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My favourite language is hard to pin point; is it C or is it PL/SQL? My first language was C and I love the elegance and expression of C. Our product PFCLScan has its main functionallity written in C. The....[Read More]

Posted by Pete On 23/07/14 At 08:44 PM

We were asked by a customer whether PFCLScan can generate SQL reports instead of the normal HTML, PDF, MS Word reports so that they could potentially scan all of the databases in their estate and then insert either high level....[Read More]

Posted by Pete On 25/06/14 At 09:41 AM

Yesterday we released the new version 2.0 of our product PFCLObfuscate . This is a tool that allows you to automatically protect the intellectual property in your PL/SQL code (your design secrets) using obfuscation and now in version 2.0 we....[Read More]

Posted by Pete On 17/04/14 At 03:56 PM

I will be co-chairing/hosting a twitter chat on Thursday 6th March at 7pm UK time with Confio. The details are here . The chat is done over twitter so it is a little like the Oracle security round table sessions....[Read More]

Posted by Pete On 05/03/14 At 10:17 AM

We are going to start a reseller program for PFCLScan and we have started the plannng and recruitment process for this program. I have just posted a short blog on the PFCLScan website titled " PFCLScan Reseller Program ". If....[Read More]

Posted by Pete On 29/10/13 At 01:05 PM

We released version 1.3 of PFCLScan our enterprise database security scanner for Oracle a week ago. I have just posted a blog entry on the PFCLScan product site blog that describes some of the highlights of the over 220 new....[Read More]

Posted by Pete On 18/10/13 At 02:36 PM

We have just updated PFCLScan our companies database security scanner for Oracle databases to version 1.2 and added some new features and some new contents and more. We are working to release another service update also in the next couple....[Read More]

Posted by Pete On 04/09/13 At 02:45 PM

It has been a few weeks since my last blog post but don't worry I am still interested to blog about Oracle 12c database security and indeed have nearly 700 pages of notes in MS Word related to 12c security....[Read More]

Posted by Pete On 28/08/13 At 05:04 PM

Mostly a reminder to self but thought I'd post the link in case anyone else is looking for this.  More pointers the merrier.

Simple, straight forward steps to synchronise a forked repository with its upstream repository and keep it up to date.

https://help.github.com/articles/syncing-a-fork
Syncing a forkSync a fork of a repository to keep it up-to-date with the upstream repository.
 ... Following these simple steps enables a forked repository to be easily and regularly updated with changes from the upstream repository. 

Up-to-date fork of the weblogic-docker repositoryTake care to read the final tip in the guide that notes that the steps only update a local copy - the fetch and merge changes still need to be pushed back to the GitHub remote repository.
Tip: Syncing your fork only updates your local copy of the repository. To update your fork on GitHub, you must push your changes.

APEX 5.0 will be released between now and the end of May. People who have already spent some time on the Early Adopter versions know this version is packed with new features aimed to make APEX developers even more productive, like the Page Designer.

Another striking new subset of features is aimed at creating better looking user interfaces for your APEX applications in an easy and maintainable way.

The definition of user interface components in APEX 5.0 is very different to what we're used to. For example there is a new Universal Theme with Template Options and a Theme Roller.

To get you up and running with this new toolset as quickly as possible, Dimitri Gielis of APEX R&D and Roel Hartman of APEX Consulting have joined forces and set up a one day course fully aimed at APEX 5.0 UI. So if you want to know not only how to use the new Theme, but also how to modify it to fit your needs, this is the event you should attend!

The training will be at the Mitland Hotel in Utrecht (NL) on Tuesday May 12.
More information and registration see www.apextraining.eu.

If you are from another country and think this training should be available in your country as well, please contact us - then we'll see what we can do!

Ryan Westwood, Forbes contributor, interviewed Oracle’s Mark Sunday (pictured left) and referred to him as a technology giant, one of the most successful CIO’s in the industry, and a down-to earth guy.

Mark Sunday is a man who knows his own mind. As Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President at Oracle, he has honed a business philosophy that has sustained him through the years as he worked with one computer technology titan after another. That philosophy also has helped him position Oracle as a leader in the industry.

In a recent Forbes article, Westwood (pictured right) synthesizes Sunday’s philosophy into five business practices.

The first is—don’t give anyone a reason to question your motives. “Early in his career, Mark made the decision never to place his own interests before the interests of the company or his department, and he has never wavered in that commitment,” says Westwood. It’s called loyalty and has served him well—as have the other four principles.

You can read about each of them in the Forbes article.

After table maintenance, like move or split partition, underlying indexes are marked as unusable.

This boils down to segment reorganisation, not dictionary change.

For instance :

CREATE TABLE t(x NUMBER)
PARTITION BY RANGE(x)
(PARTITION p1 VALUES LESS THAN (MAXVALUE));

CREATE INDEX i ON t (x);

INSERT INTO t VALUES (1);

ALTER TABLE T SPLIT PARTITION p1 AT 
  (100) INTO (PARTITION p2, PARTITION p3);

SELECT index_name, status 
FROM user_indexes 
WHERE index_name = 'I';

INDEX_NAME STATUS  
---------- --------
I          VALID

The partition p1 is splitted into two p2 and p3, all rows from p1 belongs to p2, p3 is created empty, no data manipulation, the index remains valid

delete from t; 
INSERT INTO t VALUES (250);

ALTER TABLE T SPLIT PARTITION p3 AT 
  (200) INTO (PARTITION p4, PARTITION p5);

SELECT index_name, status 
FROM user_indexes 
WHERE index_name = 'I';

INDEX_NAME STATUS  
---------- --------
I          VALID

Same here, all rows from p3 moved to p5, p4 is created empty, no problem

delete from t; 
INSERT INTO t VALUES (250);
INSERT INTO t VALUES (350);

ALTER TABLE T SPLIT PARTITION p5 AT 
  (300) INTO (PARTITION p6, PARTITION p7);

SELECT index_name, status 
FROM user_indexes 
WHERE index_name = 'I';
INDEX_NAME STATUS  
---------- --------
I          UNUSABLE

One row goes to p6, one row to p7, the index is invalidated.

