2 Database Tools on Windows

Oracle Database for Windows includes various tools to perform database functions. This chapter describes preferred tools to perform common database administration tasks and explains how tools can be started.

Unless otherwise noted, features described in this guide are common to Oracle Database Enterprise Edition, Oracle Database Standard Edition, and Oracle Database Personal Edition.

This chapter contains these topics:

Choosing a Database Tool
Starting Database Tools
Using SQL*Loader
Using Windows Tools

See Also:

Chapter 5, "Administering a Database on Windows" for OracleServiceSID configuration tasks
Chapter 6, "Monitoring a Database on Windows" for thread management tasks
Chapter 8, "Authenticating Database Users with Windows" for authentication tasks
Chapter 14, "Configuration Parameters and the Registry" and Chapter 6, "Monitoring a Database on Windows" for Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor tasks
Oracle Database Installation Guide for Microsoft Windows Itanium (64-Bit) for components available for installation

Choosing a Database Tool

Database tools is a collective term for tools, utilities, and assistants that you can use to perform database administration tasks. Some database tools perform similar tasks, though no one database tool performs all database administration tasks. The following sections indicate which database tools can be used on particular operating systems and preferred tools to use for common database administration tasks.

Note:

Oracle Server Manager is no longer shipped as of Oracle9i release 2 (9.2). All Server Manager text and examples have been replaced with SQL*Plus equivalents.

Additionally, connecting to the database as CONNECT INTERNAL is no longer supported.

SQL> CONNECT INTERNAL/password@tnsalias

has been replaced by:

SQL> CONNECT SYS/password@tnsalias AS SYSDBA

Database Tools and Operating System Compatibility

Almost all database tools are available on all supported versions of Windows. The following are not supported on Oracle Database for Microsoft Windows Itanium (64-Bit):

Pro*COBOL
Oracle Portal
Oracle Migration Workbench
Oracle Objects for OLE
Oracle Open Gateways
Oracle Transparent Gateways
SQL*Plus Worksheet

See Also:

Oracle Database Release Notes for Microsoft Windows Itanium (64-Bit) for a complete list of unsupported features in Oracle Database for 64-bit Windows

Oracle Enterprise Manager and its optional management packs have additional integrated tools to assist in managing databases. See Oracle Enterprise Manager Concepts for more information.

Preferred Database Tools

Table 2-1 lists various database tools you can use to perform common database administration tasks. Oracle recommends you use tools listed in the "Preferred Database Tool" column of the table. After choosing a tool to perform a task, go to Table 2-2, for instructions on how to start the tool.

Note:

The VOLSIZE parameter for Export and Import utilities is not supported on Windows. If you attempt to use the utilities with the VOLSIZE parameter, then error LRM-00101 occurs. For example:

D:\> exp system/manager full=y volsize=100m;
LRM-00101: unknown parameter name 'volsize'
EXP-00019: failed to process parameters, type 'EXP HELP=Y' for help
EXP-00000: Export terminated unsuccessfully

Table 2-1 Preferred Database Tools

Administration Task	Preferred Tool	Other Tools
Create a database	Database Configuration Assistant	None
Delete database services	Database Configuration Assistant	ORADIM
Start a database	Oracle Enterprise Manager Console	SQL*Plus
Shut down a database	Oracle Enterprise Manager Console	Control Panel SQL*Plus
Change database passwords	ORAPWD	ORADIM
Migrate database users to a directory	User Migration Utility	None
Migrate a database	Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant	Upgrade Information Tool
Upgrade a database	Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant	Run provided scripts in SQL*Plus
Export data	Data Pump Export (EXPDP)	Export (EXP)
Import data	Data Pump Import (IMPDP)	Import (IMP)
Load data	Oracle Enterprise Manager Load Wizard	SQL*Loader (SQLLDR)
Back up database	Oracle Enterprise Manager Backup Wizard	Recovery Manager (RMAN) OCOPY
Recover database	Oracle Enterprise Manager Recovery Wizard	Recovery Manager (RMAN) OCOPY
Authenticate database administrators and users	Oracle Enterprise Manager Console	SQL*Plus Windows operating system Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows
Store encrypted and decrypted Oracle Wallet (Oracle Advanced Security and Oracle PKI integration)	Oracle Wallet Manager	None
Grant database roles	Oracle Enterprise Manager Console	Local Users and Groups User Manager SQL*Plus
Create database objects	Oracle Enterprise Manager Console	SQL*Plus

