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The Monthly Newsletter of the RevealNet Pipeline
Communities |
www.revealnet.com | July 2001 |
All articles have been reprinted with the written consent of their respective authors.
High Water Mark Scripts for Oracle 7 & 8
By John Dixon
John uploaded these scripts to the "Script Exchange" conference on the DBA Pipeline. Log on to "Pipe Talk" and share your scripts with others.
Here are a couple of scripts (one for Oracle7, one for Oracle8), that list tables with large high water marks (relative to the size of the table). Parameters are schema name and percentage larger (i.e. how much bigger than the actual table can the high water mark be?). It does this without running an analyze on the schema. Click Here for the scripts.
Win a Free Cap! Donate useful code to the Pipeline Library, and we will mail you a "stylin" canvas/embroidered RevealNet baseball cap if your utility is published in the newsletter. Just submit your code archive to cwhite@revealnet.com.
Diving into the SHARED_POOL, Part One
By Michael R. Ault, TUSC
Author Michael R. Ault has joined TUSC in their new Atlanta office. Mike is the author of several Database Administration books for John Wiley & Sons publishing and the Coriolis Group. He is also a major content provider for RevealNet's Knowledge Base for Oracle Administration and a SYSOP for RevealNet's "DBA Pipeline". Mike's books can be purchased from the Illuminations Bookstore and wherever Oracle books are sold. Congratulations, Mike!
Perhaps one of the least understood areas of Oracle Shared Global Area optimization is tuning the shared pool. The generally accepted tuning methodology involves throwing memory into the pool until the problem goes under. In this article we will examine the shared pool and define a method for tuning the shared pool that uses measurement, not guesswork to drive the tuning methodologies. In this part one of a two part series I will show how to monitor and tune the shared SQL areas of the shared pool. Click Here for the paper.
Free Book Offer
 | Get
the "Oracle DBA Checklists" Pocket reference FREE! Here's
how:
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This concise pocket reference, authored by RevealNet and published by O'Reilly & Associates (76 pages) contains a series of easy-to-use checklists providing helpful reminders of the procedures Oracle DBAs must follow when performing common database administration tasks. In this book, you will find checklists for database management, installation and configuration and network management responsibilities.
The TenStep Project Management Process
By Tom Mochal, PMP, author and webmaster
or www.tenstep.com
Tom Mochal has assembled a book's worth of information about Project Management on his website, www.tenstep.com. This excellent website walks you through a series of very well documented methodologies for planning, managing and implementing successful projects.
The TenStep Project Management Process is a methodology for managing work as a project. It is set up to be as flexible as you need to be to manage your project. For instance, it may not make sense to spend a lot of time on risk management for a project that is 500 hours and is similar to many that were done before. That does not imply that you ignore potential risks - just that you do not spend as much time as you might on another project - say one where you were implementing new technology. Click Here to access the TenStep website.
Managing DB2 UDB Growth
By Jim Wankowski, DB2 Product Manager, Quest
Software
Database failure can be measured in two areas: unplanned outages and poor response time. Unplanned outages have a direct impact on revenue for most corporations and the costs associated can be staggering. CNN Financial Network reported that in June 1999, eBay reported an outage that occurred for 22 hours. This reported outage cost the company $3.9 million in lost revenue. Research firms conclude that poor response time can result in the same disastrous revenue loss as an outage, particularly for e-business applications.
A database that is not maintained will fail. Unexpected growth is one of the top reasons why a database fails and yet early detection can prevent this type of costly outage. Click Here for the white paper.
DB2 Pipeline SYSOPs Wanted
RevealNet is actively looking for 3-4 more SYSOPs to moderate the DB2 Pipeline. We are especially looking for professionals with UDB experience for OS/390, Unix and NT platforms. If you are an experienced DB2 professional, enjoy the challenge of volunteering and answering questions, please contact Michael Gilsbach at RevealNet (mgilsbach@revealnet.com). If you qualify, you will be given complete management access to the DB2 Pipeline, allowing you to easily moderate message traffic. Perks include free personal use of RevealNet's DB2 Knowledge Base and stylin' Pipeline SYSOP apparel. Our goal is to make the DB2 Pipeline the best support forum in the world for DB2 professionals.
Oracle 9i PL/SQL New Features
By Sandeepan Banerjee, Oracle
Corporation PL/SQL Development Team
At the center of Oracle's time-tested platform stand SQL and PL/SQL. In Oracle9i, architectural enhancements make PL/SQL significantly faster. PL/SQL has been integrated with XML as never before. PL/SQL has also been enhanced to provide a number of functional improvements. With these enhancements, the Oracle development stack makes available today what other frameworks are promising for tomorrow. Click Here for the paper listing the new enhancements for Oracle9i.
Oracle 9i Tech Expo - Tuesday, July 24, 2001 8am-4pm Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology, Herndon, VA |
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If you are a Federal, State or Commercial organization, you are invited to attend the Oracle 9i Tech Expo hosted by DLT Solutions - Oracle's largest value-added GSA schedule reseller partner. Representatives from Oracle will be on hand to present the new Oracle 9i functionality and related products for DBAs, Developers, Executive Management and Project Managers. Representatives from RevealNet, Quest Software, Quantum/ATL, Protegrity, Access360, Taviz, Oracle Press, EMC, MTI and Oracle Education (DLT) will also be exhibiting at the conference. Breakfast and lunch are provided. Door prizes will be raffled. Sign up Today!
