Overview of 10g Features
There are many features in the Oracle 10g which got introduced for the first time in the RDBMS. These features not only made the DBA's life easy but also gave the DBAs time to work on the important tasks instead of spending time in analysing the database memory, storage, file system, etc. I will go through every new feature in details in coming few days, but to begin with I will list here a brief description of all the latest features.
Oracle Database 10g has a long list of impressive architecture enhancements over its previous versions. Oracle has made this database very sophisticated and powerful, and has automated many of the traditional and mundane administrative functions. Oracle has tried to automate as much database functionality as possible and made it more scalable. Several changes have been made to improve memory structures, resource management, storage handling, SQL tuning, data movement, recovery speed, and globalization. This chapter will go over the most notable revisions to the database architecture for releases 1 and 2 of the Oracle Database 10g and any significant improvements for Release 2 is specifically mentioned in this and all chapters.
SYSAUX Tablespace
The SYSAUX tablespace is an auxiliary tablespace that provides storage for all non sys-related tables and indexes that would have been placed in the SYSTEM tablespace. SYSAUX is required for all Oracle Database 10g installations and should be created along with new installs or upgrades. Many database components use SYSAUX as their default tablespace to store data. The SYSAUX tablespace also reduces the number of tablespaces created by default in the seed database and user-defined database.
Rename Tablespace Option
Oracle Database 10g has implemented the provision to rename tablespaces. To accomplish this in older versions, you had to create a new tablespace, copy the contents from the old tablespace to the new tablespace, and drop the old tablespace. The Rename Tablespace feature enables simplified processing of tablespace migrations within a database and ease of transporting a tablespace between two databases.
Automatic Storage Management
Automatic Storage Management (ASM) is a new database feature for efficient management of storage with round-the-clock availability. It helps prevent the DBA from managing thousands of database files across multiple database instances by using disk groups. These disk groups are comprised of disks and resident files on the disks. ASM does not eliminate any existing database functionalities with file systems or raw devices, or Oracle Managed Files (OMFs). ASM also supports RAC configurations.
Temporary Tablespace Group
A temporary tablespace is used by the database for storing temporary data, which is not accounted for in recovery operations. A temporary tablespace group (TTG) is a group of temporary tablespaces. A TTG contains at least one temporary tablespace, with a different name from the tablespace. Multiple temporary tablespaces can be specified at the database level and used in different sessions at the same time.
In Oracle Database 10g, each database user will have a permanent tablespace for storing permanent data and a temporary tablespace for storing temporary data. In previous versions of Oracle, if a user was created without specifying a default tablespace, SYSTEM tablespace would have become the default tablespace. For Oracle Database 10g, a default permanent tablespace can be defined to be used for all new users without a specific permanent tablespace.
BigFile Tablespace
Gone are those days of tablespaces in the range of a few megabytes. These days, database tables hold a lot of data and are always hungry for storage. To address this craving, Oracle has come up with the Bigfile tablespace concept. A BigFile tablespace (BFT) is a tablespace containing a single, very large data file. With the new addressing scheme in 10g, four billion blocks are permitted in a single data file and file sizes can be from 8TB to 128TB, depending on the block size. To differentiate a regular tablespace from a BFT, a regular tablespace is called a small file tablespace. Oracle Database 10g can be a mixture of small file and BigFile tablespaces.
BFTs are supported only for locally managed tablespaces with ASM segments and locally managed undo and temporary tablespaces. When BFTs are used with Oracle Managed Files, data files become completely transparent to the DBA and no reference is needed for them. BFT makes a tablespace logically equivalent to data files (allowing tablespace operations) of earlier releases.
Prior to Oracle Database 10g, K and M were used to specify data file sizes. Because the newer version introduces larger file sizes up to 128TB using BFTs, the sizes can be specified using G and T for gigabytes and terabytes, respectively. For using BFT, the underlying operating system should support Large Files. In other words the file system should have Large File Support (LFS).
