Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Oracle Enterprise Manager 10g Release 5
The latest release of Oracle Enterprise Manager 10g called Release 5 or OEM 10gR5 released... It is more stable, manageable with new features in overall enterprise management.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
New Technology and its Manageability
New Technology and its Manageability
However great the new technology is, it requires a manageability solution along with it. "Manageability" is the overall ease of the technology starting at its commissioning until its decommission.
Even with great manageability features, the Oracle RAC took some time to move into mainstream production. [Ref. Gartner Report on Oracle RAC claims it took nearly eight years]
In that case, what is the importance of "Manageability" of a "Enterprise Manageability Solution"???
However great the new technology is, it requires a manageability solution along with it. "Manageability" is the overall ease of the technology starting at its commissioning until its decommission.
Even with great manageability features, the Oracle RAC took some time to move into mainstream production. [Ref. Gartner Report on Oracle RAC claims it took nearly eight years]
In that case, what is the importance of "Manageability" of a "Enterprise Manageability Solution"???
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
DBA 2.0
It is just over an year after the word "DBA 2.0" was coined in the 2007 open world. Just thought of writing my opinion.
DBAs are people, they use Processes & Tools. Upgrading the tools, processes and the application of the upgraded tools and processes to manage the next generation data center is truly the DBA 2.0.
In my opinion the DBA 1.0 has to continuously upgrade on the point versions and finally end up at the major upgrade DBA 2.0. A sudden upgrade to DBA 2.0 is just next to impossible.
An upgrade doesn't necessarily mean obsolescing good old processes or tools - it is only improving on the strong basics and fundamentals. So, a DBA 2.0 is still able to fall back on to the well known tool SQL*Plus and manage the database.
So, How many "DBA 2.0" are available on Market today?
DBAs are people, they use Processes & Tools. Upgrading the tools, processes and the application of the upgraded tools and processes to manage the next generation data center is truly the DBA 2.0.
In my opinion the DBA 1.0 has to continuously upgrade on the point versions and finally end up at the major upgrade DBA 2.0. A sudden upgrade to DBA 2.0 is just next to impossible.
An upgrade doesn't necessarily mean obsolescing good old processes or tools - it is only improving on the strong basics and fundamentals. So, a DBA 2.0 is still able to fall back on to the well known tool SQL*Plus and manage the database.
So, How many "DBA 2.0" are available on Market today?
Friday, November 21, 2008
Difference between EAI and ESB
What really is ESB (SOA term)? What is its main difference with EAI (slightly older term)?
EAI is generally a HUB and SPOKE model of integrating the applications. When we remove the HUB from EAI and replace with a BUS (called ESB - Enterprise Service Bus) it becomes the SOA.
"Web Services" can be developed using multiple technological options can then be put on to this BUS and used by multiple consumers.
The SOA gives the marketplace to buy and sell services as commodity. The standards around the service description, service discovery and service invocation makes it all possible.
ESB is a concept, there are several software tools enabling the implementation of ESB are available in the market. They generally run on a middleware server as an application providing some core functionality around the service choreography and orchestration.
There are also BPEL engines which can do all the functionality of ESB and provide more complex work flow modeling of business processes.
It is an important decision to make between the ESB and BPEL processor manager while providing solutions.
There are instances a classical EAI tool would be sufficient to solve a specific problem where the BPEL based solutions are being implemented!!!!
Links:
Good Link found on the web on this subject: http://emergingtech.ittoolbox.com/documents/soa-vs-eai-vs-esb-12998
EAI is generally a HUB and SPOKE model of integrating the applications. When we remove the HUB from EAI and replace with a BUS (called ESB - Enterprise Service Bus) it becomes the SOA.
"Web Services" can be developed using multiple technological options can then be put on to this BUS and used by multiple consumers.
The SOA gives the marketplace to buy and sell services as commodity. The standards around the service description, service discovery and service invocation makes it all possible.
ESB is a concept, there are several software tools enabling the implementation of ESB are available in the market. They generally run on a middleware server as an application providing some core functionality around the service choreography and orchestration.
There are also BPEL engines which can do all the functionality of ESB and provide more complex work flow modeling of business processes.
It is an important decision to make between the ESB and BPEL processor manager while providing solutions.
There are instances a classical EAI tool would be sufficient to solve a specific problem where the BPEL based solutions are being implemented!!!!