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PL/SQL Best Practices: Set Up and Use Formal Unit Testing Procedures By
Steven Feuerstein, Quest Software |
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RevealNet is publishing a summer series on Oracle PL/SQL Best Practices. This month's feature article is an excerpt from Steven Feuerstein's latest book, "Oracle PL/SQL Best Practices" released in April by O'Reilly & Associates. Each month this summer we will feature articles from Steven Feuerstein, Tom Kyte, and others.
A unit test is a test a developer creates to ensure that his or her "unit", usually a single program, works properly. A unit test is very different from a system or functional test; these latter types of tests are oriented to application features or overall testing of the system. You can't properly or effectively perform a system test until you know that the individual programs behave as expected.
Click Here for the excerpt from Steven's new book.
Another Free Book Offer!
 | Get
the "Oracle PL/SQL Language" Pocket reference FREE! Here's
how:
|
This pocket reference (94 pages) provides quick-reference information that will help you use Oracle's PL/SQL language, including Oracle 8i features. It is a companion to Steven Feuerstein and Bill Pribyl's best selling Oracle PL/SQL Programming book. This book boils down the most vital information from Oracle PL/SQL Programming into an accessible summary of fundamental language elements (e.g. block structure, identifiers, variables, datatypes, and declarations); statements for program control, cursor management, etc. Install the products today and call for your walk-through.
Database Coding Conventions, Best
Practices, Programming Guidelines
By Narayana
"Vyas" Kondreddi
Narayana "Vyas" Knodreddi has a very informative website for general database issues, Microsoft SQL Server best practices, and other areas of interest.
Here is a collection of programming guidelines and best practices - keeping quality, performance and maintainability in mind. This list may not be complete at this moment, and will be constantly updated. Special thanks to Tibor Karaszi (SQL Server MVP) and Linda (lindawie) for taking time to read this article, and providing suggestions. Click Here for Vyas' growing list of best practices.
RevealNet receives 5 Star rating from Oracle FAQ!
RevealNet's Knowledge Base for Oracle Administration received a 5-Star rating from Oracle FAQ. "A must have online reference/companion for any Oracle DBA. Saves time searching books for syntax, troubleshooting and research. Great error message guide for developers, plus a comprehensive study guide for Oracle7, 8, & 8i OCP exams with test questions. Costs $395 including 12 months support and software updates." Click Here for the rest of the review.
Using the DBMS_REVEALNET Package
The Knowledge Base for Oracle Administration includes InstantScripts - a collection of 218 database administration scripts. Chief among these SQL and PL/SQL scripts is the core package, DBMS_REVEALNET. The DBMS_REVEALNET package has evolved over the last few years from a loosely connected group of functions and procedures to an integrated package of functions and procedures that can greatly assist the DBA in the day-to-day database operations. InstantScripts is available only to licensed users of the Knowledge Base for Oracle Administration. The 30 day trial version does not include the scripts. Click Here to find out more about DBMS_REVEALNET.
Did you know RevealNet Knowledge Bases and Development Tools are tightly integrated with products from these companies? Click on each logo below for more information.
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Oracle DBA Tip of the Month: | Using Decode in the Order By Clause |
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PL/SQL Tip of the Month: | Loading a Lookup Table in Memory to Speed up Queries |
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DB2 Tip of the Month: | SQLCODE Error Checking |
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SQL Server Tip of the Month: | Passing an Array of Values to a SQL Server Stored-Procedure |
"Upgrading Oracle 8.1.5 to 8.1.7"
- Oracle DBA Pipeline
Conference: FAQ Area
Pipeliners discuss steps for migrating from Oracle 8.1.5 to 8.1.7. Click Here for the discussion
RevealNet's Pipeline Communities are rich in technical discussions. Each month, we highlight particular discussions of interest. Log on to "Pipe Talk" and share your ideas with your colleagues around the world.
Win
a FREE CAP!
We love getting white papers, tips, articles, and code examples/archives from our readers around the world. Send your submission to cwhite@revealnet.com. If your article is published, we will mail you a "stylin'" canvas/embroidered RevealNet baseball cap as a gesture or our appreciation.
Our mission at RevealNet is to anticipate the daily responsibilities and challenges faced by database professionals. Our products help thousands of people solve problems and implement solutions every day. This newsletter is designed to help facilitate the sharing of information among database professionals. It is currently circulated to 17,000 readers.
Random Notes:
Thanks for Visiting with RevealNet at the ODTUG Conference in San Diego. We would like to thank the hundreds of conference attendees and Pipeliners who visited with us at ODTUG in San Diego June 25 - 27. It is always a pleasure meeting with our customers, Pipeliners, and attendees.
RevealNet Contact Info
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Rockville, MD 20855
Tel: 800-738-3254 Toll-Free US
Tel: 301-947-7744 International
Fax: 301-947-9610
Email: info@revealnet.com
RevealNet develops Knowledge Bases and Development Tools for Oracle and DB2 professionals. Our Knowledge Bases are designed to anticipate the daily challenges of DBAs and Developers - providing the background information, syntax and examples you need to apply solutions immediately. Our Oracle development tools help you write far less code, improve code maintainability and achieve development excellence.
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