Cross-Platform Transportable Tablespaces
In Oracle 8i database, the transportable tablespace feature enabled a tablespace to be moved across different Oracle databases using the same operating system. Oracle Database 10g has significantly improved this functionality to permit the movement of data across different platforms. This will help transportable tablespaces to move data from one environment to another on selected heterogeneous platforms (operating systems). Using cross-platform transportable tablespaces, a database can be migrated from one platform to another by rebuilding the database catalog and transporting the user tablespaces. By default, the converted files are placed in the flash recovery area (also new to Oracle Database 10g), which is discussed later in this chapter. A list of fully supported platforms can be found in v$transportable_platform.
Performance Management Using AWR
Automatic Workload Repository (AWR) is the most important feature among the new Oracle Database 10g manageability infrastructure components. AWR provides the background services to collect, maintain, and utilize the statistics for problem detection and self-tuning. The AWR collects system-performance data at frequent intervals (generally 60 minutes) and stores them as historical system workload information for analysis. These metrics are stored in the memory for performance reasons. These statistics are regularly written from memory to disk by a new background process called Memory Monitor (MMON). This data will later be used for analysis of performance problems that occurred in a certain time period and to do trend analysis. Oracle does all this without any DBA intervention. Automatic Database Diagnostic Monitor (ADDM), which is discussed in the next section, analyzes the information collected by the AWR for database-performance problems.
Automatic Database Diagnostic Monitor (ADDM)
Automatic Database Diagnostic Monitor (ADDM) is the best resource for database tuning. Introduced in 10g, ADDM provides proactive and reactive monitoring instead of the tedious tuning process found in earlier Oracle versions. Proactive monitoring is done by ADDM and Server Generated Alerts (SGAs). Reactive monitoring is done by the DBA, who does manual tuning through Oracle Enterprise Manager or SQL scripts.
Statistical information captured from SGAs is stored inside the workload repository in the form of snapshots every 60 minutes. These detailed snapshots (similar to STATSPACK snapshots) are then written to disk. The ADDM initiates the MMON process to automatically run on every database instance and proactively find problems.
DROP DATABASE Command
Oracle Database 10g has introduced a means to drop the entire database with a single command: DROP DATABASE. The DROP DATABASE command deletes all database files, online log files, control files, and the server parameter (spfile) file. The archive logs and backups, however, have to be deleted manually.
Data Pump Utilities
Data Pump is the new high-speed infrastructure for data and metadata movement in Oracle Database 10g. The Data Pump commands are similar to the traditional export and import commands, but they are different products. Data Pump provides a substantiale performance improvement over the original export and import utilities. It also provides faster data load and unload capability to existing tables. Using Data Pump, platform-independent flat files can be moved between multiple servers. You can use the new network mode to transfer data using database links.
Export and import operations in Data Pump can detach from a long-running job and reattach to it later with out affecting the job. You can also remap data during export and import processes. The names of data files, schema names, and tablespaces from the source can be altered to different names on the target system. It also supports fine-grained object selection using the EXCLUDE, INCLUDE, and CONTENT parameters.
Data Pump Export (dpexp) is the utility for unloading data and metadata from the source database to a set of operating system files (dump file sets). Data Pump Import (dpimp) is used to load data and metadata stored in these export dump file sets to a target database.
In Oracle Database 10g Release 2, a default DATA_PUMP_DIR directory object and additional DBMS_DATAPUMP API calls have been added, along with provisions for compression of metadata in dump files, and the capability to control the dump file size with the FILESIZE parameter.
This section has reviewed the significant new features introduced in Oracle Database 10g. I will touch over the new processes introduced in Oracle Database 10g to support these features.
To be continued ....
Monday
What is Grid?
Oracle 10g what is so unusual about this name? Well, I can see your reaction - obviously its "g". I know a lot of you must be thinking of so many ideas related to this letter "g". This letter "g" here is only in smaller in case but has huge horizon. It is called as GRID. Now we will try to explore what exactly this Grid computing does for Oracle and why it is so important for this version. What makes it better than older versions of Oracle like 8i and 9i.
Grid may be defined as a distributed system that enables sharing, selection and assimilation of geographically distributed resources. This synchronisation takes place in real time between the connected resources to make the best out of the individual units and produce the best results based on the performance, cost, availability, capacity and application requirements.
