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Selecting Database Creation and Net8 Configuration Methods

This chapter describes the Oracle8i database creation and Net8 client/server configuration methods available during installation. You must understand these methods before performing an installation.

Specific topics discussed are:

• Understanding Your Methods Before Installation

• Identifying Your Database Environment

• Selecting a Database Creation Method

• Selecting a Net8 Configuration Method

  Note: This chapter uses networking terms and concepts with which you may be unfamiliar. See the Glossary for definitions of terms used in this chapter and the Net8 Administrator's Guide for detailed descriptions of concepts.

Understanding Your Methods Before Installation

Oracle Universal Installer provides several methods for creating an Oracle8i database and configuring your Net8 client/server environment during installation.

The method to select during installation depends upon:

• Your own expertise with database creation and network configuration

• The requirements of your database and network environment

You must understand these methods before you begin installation. By reviewing the information in this chapter, you can ensure that you create and configure a database and network environment that best matches your needs from the beginning.

Oracle8i database and Net8 components are installed through several installation types. Review the installation types in this table to identify how much user input is required for database creation or network configuration during installation. The "X" indicates whether you are prompted to provide no, minimal, or extensive input during installation. See the remaining sections of this chapter for specific details on what information is automatically created for you, and what information you must manually provide.

Installation Types	User Input Required for Database Creation			User Input Required for Net8 Configuration
	None	Minimal	Extensive	None	Minimal	Extensive
Oracle8i Enterprise Edition or Oracle8i
Typical		X		X
Minimal		X		X
Custom, and then select:
Net8 Client or Net8 Server	Not applicable			X1		X1
or
Oracle8i Server2		X	X	Not applicable
Oracle8i Management Infrastructure
Oracle Management Server	Not applicable				X
Oracle Internet Directory		X			X
Custom, and select: Net8 Client or Net8 Server	Not applicable			X1		X1
Oracle8i Client3
Administrator	Not applicable				X
Programmer	Not applicable				X
Application User	Not applicable				X
Custom, and select: Net8 Client	Not applicable				X4	X4

1 Selecting through the Custom installation type prompts you to create a configuration requiring either no user input or a configuration requiring extensive user input. See "Selecting a Net8 Configuration Method" for more information. 2 Selecting Oracle8i Server through the Custom installation type offers several database creation choices, from a complete custom creation to a creation requiring minimal user input. See "Selecting a Database Creation Method" for more information. 3 You cannot install an Oracle8i database through this top-level component. 4 Selecting Net8 Client through the Custom installation type prompts you to create either a configuration requiring minimal user input or a configuration requiring extensive user input.

Note: If you select the Oracle Internet Directory installation type described in the table above, an Oracle8i database will be automatically installed if one is not currently installed. Use this database only for storing Oracle Internet Directory information.

Identifying Your Database Environment

Oracle Universal Installer enables you to create an Oracle8i database that operates in one of the following environments. Identify the environment appropriate for your Oracle8i database:

Environment	Description
Online Transaction Processing (OLTP)	Many concurrent users performing numerous transactions requiring rapid access to data. Availability, speed, concurrence, and recoverability are key issues. Transactions consist of reading (SELECT statements), writing (INSERT and UPDATE statements), and deleting (DELETE statements) data in database tables.
Warehousing	Users perform numerous complex queries that process large volumes of data. Response time, accuracy, and availability are key issues. These queries (typically read-only) range from a simple fetch of a few records to numerous complex queries that sort thousands of records from many different tables. Warehousing environments are also known as Decision Support System (DSS) environments.
Multipurpose	Both types of applications (OLTP or Warehousing) can access this database.

See Also: Oracle Database Configuration Assistant online help for information on the initialization file parameters affected by your database selection

Selecting a Database Creation Method

Oracle Database Configuration Assistant is a tool that enables you to create an Oracle8i database for an OLTP, Warehousing, or Multipurpose environment. Oracle Database Configuration Assistant can be automatically started by Oracle Universal Installer when you select to create an Oracle8i database or manually run as a standalone tool.

