Received My Oracle 11i Apps DBA Certification yesterday !!

Dear Friends,

This is to tell you that, I have received my “Oracle E-Business Suite 11i Certification” right after one month as I took the “1Z0-233 - Oracle 11i Install, Patch and Maintain Applications” last month. It’s titled in that as “Oracle E-Business Suite 11i Applications Database Administration Certified Professional”

Refer my blog for the exam details i.e. “1Z0-233 - Oracle 11i Install, Patch and Maintain Applications”

http://sabdarsyed.blogspot.com/2007/07/i-have-passed-1z0-233-exam-oracle-11i.html

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Best Regards,
Sabdar Syed,

http://sabdarsyed.blogspot.com

Installation of Oracle 11g on Linux (Red Hat Enterprise Linux – 4)

Dear Friends,

As we all aware that Oracle 11g is now available for installing on Linux. Yesterday, I installed & configured the Oracle 11gR1 (11.1.0) and created the database on Linux (Red Hat Enterprise Linux – 4.0) successfully. I would like to share the steps with my blog viewers what I have followed to install it.

Operating System Details:
Linux – (Red Had Enterprise Linux – 4.0)

Database Version Details:
Oracle 11g Release 1 (11.1.0)

Download Software: (linux_11gR1_database.zip)
http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/products/database/index.html

Pre-Installation Tasks:

* Prepare the stage area for Oracle Software on the Serve
----- Choose the mount point where software needs to be staged.
/u01

----- Create the stage directories and change the ownership and permissions.
Su – root
Password: xxxxx ( Enter your root password Here)
# mkdir –p /u01/11gStage
# chown –R oracle:dba /u01/11gStage
# chmod –R 755 /u01/11gStage

----- Copy the software in the stage area
ftp the downloaded Oracle 11g software in this stage area and change the ownership and permissions.
$ cd /u01/11gStage
$ chown oracle:dba linux_11gR1_database.zip
$ chmod 755 linux_11gR1_database.zip

* Performing the pre-installation tasks
----- Check the size of physical RAM
$ grep MemTotal /proc/meminfo
Note: During the installation it will say failed when it checks the available physical RAM is less than 900 MB , no problem even if you have less than 900MB (if it’s for testing purpose), you can continue with the installation.

----- Check the size of SWAP space
$ grep SwapTotal /proc/meminfo

----- Check the free disk space in “/tmp” directory
$ df -k /tmp

----- Check the free space available on the system
$ df –k

* Checking the Software Requirements
----- The version of Linux is installed
$ uname –a

----- Check the following required packages are installed.
binutils-2.15.92.0.2-18
compat-libstdc++-33.2.3-47.3
elfutils-libelf-0.97-5
elfutils-libelf-devel-0.97-5
glibc-2.3.9.4-2.19
glibc-common-2.3.9.4-2.19
glibc-devel-2.3.9.4-2.19
gcc-3.4.5-2
gcc-c++-3.4.5-2
libaio-devel-0.3.105-2
libaio-0.3.105-2
libgcc-3.4.5
libstdc++-3.4.5-2
libstdc++-devel-3.4.5-2
make-3.80-5
sysstat-5.0.5
unixODBC-2.2.11
unixODBC-devel-2.2.11

----- To check RPMS are installed or not.
Login as ROOT user
# rpm –q libaio-devel-0.3.105-2
# rpm –q unixODBC-devel-2.2.11
……………………………
……………………………
Like this check for all the above RPMS.

----- Install the missing packages or rpms.
First download the missing RPMS from the relavent Linux websites, or if you have the CDs with you, used during the Linux Installation, you can use them to find the missing rpms from that.

----- To install or upgrade RPMS are installed or not.
Login as the ROOT user
# rpm –ivh unixODBC-devel-2.2.11.3-1.i386.rpm
Or
# rpm –Uvh unixODBC-devel-2.2.11.3-1.i386.rpm

* Creating Required Operating System Groups and Users
----- Check and create DBA group
Su – root
Password: xxxxx ( Enter your root password Here)
# cat /etc/group|grep dba
# /usr/sbin/groupadd dba

----- Check and create ORACLE user and assign dba group.
# cat /etc/passwd|grep oracle
# /usr/sbin/useradd –d “/home/oracle” –m –g dba –c “Oracle 11g Owner” oracle

