Installation of Oracle GoldenGate on RedHat Linux AS 4

I am going to install and configure standard GoldenGate configuration in which there is on Extract Group on the source machine, which sends the data to be replicated to the trail on the target system through normal network. On target system, the Replicat process consumes the data from the trail.

I am using 32-bit Oracle 10gR2 on both source and the target systems and the operating system is 32-bit Redhat Linux AS 4. I have created sourcedb on sourcemachine and targetdb on targetmachine. I have made sure that I can access both databases from both machines through SQLPLUS.

The Oracle GoldenGate was downloaded from here.

Then a folden 'ggs' was created in ORACLE_HOME and it is the directory where the GoldenGate will be installed, I added the path '$ORACLE_HOME/ggs' to the shared library enviornment variable LD_LIBRARY_PATH.

I opened up the terminal window, made sure that the ORACLE_HOME, ORACLE_SID, and LD_LIBRARY_PATH variables are set and then copied the downloaded the zip GoldenGate software file to ORACLE_HOME/ggs and unzipped it there.

It produced a TAR file. I untarred it by doing:

$ tar -xvof

Then I changed directories to the GoldenGate directory and started GoldenGate by doing:

$ ggsci

GGSCI> CREATE SUBDIRS

GGSCI> START MANAGER

GGSCI> EDIT PARAMS MGR

It will open a parameter file for the manager process in the vi editor, insert following line in the file and save and quit:

PORT 7809

:wq

GGSCI> STOP MANAGER

GGSCI> START MANAGER

I installed Oracle GoldenGate and configured the Manager process on both source and the target systems.

Now I will create Extract Group on the Source system. I am using the SCOTT SCHEMA and replicating the table 'dept':

ADD EXTRACT ext, TRANLOG, BEGIN

Then specify the remote trail on the host:

ADD RMTTRAIL rmt, EXTRACT ext

Now create the parameter file for the EXTRACT Group by doing:

GGSCI> EDIT PARAM ext

It will open up a vi editor:

EXTRACT ext
sourcedb, scott, tiger
RMTHOST targetmachine, MGRPORT 7809
RMTTRAIL rmt
TABLE scott.dept;

This completes the configuration at the source system.

Now move on to the target system.

Make sure to install GoldenGate on target machine and configure the MANAGER process as was done on the source machine.

First create a checkpoint table on target system. I am creating it in the scott schema wit name'CSNTAB;.

GGSCI> EDIT PARAMS ./GLOBALS

It will open up a vi editor. Enter:

CHECKPOINTTABLE scott.CSNTAB

save and quit.

GGSCI> DBLOGIN targetdb, scott, tiger

GGSCI> ADD CHECKPOINTTABLE SCOTT.CSNTAB

Then create a REPLICAT GROUP:

GGSCI> ADD REPLICAT rep, EXTTRAIL rmt, BEGIN

Then create a parameter file for Replicat:

GGSCI> EDIT PARAM rep

It will open up a vi editor, Enter:

REPLICAT rep
SOURCEDEFS ASSUMETARGETDEFS
TARGETDB targetdb, scott, tiger
MAP scott.dept, TARGET scott.dept;

Enter and commit a row in dept table of sourcedb and then verify that it gets replicated to the targetdb's dept table of scott schema.

Why I am Interested in Oracle GoldenGate

Without any marketing hype and without any sales talk, I am already hooked to the Oracle GoldenGate. In this age, when the prices of gold are breaking all the records, it's so enriching to have a all-gold gate.

When you have 10 SQLSERVER databases, 20 MYSQL Databases, and 30 Oracle OLTP databases and 5 Oracle Datawarehouses and many XML data sources, and a small of team of DBAs have to manage the data flow between these disparate data sources.

In this sort of environment, challenges are simply gigantic. Integrity of information, freshness across the databases, agile response, data mappings, data volatility, Information lifecycle management makes information flow in any direction a titanic task.

It was not so easy to manage such kind of environ through naive replication and even Streams were a hassle. With Oracle Golden Gate, all the above challenges seem to be addressed out of the box, and they say that this is a mature technology with proven track record.

Can't wait to try it out, and then have it at my place.

Log Buffer

When Pythian blogs, it stays blogged. Pakistan's First Oracle Blog prouds to host the edition of Log Buffer.

Let's Start with Oracle Blogs:

Nuno Souto, the celebrated Kangroo Blogger comes hard at someone from Oracle, who blogged in not-so-gracious manner about the Oracle customers and those who don't like the new My Oracle Support.

Hey have it while its hot and sizzling. Angelo Santagata has announced that Fusion Middleware 11.1.1.2.0 Is available is now available to download.

Learn how to migrate and create uses by using DBMS_METADATA with the help of Alex Nuijten.

Here is another perspective on the EU's opposition to the Oracle's Sun acquisition.

Want to see the video demonstration of Sun Oracle Database Machine through Kevin's blog? Click here.

Nothing by Jonathan Lewis should be missed. How could one miss when he talks about Index Freelists?

Tim Dexter discusses the template problem in Siebel CRM integration.

Now Comes MySQL:

Mark tells about InnoDB Plugin which was added upon users' request.

Sahan Chaliha dishes out a fine introductory note on RDS.