To avoid this, use ALTER TABLE T SPLIT PARTITION p5 AT (300) INTO (PARTITION p6, PARTITION p7) UPDATE INDEXES;

What are the consequences?

INSERT INTO t VALUES (320);
1 row inserted

It does not prevent DML in this case.

select * from t where x=320;

         X
----------
       320

Execution Plan
---------------------------------------------------
 0   SELECT STATEMENT Optimizer Mode=ALL_ROWS
 1 0   PARTITION RANGE SINGLE
 2 1     TABLE ACCESS FULL SCOTT.T

The row is retrieved, but the unusable index is not used.

In some case, DML may be prevented.

alter index i rebuild;
alter table t modify (x primary key using index);
ALTER TABLE T SPLIT PARTITION p7 AT 
  (330) INTO (PARTITION p8, PARTITION p9) ;

insert into t values (450);
ORA-01502: index 'SCOTT.I' or partition of such index is in unusable state

The index can no longer be used for constraint enforcement and the INSERT fails.

If the index is partitioned, the index is not marked as unusable as a whole, only the affected (sub)partitions are marked.

Check all your indexes status in dba_indexes.status, dba_ind_partitions.status and dba_ind_subpartitions.status.

Rebuild them with alter index i rebuild, alter index i rebuild partition p and alter index i rebuild subpartition sp.

This Log Buffer Edition keeps the aim high and brings few of the best blog posts from Oracle, SQL Server and MySQL.

Oracle:

3 Modes for Moving Data to the BI Applications DW from a Source Application Database.

JSON for APEX Developers.

Neelakanth Nadgir posted a useful utility that prints out various statistics about the ZFS Adaptive Replacement Cache (ARC).

Obtaining Bonus Depreciation Methods for Oracle Fixed Assets.

Existing News – Java Cloud Service just got an update – WebLogic Server 12.1.3

SQL Server:

Tracking Database DDL Changes with SQLVer.

While a diminished level of control is certainly a factor to consider when contemplating migration of on-premises systems to Microsoft Azure, especially when dealing with PaaS resources such as Azure SQL Database, you have a range of techniques at your disposal that allow you to control and monitor both the status of and access to your Azure-resident services.

A Custom Execution Method – Level 19 of the Stairway to Integration Services

When a SQL Server database is operating smoothly and performing well, there is no need to be particularly aware of the transaction log, beyond ensuring that every database has an appropriate backup regime and restore plan in place.

SQL Server Reporting Services Basics: Deploying Reports

MySQL:

Mo’ Data, Mo’ Problems

FromDual.en: FromDual Backup Manager for MySQL 1.2.1 has been released

Tracking MySQL query history in long running transactions

MySQL Cluster 7.4.3 RELEASE CANDIDATE now available

Streaming MariaDB backups in the cloud.

What will soft, mobile robots be able to do that previous generations cannot? A lot. But I’m particularly intrigued by two large categories:

• Inspection, maintenance and repair.
• Health care/family care assistance.

There are still many things that are hard for humans to keep in good working order, including:

• Power lines.
• Anything that’s underwater (cables, drilling platforms, etc.)
• Pipelines, ducts, and water mains (especially from the inside).
• Any kind of geographically remote power station or other installation.

Sometimes the issue is (hopefully minor) repairs. Sometimes it’s cleaning or lubrication. In some cases one might want to upgrade a structure with fixed sensors, and the “repair” is mainly putting those sensors in place. In all these cases, it seems that soft robots could eventually offer a solution. Further examples, I’m sure, could be found in factories, mines, or farms.

Of course, if there’s a maintenance/repair need, inspection is at least part of the challenge; in some cases it’s almost the whole thing. And so this technology will help lead us toward the point that substantially all major objects will be associated with consistent flows of data. Opportunities for data analysis will abound.

One other point about data flows — suppose you have two kinds of machines that can do a task, one of which is flexible, the other rigid. The flexible one will naturally have much more variance in what happens from one instance of the task to the next one. That’s just another way in which soft robots will induce greater quantities of machine-generated data.

Let’s now consider health care, whose basic characteristics include:

• It’s done to people …
• … especially ones who don’t feel very good.

People who are sick, elderly or whatever can often use help with simple tasks — e.g., taking themselves to the bathroom, or fetching a glass water. So can their caretakers — e.g., turning a patient over in bed. That’s even before we get to more medical tasks such as checking and re-bandaging an awkwardly-placed wound. And on the healthier side, I wouldn’t mind having a robot around the house that could, for example, spot me with free weights. Fully general forms of this seem rather futuristic. But even limited forms might augment skilled-nurse labor, or let people stay in their own homes who at the moment can’t quite make it there.

And, once again, any of these use cases would likely be associated with its own stream(s) of observational and introspective data.

Related link

• Part 1 of this series was a quick introduction to soft and mobile robotics.

 

There may be no other subject on which I’m so potentially biased as robotics, given that:

• I don’t spend a lot of time on the area, but …
• … one of the better robotics engineers in the world (Kevin Albert) just happens to be in my family …
• … and thus he’s overwhelmingly my main source on the general subject of robots.

Still, I’m solely responsible for my own posts and opinions, while Kevin is busy running his startup (Pneubotics) and raising my grandson. And by the way — I’ve been watching the robotics industry slightly longer than Kevin has been alive.