Links:
Good Link found on the web on this subject: http://emergingtech.ittoolbox.com/documents/soa-vs-eai-vs-esb-12998
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Parallel Data Processing in Grid
Functional programming Languages, emphasizing the evaluation of mathematical processing without regarding the state change are on rise to do different analytic operations on the several Petabytes of data especially in search engine and web analytic functions.
The old "lisp" has slowly transformed into the new generation scripting "sawzall" incorporating massive parallel processing using map and reduce functions.
Sawzall is used at Google the famous search engine.
The old "lisp" has slowly transformed into the new generation scripting "sawzall" incorporating massive parallel processing using map and reduce functions.
Sawzall is used at Google the famous search engine.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Exadata - Database Processing Moves into Storage
For the data warehouses having Terabytes of data, the key problem is moving the data from the large storage arrays into servers performing the processing - This is termed as the "Data Bandwidth Problem"
Oracle and HP came together and unveiled the new technology called Exadata - The key difference here is the query processing has moved nearer to the storage technology in the "programmable storage server"
This technology should eventually improve OLTP performance too....
Oracle and HP came together and unveiled the new technology called Exadata - The key difference here is the query processing has moved nearer to the storage technology in the "programmable storage server"
This technology should eventually improve OLTP performance too....
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Technology Transformation and Hiding
The latest trend seems to be "Hiding Technology" from business.
Various layers of virtualization, Service Oriented architecture and virtual appliances, automated transformation tools and testing tools are making this trend dominate the current technology market.
The custom business applications and ERP based applications turn more and more service oriented and reduce the dependency on the underlying technical infrastructure.
There will be more and more automation of testing and migration tools at the infrastructure layers let it be application server or the database technology. Does it mean are we going to have a virtual database and virtual application server?
The pay-as-you-go model of technology sourcing is already in. Along with the virtualization, renting model and fast transformation tools, each layer will hide the internal implementation and move towards a OPEN standard based model.
May be we are not very far from service providers providing, CPU capacity, MEMORY/Disk Storage, network bandwidth on a pay as you go model
also we should see further service providers putting these basic services together and providing technology like DB and application on the same model etc., as well as the top end business services like BI and analytics.
Let us wait and watch...
Various layers of virtualization, Service Oriented architecture and virtual appliances, automated transformation tools and testing tools are making this trend dominate the current technology market.
The custom business applications and ERP based applications turn more and more service oriented and reduce the dependency on the underlying technical infrastructure.
There will be more and more automation of testing and migration tools at the infrastructure layers let it be application server or the database technology. Does it mean are we going to have a virtual database and virtual application server?
The pay-as-you-go model of technology sourcing is already in. Along with the virtualization, renting model and fast transformation tools, each layer will hide the internal implementation and move towards a OPEN standard based model.
May be we are not very far from service providers providing, CPU capacity, MEMORY/Disk Storage, network bandwidth on a pay as you go model
also we should see further service providers putting these basic services together and providing technology like DB and application on the same model etc., as well as the top end business services like BI and analytics.
Let us wait and watch...
Friday, August 8, 2008
Quick Recap of 20 years 8/8/88 till 08/08/08
My association with computer software is just turned 20 years. I have joined my graduate course in computer sciences on 8/8/88.
My first BASIC program
10 PRINT Hello Prasad
20 GO TO 10
went into an infinite loop.
An algorithm to interchange values of A & B without using a third temporary variable.
A = A + B
B = A - B
A = A - B
This proves a program can be highly optimized to use least possible memory or least of processor but can never achieve both at the same time. Optimize for bet processor utilization needs more memory usage and vice-versa.
Fascinated by the fact that the knowledge of direction of flow of current by the diode can make basic logic of AND, OR and NOT making a microprocessor consisting of highly sophisticated processing logic and studied digital electronics and microprocessor fundamentals with a great regard. Von Neumann Architecture of stored program computers, digital electronics and Boolean algebra were my favorite subjects.
In 1991 joined my Masters in Computer Sciences studying Algorithms, data structures, operating systems, assemblers. Developed a Intel 8085 two pass assembler using C language.
Interested in image processing, expert systems and operational research and optimization elected Operations Research and expert systems in my masters. Did a project using expert systems to provide training and advice for purchase process.