Why Grid ?
Grid is considered good in many ways as I discussed earlier, it gives the best of the performance and availability for the application systems and also reduces the cost of maintaining the high transaction and very large databases. The Grid is better than clusters as they are managed differently than the clusters. In case of Grids, each node has its own resource manager and don't aim for providing a single system view. In case of clusters, the resource allocation is performed by a centralised resource manager and all nodes cooperatively work together as a single unified resource.
Why Oracle introduced Grid computing in 10g?
Oracle has been using the concept of parallel server since version 8 and has made it better in version by introducing the concept of RAC (Real application clusters). The RAC also had some shortcomings which were quickly realised by Oracle and they overcome those bottlenecks in their release 2 of version 9i. These shortfalls were related to the performance, cost and high availability factors. Introduction of grid in the oracle 10g took a leap beyond the expectations of the Architects and system administrators. It also helped the resource allocation and optimal utilisation which overall impact business cost.
What are the advantages of using Grid?
Best of the Performance results.
High availability.
Security and encryption.
Scalability and Self-management.
Cost effective network architecture.
Simple and manageable.
Robust and flexible.
What is applicability of Grid?
Grid applications are usually implemented in the high transaction and high data transfer applications. These applications may involve Travel industry, CRM, Retail, Banking, Insurance, Healthcare, Manufacturing, complex multi-system network, Business Intelligence, Datawarehouse appications, etc. These types of industrial applications look for the best and optimised results in blink of eye. This target can only be achieved by the grid computing. The real life examples include Amazon, Google, Ebay, Yahoo, MSN, Wal-mart, Bank of America, British Airways and the list goes on.
Does your client, company or application use Grid features?. Please send in your valuable comments and feedback so that I may include more topics in my next discussion. Thanks for your valued time. Have a great day.
Grid may be defined as a distributed system that enables sharing, selection and assimilation of geographically distributed resources. This synchronisation takes place in real time between the connected resources to make the best out of the individual units and produce the best results based on the performance, cost, availability, capacity and application requirements.
Why Grid ?
Grid is considered good in many ways as I discussed earlier, it gives the best of the performance and availability for the application systems and also reduces the cost of maintaining the high transaction and very large databases. The Grid is better than clusters as they are managed differently than the clusters. In case of Grids, each node has its own resource manager and don't aim for providing a single system view. In case of clusters, the resource allocation is performed by a centralised resource manager and all nodes cooperatively work together as a single unified resource.
Why Oracle introduced Grid computing in 10g?
Oracle has been using the concept of parallel server since version 8 and has made it better in version by introducing the concept of RAC (Real application clusters). The RAC also had some shortcomings which were quickly realised by Oracle and they overcome those bottlenecks in their release 2 of version 9i. These shortfalls were related to the performance, cost and high availability factors. Introduction of grid in the oracle 10g took a leap beyond the expectations of the Architects and system administrators. It also helped the resource allocation and optimal utilisation which overall impact business cost.
What are the advantages of using Grid?
Best of the Performance results.
High availability.
Security and encryption.
Scalability and Self-management.
Cost effective network architecture.
Simple and manageable.
Robust and flexible.
What is applicability of Grid?
Grid applications are usually implemented in the high transaction and high data transfer applications. These applications may involve Travel industry, CRM, Retail, Banking, Insurance, Healthcare, Manufacturing, complex multi-system network, Business Intelligence, Datawarehouse appications, etc. These types of industrial applications look for the best and optimised results in blink of eye. This target can only be achieved by the grid computing. The real life examples include Amazon, Google, Ebay, Yahoo, MSN, Wal-mart, Bank of America, British Airways and the list goes on.
Does your client, company or application use Grid features?. Please send in your valuable comments and feedback so that I may include more topics in my next discussion. Thanks for your valued time. Have a great day.
