Re: Oracle8 BASIC Replication - can you help???

Posting back to the newsgroup at Joe's request.

Joe

Comments inline.

Pete

Joe Moore wrote:

> Dear Pete and Tom
>
> I saw your email in the comp.databases.oracle.server newsgroup.
>
> I have just started a project for the British Post Office to build a Report
> Server for a Remedy Call Centre running on an Oracle8 DB server.
>
> I have just started learning about Using Basic Replication from the
> Replication Book in the Online Oracle8 Documentation Library.
>
> I intend to produce a Replica of the Remedy Call Centre Oracle8 DB using
> BASIC REPLICATION first. The Call Centre Replica will be held on a separate
> dedicated UNIX server and Oracle8 DB server, which will serve as a dedicated
> Report Server.

If this is a third party product as I believe it is, you will need to ensure they support replication. Some applications (notably financial ones like Oracle Applications and SAP) do not support replication.

> This Report Server will be used for basic reporting using BusinessObjects,
> and eventually as a DATA STAGING POST to a Data Mart too.
>
> We do not have Advanced Replication Option and Replication Manager installed
> yet. I do not even have access to Enterprise Manager's Schema Manager to
> use Create Snapshot and Create Snapshot Log screens.
>
> I understand the concepts of Snapshots, Snapshot Logs, Complete vs Fast
> Refresh, Refresh Groups, Automatic vs Manual refresh, SNP Background
> Processes.
>
> What is unclear from the Examples in the Manual are - about Creating
> Snapshot Site Schemas using the 'CONNECT' , 'CREATE USER', and 'CREATE
> DATABASE LINK' commands - with respect to LOCATIONS of Databases, DB servers
> and machine platforms.
>
> 1) Can you clarify replication of a database (SID) within a database server
> (DBMS) on one machine - I understand you DO NOT need to Create DATABASE
> LINKs? Is that right? You just Create Snapshots which produce a Replica
> against the Database right.

I assume from point two that what you really mean here is replication within a single database. I suppose you could do this via a loopback link, but I really don't see the point of trying to do this.

> 2) Can you clarify replication of a database (SID) to another database
> (SID) within the same database server (DBMS) on the SAME machine - Do you
> need to Create DATABASE LINKs? Is that right? as well as Create Snapshots.

The only architecture that matches this description is Oracle Parallel Server, where two instances access one database. This does not require data to be copied between the instances. The instances are simply the SGA and background processes. The data exists in the single database.

> 3) Can you clarify replication of a database (SID) to another database
> (SID) on a DIFFERENT database server (DBMS) on the SAME machine - you need
> to Create DATABASE LINKs as well as Create Snapshots. But do you also need
> a connection to a remote database (CONNECT TO)???

The only way to talk between two separate databases, whether they're on the same machine or not, is via database links, so yes you need to create them.

> 4) Can you clarify replication from one database (SID) to another database
> (SID) on a DIFFERENT database server (DBMS) on a DIFFERENT machine - you
> need to Create DATABASE LINKs right and a connection to a remote database
> (CONNECT TO) right?

Yes.

> 5) Also SNP Background Processes which are required to support Automatic
> Replication, it is not clear from the Replication Book how to configure
> them. The DB Administrators Guide sheds more light, but it is still not
> clear.

Look at the JOB_QUEUE_* parameters in the Oracle reference manual.

> Can you help. Maybe you can send me some Scripts - which I can code-cut - to
> save reinventing the wheel as timescales are tight.

You can get these from Support via MetaLink. They may also be available on http://technet.oracle.com, but I haven't looked there.

> Do you know any books on Oracle8 Replication? Oracle 7.3 material is
> obviously out of date.

Download the Oracle8 Replication manuals off http://technet.oracle.com. You may also want to join the Replication Special Interest Group. Go to http://www.oracle.com and search for "repsig".

HTH. Pete

>
>
> Hope to hear from you soon. Best Regards
>
> Joe Moore
> Oracle, Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing Specialist
> Parity Solutions
> Email: moorejo_at_it.postoffice.co.uk jmoore_at_parity.co.uk
>
> PS I have not been able to post this email back to the
> comp.databases.oracle.server newsgroup.
> Would you please POST it so other people may see it. Thanks.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pete Sharman <psharman_at_us.oracle.com>
> Newsgroups: comp.databases.oracle.server
> Date: 02 October 1999 08:00
> Subject: Re: Replication Manager Setup Wizard: Where is it?
>
> >Tom
> >
> >Replication Manager is the GUI interface used to setup, configure and
> >manage replication in Oracle databases. Last time I saw it externally
> >it was on the Enterprise Manager CD. However, if you want to you can
> >still use the PL/SQL packages to configure replication. Each section in
> >the manual should also mention the API calls that are used underneath
> >the GUI tool.
> >
> >The only information I've seen on replication outside of the manuals is
> >the following:
> >
> >1. The 5 day training class offered by Oracle Education - search on
> >http://education.oracle.com for this.
> >2. The Replication Special Interest Group - see the link off
> >http://www.oracle.com/database/replication/ for more details
> >3. More general replication information in books such as Marie
> >Buretta's "Data Replication" book (ISBN 0-471-15754-6, more DB/2 centric
> >than Oracle, and getting quite dated now - from memory still 7.3).
> >
> >HTH.
> >
> >Pete
> >
> >Tom Maki wrote:
> >> Hello,
> >>
> >> I have a very stupid question, but haven't found anyone
> >> around here who has experience in Oracle8i Replication.
> >>
> >> I've read the PDF of Oracle Replication and all it refers
> >> to in setting up a replicated environment is the
> >> "Replication Manager Setup Wizard". I don't see anything
> >> like that in my installation (Oracle8i 8.1.5, Soloaris 2.6).
> >> Where is it, and how do you start it?
> >>
> >> Also, what is a good source of information on Oracle
> >> replication (esp. using shell tools)?
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Tom
> >>
> >> Tom Maki mailto:tmaki_at_makiware.com
> >> Member of http://www.programmersguild.org
> >>
> >> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> >> Before you buy.

Received on Thu Oct 14 1999 - 11:25:27 CDT