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More RMAN catalog speedups

The following query can become faster by adding an index:

SELECT MAX(RSR_KEY)
FROM RSR, DBINC
WHERE DBINC.DB_KEY = :B2 AND RSR.DBINC_KEY = DBINC.DBINC_KEY AND RSR.RSR_STAMP < :B1;

The indices:

create index idx_rsr_nn_1 on rsr(dbinc_key,rsr_stamp, rsr_key);
create index idx_dbinc_nn_1 on dbinc(db_key, dbinc_key);

RMAN Crosscheck performance issues

Issue:

Crosscheck is about 1 second (or more) per backup piece.

Solution:

It is possible that there are some full table scans in the query

SELECT NVL(MIN(SCN),POWER(2,64)-1)
FROM (
SELECT MIN(BRL.LOW_SCN) SCN
FROM BRL
WHERE BRL.DBINC_KEY = :B1 UNION
SELECT MIN(AL.LOW_SCN)
FROM AL
WHERE AL.DBINC_KEY = :B1 UNION
SELECT MIN(XAL.LOW_SCN)
FROM XAL
WHERE XAL.DBINC_KEY = :B1 UNION
SELECT MIN(BDF.CKP_SCN)
FROM BDF
WHERE BDF.DBINC_KEY = :B1 UNION
SELECT MIN(CDF.CKP_SCN)
FROM CDF
WHERE CDF.DBINC_KEY = :B1 UNION
SELECT MIN(XDF.CKP_SCN)
FROM XDF
WHERE XDF.DBINC_KEY = :B1 UNION
SELECT MIN(BCF.CKP_SCN)
FROM BCF
WHERE BCF.DBINC_KEY = :B1 UNION
SELECT MIN(CCF.CKP_SCN)
FROM CCF
WHERE CCF.DBINC_KEY = :B1 UNION
SELECT MIN(XCF.CKP_SCN)
FROM XCF
WHERE XCF.DBINC_KEY = :B1 );

This can be slightly improved by adding several indices:

create index idx_bcf_nn_1 on bcf(dbinc_key,ckp_scn);
create index idx_bdf_nn_1 on bdf(dbinc_key,ckp_scn);
create index idx_brl_nn_1 on brl(dbinc_key,low_scn);

If the indices are not helping, try altering db_file_multiblock_read_count to 0 (oracle 10/11 only). This can speed up the full table scans.

Oracle Enterprise Manager 10g is slow in processing agent data

Issue:

There is a large back log in processing the XML uploaded by the agents. The AWR shows database related issues.

Solution:

There are several indexes which prevent some of the full table scans which speed up the processing speed considerably:
CREATE INDEX sysman.mgmt_current_metrics_idx1 ON sysman.mgmt_current_metrics (key_value,metrics_guid,target_guid);

and

CREATE INDEX sysman.mgmt_current_metrics_idx2 ON sysman.mgmt_current_metrics(target_guid, metric_guid, collection_timestamp);

Probably there are more (-:

Argument list too long

Issue:

Remove under unix gives an argument list too long.

Solution:

A possibility is to write a script:
TOBEREMOVED=start of file name to be removed
function larger_rm ()
{ while read line1; do
if [ $line1==$TOBEREMOVED* ]
then
if [ $line1 != $TOBEREMOVED ]
then
echo "removing "$line1
rm $line1
fi
fi
done
}
ls | larger_rm

This script removes all files except the file name itself (handy with historical files).
Warning: It is slow....

OpenSuse 11.4 Xen VM fails with ATA errors

Issue:

OpenSuse 11.4 Xen VM fails with ATA errors after upgrading to the desktop kernel version included in the distribution.

Solution:

Re-start the installation and install the default kernel instead of the Xen desktop kernels.

XEN bridged network config SuSE 11.4 not routing correctly after restart

Issue:

After a restart of the XEN kernel on OpenSuSE 11.4, DHCP of the bridged interface works, but a pint to the route returns with destination host unreachable.