Saturday
Welcome to the world of Oracle 10g
Hi friends !! Let me introduce myself to you all worthy readers. I'm a DBA by profession and working in this industry for almost 9 years. I have seen versions of Oracle starting from Oracle 6 in its last stages, but a very good taste of 7.x, 8i, 9i and 10g. Currently exploring the good aspects of Oracle 11g. I have seen people in the industry looking for training and guidance which they get but it is not industry specific. I will share with you all here training that will touch base with basics, intermediate and advanced (i.e. Industry) standards.
I know you must be wondering what this guy is going to tell us after 4 years of release of software called as Oracle 10g and specifically when the latest version of Oracle 11g is already floating in the market. Let me share something very important with you all today. Do you know how many of the customers have really upgraded or migrated their previous versions of Oracle 8i or Oracle 9i to 10g? Almost 53% have not done so far, even after Oracle's declaration of non-support for the older versions than Oracle 9i.
What is then pulling the world back, yes that is the key question which bothers the DBAs, Technical Managers, Business Managers, CEO, CFO, CIO, CTO etc. It is their important business applications and the data which makes them to stick to the older versions and keep running them for years altogether without thinking of an upgarde to the latest version. The another aspect of this is that the users of the application are very comfortable and don't want to bother themselves with any kind of risks involved in major upgrades.
DBA also known as Database Administrator plays a key role in the development, maintenance, support and upkeep of the applications and their databases. I am also a DBA and after spending almost good 9 years in the Oracle technologies feel that it is one of the strong databases ever existed and will exist in the future. The another positive point to add here is, Oracle has taken leaps and bounds of progress in the development of this product. They have acquired so many companies from various domains and made their applications stronger and invincible.
Now, lets talk about the Oracle 10g. This software version was launched in year 2003. when this software came into the industry then almost 68% of the customers had not upgraded to version 9i. And till today also the figures have not changed to a greater extent. But, with explorative use of RAC (Rela Application Clusters) the Oracle 9i has come to existence to a greater part of the industry, specially the Banking, Insurance, Airlines, Consumer products and definitely the service industry. Thanks to Outsourcing and Offshore development and support concept which has given millions of jobs to ASPAC talent.
In my next writings you will find the technical discussions only. This is just the tip of the iceberg, please do send me your suggestions and valued comments so as to give your the best possible training content that may suffice your needs and help you to grow in your career.
I know you must be wondering what this guy is going to tell us after 4 years of release of software called as Oracle 10g and specifically when the latest version of Oracle 11g is already floating in the market. Let me share something very important with you all today. Do you know how many of the customers have really upgraded or migrated their previous versions of Oracle 8i or Oracle 9i to 10g? Almost 53% have not done so far, even after Oracle's declaration of non-support for the older versions than Oracle 9i.
What is then pulling the world back, yes that is the key question which bothers the DBAs, Technical Managers, Business Managers, CEO, CFO, CIO, CTO etc. It is their important business applications and the data which makes them to stick to the older versions and keep running them for years altogether without thinking of an upgarde to the latest version. The another aspect of this is that the users of the application are very comfortable and don't want to bother themselves with any kind of risks involved in major upgrades.
DBA also known as Database Administrator plays a key role in the development, maintenance, support and upkeep of the applications and their databases. I am also a DBA and after spending almost good 9 years in the Oracle technologies feel that it is one of the strong databases ever existed and will exist in the future. The another positive point to add here is, Oracle has taken leaps and bounds of progress in the development of this product. They have acquired so many companies from various domains and made their applications stronger and invincible.
Now, lets talk about the Oracle 10g. This software version was launched in year 2003. when this software came into the industry then almost 68% of the customers had not upgraded to version 9i. And till today also the figures have not changed to a greater extent. But, with explorative use of RAC (Rela Application Clusters) the Oracle 9i has come to existence to a greater part of the industry, specially the Banking, Insurance, Airlines, Consumer products and definitely the service industry. Thanks to Outsourcing and Offshore development and support concept which has given millions of jobs to ASPAC talent.
In my next writings you will find the technical discussions only. This is just the tip of the iceberg, please do send me your suggestions and valued comments so as to give your the best possible training content that may suffice your needs and help you to grow in your career.
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