ODA Server Patch 18.3 available - and installed ...

Since today, Oracle Database Appliance software release 18.3.0.0.0 is available ... I took the chance to download and install the new release - this is the story: Initial Situation: I tested the update on an ODA X7-2M with system version 12.2.1.4.0, running five databases (12.1). There are three vlans configured on that system. Documentation used: Installation Instruction was taken from docs.oracle.com,...

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ODA - Update to 12.2.1.4 - issue with ora.net1.network

Yesterday, I had to update an ODA from Release 12.1.2.12 to 12.2.1.4 . All prerequisite checks including prepatchreport were successful ... but the update itself not! During the update, at stage 'GI Home Cloning', the update process failed and left the system in an 'unknown' state. A detailled analysis has shown the root cause: crs service qosmserver is missing. So, I tried to setup this missing...

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DBID Problem @ ODA - or Count von Count (Sesame Street) calculates DBIDs

I did some more investigations to get an explanation for that problem with the extra long DBIDs and the resulting problems when creating new databases on an ODA ... And here's the simple result: Remember? In our environment, oracle's .bash_profile runs an additional script, which prints all - at this very moment existing - oracle databases, listeners, their status and the according ORACLE_HOMEs...

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Update! - Unexpected Behaviour With V$DIAG_ALERT_EXT

Oops! Errormessages from a Test database in my Production-DB?!? Story behind: I wanted to know which "ORA-" Errors have occured in my Production-DB and issued a select   to_char(originating_timestamp,'DD.MM.YYYYHH24:MI:SS')   ,message_text from v$diag_alert_ext where message_text like '%ORA-%' and originating_timestamp > sysdate-31 order by originating_timestamp; to...

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REASON FOUND: DBID Problem @ ODA

Hi There! in my blogpost "http://robertcrames.blogspot.com/2018/10/oda-bug-and-poor-support-from-oracle.html" I described a problem with the impossibility of creating databases as a result of an incredebly long DBID and the 'poor' oracle support in that specific case. Well - I contacted Oracle support and had a call with the Support Manager and then ... it worked smoothly 😏. Provided a few more...

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DBID Problem @ ODA ... Bug (?)

long story told short:  Oracle Database Appliance X6-2M and X7-2M,  oak 12.1.2.11 up to 12.2.1.4 We were not able to create databases anymore on one of our 15 ODAs. Detailled analysis has shown that the dbid - result from an 'odacli describe-database -i <DB identifier>' - grows and grows and, when it reaches a size of more than 255 characters, any subsequent try to create a database...

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ODA X7 – no network connect after setup / re-image

Yesterday, I’d prepared an all new X7-2M. During the setup process / network configuration (using VLAN), I ran into a problem: Despite the network configuration was setup absolutely correct, any try to connect to the system from a jumphost was unsuccessful.  Long story short: If You want to use the SFP28 (Fiberchannel) ports an ODA X7 offers, You have to do some config changes, to make...

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How to copy Files to an ODA which is not available via network - by using the network

Sounds a little weird, I know - but works ... *lol* Problem was:  The all new ODA has installed old firmware for the SPF28 interfaces. This makes it impossible to connect the system to the network. To upgrade the interfaces You need to have the firmware files on the ODA ... but how can I copy...

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Enterprise Manager and the disadvantages of WLS' Dynamic Monitoring Service (lots of metricdump files)

Had an interesting problem this morning with a customers Windows Server where Enterprise Manager 12c is running: Disk C: - where the EM Software is installed - was full. By the way: Imho, oracle software should never ever be installed in C: ... The Problem: Reason for the full disk was Weblogic's Dynamic Monitoring Service (or a weak housekeeping tool ;-)). Explained: Weblogic has a feature, called...

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ODA X6-2M – Expanding Storage can be unsuccessful when impatient

In 'A Brief History of Time' (RIP Mr. Hawking), Chapter 2 is named 'Space and Time' – and this title fits perfect with a current problem, I was faced with, when expanding disk capacity in an ODA X6-2M. Long story, told short An ODA X6-2M, equipped with the standard disk configuration, ran out of space and my customer decided to add two NVMe's. So, he ordered two NVMe's – and, by the way...

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ODA Xx – Space Waste When Using ACFS (instead of ASM) For Databases

Disclaimer: I will not discuss the necessity of an ACFS FS to store database files, nor compare ASM and ACFS or it's benefits. What to use / what fits best in Your environment is up to You, folks … ;-) Pretty sure that this is for lots of people a well-known problem – but for all others: When creating a database using ACFS as storage option, a FS of size 100GB is created. This 100GB is not...

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EXPDP using an External Password Store - facing a new 'release' of a well known performance issue

After a while without blogging, here a new blog post talking about a very well known performance issue: export (exp as well as expdp) is usually slower when using an TCP based TNS-Alias instead of setting ORACLE_SID. Remember? ;-)  In a little more detail: An "expdb system/manager@db directory= ..." takes (usually) more time than an "export ORACLE_SID=DB; expdp system/manager directory=...

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