Note: This chapter describes running Oracle Database Configuration Assistant from within Oracle Universal Installer. See Chapter 6 of the Oracle8i Administrator's Guide for Windows NT for information on running Oracle Database Configuration Assistant in standalone mode. See Chapter 2, "Database Tools Overview", of the Oracle8i Administrator's Guide for Windows NT for instructions on starting this tool in standalone mode.

When you run Oracle Universal Installer and select Oracle8i Enterprise Edition or Oracle8i in the Available Products window, the Installation Types window presents you with three installation types. Each installation type enables you to create an Oracle8i database.

The types of databases (OLTP, Warehousing, and Multipurpose) created with the Typical, Minimal, and Custom installation types and the amount of user input required are described in the following table. Review these selections and identify the database that best matches your database requirements and database creation expertise:

If You Perform These Steps...		Then...
Select the Typical installation type.		Oracle Database Configuration Assistant automatically starts at the end of installation and creates a preconfigured, ready-to-use Multipurpose starter database with: Default initialization parameters Automatic installation and configuration of Oracle JServer, Oracle Spatial, Oracle Time Series, Oracle Visual Information Retrieval, and Oracle interMedia components1 Advanced replication capabilities Database configured in dedicated server mode2 Archiving mode set to NOARCHIVELOG No user input is required other than the global database name and SID you are prompted to enter prior to Oracle Database Configuration Assistant startup.
Select the Minimal installation type. Select Yes when prompted to create a starter database. Note: If you select No, all server components are installed. A database is not created. You can create your database later by manually running Oracle Database Configuration Assistant or a SQL script. See Chapter 6 of the Oracle8i Administrator's Guide for Windows NT for instructions.		Oracle Database Configuration Assistant automatically starts at the end of installation and creates the same Oracle8i database that you receive with the Typical installation type. The one difference is that there is no installation and configuration of Oracle Spatial, Oracle Time Series, Oracle Visual Information Retrieval, and Oracle interMedia components.
Select the Custom installation type. Select Oracle8i Server and additional products in the Available Product Components window. Select Yes when prompted to create a starter database. Oracle Database Configuration Assistant prompts you to select a database creation method: Custom Typical		If You Select the Custom database creation method... Oracle Database Configuration Assistant guides you in the creation of a database customized to match the environment (OLTP, Warehousing, or Multipurpose) and configuration mode (dedicated server or multithreaded server) you select. Oracle JServer, Oracle Spatial, Oracle Time Series, Oracle Visual Information Retrieval, and Oracle interMedia (if installed) and advanced replication (if selected) are automatically configured. Select this option only if you are experienced with advanced database creation procedures, such as customizing: Data, control, and redo log file settings Tablespace and extent sizes Database memory parameters Archiving modes, formats, and destinations Trace file destinations Character set values
		If You Select the Typical database creation method... You have two choices. Oracle Database Configuration Assistant's role in database creation depends on your selection:
			If you select...
				Copy existing files from CD Oracle Database Configuration Assistant creates the same Oracle8i database as described under the Typical installation type. Oracle JServer, Oracle Spatial, Oracle Time Series, Oracle Visual Information Retrieval, and Oracle interMedia components (if installed) are also automatically configured. No user input is required other than the global database name and SID you are prompted to enter prior to Oracle Database Configuration Assistant startup.3
				Create new database files Oracle Database Configuration Assistant prompts you to answer several questions, including selecting a database environment (OLTP, Warehousing, or Multipurpose) and the number of concurrent connections. Oracle Database Configuration Assistant then creates a database. Oracle JServer, Oracle Spatial, Oracle Time Series, Oracle Visual Information Retrieval, and Oracle interMedia (if installed) and advanced replication (if selected) are automatically configured.3, 4

1 Oracle Database Configuration Assistant only configures components that were installed through Oracle Universal Installer. 2 See Chapter 6, "Post-Installation Database Creation", of Oracle8i Administrator's Guide for Windows NT for descriptions of dedicated server mode and multithreaded server mode (also known as shared server mode). 3 If you selected Oracle JServer for installation, the database is created in multithreaded server mode for IIOP clients. 4 If you select OLTP as your database environment and enter 20 or more for the number of concurrent database connections, your database is created in multithreaded server mode. Otherwise, the server mode is dedicated.

