[Re-post from Jaffar's Oracle blog] Useful MOS notes on 12c

Useful MOS notes on 12c

"Here is the list of useful MOS notes on 12c:

1. Oracle Database 12c Release 1 (12.1) Upgrade New Features [ID 1515747.1]
2. NOTE:1520299.1 - Master Note For Oracle Database 12c Release 1 (12.1) Database/Client Installation/Upgrade/Migration Standalone Environment (Non-RAC)
3. NOTE:1493645.1 - Oracle Database 12c Release 1 (12.1) DBUA : Understanding New Changes With All New 12.1 DBUA 
4. NOTE:1503653.1 - Complete Checklist for Manual Upgrades to Oracle Database 12c Release 1 (12.1)
5. Oracle Database 12c Release 1 (12.1) Upgrade New Features [ID 1515747.1]
6. RMAN RECOVER TABLE Feature New to Oracle Database 12c [ID 1521524.1]
7. How to Merge Multiple Partitions in Oracle 12C [ID 1482263.1]
8. How to Drop/Truncate Multiple Partitions in Oracle 12C [ID 1482264.1]
9. How to Create Interval-Reference Partitioned Tables in Oracle 12c [ID 1519042.1]"

Re-post from "Jaffar's (Mr RAC) Oracle blog"

[Re-post from Jaffar's Oracle blog] Deprecated database init. parameters in 12c

Deprecated database init. parameters in 12c

"Here is a very short blog about all the deprecated database initialization parameters in 12c.  It is sometime becomes essential to be familiar with those database features and init. parameters that are either de-supported or deprecated in a new release of Oracle database before proceeding with the upgrade. This is because, some of the legacy applications upgrade decision either directly or in-directly depends on those changes.

To obtain a list of deprecated database parameter in 12c, use the following SQL statement:

SQL> SELECT name from v$parameter WHERE isdeprecated = 'TRUE' ORDER BY name;

Here is the list:

active_instance_count
background_dump_dest
buffer_pool_keep
buffer_pool_recycle
commit_write
cursor_space_for_time
fast_start_io_target
global_context_pool_size
instance_groups
lock_name_space
log_archive_local_first
log_archive_start
max_enabled_roles
parallel_automatic_tuning
parallel_io_cap_enabled
parallel_server
parallel_server_instances
plsql_v2_compatibility
remote_os_authent
resource_manager_cpu_allocation
sec_case_sensitive_logon
serial_reuse
sql_trace
standby_archive_dest
user_dump_dest

I am little bit surprised to see the sec_case_sensitive_logon parameter in the list."

Re-post from "Jaffar's (Mr RAC) Oracle blog"

Oracle Database: To z/OS or To z/Linux? That is the Question!!!

Oracle has been supporting Oracle Databases on z/OS since version 8.

"Experiences with Oracle Database 10g on z/OS", is a good IBM Publication that describes experiences with the installation process of Oracle 10g on z/OS.
http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/sg247055.html

"Oracle® Database Installation Guide 10g Release 1 (10.1) for IBM z/OS (OS/390)" from Oracle is a detailed documentation on the subject.
http://docs.oracle.com/html/B13525_01/title.htm

The last supported Oracle Database on IBM z/OS operating system was Oracle Database 10g. Unfortunately, those with this combination of implementation will not benefit from the latest features and benefits of Oracle Database 11g R2 on z/OS.

My Oracle Support (formerly Metalink): Note 461234.1 Oracle Database on z/OS Support Status

The possible options for people with Oracle Database 10g on z/OS, is:

1. Either, shift to a different RDBMS Database on z/OS (continuing on existing hardware investments);
2. Or, continue with Oracle Database onto a different Operating System (possible investments in additional Hardware Environments).

Fortunately, IBM offers its "Linux on System z" as a possible alternative to run the Oracle Databases; and Oracle too supports its latest Oracle Database release on z/Linux.

This means that Oracle customers have an option to stick with the latest updates on Oracle Database and leverage their existing hardware investments, by switching on to Linux on System z (a.k.a. z/Linux) on Mainframes as their operating system.

The 10g migration from z/OS to z/Linux must be thoroughly tested. And once found satisfactory and stable, it can be upgraded to latest release of Oracle Database on z/Linux.

For more information on 11gR2 on z/Linux:

"Oracle® Database Quick Installation Guide [11g Release 2 (11.2) for IBM: Linux on System z]"

http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/install.112/e24328/toc.htm

Download Oracle Database 11g Release 2 (11.2.0.2.0) for zLinux64

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/enterprise-edition/downloads/index.html

Toad World PIPELINE Newsletter (Sept '11 Issue) has my Third Technical Paper

The September 2011 Edition of Toad World PIPELINE Newsletter has published my third Oracle Technical Paper titled "How to resolve Root Certificate Expiry Issue for Enterprise Manager - Database Control".

In it I have tried to explain how to resolve the Oracle Enterprise Manager – Database Control configuration errors for Oracle Database versions 10.2.0.4 or 10.2.0.5, as a result of the expired Root Certificate since 31st December, 2010.

