Starting Database Tools

Oracle Database 12c Release 2 (12.2) mandates that the administrator starting all the administration tools such as Oracle Database Configuration Assistant, Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant, Oracle Net Configuration Assistant, and Oracle ASM Configuration Assistant, must be an operating system administrator.

The administrator must also be a member of the ORA_DBA and ORA_ASMADMIN group for using the Oracle Database Configuration Assistant and Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant tools when accessing Oracle ASM. The administrator must be a member of the ORA_ASMADMIN group for using the Oracle ASM Configuration Assistant tool.

Oracle needs the password of Oracle Home User to create new Windows services for Database, Listener, and other entities. To support this, all the administration tools have been modified to prompt for the password of Oracle Home User that is required only when the Oracle Home User is a Local or a Domain Windows User Account and the password for the Oracle Home User is not stored in the Oracle Wallet.

Starting Database Tools in Multiple Oracle Homes

You can start 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 for a description of differences between Oracle homes in different releases.

Starting Tools from Multiple Oracle Homes

Each Oracle home, including the first Oracle home you create on your computer, has a unique HOMENAME.

To start Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows from any Oracle home, from the Start menu, select All Programs, then select Oracle - HOMENAME, then select Configuration and Migration Tools and then select Administration Assistant for Windows.

Running Tools with Windows User Account Control

You must ensure that only trusted applications run on your computer.

To ensure that only trusted applications run on your computer, all Windows operating systems supported for Oracle Database 12c Release 2 (12.2) 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 the 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 run 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 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 Configuration Assistant. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.

  • Oracle ASM Disk Stamping Tool (asmtool, asmtoolg). This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.

To run any Start menu tool with Administrator privileges:

  1. Click the Start menu option.

  2. Select All Programs, then select Oracle - HOMENAME.

  3. Select the name of the tool, then right-click the name of the tool or application you want to run, and then select Run as administrator.

These steps describe how to start a tool as an Administrator from the command prompt:

  1. Create a shortcut for the command prompt window on your desktop. An icon for that shortcut appears on the desktop.
  2. 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 running within this window are run with Administrator privileges.

Starting Database Tools from the Start Menu

Describes how to start assistants and other tools from the Start menu.

It also directs you about further information on using these products.

Note:

When you use an assistant, you must have read and write access to the directory where database files are created or moved to. To create an Oracle Database instance, you must have the administrator 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 the Start menu where you select All Programs, then select Oracle - HOMENAME and so on.

Table 2-2 Starting Database Tools from the Start Menu

Tool Start Menu Path More Information

Microsoft ODBC Administrator

From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Microsoft ODBC Administration

Microsoft ODBC Administration online help

Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows

From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Administration Assistant for Windows

Oracle Automatic Storage Management Configuration Assistant

From Configuration and Management Tools, select Automatic Storage Management Configuration Assistant

Oracle Grid Infrastructure Installation Guide

Oracle Database Configuration Assistant

From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Database Configuration Assistant

 

Oracle Directory Manager

From Integrated Management Tools, select Oracle Directory Manager

Oracle Internet Directory Administrator's Guide

Oracle Locale Builder

From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Locale Builder

Oracle Database Globalization Support Guide

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 Wallet Manager

From Integrated Management Tools, select Wallet Manager

Oracle Database Enterprise User Security Administrator's Guide

SQL*Plus

From Application Development, select SQL*Plus

SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference

Starting Database Tools from the Command Line

Describes how to start Oracle Database tools from the command line, and where to go for further information on using these products.

Table 2-3 Starting Database Tools from the Command Line

Tool Enter at Prompt More Information

Oracle ASM Disk Stamping Tool

Oracle ASM Disk Stamping Tool (GUI version)

  • C:\> asmtool

    Following are the list of options:

    C:\> asmtool -add

    C:\> asmtool -addprefix

    C:\> asmtool -list

    C:\> asmtool -delete

  • C:\> asmtoolg

    Note: asmtoolg is the GUI-based tool that performs the same actions as the command-line asmtool tool.