The following points refer to tools listed in Table 2-1, "Preferred Database Tools":

ORADIM can only set a password when none was previously set. If a password has been previously set, then ORADIM can change it only by deleting and re-creating Oracle Database services.
User Migration Utility can migrate local or external users to enterprise users. For more information, see "Using the User Migration Utility" in Oracle Database Advanced Security Administrator's Guide.
Data Pump Export and Data Pump Import are preferred for Oracle Database 10g Release 1 (10.1) and later data; Export and Import are preferred for earlier data.
Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant can upgrade the following databases to the current release: Oracle9i release 2 (9.2) and Oracle Database 10g Release 1 (10.1).
If you back up files while you are shutting down the database, then your backup will be invalid. You cannot use an invalid backup to restore files at a later date.
Oracle Database for 64-bit Windows supports enterprise users and roles stored in Oracle Internet Directory, but administration tools must be run from a 32-bit computer.
You cannot use earlier versions of Oracle Wallet Manager to manage Oracle Database 10g Release 1 (10.1) or later wallets that contain password-based credentials for authentication to Oracle Internet Directory. These credentials are placed in the wallet when an Oracle Database server is registered in Oracle Internet Directory.

The database wallet that Database Configuration Assistant automatically generates during database registration can only be used with an Oracle Database 10g Release 1 (10.1) or later server. You cannot use this database wallet for earlier versions of the database, nor can you use it for Oracle Internet Directory Release 9.0.4 or earlier.
For guidelines on creating database objects, see Oracle Database Administrator's Guide.
Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control can manage a 64-bit Windows database from a remote Linux or Windows 32-bit computer.
Oracle Enterprise Manager Console is not supported in Oracle Database for 64-bit Windows.

Starting Database Tools

This section describes how to start each of the database tools in the following categories:

Starting Database Tools in Multiple Oracle Homes
Starting Database Tools on Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2
Starting Database Tools from the Start Menu
Starting Database Tools from the Command Line
Starting Windows Tools

Starting Database Tools in Multiple Oracle Homes

If you have multiple Oracle homes on your computer from previous releases, then see Appendix B, "Optimal Flexible Architecture", in Oracle Database Installation Guide for Microsoft Windows Itanium (64-Bit) for a description of differences between Oracle homes in different releases.

Starting Tools from Oracle8i Release 8.1.3 and Later Multiple Oracle Homes

Beginning in Oracle8i release 8.1.3, each Oracle home, including the first Oracle home you create on your computer, has a unique HOME_NAME. To start Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows from any Oracle home, choose Start > Programs > Oracle - HOME_NAME > Configuration and Migration Tools > Administration Assistant for Windows.

Starting Database Tools on Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2

To ensure that only trusted applications run on your computer, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 provide User Account Control. If you have enabled this security feature, then, depending on how you have configured it, Oracle Universal Installer prompts you for either your consent or your credentials when installing Oracle Database Client. Provide either the consent or your Windows Administrator credentials as appropriate.

You must have Administrator privileges to run some configuration tools, or to run any tool or application that writes to any directory within the Oracle home. If User Account Control is enabled, and you are logged in as the local Administrator, then you can successfully run each of these commands in the usual way. However, if you are logged in as a member of the Administrator group, then you must explicitly invoke these tasks with Windows Administrator privileges.

The following tools must be run with Administrator privileges:

Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
Oracle Net Configuration Assistant. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
Oracle OPatch. This tool allows the application and rollback of interim patches to Oracle products.
Oracle OLAP Analytic Workspace Manager and Worksheet. This tool is available as an Integrated Management Tool.
Oracle Database Configuration Assistant. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
Oracle Database Wallet Manager. This tool is available as an Integrated Management Tool.
Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
Oracle Net Manager. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
Oracle ASM Disk Stamping Tool (asmtoolg). This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.

To create a Windows shortcut with Windows Administrator privileges:

Click the Start menu button.
Navigate to Programs, then to Oracle - HOME_NAME.
Right-click the name of the command or application you want to run, then select Run as administrator.

