your feedback in the comments below:
- If you enjoyed the article, please press like and share it to your network.
If you have any questions, please connect with me here on Linkedin and ask me. I am happy to answer any questions.
Please also become a reader to our NEWSLETTER it has over 800+ subscribers.
You can subscribe here
What do is my knowledge based upon?
I used to be the lead the Oracle licensing consultant part of a global license optimisation team at Insight. Our team provided services such as Oracle license compliance, audit defence, ULA renewals and exits, support reductions and contract negotiation. I have as a consultant supported over 100 companies around the world with a focus on EMEA and US markets. Usually i help clients reduce their Oracle audit fees by 90-100%.
After leaving Insight, I spent a year working for another Oracle licensing services provider. Now i am the principal Oracle consultant at Redress Compliance limited.
#oracle #vendormanagement #itsourcing #contract #negotiation #sam #softwareassetmanagement
Oracle Database for Windows includes various tools to perform database functions. This chapter describes preferred tools to perform common database administration tasks and explains how tools can be started.
Unless otherwise noted, features described in this guide are common to Oracle Database Enterprise Edition, Oracle Database Standard Edition, Oracle Database Standard Edition One and Oracle Database Personal Edition.
This chapter contains these topics:
See Also:
- Chapter 5, 'Administering a Database on Windows' for OracleServiceSID configuration tasks
- Chapter 6, 'Monitoring a Database on Windows' for thread management tasks
- Chapter 9, 'Authenticating Database Users with Windows' for authentication tasks
- Chapter 15, 'Configuration Parameters and the Registry' and Chapter 6, 'Monitoring a Database on Windows' for Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor tasks
- Oracle Database Installation Guide for Microsoft Windows for components available for installation
Choosing a Database Tool
Database tools is a collective term for tools, utilities, and assistants that you can use to perform database administration tasks. Some database tools perform similar tasks, though no one database tool performs all database administration tasks. The following sections indicate which database tools can be used on particular operating systems and preferred tools to use for common database administration tasks.
Database Tools and Operating System Compatibility
Almost all database tools are available on all supported versions of Windows. The exceptions are:
- Oracle Migration Workbench is available only at Oracle Technology Network (OTN). See>
http://www.oracle.com/technology/tech/migration/workbench/index.html'>>http://www.oracle.com/technology/tech/migration/workbench/index.html
- Oracle Enterprise Manager and its optional management packs have additional integrated tools to assist in managing databases. See Oracle Database 2 Day DBA for more information.
Preferred Database Tools
Table 2-1 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 2-2, for instructions on how to start the tool.
Note:
The VOLSIZE
parameter for Export and Import utilities is not supported on Windows. If you attempt to use the utilities with the VOLSIZE
parameter, then error LRM-00101 occurs. For example:Table 2-1 Preferred Database Tools
Administration Task | Preferred Tool | Other Tools |
---|---|---|
Create a database | Database Configuration Assistant | SQL*Plus or SQL*Plus Worksheet |
Create database services | Database Configuration Assistant | ORADIM |
Delete database services | Database Configuration Assistant | ORADIM |
Start a database | Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control | SQL*Plus or SQL*Plus Worksheet Or srvctl for database managed by Oracle Clusterware. |
Shut down a database | Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control | Control Panel SQL*Plus or SQL*Plus Worksheet |
Change passwords in the database password file | ORAPWD | ORADIM |
Migrate database users to a directory | User Migration Utility | None |
Migrate a database | Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant | Upgrade Information Tool |
Upgrade a database | Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant | Run provided scripts in SQL*Plus |
Export data | Data Pump Export (EXPDP) | Export (EXP) |
Import data | Data Pump Import (IMPDP) | Import (IMP) |
Load data | Oracle Enterprise Manager Load Wizard | SQL*Loader (SQLLDR) |
Back up database | Oracle Enterprise Manager Backup Wizard | Recovery Manager (RMAN) OCOPY |
Recover database | Oracle Enterprise Manager Recovery Wizard | Recovery Manager (RMAN) OCOPY |
Authenticate database administrators and users | Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control | SQL*Plus or SQL*Plus Worksheet Windows operating system Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows |
Store encrypted and decrypted Oracle Wallet (Oracle Advanced Security and Oracle PKI integration) | Oracle Wallet Manager | None |
Grant database roles | Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control | Local Users and Groups SQL*Plus |
Create database objects | Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control | SQL*Plus |
The following points refer to tools listed in Table 2-1, 'Preferred Database Tools':
- SQL*Plus Worksheet is part of Oracle Enterprise Manager and is only supported on Windows 32-Bit.
- ORADIM can only set a password when none was previously set. If a password has been previously set, then ORADIM can change it only by deleting and re-creating Oracle Database services.