Solution:

The eth interface used to communicate with the outside world is dropped out of the bridged configuration for unknown reasons. Use brctl add br0 eth0 to add the interface (and of course replace br0 and eth0 with your own values).

Oracle Enterprise manager is slow in uploading metrics data

Issue:

Oracle Enterprise Manager has a large backlog of to be processed XML files.

Solution:

The problem can be that the stored procedure EMD_LOADER.UPDATE_CURRENT_METRICS is slow due to an not efficient index on the table SYSMAN.MGMT_CURRENT_METRICS. The index SYSMAN.MGMT_CURRENT_METRICS_PK is in the incorrect order to be efficient. Add the following index:
CREATE INDEX "SYSMAN"."MGMT_CURRENT_METRICS_IDX1_EFFICIENT" ON "SYSMAN"."MGMT_CURRENT_METRICS" ("KEY_VALUE", "METRIC_GUID", "TARGET_GUID");

Formatting a file for use in KVM/qemu

Issue:

Your installed kvm virtual machine has run out of disk space and the volume created with qemu-img can not be formatted by Microsoft Windows (XP SP3).

Solution:

Create an image:
qemu-img create -f raw edrive.img 64G
Use fdisk (under linux) to create a disk header in the image:
fdisk /home/kvm/edrive.img
Press w
Add the image to your config:
qemu-kvm -cdrom /home/kvm/somecd.img -hda windowsxp_install.img -hdb edrive.img -m 1024 -net nic -net user &
Now the disk can be partitioned and formatted in Microsoft Windows (XP SP3)

Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio is slow while starting

Issue:

SQL Server Management Studio is slow while starting.

Solution:

The management studio can not find a certain URL. This can be fixed by adding the following line to the hosts file:
127.0.0.1 crl.microsoft.com

HTTP access_log crashes Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control

Issue:

Once in a while, depending on the installation size, the apache httpd access_log grows to 2GB on the Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control installation.

Solution:

There are two possible solutions:
A. Correct the log rotate setup;
B. Stop the logging.
This solution is the solution to stop the logging (since it is pretty much useless anyway).
Edit the sysman/config/httpd_em.conf file and hash out the following lines:

ErrorLog /oracle/product/oms10g/Apache/Apache/logs/error_log
TransferLog "/oracle/product/oms10g/Apache/Apache/logs/access_log"

to

# ErrorLog /oracle/product/oms10g/Apache/Apache/logs/error_log
# TransferLog "/oracle/product/oms10g/Apache/Apache/logs/access_log"

Delete the old log files from Apache/Apache/logs and restart grid control. The logging should be stopped.

Backup fails

Issue:

The backup of the full database fails with error number -1073548784.

Solution:

Most likely the database requires a log file backup before a full backup is possible.
To see if the log file backup is required, select the following:
select log_reuse_wait_desc from sys.databases where name='your database name';

If this displays 'LOG_BACKUP', then first execute a transaction log backup. After the transaction log backup, the full backup should be possible again.

SQL Server temp db fills disk

Issue:

The disk containing the tempdb from SQL Server 2005 is near full.

Solution:

The tempdb can be moved by executing the following SQL and restarting the SQL Server instance:

USE master;
GO
ALTER DATABASE tempdb
MODIFY FILE (NAME = tempdev, FILENAME = '{location}tempdb.mdf');
GO
ALTER DATABASE tempdb
MODIFY FILE (NAME = templog, FILENAME = '{location}templog.ldf');
GO

Database mirroring ENCRYPTION=ENABLED

Issue:

You are trying to implement database mirroring with SQL Server 2005 instructions from http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/archive/2007/02/13/60091.aspx and fail at:

CREATE ENDPOINT [Mirroring]
AS TCP (LISTENER_PORT = 5022)
FOR DATA_MIRRORING (ROLE = PARTNER, ENCRYPTION = ENABLED);

Solution:

The keyword ENCRYPTION=ENABLED should be ENCRYPTION=SUPPORTED

ABN Amro Tradebox using linux

Issue:

Registration of tradebox fails due to badly written browser and java capability check.