To start a command prompt window with Windows Administrator privileges:

On your desktop, create a shortcut for the command prompt window. An icon for that shortcut appears on the desktop.
Right-click the icon for the newly created shortcut, and specify Run as administrator.

When you open this window, the title bar reads Administrator: Command Prompt. Commands run from within this window are run with Administrator privileges.

Starting Database Tools from the Start Menu

Table 2-2 describes how to start assistants and other tools from the Start Menu. It also tells where to go for further information about using these products.

Note:

When you use an assistant, you must have read and write access to the directory where database files will be moved or created. To create an Oracle Database, you must have an administrative privilege. If you run Database Configuration Assistant from an account that is not part of the Administrators group, then the tool exits without completing the operation.

Note:

All Start Menu paths begin with choose Start > Programs > Oracle - HOME_NAME >.

Table 2-2 Starting Database Tools from the Start Menu

Tool	Start Menu Path	More Information
Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows	From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Administration Assistant for Windows	Chapter 8, "Authenticating Database Users with Windows"
Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant	From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Database Upgrade Assistant	Oracle Database Upgrade Guide
Database Configuration Assistant	From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Database Configuration Assistant	"Creating a Database on Windows Using Database Configuration Assistant"
Oracle Enterprise Manager Console	Enterprise Manager Console	Oracle Enterprise Manager Console is available from the Start Menu only with Oracle Database Client. Oracle Database 2 Day DBA
Oracle Locale Builder	From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Locale Builder	Oracle Database Globalization Support Guide
Microsoft ODBC Administrator	From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Microsoft ODBC Administration	Microsoft ODBC Administration online help
Oracle Net Configuration Assistant	From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Net Configuration Assistant	Oracle Database Net Services Administrator's Guide
Oracle Net Manager	From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Net Manager	Oracle Database Net Services Administrator's Guide
Oracle Directory Manager	From Integrated Management Tools, select Oracle Directory Manager	Oracle Internet Directory Administrator's Guide
Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor	From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor	To install Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor, choose Advanced Installation and then the Custom installation type. "Using Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor"
SQL*Plus	From Application Development, select SQL*Plus	SQLPlus User's Guide and Reference "Starting and Shutting Down a Database with SQLPlus"
Oracle Wallet Manager	From Integrated Management Tools, select Wallet Manager	Oracle Database Advanced Security Administrator's Guide
Automatic Storage Management Administration	From Application Development, select SQL*Plus	Oracle Database Administrator's Guide

Note:

After installing Oracle Database 10g Companion Products, Oracle Wallet Manager is not available from the Start menu. See Table 2-3, "Starting Database Tools from the Command Line" for instructions on starting Oracle Wallet Manager from the command line.

Note:

Oracle Enterprise Manager Console (Java-based) and Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control CD are not supported in Oracle Database for 64-bit Windows. Use Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control from your Linux or Windows 32-bit system to manage the 64-bit computer nodes remotely.

Starting Database Tools from the Command Line

Table 2-3 describes how to start Oracle Database tools from the command line, and where to go for further information about using these products.