- User Migration Utility can migrate local or external users to enterprise users. For more information, refer to 'Using the User Migration Utility' in Oracle Database Enterprise User Security Administrator's Guide.
- Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant can upgrade the following databases to the current release: Oracle9i Release 2 (9.2), Oracle Database 10g Release 1 (10.1), and 2 (10.2). Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant can also be used to apply patch sets.See Also:Oracle Database Upgrade Guide for more information about upgrading single instance and cluster databases
- Data Pump Export and Data Pump Import are preferred for Oracle Database 10g Release 1 (10.1) and later data; Export and Import are preferred for earlier data.
- If you back up files while you are shutting down the database, then your backup will be invalid. You cannot use an invalid backup to restore files at a later date.
- You cannot use earlier versions of Oracle Wallet Manager to manage Oracle Database 10g Release 1 (10.1) and later wallets that contain password-based credentials for authentication to Oracle Internet Directory. These credentials are placed in the wallet when an Oracle Database server is registered in Oracle Internet Directory.The database wallet that Database Configuration Assistant automatically generates during database registration can only be used with an Oracle Database 10g Release 1 (10.1) or later server. You cannot use this database wallet for earlier versions of the database, nor can you use it for Oracle Internet Directory Release 9.0.4 or earlier.
- For guidelines on creating database objects, see Oracle Database Administrator's Guide.
Starting Database Tools
This section describes how to start each of the database tools in the following categories:
Starting Database Tools in Multiple Oracle Homes
If you have multiple Oracle homes on your computer from previous releases, then see Appendix B, 'Optimal Flexible Architecture', in Oracle Database Installation Guide for Microsoft Windows for a description of differences between Oracle homes in different releases.
Starting Tools from Oracle8i Release 8.1.3 and Later Multiple Oracle Homes
Beginning in Oracle8i release 8.1.3, each Oracle home, including the first Oracle home you create on your computer, has a unique HOME_NAME. To start Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows from any Oracle home, from the Start menu, select Programs, then select Oracle -HOME_NAME, then select Configuration and Migration Tools and then select Administration Assistant for Windows
Running Tools with Windows User Account Control
To ensure that only trusted applications run on your computer, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2 provide User Account Control. If you have enabled this security feature, then, depending on how you have configured it, Oracle Universal Installer prompts you for either your consent or your credentials when installing Oracle Database Client. Provide either the consent or your Windows Administrator credentials as appropriate.
You must have Administrator privileges to run some configuration tools, or to run any tool or application that writes to any directory within the Oracle home. If User Account Control is enabled, and you are logged in as the local Administrator, then you can successfully run each of these commands in the usual way. However, if you are logged in as a member of the Administrator group, then you must explicitly run these tasks with Windows Administrator privileges.
The following tools must be run with Administrator privileges:
- Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
- Oracle Net Configuration Assistant. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
- Oracle OLAP Analytic Workspace Manager and Worksheet. This tool is available as an Integrated Management Tool.
- Oracle Database Configuration Assistant. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
- Oracle Database Wallet Manager. This tool is available as an Integrated Management Tool.
- Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
- Oracle Net Manager. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
- Oracle ASM Configuration Assistant (
asmca
). This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool. - Oracle ASM Disk Stamping Tool (
asmtool(g)
). This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
To run any Start menu tool with Administrator privileges:
- Click the Start menu option.
- Navigate to Programs, then to Oracle - HOME_NAME.
- Right-click the name of the tool or application you want to run, then select Run as administrator.
These steps describe how to start a tool as an Administrator from the command prompt:
- On your desktop, create a shortcut for the command prompt window. An icon for that shortcut appears on the desktop.
- Right-click the icon for the newly created shortcut, and specify Run as administrator.When you open this window, the title bar reads Administrator: Command Prompt. Commands run from within this window are run with Administrator privileges.
Starting Database Tools from the Start Menu
Table 2-2 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.