Solution:

No claims due to any losses or mishaps when using this solution can be claimed. The solution is from the ABN Amro helpdesk:
Register using windows. At the end save the jnlp file. Copy the file to any system you want to start tradebox.

P.S. This is scary: The file contains the username/password combination in encrypted format. No user is requested anymore. Do not give to friends, keep in a save place. If lost: Block your accounts!

Bring standby database online

Issue:

A Microsoft SQL Server standby database needs to be brought online.

Solution:

Execute the command:
restore database [databasename] with recovery;
on the database server where the standby database is running.

Configuring a user for SSIS

Issue:

The user rights assignment in SSIS is difficult to configure in such a way that a user does not require (local) administrator rights to be able to use SSIS.

Solution:

The following steps are required:
1. Add the user to the Distributed COM Users group using Administrative tools->Computer management->System tools->Local users and groups->groups->Distributed COM Users;
2. Open Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Component Services to start the Component Services MMC snap-in;
3. Expand the Component Services node in the left pane of the console. Expand the Computers node, expand My Computer, and then click the DCOM Config node;
4. Select the DCOM Config node, and then select MsDtsServer in the list of applications that can be configured;
5. Right-click on MsDtsServer and select Properties;
6. In the MsDtsServer Properties dialog box, select the Security tab.
7. Under Launch and Activation Permissions, select Customize, then click Edit to open the Launch Permission dialog box;
8. In the Launch Permission dialog box, add or delete users, and assign the appropriate permissions to the appropriate users and groups. The available permissions are Local Launch, Remote Launch, Local Activation, and Remote Activation. The Launch rights grant or deny permission to start and stop the service; the Activation rights grant or deny permission to connect to the service. Here select Local Activation only;
9. Click OK to close the dialog box;
10. Under Access Permissions, select Customize, and then click Edit;
11. In the Access Permission dialog box, add or delete users, and assign the appropriate permissions to the appropriate users and groups. Here select active Local & remote access;
12. Click OK to close the dialog box;
13. Close the MMC snap-in;
14. Restart the Integration Services service.

Fast recover of a dataguard

Issue:

If Oracle dataguard stops receiving data due to full flash recovery area and init.ora shows standby_file_management=AUTO a fast way of recovery is required.

Solution:

Reset the dg_broker_start parameter on the primary database to false (alter system set dg_broker_start=false). DG broker stops. Then reset back to true.
Eventual gap can be resolved by copying the archivelogs to the dataguard and adding those archivelogs:
alter database register logfile 'fullpathtoarchivelog/logname';

RMAN backup does not respond for long period

Issue:

A backup with RMAN is after the actual backup is finished not responsive for a prolonged period of time.

Solution:

Probably the controlfile contains many unused delete object records:
Run a query "select count(*) from v$deleted_object". If this is as slow as the end of the RMAN session, you found the issue.
To solve this situation run:
SQL> execute dbms_backup_restore.resetcfilesection(19);
This effectively truncates v$deleted_object, resulting in fast backups again.
The issue should not occur anymore from Oracle 11.1.0.7 and higher.

Oracle Universal installer not starting

Issue:

The Oracle Universal Installer (OUI) is not starting in Microsoft Windows. There is no error screen or anything relevant in the log files from the installer.

Solution:

The issue might be that the unzip action of the installer encounters a too long path, resulting in an error which is not logged. This is visible when trying to start the unzip step manually.
The solution is to place the installation software on a shorter path.

SQL Server does not show all options in the maintenance cleanup plan

Issue:

You are expecting certain options in the maintenance cleanup plan (like option to select sub directory level for cleanup), and the option is just not there at one database, while it is present at another database.