Table 2-3 Starting Database Tools from the Command Line

Tool	Enter at Prompt	More Information
Oracle Enterprise Manager Console	`C:\> oemapp console`	Oracle Enterprise Manager Console is installed only with Oracle Database Client Oracle Database 2 Day DBA
DBVERIFY	`C:\> dbv` DBVERIFY starts and prompts you for a filename parameter. To obtain a list of parameters, enter: `C:\> dbv help=y`	Oracle Database Utilities
Data Pump Export	`C:\> expdp username/password` EXPDP starts and prompts you for parameters. To obtain a list of these parameters, enter: `C:\> expdp help=y`	Oracle Database Utilities for instructions on use of Data Pump Export Oracle Database Error Messages for information about error messages
Data Pump Import	`C:\> impdp username/password` IMPDP starts and prompts you for parameters. To get a list of these parameters, enter: `C:\> impdp help=y`	Oracle Database Utilities for instructions on use of Data Pump Import Oracle Database Error Messages for information about error messages
Database Configuration Assistant	`C:\> dbca` DBCA wizard starts in interactive mode. For silent options and other command line options enter: `C:> dbca -help`	"Using DBCA" in Oracle Database 2 Day DBA
Database Upgrade Assistant	`C:\> dbua` DBUA wizard starts in interactive mode. For silent options and other command line options enter: `C:\> dbua -help`	"Using the Database Upgrade Assistant" in Oracle Database Upgrade Guide
Export	`C:\> exp username/password` EXP starts and prompts you for parameters. To obtain a list of these parameters, enter: `C:\> exp help=y`	Oracle Database Utilities for instructions on use of Export Oracle Database Error Messages for information about error messages
Import	`C:\> imp username/password` IMP starts and prompts you for parameters. To get a list of these parameters, enter: `C:\> imp help=y`	Oracle Database Utilities for instructions on use of Import Oracle Database Error Messages for information about error messages
operfcfg	`C:\> operfcfg`	"Modifying Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor Parameters"
Oracle Wallet Manager	`C:\> cd` `ORACLE_BASE\ORACLE_HOME\bin` `C:\ORACLE_BASE\ORACLE_HOME\bin`> `launch.exe` `ORACLE_HOME\bin owm.cl`	Chapter 10, "Storing Oracle Wallets in the Windows Registry"
ORADIM	`C:\> oradim` `options` To get a list of ORADIM options, enter either of the following: `C:\> oradim` `C:\> oradim -? \| -h \| -help`	"Using ORADIM to Administer an Oracle Database Instance"
Password Utility (ORAPWD)	`C:\> orapwd` Password file is hidden. Use Windows Explorer to see it in a file list. Choose View > Options > View > Show All Files	"Creating and Populating Password Files"
Recovery Manager (RMAN)	`C:\> rman` `parameters`	Oracle Database Backup and Recovery Basics
SQL*Plus (SQLPLUS)	`C:\> sqlplus`	SQLPlus User's Guide and Reference "Starting and Shutting Down a Database with SQLPlus"
SQL*Loader (SQLLDR)	`C:\> sqlldr` SQL*Loader displays a Help screen with available keywords and default values.	Oracle Database Utilities Oracle Database Error Messages "Starting Windows Tools"
TKPROF	`C:\> tkprof`	Oracle Database Performance Tuning Guide
User Migration Utility	`C:\> umu` `parameters` To get a list of parameters, enter: `C:\> umu` `help=yes`	"Using the User Migration Utility" in Oracle Database Advanced Security Administrator's Guide
asmtoolg asmtool	`C:\> asmtoolg` Note: `asmtoolg` is the GUI based tool that does the same actions done through the command line asmtool tool. To run `asmtool` and `asmtoolg`, follow the instructions documented in section "Starting Database Tools on Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2". `C:\> asmtool` Following are the list of options: `C:\> asmtool -add` `C:\> asmtool -addprefix` `C:\> asmtool -list` `C:\> asmtool -delete`	"Manually Configuring Disks for Automatic Storage Management" in Oracle Database Installation Guide for Microsoft Windows Itanium (64-Bit)

Note:

Three special conditions apply when running Export or Import utilities on Windows. First, default values for BUFFER and RECORDLENGTH parameters are 4 KB and 2 KB respectively. This default RECORDLENGTH parameter does not depend on the value of BUFSIZ defined in the system header file. If you specify a value larger than USHRT_MAX (64 KB), you will get a warning message. Second, the VOLSIZE parameter is not supported. Third, to export an entire database, you must use the EXP_FULL_DATABASE role.

Starting Windows Tools

Table 2-4 describes how to start each Windows tool and where to go for more information about using these products.

Table 2-4 Starting Windows Tools

Tool	Start Procedure	More Information
Event Viewer	Choose Start `>` Programs `>` Administrative Tools `>` Event Viewer	"Using Event Viewer to Monitor a Database" Your operating system documentation
Microsoft Management Console (MMC)^Foot 1	Choose Start `>` Programs `>` Oracle - HOME_NAME `>` Configuration and Migration Tools `>` Administration Assistant for Windows	Your operating system documentation
Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor	Choose Start `>` Programs `>` Oracle - HOME_NAME `>` Configuration and Migration Tools `>` Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor	"Using Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor" Your operating system documentation
Registry Editor	At the command prompt enter: C:\> regedt	"Using Registry Editor to Modify Configuration Information" Chapter 14, "Configuration Parameters and the Registry" Your operating system documentation
Task Manager	Right-click the Task Bar and choose Task Manager	"Using Task Manager to Monitor Applications and Processes" Your operating system documentation
Local Users and Groups	Choose Start `>` Settings `>` Control Panel. Double-click Administrative Tools. Double-click Computer Management. In the console tree, click Local Users and Groups.	"Using Local Users and Groups to Manage Users and Groups" Your operating system documentation
User Manager	Choose Start `>` Programs `>` Administrative Tools `>` User Manager	Chapter 8, "Authenticating Database Users with Windows" Your operating system documentation

^Footnote 1MMC is started whenever Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows is started.

