7
Oracle8 Integration with Windows NT

This chapter provides an overview of how Oracle8 integration with Windows NT enables you to use Windows NT tools to administer your database.

Specific topics discussed are:

• Event Viewer
• Performance Monitor
• Registry
• Control Panel
• User Manager

Event Viewer

The Event Viewer is a Windows NT tool that enables you to monitor events in your system. An event is an important occurrence in the system or application (such as your Oracle8 database) that requires user notification. While messages for major events can display onscreen as you work at your computer, events not requiring your immediate attention are recorded by Windows NT in the Event Viewer log file. You can then view this information at your convenience.

What Oracle8 Database Events Are Monitored?

The Event Viewer can be used to monitor Oracle8 database events, such as:

• Initialization of the System Global Area (SGA) for the active instance
• Initialization of the Program Global Area (PGA) for the background processes of the active instance
• Connection to the Oracle8 database with the CONNECT INTERNAL command

In addition, the operating system audit trail is logged to the Event Viewer. The figure below shows the Event Viewer displaying Oracle8 database events. Double-click an entry to find out specific information about an event.

Additional Information: See Chapter 11, "Monitoring a Database", for specific instructions on accessing and using Event Viewer to monitor Oracle8 database events.

Performance Monitor

The Performance Monitor is a Windows NT tool that measures computer performance. This enables you to view the performance of processors, memory, cache, threads, and processes. Performance information provided includes device usage, queue lengths, delays, throughput measurements, and internal congestion measurements. This information is provided in the form of charts, alerts, and reports.

What Oracle8 Database Information is Monitored?

If you install the Oracle8 Performance Utility from your Oracle8 CD-ROM disc, you can use the Performance Monitor to monitor key Oracle8 database information, such as:

• Library Cache
• Buffer Cache
• Data Dictionary Cache
• Redo Log Buffer Cache
• Thread Activity

You can use your findings to improve database performance.

The figure below shows the Performance Monitor monitoring Oracle8 database objects listed at the bottom of the screen:

Additional Information: See Chapter 11, "Monitoring a Database", for specific instructions on accessing and using the Performance Monitor to monitor Oracle8 database performance.

Registry

The Oracle8 database stores its configuration information in a structure known as the registry. You can view and modify this configuration information through the Registry Editor. Since the registry contains configuration information for your computer, it must not be accessible for editing by inexperienced users. Only experienced administrators must be allowed to view and change this information.

The Registry Editor displays configuration information in a tree-like format consisting of four keys (or folders). These keys are shown in the tree view in the left-hand pane. In the right-hand pane, the parameters and values assigned to that key are displayed.

What Database Parameters Are Configured?

When you install products from your Oracle8 for Windows NT CD-ROM disc, configuration parameters are automatically entered in the registry. These parameters are read each time your Windows NT computer is rebooted. These parameters include settings for:

• Oracle home directory
• Language
• Company name
• Oracle home subdirectories for individual products
• Individual products such as the Oracle8 Performance Monitor

The figure below shows some of the Oracle8 database configuration parameters in the registry:

Additional Information: See Appendix C for: Definitions of Oracle8 database configuration parameters Specific instructions on using the registry to modify Oracle8 database configuration parameters

Control Panel

The Control Panel is a Windows NT tool that enables you to modify system options such as computer services. A service is an executable process registered in the registry and administered by Windows NT. The registry automatically tracks and records security information for each service you create.

What Oracle8 Services Appear in the Control Panel?

When you install the Oracle8 database and other products, Oracle services are created and displayed in the Services dialog box:

Service	Description
OracleServiceORCL	Created for the database instance ORCL. An Oracle instance is a logical term that refers to: an Oracle service called OracleServiceORCL a database Each Oracle instance must have a system identifier (SID). A SID is a unique name for an Oracle database instance that can be up to four alphanumeric characters in length. The default SID of ORCL is appended to the service OracleService. Each file for the database instance ORCL in the ORACLE_HOME\ DATABASE directory has this SID as part of its name (for example, CTL1ORCL.ORA, LOG1ORCL.ORA, and INITORCL.ORA). The instance name is the same as the value of the ORACLE_SID registry configuration parameter. To connect to a specific Oracle8 database, users must specify a service name (database alias) that contains a SID for that database.
OracleStartORCL	Starts the database instance ORCL automatically whenever the Windows NT machine reboots.
OracleTNSListener80	Listens for and accepts incoming connection requests from client applications. Automatically starts when the Windows NT machine reboots. The 80 appended to the end is the name or abbreviated ID associated with the network listener.
OracleAgent	Listens for and responds to job and event requests sent from the Oracle Enterprise Manager console.
OracleConTextService80	ConText server processes started on an NT server are normally terminated by Windows NT when the user logs off. This service is used to start server processes that survive logouts.
OracleWebAssistant	Enables information from database queries to be published to a web page at specified time intervals.

Additional networking services are described in Oracle Networking Products Getting Started for Windows Platforms.

Oracle services are the same as Windows NT services. In order to connect to and use an Oracle instance, an Oracle service is created during the database creation process and associated with the Oracle8 database. With the Oracle8 database, you can run multiple Oracle instances simultaneously on one machine.

Once a service is created with your Oracle8 database, the service can run even while no user is logged on. This is because your Oracle8 database runs each instance as a service. This feature enables you to maintain workstation security while running your Oracle8 database.

Use the Services dialog box to start, stop, pause, or continue each of the Oracle services available on the computer, and to pass startup parameters to the service.

The figure below shows Oracle8 database services in the Control Panel:

Additional Information: See Chapter 10, "Administering a Database" for specific instructions on using the Control Panel to start and stop Oracle8 database services. See also Chapter 6, "Configuration Tasks" for specific instructions on using the Control Panel to start the Oracle Intelligent Agent service.

User Manager

User Manager is a tool that enables you to manage Windows NT computer security and create user accounts.

What Oracle8 Database Tasks Can the User Manager Perform?

With User Manager, you can:

• Grant Oracle8 database roles
• Use operating system authentication for user accounts
• Create an NT user account that enables you to make secure client connections to Oracle8 without a password

The figure below shows the User Manager:

Additional Information: See Chapter 10, "Administering a Database" for specific instructions on using the User Manager to perform Oracle8 database administration.

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