----- Set the password of the ORACLE user
# passwd oracle

* Create Required Directories
----- The Oracle Base Directory and Oracle Home Directories
Su – root
Password: xxxxxx (Enter the password for root here)
# mkdir –p /u01/app/oracle/product/11.0.1
# mkdir –p /u02/oradata

----- Chang the owner and group of the directories
# chown –R oracle:dba /u01/app/oracle/product/11.0.1
# chown –R oracle:dba /u02/oradata

----- Change the permissions of the directories
# chmod –R 755 /u01/app/oracle/product/11.0.1
# chmod –R 755 /u02/oradata

* Configuring Kernel Parameters
----- Check the current parameters and values in /etc/sysctl.conf
# cat /etc/sysctl.conf
Note: Take a back up of this file before changing the values and parameters.
# cp –p /etc/sysctl.conf /etc/sysctl.conf.old

----- Check and add the below parameters in /etc/sysctl.conf
fs.file-max = 76800
kernel.shmall = 2097152
kernel.shmmax = 2147483648
kernel.shmmni = 4096
kernel.sem = 250 32000 100 128
net.ipv4.ip_local_port_range = 1024 65000
net.core.rmem_default = 4194304
net.core.rmem_max = 4194304
net.core.wmem_default = 262144
net.core.wmem_max = 262144

----- To change the current values of the kernel parameters
# /sbin/sysctl -p

----- Make sure that the parameters and values in /etc/system file are set properly
# cat /etc/sysctl.conf

----- Check and set the following lines in the /etc/security/limits.conf file.
Note: Take a back up of this file before changing the values and parameters.
# cp –p /etc/security/limits.conf /etc/security/limits.conf.old

oracle soft nproc 2047
oracle hard nproc 16384
oracle soft nofile 1024
oracle hard nofile 65536

----- Add or edit the following line in the /etc/pam.d/login file, if it does not already exist
Note: Take a back up of this file before changing the values and parameters.
# cp –p /etc/pam.d/login /etc/pam.d/login .old

session required /lib/security/pam_limits.so
session required pam_limits.so

* Configuring the Oracle User’s Environment
----- Check and change the contents of .profile or .lgoin files.
$ vi .bash_profile

----- Remove the oracle environment variables set already.

----- Check the DISPLAY variable is set, if not, then set the variable.
$ echo $DISPLAY
$ DISPLAY=:0.0
$ export DISPLAY
Su – root
Password: xxxx ( Enter the root password here)
# xhost +

----- Make sure that xclock command is running
$ xlcok

Installation of Oracle Software:

* Login as oracle on the server
Su – oracle
Password: xxxxx (Oracle user password)

* Go the directory where Oracle software is staged.
$ cd /u01/11gStage

* Unzip the software file
$ unzip linux_11gR1_database.zip

* Run/Launch the runinstaller
$ cd /u02/11gStage/database
$./.runInstaller

* Answer to the subsequent wizards or screens options with the proper information

Note: Fore more instructions one creating the database using DBCA tool or Manual method, please refer my blog link for the same.

http://sabdarsyed.blogspot.com/2007/08/dear-friends-following-are-general.html

Conclusion: I have followed the above series of steps for installing on one of Linux boxes. I would request and suggest them to go through the referenced links below, who are willing to do this with other options during the installation and as per their requirement.

References:

Oracle Database Installation Guide 11g Release 1 (11.1) for Linux

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B28359_01/install.111/b32002/pre_install.htm#CHDHFGBJ

Installing Oracle Database 11g on Linux

http://www.oracle.com/technology/obe/11gr1_db/install/dbinst/dbinst.htm

Oracle 11g Documentations

http://www.oracle.com/pls/db111/homepage

Others:

http://www.datasoftech.com/library.html

****** Your suggestions and comments are welcomed. ******

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With Best Regards,

Sabdar Syed,

http://sabdarsyed.blogspot.com

General Outlines for Installing & Configuring an Oracle Software on Unix/Linux OS

Dear Friends,

Following are the general outlines (not the commands and statements) which I followed whenever there is a requirement to Install and Configure an Oracle Server on Unix/Linux Operating Systems.

I would like to share them in my blog as a reference for the same.