"Marking Disk Partitions for Oracle ASM Before Installation" in Oracle Grid Infrastructure Installation and Upgrade Guide for Microsoft Windows x64 (64-Bit)

DBVERIFY

C:\> dbv

DBVERIFY starts and prompts you for a file name parameter. To obtain a list of parameters, enter:

C:\> dbv help=y

Oracle Database Utilities

Data Pump Export

C:\> expdp user name

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 Data Pump Export

Oracle Database Error Messages for information on error messages

Data Pump Import

C:\> impdp user name

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 Data Pump Import

Oracle Database Error Messages for information on error messages

Database Configuration Assistant

C:\> dbca

Oracle Database Configuration Assistant tool starts in interactive mode. For silent options and other command-line options, enter:

C:\> dbca -help

"Starting DBCA" in Oracle Database 2 Day DBA

Database Upgrade Assistant

C:\> dbua

Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant wizard starts in interactive mode. For silent options and other command line options enter:

C:\> dbua -help

Oracle Database Upgrade Guide

Export

C:\> exp user name

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 on error messages

Import

C:\> imp user name

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 on error messages

Net Services Configuration

C:\> netca

Oracle Net Configuration Assistant tool starts in interactive mode. For silent options and other command-line options, enter:

C:\> netca -help

Oracle Database Upgrade Guide

ORADIM

C:\> oradim options

To get a list of ORADIM options, enter either of the following:

C:\> oradim

C:\> oradim -? | -h | -help

 

Oracle Wallet Manager

C:\> cd ORACLE_HOME\bin

C:\ORACLE_HOME\bin> launch.exe ORACLE_HOME\bin owm.cl

Password Utility (ORAPWD)

C:\> orapwd

Password file is hidden. Use Windows Explorer to see it in a file list. From the View menu, select Options, then select View and then select Show All Files.

 

Recovery Manager (RMAN)

C:\> rman parameters

Oracle Database Backup and Recovery User's Guide

SQL*Plus (SQLPLUS)

C:\> sqlplus

SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference

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 Enterprise User Security Administrator's Guide

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 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.

  • Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Express is another database tool for managing the database. For information about logging in to Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Express, see "Configuring the HTTP Port for EM Express" in Oracle Database 2 Day DBA.

About Archiving Redo Log Files

If you installed Oracle Database through the Typical installation, then it is created in the NOARCHIVELOG mode. If you created your database through the Custom option of Oracle Database Configuration Assistant, then you had the choice of either ARCHIVELOG or NOARCHIVELOG.

In NOARCHIVELOG mode, redo logs are not archived. Setting your archive mode to ARCHIVELOG and enabling automatic archiving causes redo log files to be archived. This protects Oracle Database from both instance and disk failure.

See Also:

Oracle Database Administrator's Guide for more information about “Managing Archived Redo Logs."

Starting Windows Tools

Describes how to start each Windows tool and where to go for more information on using these products.

Table 2-4 Starting Windows Tools

Tool Start Procedure More Information

Event Viewer

From the Start menu, select All Programs, then select Administrative Tools and then select Event Viewer.

Your operating system documentation

Local Users and Groups

From the Start menu, select Settings, then select Control Panel. Double-click Administrative Tools. Double-click Computer Management. In the console tree, click Local Users and Groups.

Your operating system documentation

Microsoft Management Console (MMC)

From the Start menu, select All Programs, then select Oracle - HOMENAME, then select Configuration and Migration Tools and then select Administration Assistant for Windows.

Your operating system documentation

Registry Editor

At the command prompt, enter:

C:\> regedit

Your operating system documentation

Task Manager

Right-click the Task bar and select Task Manager.

Your operating system documentation

Note:

Microsoft Management Console is started whenever Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows is started.