My overview messages about all this are:

• Historically, robots have been very limited in their scope of motion and action. Indeed, most successful robots to date have been immobile, metallic programmable machines, serving on classic assembly lines.
• Next-generation robots should and will be much more able to safely and effectively navigate through and work within general human-centric environments.
• This will affect a variety of application areas in ways that readers of this blog may care about.

Examples of the first point may be found in any number of automobile factory videos, such as:

A famous example of the second point is a 5-year-old video of Kevin’s work on prototype robot locomotion, namely:

Walking robots (such as Big Dog) and general soft robots (such as those from Pneubotics) rely on real-time adaptation to physical feedback. Robots have long enjoyed machine vision,* but their touch capabilities have been very limited. Current research/development proposes to solve that problem, hence allowing robots that can navigate uneven real-world surfaces, grip and lift objects of unpredictable weight or position, and minimize consequences when unwanted collisions do occur. (See for example in the video where Big Dog is kicked sideways across a nasty patch of ice.)

*Little-remembered fact — Symantec spun out ~30 years ago from a vision company called Machine Intelligence, back when “artificial intelligence” was viewed as a meaningful product category. Symantec’s first product — which explains the company name — was in natural language query.

Pneubotics and others take this further, by making robots out of soft, light, flexible materials. Benefits will/could include:

• Safety (obviously).
• Cost-effectiveness (better weight/strength ratios –> less power needed –> less lugging of batteries or whatever –> much more capability for actual work).
• Operation in varied environments (underwater, outer space, etc.).
• Better locomotion even on dry land (because of weight and safety).

Above all, soft robots will have more effective senses of touch, as they literally bend and conform to contact with real-world surfaces and objects.

Now let’s turn to some of the implications of soft and mobile robotic technology.

Related links

• This series partially fulfils an IOU left in my recent post on IT innovation.
• Business Week is one of several publications that have written about soft robots.
• Kevin shared links to three more videos on robot locomotion.
• What I wrote about analyst bias back in 2006 still applies.

Cloud migration tools, hybrid cloud compatibility features and analytics capabilities are just a few of the accommodations database administrators are favoring nowadays. Throughout 2014, Microsoft made a number of revisions to its signature database engine SQL Server, which is a solution of choice among many DBA experts. 

Azure synchronization 
Microsoft Azure, which encompasses Microsoft's varying cloud services, is witnessing slow but persistent adoption rates among enterprises. For professionals using on-premise SQL Server deployments interested in either migrating these implementations to Azure or developing a hybrid cloud environment, Azure Active Directory Sync Services (ADD Sync) is expected to make these endeavors all the more simple. 

Compatible with both Azure Active Directory and Office 365, the tool replaces DirSync and eliminates the need for a Forefront Identity Management program, according to WindowsITPro. The source acknowledged ADD Sync offers the following enhancements:

• DBAs can now synchronize multi-forest AD ecosystems without requiring access to functions within Forefront Identity Manager 2010 R2. 
• ADD Sync sets advanced mapping, provisioning and filtering rules for objects and attributes.
• The solution offers configuration options that allow Exchange organizations to connect to one ADD tenant. 

Satisfying DB2 migration needs 
Transitioning information from IBM's DB2 database engine to SQL Server is a decision some DBAs choose to make based on a number of reasons. InfoQ noted SQL Server Migration Assistant's sixth iteration was unrolled in 2014, and promises to automatically conduct migration assessment analyses, schemas and SQL statement conversions, making migration more manageable for DBAs. 

Best of all, because DB2 offers functions that SQL Server does not, SSMA for DB2 v6.0 establishes DB2-esque features in SQL Server to help easy workflow adaptation for DBAs. However, what these specific tools and applications are has not been publicly disclosed. 

Integrated analytics 
While Power BI offers a list of data analytics tools via Excel and Office 365, one of the program's components is a natural language query engine that enables users with little to no technical now-how to enter questions regarding aggregated information. 

To further synchronize back-end database information in SQL Server with this simple query function, SQL Server now comes with a Power BI Analysis Services Connector that enables users to establish a relationship between Power BI and an on-site occurrence of SQL Server Analysis Services. However, before a connection can be set, DBAs must install Active Directory Sync between Azure and their employers' on-site Active Directories. 

Microsoft's development leaders are obviously interested in enhancing SQL Server to accommodate more than just DBAs, and are trying assiduously to boost the solution's simplicity and capabilities. 

The post SQL Server gains several notable features appeared first on Remote DBA Experts.

I will use sample app from my previous blog post as the basis - Oracle Mobile Suite Service Bus REST and ADF BC SOAP. I was describing there the main steps in defining transformation from SOAP WS based on ADF BC to the REST WS interface. I will dive a little bit deeper into the same topic and will explain how to add new operation to the REST WS interface.

Here you can download updated sample application - MobileServiceBusApp_v2.zip. In order to add new operation to the REST interface, you should choose Edit REST option for REST Proxy Service in JDEV Service Bus project:


REST Binding editor will appear. Here you should define new resource - I will add /employees to return the list of all employees. New operation should be defined for resource path - /employees, operation getEmployeesListAll in my case:


You can give any meaningful name for the operation. Make sure to select correct resource path and use GET (if you want to fetch data, not update or delete). I'm getting the list of all employees, this means there will be no parameters in this case:


In the response specification tab for the getEmployeesListAll operation, make sure select JSON as the payload. You could use the option to generate sample payload - this shows what kind of result set will be constructed (based on the response XSD - HRRestProxy.xsd, I have created it in the previous post mentioned above):


Once new operation is defined in the REST wizard, we can add it to the mapping. Simply you could copy existing operation mapping to the newly created operation branch. Select new branch and provide required operation name - getEmployeesListAll in this case:


We need to edit request action first and specify empty payload - we want to fetch the list of all employees. For this we could reuse existing transformation file (REST to SOAP):


Important to remember - transformation file is created as a XQuery Map module, where you need to specify source and target types (this will allow to transform REST to SOAP and vice versa):


Request action contains empty value binding - REST variable will be initialised as empty, this will allow to use getEmployeesListAll operation with /employees path:


For response action I'm reusing the same transformation as in getEmployeeList operation - response will be parsed in the same way, using the same binding:


This is how it works - the list of all employees is fetched with /employees path (testing using Postman extension available in Google Chrome):


Previously implemented operation works as well, user could search by First Name/Last Name:

by Eric Jacobsen, Sr. Product Marketing Director, Java Cloud Service

Is your company asking you to rapidly and securely deploy and manage new business applications in the cloud?  Do you need to build a proven, innovative, collaborative, and integrated Platform as a Service?