In 1993, joined Indian Space Research Organization and worked on a "Scheduling" problem of Low earth Orbiting satellites operations scheduling and successfully completed developing algorithm and implementing the algorithm in c language to produced optimized operations schedules at ISRO telemetry, tracking and command network.
In 1996, Moved out of scientific research and joined Tata Consultancy Services and provided Automated Branch Automation software implementation at various Banks in Bangalore. The main achievements during this period include installing a 1st ATM machine at UTI Bank Bangalore and implementing Voice response system at the same bank.
In 1997, traveled to Belgium on a complex design involving multi lingual HR system where an employee registered with one language, work for an employer speaking another language and the payroll data being processed by the processing company who would like to see the error messages in third language. Successfully implemented the solution using a CASE tool then called IEF which was later called Composer and cool:gen.
Traveled to Citibank Singapore, and Transco in UK on different assignments. Involved in implementation of Domestic Competition phase III at BG Transco for providing a supplier of choice to all 21Million households in UK.
In 1999, worked on providing integrated information systems to a TPML and BEML at Bangalore using varied technologies on UNIX and Windows platforms.
In 2000, back in UK at National Grid Transco involved in consolidating the UK-Link system architecture which was originally partitioned with 9 Oracle Databases. All the partitions consolidated to a single Oracle database. Key challenges included CoolGen and database migration to newer technology as well as getting the whole business process work as before after the technology change.
Worked on Reforms of Gas Metering arrangements and metering unbundling projects for Transco.
Technically lead a team involving multiple organizations and people from multiple nationalities and cultures to achieve one of the most complex spacial data migration project. The project involved migrating legacy vector data in 56 layers to new Oracle Spacial based ArcGIS system. A total of over 108 Million geographical features including over 28 Million Transco's gas pipeline network assets were migrated. This being a safety critical project, the work got internally and externally audited to make sure the accuracy of this migration.
In 2004, working as a Technical Architect for the Unbundled metering companies, TMS and OnStream provided a complete AS IS and TO BE architectures and a high level transformation strategy to the customer. Provided tactical improvements along with the strategic road map which has improved the SAP back end system performance by 300%
In 2005 after returning to India, lead the offshore team of TCS implementing important changes to metering business in meter asset management area and successfully delivered the changes to best customer satisfaction (98%)
In 2006, left Tata Consultancy Services and Joined Oracle Corp. in Enterprise Management product suite as a Technical Lead.
Worked with internal and external customers of Oracle to quickly adopt the data center management solutions realizing the benefits of a centralized management console and simplifying, standardizing and automating several monitoring and management activities.
Overall it has been a great experience, learning and working across various technologies and people from different cultural backgrounds and corporate business processes.
It is 7305 days since 8/8/88 and every day is a new learning experience for me....
My first BASIC program
10 PRINT Hello Prasad
20 GO TO 10
went into an infinite loop.
An algorithm to interchange values of A & B without using a third temporary variable.
A = A + B
B = A - B
A = A - B
This proves a program can be highly optimized to use least possible memory or least of processor but can never achieve both at the same time. Optimize for bet processor utilization needs more memory usage and vice-versa.
Fascinated by the fact that the knowledge of direction of flow of current by the diode can make basic logic of AND, OR and NOT making a microprocessor consisting of highly sophisticated processing logic and studied digital electronics and microprocessor fundamentals with a great regard. Von Neumann Architecture of stored program computers, digital electronics and Boolean algebra were my favorite subjects.
In 1991 joined my Masters in Computer Sciences studying Algorithms, data structures, operating systems, assemblers. Developed a Intel 8085 two pass assembler using C language.
Interested in image processing, expert systems and operational research and optimization elected Operations Research and expert systems in my masters. Did a project using expert systems to provide training and advice for purchase process.
In 1993, joined Indian Space Research Organization and worked on a "Scheduling" problem of Low earth Orbiting satellites operations scheduling and successfully completed developing algorithm and implementing the algorithm in c language to produced optimized operations schedules at ISRO telemetry, tracking and command network.
In 1996, Moved out of scientific research and joined Tata Consultancy Services and provided Automated Branch Automation software implementation at various Banks in Bangalore. The main achievements during this period include installing a 1st ATM machine at UTI Bank Bangalore and implementing Voice response system at the same bank.