Note:
When you use an assistant, you must have read and write access to the directory where database files will be moved or created. To create an Oracle Database, you must have an administrative privilege. If you run Database Configuration Assistant from an account that is not part of the Administrators group, then the tool exits without completing the operation.Note:
All Start Menu paths begin with the Start menu where you select Programs, then select Oracle -HOME_NAME and so on.Table 2-2 Starting Database Tools from the Start Menu
Tool | Start Menu Path | More Information |
---|---|---|
Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows | From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Administration Assistant for Windows | |
Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant | From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Database Upgrade Assistant | |
Oracle Database Configuration Assistant | From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Database Configuration Assistant | |
Oracle Locale Builder | From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Locale Builder | |
Microsoft ODBC Administrator | From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Microsoft ODBC Administration | Microsoft ODBC Administration online help |
Oracle Migration Workbench | From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Migration Workbench | Oracle Migration Workbench software and documentation are available at |
Oracle Net Configuration Assistant | From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Net Configuration Assistant | |
Oracle Net Manager | From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Net Manager | |
Oracle Directory Manager | From Integrated Management Tools, select Oracle Directory Manager | |
Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor | From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor | To install Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor, choose Advanced Installation and then the Custom installation type. |
SQL*Plus | From Application Development, select SQL*Plus | |
SQL*Plus Worksheet | From Application Development, select SQL*Plus Worksheet From Integrated Management Tools, select SQL*Plus Worksheet | SQL*Plus Worksheet is available from the Start Menu only with Oracle Database Client. |
Oracle Wallet Manager | From Integrated Management Tools, select Wallet Manager | |
Automatic Storage Management Configuration Assistant | From Configuration and Management Tools, select Automatic Storage Management Configuration Assistant |
Note:
After installing Oracle Database 11g Companion Products, Oracle Wallet Manager is not available from the Start menu. See Table 2-3, 'Starting Database Tools from the Command Line' for instructions on starting Oracle Wallet Manager from the command line.Starting Database Tools from the Command Line
Table 2-3 describes how to start Oracle Database tools from the command line, and where to go for further information on using these products.
Table 2-3 Starting Database Tools from the Command Line
Tool | Enter at Prompt | More Information |
---|---|---|
DBVERIFY | C:> dbv DBVERIFY starts and prompts you for a filename parameter. To obtain a list of parameters, enter: C:> dbv help=y | |
Data Pump Export | C:> expdp username EXP starts and prompts you for parameters. To obtain a list of these parameters, enter: C:> exp help=y | Oracle Database Utilities for instructions on use of Data Pump Export Oracle Database Error Messages for information on error messages |
Data Pump Import | C:> impdp username IMP starts and prompts you for parameters. To get a list of these parameters, enter: C:> imp help=y | Oracle Database Utilities for instructions on use of Data Pump Import Oracle Database Error Messages for information on error messages |
Database Configuration Assistant | C:> dbca DBCA wizard starts in interactive mode. For silent options and other command line options enter: C:> dbca -help | 'Starting DBCA' in Oracle Database 2 Day DBA |
Database Upgrade Assistant | C:> dbua DBUA wizard starts in interactive mode. For silent options and other command line options enter: C:> dbua -help | |
Export | C:> exp username EXP starts and prompts you for parameters. To obtain a list of these parameters, enter: C:> exp help=y | Oracle Database Utilities for instructions on use of Export Oracle Database Error Messages for information on error messages |
Net Services Configuration | C:> netca NETCA wizard starts in interactive mode. For silent options and other command line options enter: C:> netca -help | |
Import | C:> imp username IMP starts and prompts you for parameters. To get a list of these parameters, enter: C:> imp help=y | Oracle Database Utilities for instructions on use of Import Oracle Database Error Messages for information on error messages |
operfcfg | C:> operfcfg | |
Oracle Wallet Manager | C:> cd ORACLE_HOME bin C: ORACLE_HOME bin > launch.exe ORACLE_HOME bin owm.cl | |
ORADIM | C:> oradim options To get a list of ORADIM options, enter either of the following: C:> oradim C:> oradim -? | -h | -help | |
Password Utility (ORAPWD) | C:> orapwd Password file is hidden. Use Windows Explorer to see it in a file list. From the View menu, select Options, then select View and then select Show All Files | |
Recovery Manager (RMAN) | C:> rman parameters | |
SQL*Plus (SQLPLUS) | C:> sqlplus | |
SQL*Loader (SQLLDR) | C:> sqlldr SQL*Loader displays a Help screen with available keywords and default values. | |
TKPROF | C:> tkprof | |
User Migration Utility | C:> umu parameters To get a list of parameters, enter: C:> umu help=yes | 'Using the User Migration Utility' in Oracle Database Enterprise User Security Administrator's Guide |
asmtool asmtoolg |
| 'Marking Disk Partitions for Oracle ASM Before Installation' in Oracle Grid Infrastructure Installation Guide for Microsoft Windows x64 (64-Bit) |
Note:
- Three special conditions apply when running Export or Import utilities on Windows. First, default values for
BUFFER
andRECORDLENGTH
parameters are 4 KB and 2 KB respectively. This defaultRECORDLENGTH
parameter does not depend on the value ofBUFSIZ
defined in the system header file. If you specify a value larger thanUSHRT_MAX
(64 KB), you will get a warning message. Second, theVOLSIZE
parameter is not supported. Third, to export an entire database, you must use theEXP_FULL_DATABASE
role. - Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control is another database tool for managing the database. For more information, refer to 'Logging in to Enterprise Manager Database Control' in Oracle Database Installation Guide for Microsoft Windows.