If so, today is your lucky day!  Oracle is hosting a Cloud Platform Online Forum on Wednesday, January 28 where you can attend live online sessions and hear what IDC Research, innovative clients, and Oracle’s leading experts have to say about Platform as a Service and cloud.  Whether you are a Java or or mobile developer, an Architect, an IT operations manager, or a Business user,  there is a session for you! 

Follow this link to register for this insightful Cloud Platform Online Forum. REGISTER TODAY!

We will kick off the Forum on January 28 at 10AM PST with Robert P. Mahwold, IDC Research Program Vice President as he leads a “Cloud Platform Market Outlook” discussion with Rex Wang, Oracle Vice President.  

They will provide useful tips and solid strategies you can consider as you drive your cloud platform initiatives.  They will discuss how to decide whether public, private or hybrid cloud is best and how your organization might approach moving to the cloud.  You’ll hear IDC and Oracle best practices to developing a roadmap that will get you on your way to cloud computing.  Join us for this inspiring session.

The Middleware General Session begins at 11:15AM PST and we’ll be taking your questions live through the online chat.  7-Eleven's, Greg Haertling, Chief Enterprise Architect and Sr. Director of Software Development will you how 7 Eleven “Accelerated their Digital Transformation with Oracle’s Platform as a Service.”  He will be joined by Oracle’s Siddhartha Agarwal, Vice President, Product Management and Strategy. 

They will discuss how Platform as a Service is driving efficiencies for development, operations and LOB, including highly scalable and cost efficient development & testing in the cloud, delivery of enterprise class cloud & mobile apps, rapid integration of cloud & on-premise investments, and seamless workload portability between on-premises & cloud.

Afterward, you can watch these additional Middleware Sessions in the following tracks:

• Application Developer Track: Build, Test, Extend Cloud Applications
• Java App Performance at the Speed of Cloud: Hot Tips for Successful Cloud Development
• Jazz Up Your SaaS with Oracle PaaS Solutions
• Mobile Development in the Cloud
• Middleware IT Operations Track: Integrate, Secure, Manage your Cloud
  
• Simplify SaaS and On-premises Integration
• Extend Your Identity Management Services to the Cloud
• Top Tips for Managing Your Application PaaS
• Business User Track: Connect, Collaborate & Analyze in the Cloud
• Next-Gen Enterprise Content Management in the Cloud
• Rapid Business Process Automation in the Cloud
• Unlocking the Power of Business Analytics in Oracle Cloud

You can find the agenda for these sessions here.

There will also be a Database General Session and Database Cloud Platform sessions that you can attend as well.

I hope to see you online for this exciting Oracle Cloud Platform Online Forum.  Don’t forget to REGISTER so you can discover the right strategies for your organization's journey to the cloud!

 Last week we installed the new "SOA Bundle Patch 12.1.3.0.1 (Patch)" (19707784).
 Applying the patch went fine, no problem at all.

We have a process that is initiated by an Initiator Task, that can be started, I'm sure you're familiar with, using the link under 'Applications'. In our case, however, clicking it gives an exception in stead of opening the Task Form:

Unfortunately I have a Dutch version of my browser, but translated it states something like: "The task for the start of the process has no payload. The process instance is created and is given approval for startup."

Strange is that the task apparently is auto-submitted, since the process flows on causing, in  our process,  a  ACM Case started with empty data. A stacktrace we found in the server diagnostic log is:

[2015-01-26T09:28:58.517+01:00] [bpm_server1] [ERROR] [] [oracle.soa.services.workflow.task] [tid: [ACTIVE].ExecuteThread: '14' for queue: 'weblogic.kernel.Default (self-tuning)'] [userId: hans] [ecid: c7fc39f4-cf66-4d25-84e0-f1fd8eb550e5-000087b2,1:31540] [APP: soa-infra] [oracle.soa.tracking.FlowId: 700014] [oracle.soa.tracking.InstanceId: 760219] [oracle.soa.tracking.SCAEntityId: 210006] [FlowId: 0000Kg_MuAf5uX05zzS4yW1KlM_O00000c] <.> exception.code:30036[[
exception.type: ERROR
exception.severity: 2
exception.name: Invalid action on workflow task or user does not have privilege to perform this action.
exception.description: Action SUBMIT on task 1b51326d-a3be-4f9f-b055-b7b365ae2f3c cannot be performed by hans.
exception.fix: Make sure that the action is valid with respect to the current state of the task or ensure that the user has privilege to perform this action on the workflow task.
 ORABPEL-30036

exception.code:30036
exception.type: ERROR
exception.severity: 2
exception.name: Invalid action on workflow task or user does not have privilege to perform this action.
exception.description: Action SUBMIT on task 1b51326d-a3be-4f9f-b055-b7b365ae2f3c cannot be performed by hans.
exception.fix: Make sure that the action is valid with respect to the current state of the task or ensure that the user has privilege to perform this action on the workflow task.