Solution:

The problem is being caused be a mismatch in the SQL Server management Studio and the SQL server installation. Upgrade the SQL Server management studio to be at the same version of the SQL Server installation and the problem should disappear.

Archiver hung error in log while Oracle is not in archive log mode

Issue:

You find an archiver hung error in log while Oracle is not in archive log mode (So archiver can not hang since it is not running....).

Solution:

Oracle is most likely connected with a database link to another database which is running in archive log mode. At that other database this exception occurred. The exception model of Oracle is such that the exception is communicate down to the requester of the action, which apparently requested some data coinciding with the occurance of the archive log error. This way the requesting database, which is not running in archive log mode is logging an archiver error from another database.
Solve the archiver error at the other database.

Oracle chooses full table scan over index while cost is equal

Issue:

Oracle 10/11 chooses in the cost based optimizer for a full table scan instead of using the index. This is done when the cost of both options are equal according to Oracle.

Solution:

There are 2 possible solutions:
1. Use a hint: It garantees that the index will be used all the time;
2. Oracle chooses alphabetically when the cost is equal: Rename your index to a place earlier in the alphabet than your table: This lets Oracle keep its behaviour but still get the index when the cost is equal.

Dataguard fails with divide by zero exception

Issue:

Oracle 10.2.0.3 dataguard fails with a divide by zero exception crashing the memory recovery proces (MRP0).

Solution:

The solution is twofold:
1. Upgrade oracle to 10.2.0.4 (see metalink for details)
2. Just restart the process:
Login with sqlplus.
The database is still running, so just type:
RECOVER MANAGED STANDBY DATABASE DISCONNECT FROM SESSION;

Recovery should continu (archive logs will be applied).

make fails with stubs32.h not found on 64bit suse 10.3

Issue:

While running make to compile a program, it fails with stubs32.h not found.

Solution:

Create a symbolic link from stubs-64.h to stubs-32.h and run make again. The problem should be solved.

Layout for view is not found

Issue:

You are trying to load a template using the Joomla 1.5 MVC model, but you run into an error 500 - Layout "templatename" not found.

Solution:

Check for typos in the view name and template name. Use lowercase only.
Do not use the word "view" to start your view with. Joomla strips the word view of the template path only (I regard this as a bug, not a feature). It tolerates the word view when resolving the view.html.php file. So for example viewCustomer is not possible. This will resolve to customer for the template name. Try lookatcustomer instead (all lowercase).

Starting JRockit Mission Control

Issue:

Bea JRockit Mission Control does not want to connect to the Bea instance. It reports connection refused.

Solution:

A possible cause is that the -Xmanagement parameter is not in the correct location in the startup string. The startup string should look like:
${JAVA_HOME}/bin/java ${JAVA_VM} ${MEM_ARGS} ${JAVA_OPTIONS} -Dweblogic.Name=${SERVER_NAME} -Djava.security.policy=${WL_HOME}/server/lib/weblogic.policy ${PROXY_SETTINGS} -Xmanagement ${SERVER_CLASS} >"${WLS_REDIRECT_LOG}" 2>&1
With the -Xmanagement parameter just before the starting class.

Howto create a custom button

Issue:

How to create a custom admin interface button in Joomla (1.5).

Solution:

The code to create the button should be as follows:
JToolBarHelper::custom("task","image1.png","image1Over.png","text for underneath the button",Check for list item (true/false),hide main menu after click (true/false));

Call to JTable object results in blank screen

Issue:

In Joomla 1.5 you try to create a new JTable object, but somehow it results in a blank screen. The apache log shows:
Call to a member function bind() on a non-object

Solution:

If it is a new JTable object from a self build component, the name and location of the object need to be in lowercase and as follows:
Location:
Use JTable::addIncludePath(JPATH_ADMINISTRATOR.DS.'components'.DS.'com_yourcomponent'.DS.'yourtablesubdirectory');
to add the path of your JTable objects to the search path of Joomla.
Use lowercase directory names and file names only.
Name the JTable class file name to the object you are trying to load:
$table = & JTable::getInstance('nameofobject','Table');.
The nameofobject has to become your file name: nameofobject.php in the locate indicated in the addIncludePath.