Using SQL*Loader

This section describes Windows-specific information for using SQL*Loader (SQLLDR).

Windows Processing Options

This section discusses possible values for the operating system dependent file processing specifications string option (os_file_proc_clause), referred to in "Specifying Datafile Format and Buffering" in Chapter 8, "SQL*Loader Control File Reference", in Oracle Database Utilities.

Default (No Processing Option) or "str terminator_string"

Stream record format in which each record is terminated by a record terminator. If "str terminator_string" is not specified, then the record terminator defaults to either the Windows-style record terminator (the two-character sequence carriage return, \r, followed by line feed, \n) or the UNIX-style record terminator (single-character line feed, \n). Maximum record size is 48 KB.

When processing stream format data files, SQL*Loader can usually recognize record terminators automatically, whether they are Windows-style or UNIX-style. So you usually do not need to specify which record terminator you are using.

For external table loads, however, only Windows-style record terminators are recognized automatically. If your data file contains UNIX-style record terminators, you must specify the record terminator. If you are using SQL*Loader (with external_table option), then specify the UNIX-style record terminator by specifying "str '\n'" on the INFILE line in the SQL*Loader control file. For example:

INFILE mydata.dat "str '\n'"

You can also specify the record terminator in hex, by specifying "str x'0a'" (assuming an ASCII-based character set). For example:

INFILE mydata.dat "str x'0a'"

Note that the "0" (zero) before the "a" is required. If you are using SQL with an access parameter list to create the external table, then you must specify '\n' in a RECORDS DELIMITED BY clause. For example:

RECORDS DELIMITED BY '\n'

You can also use a hex string in this case. For example:

RECORDS DELIMITED BY 0x'0a'

Note that in this case, the "0" (zero) before the "x" and the "0" (zero) before the "a" are both required.

"FIX n"

Fixed record format in which each record is exactly n bytes long. Record terminators are not required with fixed record format. If the record includes a record terminator, then the record terminator bytes are included in the number of bytes n.

"VAR n"

Variable record format in which the length of each record in a character field is included at the beginning of each record in the datafile. Record terminators are not required with the variable record format. This format provides some added flexibility over the fixed record format and a performance advantage over the stream record format. You can specify a datafile that is to be interpreted as being in variable record format as follows:

INFILE "mydata.dat" "var n"

In this example, n specifies the number of bytes in the record length field. If n is not specified, SQL*Loader assumes a length of 5 bytes. Specifying n larger than 40 will result in an error. Lengths are always interpreted in bytes, even if character-length semantics are in effect for the file. This is necessary because the file could contain a mix of fields, some processed with character-length semantics and others processed with byte-length semantics.

Case Study Files

The distribution media for SQL*Loader contains case study files for control files, datafiles, and setup files in ulcase1,...ulcase11 in the following directory: Oracle_Home\rdbms\demo.

Specifying the Bad File

When SQL*Loader executes, it can create a file called a bad file or reject file in which it places records that were rejected because of formatting errors or because they caused Oracle Database errors. If you have specified that a bad file is to be created, it overwrites any existing file with the same name; ensure that you do not overwrite a file you want to retain.

Control File Conventions

When preparing SQL*Loader control files (.ctl), you must follow certain syntax and notational conventions.

In full path descriptions, backslashes do not require escape characters or other special treatment. When embedding a single or double quotation mark inside a string delimited by double quotation marks, place a backslash escape character before the embedded quotation mark.

When specifying datatypes in the SQL*Loader control file, note that the default sizes of native datatypes shown in Table 2-5 are specific to Windows. These datatypes can be loaded with correct results only between systems where they have the same length in bytes. You cannot override these defaults in the control file. If the byte order is different between the systems, you can indicate the byte order of the data with the BYTEORDER parameter, or you can place a byte-order mark (BOM) in the file.