 at oracle.bpel.services.workflow.task.impl.TaskService.performPreActionValidation(TaskService.java:8686)
 at oracle.bpel.services.workflow.task.impl.TaskService.updateTaskOutcomeAndEvaluateRoutingSlip(TaskService.java:3929)
 at oracle.bpel.services.workflow.task.impl.TaskService.updateTaskOutcome(TaskService.java:3725)
 at oracle.bpel.services.workflow.task.impl.TaskService.updateTaskOutcome(TaskService.java:3701)
 at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
 at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:57)
 at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43)
 at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:606)
 at org.springframework.aop.support.AopUtils.invokeJoinpointUsingReflection(AopUtils.java:318)
 at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.invokeJoinpoint(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:183)
 at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:150)
 at org.springframework.aop.framework.adapter.ThrowsAdviceInterceptor.invoke(ThrowsAdviceInterceptor.java:124)
 at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:172)
 at oracle.bpel.services.workflow.common.WorkflowFabricInitCheckAdvice.invoke(WorkflowFabricInitCheckAdvice.java:26)
 at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:172)
 at oracle.bpel.services.workflow.common.WorkflowServiceCacheEventAdvice.invoke(WorkflowServiceCacheEventAdvice.java:114)
 at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:172)
 at oracle.bpel.services.workflow.test.workflow.ExceptionTestCaseBuilder.invoke(ExceptionTestCaseBuilder.java:155)
 at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:172)
 at oracle.bpel.services.common.dms.MethodEventAspect.invoke(MethodEventAspect.java:70)
 at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:172)
 at oracle.bpel.services.common.dms.MethodPhaseEventAspect.invoke(MethodPhaseEventAspect.java:82)
 at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:172)
 at org.springframework.aop.framework.JdkDynamicAopProxy.invoke(JdkDynamicAopProxy.java:202)
 at com.sun.proxy.$Proxy407.updateTaskOutcome(Unknown Source)
 at oracle.bpel.services.workflow.task.ejb.TaskServiceBean.updateTaskOutcome(TaskServiceBean.java:616)
 at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
 at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:57)
 at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43)
 at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:606)
 at com.bea.core.repackaged.springframework.aop.support.AopUtils.invokeJoinpointUsingReflection(AopUtils.java:310)
 at com.bea.core.repackaged.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.invokeJoinpoint(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:182)
 at com.bea.core.repackaged.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:149)
 at com.oracle.pitchfork.intercept.MethodInvocationInvocationContext.proceed(MethodInvocationInvocationContext.java:100)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.ejb.JpsAbsInterceptor$1.run(JpsAbsInterceptor.java:131)
 at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
 at oracle.security.jps.util.JpsSubject.doAs(JpsSubject.java:208)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.util.JpsPlatformUtil.runJaasMode(JpsPlatformUtil.java:454)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.ejb.JpsAbsInterceptor.runJaasMode(JpsAbsInterceptor.java:118)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.ejb.JpsAbsInterceptor.intercept(JpsAbsInterceptor.java:197)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.ejb.JpsInterceptor.intercept(JpsInterceptor.java:112)
 at sun.reflect.GeneratedMethodAccessor853.invoke(Unknown Source)
 at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43)
 at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:606)
 at com.oracle.pitchfork.intercept.JeeInterceptorInterceptor.invoke(JeeInterceptorInterceptor.java:109)
 at com.bea.core.repackaged.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:171)
 at com.bea.core.repackaged.springframework.aop.support.DelegatingIntroductionInterceptor.doProceed(DelegatingIntroductionInterceptor.java:131)
 at com.bea.core.repackaged.springframework.aop.support.DelegatingIntroductionInterceptor.invoke(DelegatingIntroductionInterceptor.java:119)
 at com.bea.core.repackaged.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:171)
 at com.bea.core.repackaged.springframework.aop.framework.JdkDynamicAopProxy.invoke(Unknown Source)
 at com.sun.proxy.$Proxy413.updateTaskOutcome(Unknown Source)
 at oracle.bpel.services.workflow.task.ejb.TaskServiceBean_399vcw_EOImpl.__WL_invoke(Unknown Source)
 at weblogic.ejb.container.internal.SessionRemoteMethodInvoker.invoke(SessionRemoteMethodInvoker.java:34)
 at oracle.bpel.services.workflow.task.ejb.TaskServiceBean_399vcw_EOImpl.updateTaskOutcome(Unknown Source)
 at oracle.bpel.services.workflow.task.ejb.TaskServiceBean_399vcw_EOImpl_WLSkel.invoke(Unknown Source)
 at weblogic.rmi.internal.ServerRequest.sendReceive(ServerRequest.java:226)
 at weblogic.rmi.cluster.ClusterableRemoteRef.invoke(ClusterableRemoteRef.java:474)
 at weblogic.rmi.cluster.ClusterableRemoteRef.invoke(ClusterableRemoteRef.java:285)
 at oracle.bpel.services.workflow.task.ejb.TaskServiceBean_399vcw_EOImpl_12130_WLStub.updateTaskOutcome(Unknown Source)
 at oracle.bpel.services.workflow.task.client.TaskServiceRemoteClient.updateTaskOutcome(TaskServiceRemoteClient.java:2213)
 at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
 at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:57)
 at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43)
 at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:606)
 at oracle.bpel.services.workflow.client.WFClientRetryInvocationHandler.invokeTarget(WFClientRetryInvocationHandler.java:141)
 at oracle.bpel.services.workflow.client.WFClientRetryInvocationHandler.invoke(WFClientRetryInvocationHandler.java:80)
 at com.sun.proxy.$Proxy579.updateTaskOutcome(Unknown Source)
 at oracle.bpm.workspace.model.common.ExecutionBean.approveTask(ExecutionBean.java:311)
 at oracle.bpm.workspace.model.common.ExecutionBean.handleExternalInstanceExecution(ExecutionBean.java:185)
 at oracle.bpm.workspace.model.application.ApplicationBean.execute(ApplicationBean.java:193)
 at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
 at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:57)
 at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43)
 at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:606)
 at com.sun.el.parser.AstValue.invoke(AstValue.java:254)
 at com.sun.el.MethodExpressionImpl.invoke(MethodExpressionImpl.java:302)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.MethodExpressionMethodBinding.invoke(MethodExpressionMethodBinding.java:46)