Starting Windows Tools
Table 2-4 describes how to start each Windows tool and where to go for more information on using these products.
Table 2-4 Starting Windows Tools
Tool | Start Procedure | More Information |
---|---|---|
Event Viewer | From the Start menu, select Programs, then select Administrative Tools and then select Event Viewer | Your operating system documentation |
Microsoft Management Console (MMC) | From the Start menu, select Programs, then select Oracle -HOME_NAME, then select Configuration and Migration Tools and then select Administration Assistant for Windows | Your operating system documentation |
Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor | From the Start menu, select Programs, then select Oracle -HOME_NAME, then select Configuration and Migration Tools and then select Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor | Your operating system documentation |
Registry Editor | At the command prompt, enter: | Your operating system documentation |
Task Manager | Right-click the Task Bar and select Task Manager | Your operating system documentation |
Local Users and Groups | From the Start menu, select Settings, then select Control Panel. Double-click Administrative Tools. Double-click Computer Management. In the console tree, click Local Users and Groups. | Your operating system documentation |
Note:
Microsoft Management Console is started whenever Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows is started.Using SQL*Loader
This section describes Windows-specific information for using SQL*Loader (
SQLLDR
).Windows Processing Options
This section discusses possible values for the operating system dependent file processing specifications string option (
os_file_proc_clause
), referred to in 'Specifying Datafile Format and Buffering' in Chapter 8, 'SQL*Loader Control File Reference', in Oracle Database Utilities.Default (No Processing Option) or 'str terminator_string'
Stream record format in which each record is terminated by a record terminator. If 'str terminator_string' is not specified, then the record terminator defaults to either the Windows-style record terminator (the two-character sequence carriage return, r, followed by line feed, n) or the UNIX-style record terminator (single-character line feed, n). Maximum record size is 48 KB.
When processing stream format datafiles, SQL*Loader can usually recognize record terminators automatically, whether they are Windows-style or UNIX-style. So you usually do not need to specify which record terminator you are using.
For external table loads, however, only Windows-style record terminators are recognized automatically. If your datafile contains UNIX-style record terminators, you must specify the record terminator. If you are using SQL*Loader (with
external_table
option), then specify the UNIX-style record terminator by specifying 'str
'n'
on the INFILE
line in the SQL*Loader control file. For example:You can also specify the record terminator in hex, by specifying
'str x'0a'
(assuming an ASCII-based character set). For example:Note that the '
0
' (zero) before the 'a
' is required. If you are using SQL with an access parameter list to create the external table, then you must specify 'n'
in a RECORDS
DELIMITED
BY
clause. For example:You can also use a hex string in this case. For example:
Note that in this case, the '0' (zero) before the 'x' and the '0' (zero) before the 'a' are both required.
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 data types in the SQL*Loader control file, note that the default sizes of native data types shown in Table 2-5 are specific to Windows. These data types 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.Table 2-5 Default Sizes of Native Data types
Native Data Types | Default Field Length |
---|---|
DOUBLE | 8 |
FLOAT | 4 |
INTEGER | 4 |
SMALLINT | 2 |
Note:
The default listed is correct if INTEGER
is specified without a size. But INTEGER(n)
is also allowed. In that case, n
specifies the size of the INTEGER
field in bytes.See Also:
Oracle Database Utilities for a complete list of options and instructions on using SQL*LoaderUsing Windows Tools
You can use Windows tools in various ways to manage Oracle Database:
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.
Use Event Viewer 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 in the Event Log, which is viewable with the Event Viewer.
See Also:
Chapter 6, 'Monitoring a Database on Windows' for specific instructions on accessing and using Event Viewer to monitor Oracle Database eventsUsing 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
OracleService
SID
- Modify registry parameters for all Oracle homes on the computer
- Modify the computer host name, 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.
See Also:
'Using Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor' for specific instructions on accessing and using Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor to monitor Oracle Database performanceUsing 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 media, 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
- ServicesSee Also:Chapter 15, '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 four tabs:
- Applications tab displays what applications run. 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.
- Networking tab graphically displays the network traffic taking place over the computer's network connections.
Using Local Users and Groups to Manage Users and Groups
Local Users and Groups enables you to manage users and groups on Windows. Specifically, you can:
- Create and modify local user accounts
- Create and modify user profiles
- Create, add, and delete local groups
Optional Windows Diagnostic and Tuning Utilities
Windows Resource Kit includes several diagnostic and tuning utilities.
Process Viewer summarizes resource usage by a process.
Process Monitor displays real-time file systems, registry and process-thread activity. It combines
Filemon
and Regmon
utilities and provides reliable process information.Process Explorer provides a detailed display of resource usage by a process.
Task List displays resource usage and other details of a process when its processor identifier or process name is given as an argument. This tool also displays a list of executables and DLLs associated with a process.