If you are still wondering about the FLIFO Scheduling for the InnoDB, you may like to read this post by Mark Callaghan.

Want to refresh your MYSQL Tool set, take a look at this blog post by Gerry Narvaja.

Jeremy Zawodny does it again and enlighten us about the issues related to MySQL Performance.

Bye Bye Metalink

It seems that a friend expired. Someone waving out of the window of leaving train for an unknown destination, for never to return, as the Oracle Metalink retires this weekend.

My Oracle Support portal will be the official portal for Oracle's paid support. Following the upgrade, My Oracle Support will become the single online support platform for all Oracle products, and Classic MetaLink will retire.

For a long time, people will keep calling My Oracle Support as MetaLink. Will they also change metalink.oracle.com to myoraclesupport.oracle.com? Seems unlikely.

The new My Oracle Support is cool, flashy and satisfies Web 2.0. But good old metalink will be missed dearly.

How to Enable Tracing for Oracle Report Server

Report Server is the most toughest part in Oracle Application Server to manage, in terms of the load for concurrent users. It's configuration is pretty much straight forward, but when errors in report appear, and you bang your head and keep restarting the report server in vain, then tracing might help you to locate the error, or enable Oracle Support to get more in-depth information:

Edit rwservlet.properties from ORACLE_HOME/reports/conf folder as below
from
#TRACEOPTS=TRACE_ALL
#TRACEFILE=rwservlet.trc
#TRACEMODE=TRACE_REPLACE
to
TRACEOPTS=TRACE_ALL
TRACEFILE=rwservlet.trc
TRACEMODE=TRACE_REPLACE

5.Edit .conf file in ORACLE_HOME/reports/conf folder as below
from

to
< trace traceOpts="trace_all" traceMode="trace_append"/>

6.Restart the server,reproduce the problem and inspect all the files from ORACLE_HOME/reports/logs folder.

Raise SR to MetaLink with Customary RDA

I have made myself a rule regarding raising SRs to Metalink, the premier Oracle Support Portal.

When I raise SR, however the trivial or complex looking problem, I make sure that I include the RDA output with my SR. I try to generate RDA output w.r.t to the problem. RDA allows you to generate output for full product, or drill down to the component of that product. For example, if I am having issues with the Oracle HTTP Server of iAS 10g, I could generate RDA output for just OHS.

Remote Diagnostic Agent is a fine tool to gather the information about your system, not only for the Oracle Support guys, but also for yourself.

RDA assist the Oracle Support person in resolving your problem, it contain vast amount of configuration and diagnostic data that reduces the shuttling between you and the support guy.

Read more about RDA in Doc ID: 330363.1 of metalink.

Error While Registering Report Services in Metadata Repository of AS10g

I am installing Oracle Application Server 10g (10.1.2.0.2) on Redhat Linux AS 4.

I have two machines, one is aimssrv.test.com and the other is aimsrep.test.com. I am installing the metadata repository and the forms services on aimssrv.test.com and report services on the aimsrep.test.com. I have managed to successfully install the metadata repository and the forms services on aimssrv.test.com.

When I try to install the report services on aimsrep.test.com, during installation, OracleAS 10g Rel 2 (10.1.2.0.2) midde tier install is giving the following error in the "Select Oracle Application Server 10g Metadata Repository" screen.

Invalid Database or either the database or listener are not running. Please verify your selection

The Metadata Repository database and the TNS Listener are both up and running. A connection to the Metadata Repository via SQL*Plus and tnsping works fine.

The problem as it turns out is that there was no entry for the servers in the DNS. As I mapped the IP addresses of the servers in DNS server, the error got away.

This is one of the many reasons, I believe that the Oracle Application Server is the not a charming product at all. I have my hosts file configured, and when I give the OID credentials in report services installation screens, it picks up the information from the metadata repository, but then says that the invalid database.

I hop Oracle WebLogic Server is a better alternative.

Oracle Open World 2009 Today

Oracle is taking the world by storm today. The bombastic event which is about to be unfolded contains thousands of sessions, thousands of speakers and visitors, and under one roof, it's an exquisite amalgamation of DBA, Developers, sysadmins, storage and hardware enthusiasts and many more.

Oracle is about to unleash it's new dazzling offers from core database 11g R2 to OLTP machine to Oracle Fusion Middleware to game arena to much more.

Visit Oracle Open World, where ever you are in the world.

Oracle Apps R12: From iAS10g to WebLogic Server

Right now, Oracle's E-Business Suite R12 uses Oracle Application Server 10.1.2 and Oracle Application Server 10.1.3 in the technology stack of the Application Tier.

As Oracle is moving forward with the WebLogic Server, an integral part of the Oracle Fusion Middleware, replacing the Oracle Application Server, the question is what's it's implications for the Oracle Applications R12?

An unexpected error has been detected by HotSpot Virtual Machine

I was trying to install Oracle 11g Release 2 (32-bit) on Oracle Enterprise Linux (32-bit) and the hardware was 64 bit.

Everything went fine but at the end of the installation process, the netca and the dbca failed. I started to manually configure them, but they failed again.

After long searching, the answer was that it was a BUG!!!

And the bug number is Bug 8930861, according to metalink note:942076.1

There is no workaround still.

To avoid this, you have to use 64 bit oracle with 64 bit OS on 64 bit hardware