 at com.sun.faces.application.ActionListenerImpl.processAction(ActionListenerImpl.java:102)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXCommand.broadcast(UIXCommand.java:190)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXComponent.broadcastInContext(UIXComponent.java:364)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.WrapperEvent.broadcastWrappedEvent(WrapperEvent.java:82)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXCollection.broadcast(UIXCollection.java:189)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXComponent.broadcastInContext(UIXComponent.java:364)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.WrapperEvent.broadcastWrappedEvent(WrapperEvent.java:82)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXCollection.broadcast(UIXCollection.java:170)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXComponent.broadcastInContext(UIXComponent.java:364)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.WrapperEvent.broadcastWrappedEvent(WrapperEvent.java:82)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXCollection.broadcast(UIXCollection.java:189)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXComponent.broadcastInContext(UIXComponent.java:364)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.WrapperEvent.broadcastWrappedEvent(WrapperEvent.java:82)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXCollection.broadcast(UIXCollection.java:170)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXComponent.broadcastInContext(UIXComponent.java:364)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.WrapperEvent.broadcastWrappedEvent(WrapperEvent.java:82)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXCollection.broadcast(UIXCollection.java:189)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXComponent.broadcastInContext(UIXComponent.java:364)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.WrapperEvent.broadcastWrappedEvent(WrapperEvent.java:82)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXCollection.broadcast(UIXCollection.java:170)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXComponent.broadcastInContext(UIXComponent.java:364)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.WrapperEvent.broadcastWrappedEvent(WrapperEvent.java:82)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.UIXInclude.broadcast(UIXInclude.java:111)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXComponent.broadcastInContext(UIXComponent.java:364)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.WrapperEvent.broadcastWrappedEvent(WrapperEvent.java:82)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.ContextSwitchingComponent$1.run(ContextSwitchingComponent.java:168)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.ContextSwitchingComponent._processPhase(ContextSwitchingComponent.java:510)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.ContextSwitchingComponent.broadcast(ContextSwitchingComponent.java:171)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.UIXInclude.broadcast(UIXInclude.java:115)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXComponent.broadcastInContext(UIXComponent.java:364)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.event.ProxyEvent.broadcastWrappedEvent(ProxyEvent.java:72)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.UIXRegion.broadcast(UIXRegion.java:124)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXComponent.broadcastInContext(UIXComponent.java:364)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.event.ProxyEvent.broadcastWrappedEvent(ProxyEvent.java:72)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.UIXRegion.broadcast(UIXRegion.java:124)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXComponent.broadcastInContext(UIXComponent.java:364)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.WrapperEvent.broadcastWrappedEvent(WrapperEvent.java:82)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.ContextSwitchingComponent$1.run(ContextSwitchingComponent.java:168)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.ContextSwitchingComponent._processPhase(ContextSwitchingComponent.java:510)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.ContextSwitchingComponent.broadcast(ContextSwitchingComponent.java:171)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXComponent.broadcastInContext(UIXComponent.java:364)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.WrapperEvent.broadcastWrappedEvent(WrapperEvent.java:82)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.UIXInclude.broadcast(UIXInclude.java:111)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXComponent.broadcastInContext(UIXComponent.java:364)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.WrapperEvent.broadcastWrappedEvent(WrapperEvent.java:82)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.ContextSwitchingComponent$1.run(ContextSwitchingComponent.java:168)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.ContextSwitchingComponent._processPhase(ContextSwitchingComponent.java:510)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.ContextSwitchingComponent.broadcast(ContextSwitchingComponent.java:171)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.UIXInclude.broadcast(UIXInclude.java:115)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXComponent.broadcastInContext(UIXComponent.java:364)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.WrapperEvent.broadcastWrappedEvent(WrapperEvent.java:82)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.ContextSwitchingComponent$1.run(ContextSwitchingComponent.java:168)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.ContextSwitchingComponent._processPhase(ContextSwitchingComponent.java:510)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.ContextSwitchingComponent.broadcast(ContextSwitchingComponent.java:171)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXComponent.broadcastInContext(UIXComponent.java:364)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.WrapperEvent.broadcastWrappedEvent(WrapperEvent.java:82)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.UIXInclude.broadcast(UIXInclude.java:111)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.UIXComponent.broadcastInContext(UIXComponent.java:364)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.WrapperEvent.broadcastWrappedEvent(WrapperEvent.java:82)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.ContextSwitchingComponent$1.run(ContextSwitchingComponent.java:168)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.ContextSwitchingComponent._processPhase(ContextSwitchingComponent.java:510)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.ContextSwitchingComponent.broadcast(ContextSwitchingComponent.java:171)