Adding a view results in error 500

Issue:

After adding a view to a component in Joonla 1.5 you get an error 500, view not found, on linux when trying to access this view.

Solution:

Use the view name in lowercase, and also the directory name of the view in lowercase. This (combined with typing the correct view name) should result in a different response (maybe good, maybe a different error 500).

Bea gives error that weblogicWLStore is owned by other thread

Issue:

While using a JMS configuration with multiple persistent stores in Bea WLS 9.2, there is an error stating the following:

<[ACTIVE] ExecuteThread: '0' for queue: 'weblogic.kernel.Default (self-tuning)'> <> <> <> <>
<[ACTIVE] ExecuteThread: '0' for queue: 'weblogic.kernel.Default (self-tuning)'> <> <> <> <>
<[ACTIVE] ExecuteThread: '0' for queue: 'weblogic.kernel.Default (self-tuning)'> <> <> <> <1212496576272> weblogic.store.io.jdbc.JDBCStoreException: [Store:280064]280077 (server="managed_01" store="PersistentStore-01" table="weblogicWLStore")
at weblogic.store.io.jdbc.JDBCStoreIO.checkTableOwnership(JDBCStoreIO.java:1991)
at weblogic.store.io.jdbc.JDBCStoreIO.getTableOwnershipLogical(JDBCStoreIO.java:2104)
at weblogic.store.io.jdbc.JDBCStoreIO.open(JDBCStoreIO.java:382)
at weblogic.store.internal.PersistentStoreImpl.open(PersistentStoreImpl.java:353)
at weblogic.store.admin.AdminHandler.activate(AdminHandler.java:135)
at weblogic.store.admin.JDBCAdminHandler.activate(JDBCAdminHandler.java:64)
at weblogic.management.utils.GenericManagedService.activateDeployment(GenericManagedService.java:237)

Solution:

The persistent store prefix (use the admin interface, edit persistent store) can be altered to have a table per persistent store. This way no table lock conflicts rise and all managed servers can start.

Bea Weblogic 9.2 does not start after upgrade

Issue:

After an upgrade of the Bea Weblogic server, the environment does not want to start. The error from Bea is BEA-149610.

Solution:

Remove from servers your admin server and managed servers. They have something cached, which requires a rebuild from Bea, which fails because it is trying to start the admin server at the same time. After removal of the servers, the environment starts.

Weblogic jar installer in console mode reports to little disk space

Issue:

During the installation of Bea weblogic 10, the console mode installer reports to little disk space available:

Choose Product Installation Directories:
----------------------------------------

BEA Home Directory: [/opt/weblogic]

Product Installation Directories:

"Default Product Home" = [Enter new value or use default "/opt/weblogic/wlserver_10.0"]

** Insufficient disk space! The installer requires:
** 91MB for the BEA Home at /opt/weblogic,
** 362MB for the product at /opt/weblogic/wlserver_10.0 and
** 367MB temporary work space at /tmp/bea50538.tmp.
** There is only 375MB available at /tmp.

Note however that there is actually a larger number available on tmp in this case.

Solution:

Ignore the error, it is bogus.

Joomla failes component installation with SQL error

Issue:

Joomla 1.5 fails to install a component with the following error:
Component Install: SQL error or missing or unreadable SQL file. DB function reports no errors.

Solution:

The installer looks for the files within the admin files folder. This means that the files also have to be placed like standard files. Example xml config file:
<..>

sql/install.mysql.sql

<..>

Standard component name

sql/install.mysql.sql
<..>

<..>

Bea weblogic installation are jar files instead of binary

Issue:

The installation files as downloadable from Bea Weblogic are jar files instead of the executable files as mentioned in the installation manual.