Pre-Installation Tasks:

* Prepare the stage area for Oracle Software on the Serve
----- Choose the mount point where software needs to be staged.
----- Create the stage directories
----- Copy the software in the stage area
* Performing the pre-installation tasks
----- Check the size of physical RAM
----- Check the size of SWAP space
----- Check the free disk space in “/tmp” directory
----- Check the free space available on the system
* Checking the Software Requirements
----- The version of Unix/Linux is installed
----- The require packages are installed.
----- Install the missing packages or rpms.
* Creating Required Operating System Groups and Users
----- Check and Create OINSTALL group
----- Check and create DBA group
----- Check and create ORACLE user
----- Assign oracle user to the OINSTALL and DBA groups
----- Set the password of the ORACLE user
* Configuring Kernel Parameters
----- Check the current parameters and values in /etc/system or /etc/sysctl.conf file
----- Change the parameters according to the instruction document.
----- Reboot the machine for the effect.
----- Make sure that the parameters and values in /etc/system file are set properly
* Create Required Directories
----- The Oracle Base Directory and Oracle Home Directories
----- Chang the owner and group of the directories
----- Change the permissions of the directories
* Configuring the Oracle User’s Environment
----- Check and change the contents of .profile or .lgoin files.
----- Remove the oracle environment variables set already.
----- Check the DISPLAY variable is set, if not, then set the variable.
----- Make sure that xclock command is running

Installation of Oracle Software:

* Login as oracle on the server
* Go the directory where Oracle software is staged.
* Unzip the software file
* Extract the files
* Run/Launch the runinstaller
* Answer to the subsequent wizards or screens options with the proper information

Post-Installation tasks:

* Login as oracle user on the server
* Set the following variables in the .profile or .login files
---- ORACLE_BASE
---- ORACLE_SID
---- ORACLE_HOME
---- PATH
---- TNS_ADMIN
---- LD_LIBRARY_PATH
* Check the Oracle availability
* Check the listener availability
* Connect to sqlplus and check the users connections
* Tnsping the services
* Check the OEM access
* Any other post-installation required as per the project requirement.

Methods for creating a Database:

The database can be created in many possible ways

* Choose the basic installation with create starter database option when the Oracle Software is being installed
In this method, an Oracle Software will be installed, a starter database with default configuration will be created, and TNS Listner and TNS names will be set up for you.

* Choose the advanced installation option with install software only option.
Only the oracle software will be installed, and no database will be created, and no TNS listenr and tnsnames will be configured for you.

* You will need to create the database in two ways.
Using DBCA by choosing the options and parameters values needed for your requirement.

Other method for creating the database is manual database creation with CREATE DATABASE command.

Configure the listener with Net Configuration Assistant.

Steps for Manual database creation:

* Decide the ORACLE_SID value (i..e PROD, TEST, DEV, etc.)
* Create the password file using ORAPWD command
* Create the service using ORADIM command (Only on Windows)
* Prepare the initialization parameter file with required configuration settings.
* Create the appropriate pre-directories for dump destinations i..e USER_DUMP_DEST, BACKGROUND_DUMP_DEST, CORE_DUMP_DEST etc.
* Prepare the user’s environment profile file with Oracle variables i.e. ORACLE_SID, ORACLE_HOME, TNS_ADMIN, PATH, LD_LIBRARY_PATH etc.
* Login to sqlplus with SQLPLUS \nolog
* Connect as sysdba
* Startup the instance in no mount state
* Run the CREATE DATABASE command or launch the sql script which you have already prepared for database creation.
* Monitor for any errors during the database creation.
* At the end of successful database creation run the following two important scripts which will populate all Performance & Dynamic system views, and System PL/SQL objects.
* ?/rdbms/admin/catalog.sql
* ?/rdbms/admin/catproc.sql
* Optional (?/sqlplus/admin/pupbld.sql)
* Create required tablespaces manually.

Conclusion: The outlines in this article are genric for any Unix/Linux flavor, but I would suggest one to follow the complete document for installation on their specific OS, you can download this from the Oracle official website.

Any comments on this article are welcomed.

-- Regards,
Sabdar Syed,
http://sabdarsyed.blogspot.com/

Oracle Database 11g is now ready for download !!!

Dear friends,

May be this is a delayed information to you that the Oracle Database 11g is now ready for download. But I wanna share this information with my blog viewers

To download 11g Software:

http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/products/database/index.html

To download 11g Documentations:

http://www.oracle.com/technology/documentation/database.html

Regards,

Sabdar Syed,

http://sabdarsyed.blogspot.com