Table 2-5 Default Sizes of Native Datatypes

Native Datatypes	Default Field Length
DOUBLE	8
FLOAT	4
INTEGER^Foot 1	4
SMALLINT	2

^Footnote 1The default listed is correct if INTEGER is specified without a size. But INTEGER(n) is also allowed. In that case, n specifies the size of the INTEGER field in bytes.

See Also:

Oracle Database Utilities for a complete list of options and instructions on using SQL*Loader

Using Windows Tools

You can use Windows tools in various ways to manage Oracle Database:

Using Event Viewer to Monitor a Database
Using Microsoft Management Console to Administer a Database
Using Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor
Using Registry Editor to Modify Configuration Information
Using Task Manager to Monitor Applications and Processes
Using Local Users and Groups to Manage Users and Groups

Using Event Viewer to Monitor a Database

Event Viewer lets you monitor events in your system. An event is an important occurrence in the system or application (such as Oracle Database) that requires user notification. While messages for major events can appear on-screen as you work at your computer, events not requiring your immediate attention are recorded by Windows in the Event Viewer log file. You can then view this information at your convenience.

Event Viewer can be used to monitor Oracle Database events, such as:

Initialization of System Global Area for active instance
Initialization of Program Global Area (PGA) for background processes of active instance
Connection to Oracle Database using AS SYSDBA

In addition, the operating system audit trail is logged to Event Viewer.

See Also:

Chapter 6, "Monitoring a Database on Windows" for specific instructions on accessing and using Event Viewer to monitor Oracle Database events

Using Microsoft Management Console to Administer a Database

Microsoft Management Console provides a central location for network administration. Microsoft Management Console hosts applications (called snap-ins) that administrators can use to manage their networks. Oracle snap-ins enable database administrators to:

Configure Oracle Database administrators, operators, users, and roles so the Windows operating system can authenticate them
Configure OracleServiceSID
Modify registry parameters for all Oracle homes on the computer
Modify the computer host name, username, and password for the database being monitored by Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor
View and terminate an Oracle Database thread

Using Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor

Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor is integrated into Windows Performance Monitor. This tool enables you to view performance of processors, memory, cache, threads, and processes. Performance information provided includes device usage, queue lengths, delays, throughput measurements, and internal congestion measurements. This information is provided as charts, alerts, and reports.

You can use Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor to monitor key Oracle Database information, such as:

Library cache
Buffer cache
Data dictionary cache
Redo log buffer cache
Thread activity

You can use your findings to improve database performance.

See Also:

"Using Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor" for specific instructions on accessing and using Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor to monitor Oracle Database performance

Using Registry Editor to Modify Configuration Information

Oracle Database stores its configuration information in a structure known as the registry. You can view and modify this configuration information through Registry Editor. The registry contains configuration information for your computer and must not be accessible for editing by inexperienced users. Only experienced administrators should view and change this information.

Registry Editor displays configuration information in a format similar to Windows Explorer. In the left-hand window is a tree-like format consisting of keys (or folders). When one of these keys is highlighted, parameters and values assigned to that key are displayed in the right-hand window.

When you install products from your CD-ROM, configuration parameters are automatically entered in the registry. These parameters are read each time your Windows computer is started and whenever an Oracle Database product is started. These parameters include settings for:

Oracle home directory
Language
Company name
Oracle home subdirectories for individual products
Individual products such as SQL*Plus
Services

See Also:
Chapter 14, "Configuration Parameters and the Registry" for definitions of Oracle Database configuration parameters and specific instructions on using the registry to modify Oracle Database configuration parameters

Using Task Manager to Monitor Applications and Processes

Task Manager has three tabs:

Applications tab displays what applications are running. This is useful for identifying and ending unresponsive tasks. (Oracle Database does not appear as an application because it runs as a service.)
Processes tab displays details of currently running processes and their resource usage. Columns are customizable.
Performance tab graphically displays real-time CPU and memory usage, which is useful for spotting sudden changes.

Using Local Users and Groups to Manage Users and Groups

Local Users and Groups enables you to manage users and groups on Windows. Specifically, you can:

Create and modify local user accounts
Create and modify user profiles
Create, add, and delete local groups