Chapter 11: Installing Oracle and Creating a Database

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So far in this book we have covered both data model and SQL code tuning. Part III deals exclusively with physical and configuration tuning. Probably the most essential parts of this type of tuning Oracle Database could be the first two steps you ever take with Oracle Database. These two steps are installing Oracle software and creating a database; in this chapter we will focus on just that. The configuration parameter file is an integral part of that process.

11.1 Installing Oracle Database

Oracle9i Database installs a lot of extra options if you let it. One way to install Oracle software without the extra options is to do a custom installation and select only the required options. Avoiding installing unwanted options will not necessarily help performance but it can make administration and ultimately tuning a lot easier in the long run. However, this can cause problems because any missing components could have to be added at a later stage.

Note 

 Oracle Database 10 Grid   The general trend is towards more automation, both with installation, configuration and the underlying physical architecture of an Oracle database in general. On the whole, Oracle Database 10g is very much simplified from Oracle9i Database.

11.1.1 Different Editions of Oracle Database

The three different editions are Personal Oracle, Standard Edition, and Enterprise Edition. Personal Oracle is intended for use on a single machine and Standard Edition is a trimmed down, cheaper version of Enterprise Edition. There are also additional optional components available with Enterprise Edition, such as Oracle Partitioning, which require additional licensing fees. Enterprise Edition is the best and the easiest to manage and use, and is well-worth its slightly higher price tag.

There are a multitude of installable options which can be added to an Oracle installation at the time of installation or at a later stage. Simply run the Oracle installation software again to add further Oracle Database binary options. Some options added into a database itself can be added at a later stage using scripts contained in the $ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/admin directory.

11.1.2 Oracle Enterprise Manager

Oracle Enterprise Manager is an excellent Oracle database management and tuning tool with a very user-friendly interface. Oracle Enterprise Manager allows for easy administration and some tuning. Additionally search the Internet for a tool called Spotlight. In my opinion Spotlight is better as a real-time monitoring tool for busy production databases. Oracle Enterprise Manager is perhaps a little easier to use and more versatile in finding problems with the Oracle Database Wait Event Interface. Oracle Enterprise Manager consists of a number of parts:

• Enterprise Manager Web Site.   This option allows Oracle Enterprise Manager functionality to be used over the web.

• Enterprise Manager Console and Client.   The console provides centralized access and control to all the parts of Oracle Enterprise Manager.

• Oracle Management Server and Agent Processes.   Some parts of Oracle Enterprise Manager require two extra processes: the Management Server and the Agent.

• Add-on Packages.   Extra packages involve change management, diagnostics, and tuning capabilities. These add-on packages are extremely useful. The only point to note is that perhaps any automated functionality should be tested first before using it in production.

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