In 1997, traveled to Belgium on a complex design involving multi lingual HR system where an employee registered with one language, work for an employer speaking another language and the payroll data being processed by the processing company who would like to see the error messages in third language. Successfully implemented the solution using a CASE tool then called IEF which was later called Composer and cool:gen.
Traveled to Citibank Singapore, and Transco in UK on different assignments. Involved in implementation of Domestic Competition phase III at BG Transco for providing a supplier of choice to all 21Million households in UK.
In 1999, worked on providing integrated information systems to a TPML and BEML at Bangalore using varied technologies on UNIX and Windows platforms.
In 2000, back in UK at National Grid Transco involved in consolidating the UK-Link system architecture which was originally partitioned with 9 Oracle Databases. All the partitions consolidated to a single Oracle database. Key challenges included CoolGen and database migration to newer technology as well as getting the whole business process work as before after the technology change.
Worked on Reforms of Gas Metering arrangements and metering unbundling projects for Transco.
Technically lead a team involving multiple organizations and people from multiple nationalities and cultures to achieve one of the most complex spacial data migration project. The project involved migrating legacy vector data in 56 layers to new Oracle Spacial based ArcGIS system. A total of over 108 Million geographical features including over 28 Million Transco's gas pipeline network assets were migrated. This being a safety critical project, the work got internally and externally audited to make sure the accuracy of this migration.
In 2004, working as a Technical Architect for the Unbundled metering companies, TMS and OnStream provided a complete AS IS and TO BE architectures and a high level transformation strategy to the customer. Provided tactical improvements along with the strategic road map which has improved the SAP back end system performance by 300%
In 2005 after returning to India, lead the offshore team of TCS implementing important changes to metering business in meter asset management area and successfully delivered the changes to best customer satisfaction (98%)
In 2006, left Tata Consultancy Services and Joined Oracle Corp. in Enterprise Management product suite as a Technical Lead.
Worked with internal and external customers of Oracle to quickly adopt the data center management solutions realizing the benefits of a centralized management console and simplifying, standardizing and automating several monitoring and management activities.
Overall it has been a great experience, learning and working across various technologies and people from different cultural backgrounds and corporate business processes.
It is 7305 days since 8/8/88 and every day is a new learning experience for me....
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Oracle Database - Real Application Testing
When a pure technology upgrade is planned without any application change, or some performance improvements via patches or parameter changes are done to a critical production database it is very important to test the patch, upgrade or the parameter change.
This includes a test infrastructure setup with database, application and web tier components.
This is not only expensive but also tedious to build, validate and use it for testing.
The solution is RAT – Real Application Testing which can be used to capture the workload from the production database and replay on the test database.
Advantages:
1. No application or web tier infrastructure need to be setup
2. The Testing can entirely be done by DBAs
3. Much superior to testing the application with simulated load or with scripts
This includes a test infrastructure setup with database, application and web tier components.
This is not only expensive but also tedious to build, validate and use it for testing.
The solution is RAT – Real Application Testing which can be used to capture the workload from the production database and replay on the test database.
Advantages:
1. No application or web tier infrastructure need to be setup
2. The Testing can entirely be done by DBAs
3. Much superior to testing the application with simulated load or with scripts
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Workaround - Best Practices
I find myself in a lot of situations to provide a "workaround"
Few quick properties of workarounds:
Workaround generally leaves the root cause not attended. A conscious effort required to get the development identify and fix the root cause of the problem.
Workaround generally forgotten in the documentation and would lead to an unknown problem at a future time. (In most cases another workaround nullifying the original workaround is suggested)
so,
Document the workaround, possible root cause and follow the "process" to get the original problem identified and fixed in the base product. also,
clearly communicate to the customer and make sure they mention the workaround when logging a new related problem (or bug) against the product in future.
Otherwise, customer will have "workarounds", the support team a "nightmare" and the product "a lot of bugs"
Few quick properties of workarounds:
Workaround generally leaves the root cause not attended. A conscious effort required to get the development identify and fix the root cause of the problem.
Workaround generally forgotten in the documentation and would lead to an unknown problem at a future time. (In most cases another workaround nullifying the original workaround is suggested)
so,
Document the workaround, possible root cause and follow the "process" to get the original problem identified and fixed in the base product. also,
clearly communicate to the customer and make sure they mention the workaround when logging a new related problem (or bug) against the product in future.
Otherwise, customer will have "workarounds", the support team a "nightmare" and the product "a lot of bugs"
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