 at oracle.adf.view.rich.component.fragment.UIXInclude.broadcast(UIXInclude.java:115)
 at javax.faces.component.UIViewRoot.broadcastEvents(UIViewRoot.java:794)
 at javax.faces.component.UIViewRoot.processApplication(UIViewRoot.java:1259)
 at oracle.adfinternal.view.faces.lifecycle.LifecycleImpl._invokeApplication(LifecycleImpl.java:1074)
 at oracle.adfinternal.view.faces.lifecycle.LifecycleImpl._executePhase(LifecycleImpl.java:402)
 at oracle.adfinternal.view.faces.lifecycle.LifecycleImpl.execute(LifecycleImpl.java:225)
 at javax.faces.webapp.FacesServlet.service(FacesServlet.java:593)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.StubSecurityHelper$ServletServiceAction.run(StubSecurityHelper.java:280)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.StubSecurityHelper$ServletServiceAction.run(StubSecurityHelper.java:254)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.StubSecurityHelper.invokeServlet(StubSecurityHelper.java:136)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.ServletStubImpl.execute(ServletStubImpl.java:346)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.TailFilter.doFilter(TailFilter.java:25)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.FilterChainImpl.doFilter(FilterChainImpl.java:79)
 at oracle.help.web.rich.OHWFilter.doFilter(OHWFilter.java:189)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.FilterChainImpl.doFilter(FilterChainImpl.java:79)
 at oracle.adf.model.servlet.ADFBindingFilter.doFilter(ADFBindingFilter.java:192)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.FilterChainImpl.doFilter(FilterChainImpl.java:79)
 at oracle.adfinternal.view.faces.webapp.rich.RegistrationFilter.doFilter(RegistrationFilter.java:105)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidadinternal.webapp.TrinidadFilterImpl$FilterListChain.doFilter(TrinidadFilterImpl.java:502)
 at oracle.adfinternal.view.faces.activedata.AdsFilter.doFilter(AdsFilter.java:60)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidadinternal.webapp.TrinidadFilterImpl$FilterListChain.doFilter(TrinidadFilterImpl.java:502)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidadinternal.webapp.TrinidadFilterImpl._doFilterImpl(TrinidadFilterImpl.java:327)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidadinternal.webapp.TrinidadFilterImpl.doFilter(TrinidadFilterImpl.java:229)
 at org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.webapp.TrinidadFilter.doFilter(TrinidadFilter.java:92)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.FilterChainImpl.doFilter(FilterChainImpl.java:79)
 at oracle.adf.library.webapp.LibraryFilter.doFilter(LibraryFilter.java:202)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.FilterChainImpl.doFilter(FilterChainImpl.java:79)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.http.JpsAbsFilter$1.run(JpsAbsFilter.java:137)
 at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
 at oracle.security.jps.util.JpsSubject.doAsPrivileged(JpsSubject.java:315)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.util.JpsPlatformUtil.runJaasMode(JpsPlatformUtil.java:460)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.http.JpsAbsFilter.runJaasMode(JpsAbsFilter.java:120)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.http.JpsAbsFilter.doFilter(JpsAbsFilter.java:217)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.http.JpsFilter.doFilter(JpsFilter.java:81)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.FilterChainImpl.doFilter(FilterChainImpl.java:79)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.http.JpsAbsFilter$1.run(JpsAbsFilter.java:137)
 at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
 at oracle.security.jps.util.JpsSubject.doAsPrivileged(JpsSubject.java:315)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.util.JpsPlatformUtil.runJaasMode(JpsPlatformUtil.java:460)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.http.JpsAbsFilter.runJaasMode(JpsAbsFilter.java:120)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.http.JpsAbsFilter.doFilter(JpsAbsFilter.java:217)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.http.JpsFilter.doFilter(JpsFilter.java:81)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.FilterChainImpl.doFilter(FilterChainImpl.java:79)
 at oracle.dms.servlet.DMSServletFilter.doFilter(DMSServletFilter.java:220)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.FilterChainImpl.doFilter(FilterChainImpl.java:79)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.http.JpsAbsFilter$1.run(JpsAbsFilter.java:137)
 at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
 at oracle.security.jps.util.JpsSubject.doAsPrivileged(JpsSubject.java:315)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.util.JpsPlatformUtil.runJaasMode(JpsPlatformUtil.java:460)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.http.JpsAbsFilter.runJaasMode(JpsAbsFilter.java:120)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.http.JpsAbsFilter.doFilter(JpsAbsFilter.java:217)
 at oracle.security.jps.ee.http.JpsFilter.doFilter(JpsFilter.java:81)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.FilterChainImpl.doFilter(FilterChainImpl.java:79)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.RequestEventsFilter.doFilter(RequestEventsFilter.java:27)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.FilterChainImpl.doFilter(FilterChainImpl.java:79)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.WebAppServletContext$ServletInvocationAction.wrapRun(WebAppServletContext.java:3436)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.WebAppServletContext$ServletInvocationAction.run(WebAppServletContext.java:3402)
 at weblogic.security.acl.internal.AuthenticatedSubject.doAs(AuthenticatedSubject.java:321)
 at weblogic.security.service.SecurityManager.runAs(SecurityManager.java:120)
 at weblogic.servlet.provider.WlsSubjectHandle.run(WlsSubjectHandle.java:57)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.WebAppServletContext.doSecuredExecute(WebAppServletContext.java:2285)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.WebAppServletContext.securedExecute(WebAppServletContext.java:2201)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.WebAppServletContext.execute(WebAppServletContext.java:2179)
 at weblogic.servlet.internal.ServletRequestImpl.run(ServletRequestImpl.java:1572)
 at weblogic.servlet.provider.ContainerSupportProviderImpl$WlsRequestExecutor.run(ContainerSupportProviderImpl.java:255)
 at weblogic.work.ExecuteThread.execute(ExecuteThread.java:311)
 at weblogic.work.ExecuteThread.run(ExecuteThread.java:263)