I had written the paper in June 2011, after encountering and resolving the issue at my end. Not much has been written on this in detail, apart from the My Oracle Support. So I thought it will be a good idea to jot it down for others to benefit.

Click on the hyperlink to read the Toad World PIPELINE Newsletter (September '11 Issue):

I hope it is a nice read and means to a quick resolution.

Zaffer Khan, CISA

Got my CISA Certification today and now I am CISA Certified.

I had applied for Certification for CISA in March '11. And now I am a Certified Information Systems Auditor, as opposed to being Qualified based on passing the exam. The minimum benefit of this is that my name can have CISA appended to it. What more can I derive, is yet to come in my way as I progress in career. :)

To certify, I needed to show 5+ years of experience in Information Systems Security, Control or Audit. Obviously, I don't have any Auditing experience, but I applied based on Security and Control Experience. Got 1 year waiver for IT Experience and 2 years waiver due to my Bachelor and Master Degrees. So in all, I had to show only 2+ years of Information Systems Security, Control or Audit.
It took less than 2 months for the confirmation of certification. This is a great achievement, All Praises to God.
Thanks a lot for your well-wishes and support, especially Mr. Narendra Tater and Mr. Srinivas Dokku. I am indebted for your assistance.

Added OCP to my credentials today

Finally, cleared my OCP 9i Database on 5th April. I had kept it pending for quite sometime.
I should be getting my Oracle 9i database administration OCP certificate and the Managing Oracle 9i Database on Linux certificate in a month or so.

[Re-post from Jaffar's blog] Converting your single-instance database to RAC with RCONFIG

Amazing post on how to convert a Single-Instance Database to a Real Application Cluster using RCONFIG.

Please do have a look at this post. It includes a comprehensive presentation on the subject.

Converting your single-instance database to RAC with RCONFIG

I am CISA (Qualified) now

I had appeared for CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) on 11th December, 2010 in Kuwait.

Because of the amount of efforts put in for this examination, I have been anxiously waiting for the results. When I saw the email from ISACA in my inbox.... all I can say is my heartbeats were quite higher than normal... Adrenaline was doing its job. When I saw "PASSED" in the message body... there was a quick change of emotions.... Really felt the switch happening...
Going from Fear, through a mix of emotions to a big smile on my face.... Alhamdulillah (All Praises are for Allah [Glorified be He]).

The exam was difficult and it tested my CISA skills to the extreme. Never prepared so hard for any exam till date... Really felt that Oracle Certifications are piece of cake in front CISA examination. Was tough.... You really need to think like an auditor. It was difficult for me to think from an "Asessing" point-of-view as I have been studying, thinking and doing things from "Doing" point-of-view. Even when I worked on IT Governance and Balance Scorecard in my present company ()using COBIT 4.0), it was from a "Doing" perspective. Only when I was with the IS Auditors, I would try to understand how they do their work.

From a DBA's standpoint, I can see a lot of my work that needs improvement using the knowledge acquired by CISA contents. Personally, I need to audit my own work now, so as to suggest myself in areas of improvement (as observations) or to raise an NCR (Non-Compliance Report) for myself. This should help me self-assess my work and be proactive with preventive actions.

For more information about ISACA and CISA (and also a variety of certifications) please hop into ISACA's website: https://www.isaca.org/Pages/default.aspx

For now, I look forward to certify my CISA soon.

Next in the queue should be CISSP, I think?

"Knowledge is Power"

tnsManager v1.8.3

tnsManager is an interesting tool by Andrew Barry to centralize your TNSNames management.

Version 1.8.3 is the latest stable build. Simple steps and easy to deploy and manage. It is available for both Windows and Linux Environments. You can also configure tnsManager for High Availability.Test it out, it should be fun.

You can download the installation and check out the Installation Guide and Administration Guide.
http://www.shutdownabort.com/tnsmanager/index.php

RMAN Clone erroring out with ORA-19804

ORA-19804: cannot reclaim string bytes disk space from string limit

I received ORA-19804 on one of my RMAN clone jobs this morning.

RMAN-00571: ===========================================
RMAN-00569: ========= ERROR MESSAGE STACK FOLLOWS =========
RMAN-00571: ===========================================
RMAN-03002: failure of Duplicate Db command at 11/30/2010 17:59:32
RMAN-03015: error occurred in stored script Memory Script
ORA-19870: error reading backup piece \\BLADE5\MIS\BACKUP\RMAN\ORCL\ORCL_ESLU9PLK_1_1_20101130
ORA-19809: limit exceeded for recovery files
ORA-19804: cannot reclaim 103388672 bytes disk space from 1073741824 limit

The problem is that Oracle cannot reclaim disk space from DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE set limit.

There are five possible solutions:
1) Take frequent backup of recovery area using RMAN.
2) Consider changing RMAN retention policy.
3) Consider changing RMAN archivelog deletion policy.
4) Add disk space and increase DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE.
5) Delete files from recovery area using RMAN.

One can choose all or any that corresponds to his situation to fix the problem. Although, it is easy to figure out and apply the fix, thought of sharing it here with an OTN Thread link, as Aman, Anand and Robert have explained it very well.

Thread: RMAN BACKUP