Solution:

Use a different manual.
The important command is:
java -jar -mode=console

Bea Weblogic JMS fails to show in JNDI tree in cluster setup

Issue:

Bea Weblogic JMS information is not showing on any other machine in a cluster except the physical machine where the JMS is running.

Solution:

Bea implemented the JMS service standard as a high performance solution. To use this:
A JMS server has to be created per managed server (non-migratable);
The queues have to be created as (uniform) distributed queues with as target the cluster;
The connection factory also has to target the cluster.

Internet explorer does not show a div

Issue:

Unknown run time error in IE7 occurs while trying to put content in a div with javascript. No errors are to be seen in Firefox.

Solution:

Most likely a reserved keyword has been used as id for the div (like id=submit). Rename the div to another term, and the problem will most likely disappear.

dbms_output.put_line not visible in sqlplus

Issue:

While using dbms_output.put_line no output shows up at the console using sqlplus.

Solution:

Set serveroutput to on:
set serveroutput on
Now output will be visible

Using oracle plsql exceptions

Issue:

You have an custom exception you want to catch in plsql.

Solution:

Create a custom exception:
declare
MISSING_DATA exception;
PRAGMA EXCEPTION_INIT(MISSING_DATA, exception_number);
begin
begin
Your SQL;
exception when MISSING_DATA then dbms_output.put_line(' exception caught');
end;
end;
/

The important part is to set the correct exception_number:
Run your sql and see what exception oracle throws as first exception (ORA-12345). Replace exception_number with -12345.

EditFailedException in Bea Weblogic 9.1

Issue:

Bea Weblogic 9.1 fails during the change of configuration using the admin console (apply changes) with the exception: weblogic.management.provider.EditFailedException

Solution:

There is 2 possible solutions: First try the solution posted by Bea.

If this does not work, try the following:
Stop Bea (with most likely a kill -4). Assign more memory to Bea. Start Bea again. This might solve your issue.
Maybe a complete reboot of your environment will work too.

How to grow a Sequoia from seed

Issue:

You are trying to grow a Sequoia (giganteum) from seed (germination) and do not know how to do this.

Solution:

The shopping list:
- Buy standard plant soil at your local garden center;
- Buy breakable plastic pots, organic pots or be prepared to kill of your flower pot when the tree grows, diameter pot about 8 cm at the top;
- Buy a germination hothouse (about 20 cm high is a nice size) with some ventilation holes, and possibility to mount a light on it;
- Buy a small light (bulb/tube: Bulb if outside since it also gives sufficient warmth, 6 to 10 watts light is enough);
- Some aluminium foil for reflecting the light.

The planting:

1) Mount the lamp onto the hothouse;
2) Coat the inside of the hothouse bottom and the sides (until halfway the height of the hothouse) with aluminium foil=> Reflection increases the efficiency of the light, so 6 to 10 watts of light is enough;
3) Take the pots and fill them to the top with soil, do not compress the soil;
4) Add a generous amount of water to the soil;
5) Put some seeds on top of the soil (about 5 per pot);
6) Put very little (1 to 2 millimeter) soil on top of the seeds;
7) Add a bit more water;
8) Put the pot(s) into the hothouse;
9) Place the pots inside your house;
10) Plugin & turn on the light. Leave the light on for about 18 hours per day (longer is allowed unless it disturbs you).

About 2.5 to 3 weeks are between sowing the seeds and the first sequoia emerging using a surrounding temperature of about 15 to 20 degrees Celsius.

If the inside of the hothouse fogs up to much, you can clean it.

Occasional sunlight will help the process (and makes it possible for you to turn of the light)

Notes:

A small percentage of seeds really grows into tiny sequoias with even less of those surviving the first year. Expect about 25% to grow with this method.