]]

I tried it with a "stripped-down-to-the-bone" simple BPM project with only a simple HumanTask based on a simple DataObject with only 2 string attributes. And a auto-generated taskform. And again the fault occurs. When we rollback the patch the initiator functionality work again.

So be carefull applying this patch when using Initiator Tasks.

A recent thread on the OTN database forum supplied some code that seemed to show that In-memory DB made no difference to performance when compared with the traditional row-store mechanism and asked why not.  (It looked as if the answer was that almost all the time for the tests was spent returning the 3M row result set to the SQL*Plus client 15 rows at a time.)

The responses on the thread led to the question:  Why would the in-memory (column-store) database be faster than simply having the (row-store) data fully cached in the buffer cache ?

Maria Colgan has addressed this question in part 3 of her series on In-Memory Database (see catalogue below), but I thought I’d repeat the basic ideas with a few imaginative numbers thrown in to give a better flavour of what’s going on. So imagine you have a table sized at 100GB, with 100 columns of data where every column holds data of a similar size and pattern; and want to execute a query of the form: select {list of columns} from big_table where colX >=  {some constant}.

Traditional Tablescan (approximation) with table fully cached

For each block of the 100GB, Oracle has to acquire the “cache buffers chains” latch, pin the block, drop the latch, and scan the block testing each row, then acquire the latch, unpin the block, and drop the latch.  Scanning the block requires a walk through the row directory and, for each row pointer, jumping to the correct location in the block for the row, stepping along the row one column at a time to get to the correct row, and then checking the column  value. If the column matches the predicate extract, format and return the required columns from that row.

It’s a lot of memory to scan, in a large number of small steps, involving a lot of latching and pinning – which translates into a lot of CPU. On the plus side, although it’s very expensive to identify the required rows, it’s very cheap to construct and return a row once you’ve identified it.

In-memory scan (approximation)

1. Given the way I’ve described the table (100GB, 100 similar columns), Oracle can recreate it in memory as 100 lists of 1GB each; so we can identify the rows we want by scanning one of those lists and applying the predicate – so only 1GB of (fairly contigious) memory to scan, rather than 100GB, and virtually no latching and pinning to find that memory, and no jumping around following pointers and counting along rows.
2. But it’s probably NOT 1GB of memory to scan, because Oracle has some compression/deduplication methods that it can apply to the data that often reduces the memory requirement by a factor of four of five – so perhaps it’s only 250 MB of memory to scan.
3. But Oracle breaks large lists into chunks, so rather than 250MB of contiguous memory, it’s likely to be 250 chunks of 1MB; and as part of the description of each chunk Oracle records the lowest and highest value in the chunk; [ed:  Christian Antognini says that the metadata list every distinct value for the chunk] so it can check the predicate against the boundary values on the chunk and be in a position to discard entire chunks without looking at their content. So, depending on the actual content and pattern of the data, we may examine only a handful of chunks in detail, dropping the scan from 250MB to, perhaps, 10MB.
4. And we still haven’t finished there, because the code that handles the column-store is able to take advantage of the SIMD (Single Instruction,  Multiple Data) operations in the CPU to check the predicate against 4, or possibly even 8, values simultaneously at a speed matching a single column comparison that has to be used for the traditional cached row-store. (Given the way that Oracle  (probably) handles the compression, I suspect that this final advantage is only significant for range-based predicates – but that’s purely conjectural).

So the huge benefit you get from In-Memory column store, compared to “fully cached row-store”  is that you are likely to scan far less memory to identify the rows that match your predicate, and do it with far less “infrastructure” activity like latching and pinning. The potential saving in CPU usage is huge.

There is, of course, a penalty to pay. As you identify the rows of interest you can (in effect) construct a bitmap representing the position of those rows in the table (and if you have predicates on more than 1 column you can use bitmap operations on the individual column bitmaps to identify the rows you want in the final result) but then you have to construct the row that goes into the result set. If your query is interested in just 5 columns that means using the bitmap to locate the correct entry from each of 5 separate column lists; if your query is interested in 99 column that means extracting the correct entry from each of 99 separate column lists. Identifying the rows you want can be very  quick, building the final result may be relatively slow.

Soundbite summary

• Using the In-memory Database, you can identify the rows you want very quickly but it’s relatively slow to reconstruct them.
• Using a fully cached traditional row-store, it’s relatively slow to identify the rows you want, but once you’ve found them you spend no time reconstructing them.

Bear in mind that this is an extremely simplified analysis and ignores all sorts of details about read-consistency, the probability of physical reads, the probability of scanning blocks instead of scanning chunks, and so on; my focus is only on the type of activity that differentiates row-store handling from column-store handling when all the data is in memory so that you can have some appreciation of why the benefits available from In-memory DB can vary with the pattern of the data and the way you use it.

Catalogue of blog posts by Maria Colgan and Andy Rivenes:

• Getting started with Oracle Database In-Memory Part I – Installing & Enabling
• Getting started with Oracle Database In-Memory Part II – In-Memory Population
• Getting started with Oracle Database In-Memory Part III – Querying The IM Column Store
• Getting started with Oracle Database In-Memory Part IV – Joins In The IM Column Store
• Oracle Database In-Memory on RAC – Part I
• Oracle Database In-Memory on RAC – Part 2
• Oracle Database In-Memory on RAC – Part 3

Other articles on In-memory DB:

• Oracle white-paper on In-Memory database (Oct 2014)
• Christian Antognini’s blog item on the Duplicate clause in RAC.
• Christian Antognini’s presentation (slideshare) on In-memory DB and the optimizer
• James Morle’s blog item on technical viewpoint of In-memory DB and CPU reporting/licensing
• Tim Hall’s introduction to In-memory database
• Tanel Poder’s article on In-Memory internals part 1
• Tanel Poder’s presentation (slideshare) on In-memory DB
• Bertrand Drouvot’s blog post on In-memory distribution on RAC
• Bertrand Drouvot’s blog post on In-memory, RAC, and multi-tenant
• Bertrand Drouvot’s blog post on In-memory, multi-tenant and preferred services on RAC