Re: Oracle 8i Server Questions.

"R Kinaadman" <rokin_at_iprimus.com.au> wrote in message news:3a7e419c_at_news.iprimus.com.au...
> Hi all,
>
> Just starting out with Oracle 8i.
>
> My apologies if these questions have been asked already.
>
> Where are the database files kept in Oracle 8i. For example, SQL Server 7
> keeps them in the mssql7\data\ folder under the name of the database and
> with the .mdf extension. Is there a similar type of setup with Oracle????
>

Nope. Stick 'em where you like. Provided the Control File knows where they are, you're in business. That said, there are *recommendations* as to how to distribute your files across disks, known generically as the Optimal Flexible Architecture ("OFA" for short). Read all about OFA on the DBA page of my website (under Areas of Interest) : www.geocities.com/hjroz2000

But that's all they are -recommendations. Oracle won't break if you don't obey OFA's advice (though your temper might, since OFA is merely common sense made tanglible).

> Creating new databases seems to be a long process using the gui Database
> Configuration Assistant. Is there a quicker way or does it usually take
 very
> long?

The Assistant takes so long because, as part of its magic, it automatically runs CATALOG.SQL and CATPROC.SQL. CATPROC in particular can take around half an hour to run. So, if you were to do it all manually, yes -basic database creation would be much faster, but you'd still have to run those two scripts afterwards if you wanted a database that could do anything useful.

So, short answer is: get used to it, it's normal.

>
> Lastly, Are there any good reference material that covers these type of
> questions I'm asking. I don't particularly like the Oracle - Complete
> Reference book as it deals mainly in Sql language and not Server/System
> setup and config of Oracle 8i.
>

I can thoroughly recommend the Oracle 8i DBA Training Course manuals -just a pity that you have to pay thousands to attend the training course (although it *is* a very useful course).

The usual recommendation for books etc seems to be Kevin Loney's DBA Handbook. A standard text (though I have to confess it's not my favourite, and is riddled with numerous small (and probably inconsequential) errors).

Your best bet is to bookmark Steve Adams' website (www.ixora.com.au) and Jonathan Lewis' (which I embarrasingly don't have handy -but Jonathan posts here regularly, and there are links to his site from Steve's). Although both those sites purport to be specifically geared to Performance Tuning issues, they are a mine of generally useful DBA advice.

Regards
HJR
> Thanks in advance.
>
> RK.
>
>
Received on Mon Feb 05 2001 - 08:56:18 CET