Selecting a Net8 Configuration Method

Net8 Configuration Assistant is a tool that enables you to configure your network environment to enable Oracle clients to connect to an Oracle8i database. Net8 Configuration Assistant can be automatically started from Oracle Universal Installer through most installation types or manually started as a standalone tool.

Note: This chapter describes running Net8 Configuration Assistant from within Oracle Universal Installer. See the Net8 Administrator's Guide or the Net8 Configuration Assistant online help for information on running Net8 Configuration Assistant in standalone mode. See Chapter 2, "Database Tools Overview", of the Oracle8i Administrator's Guide for Windows NT for instructions on starting this tool in standalone mode.

Depending on the installation type selected, Net8 Configuration Assistant configures your network in either of two ways:

• Automatically configures your network for standard database connection methods

• Creates a customized network by prompting you for input

Configuration consists of creating and modifying a series of network files located in the ORACLE_BASE\ORACLE_HOME\NETWORK\ADMIN directory.

Server Network Configuration

The type of network configuration created with the server installation types and the amount of user input required are described below. Review the selections below and identify the network configuration that best matches your requirements and network configuration expertise:

If You Select These Installation Types...	Then...
Oracle8i Enterprise Edition or Oracle8i Typical Minimal	Net8 Configuration Assistant automatically creates your Net8 server environment by configuring information in the following files:
		LISTENER.ORA file
		Configures a listener named LISTENER with protocol addresses for both the Oracle8i database (using your operating system's preferred protocol, which is typically TCP/IP on port 1521) and for external procedures (using the IPC protocol) Configures service information for external procedures
		TNSNAMES.ORA file
		Creates a net service name in the TNSNAMES.ORA file to use for external procedures
	SQLNET.ORA file
		Configures the database to accept operating system authenticated connections (OPS$)
		Configures the server's domain as the default domain (the domain in which your computer is located). This domain is automatically appended to any unqualified net service name.
		Configures the naming methods the server uses to resolve a name to a connect descriptor
	Oracle Database Configuration Assistant automatically configures additional Net8 server information in the following files during successful creation of the Oracle8i database:
		LISTENER.ORA file
		Configures service information for the Oracle8i database
	Note: You cannot configure access to a lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP)-compliant directory server through the Typical or Minimal installation types. Directory server configuration is only available through the Custom installation type. Note: Oracle Database Configuration Assistant configures additional information for Oracle Parallel Server installations. See the Oracle8i Parallel Server Setup and Configuration Guide for more information.
Oracle8i Enterprise Edition or Oracle8i Custom (and then select Net8 Server and Net8 Client)	Net8 Configuration Assistant first prompts you to: Complete directory server access configuration, including entering a directory server type and location and administrative context from which the server can look up, create, and modify net service names1 Create a listener(s) and select network protocols to use for database connections Select the naming method to use to connect to databases. By default, the local naming method is configured; this enables the TNSNAMES.ORA file to be used. Local naming prompts you to enter a net service name or database SID, and a networking protocol to use in accessing a remote database. Other available naming methods include directory naming, Oracle Names, host naming, and additional external naming methods. Net8 Configuration Assistant then automatically creates your Net8 server environment by configuring information in the following files: LISTENER.ORA file
		Configures a listener with a name and protocol address that you choose. In addition, a protocol address and service information for external procedures are configured.
		SQLNET.ORA file
		Configures the database to accept operating system authenticated connections (OPS$) Configures the server's domain as the default domain (the domain in which your computer is located). This domain is automatically appended to any unqualified net service name. Configures the naming methods the server uses to resolve a name to a connect descriptor
	TNSNAMES.ORA and LISTENER.ORA files
		Creates a net service name entry for external procedure connections
	LDAP.ORA file
		Configures directory server access by identifying the directory server type. It may also identify the directory location and the administrative context from which the server can look up, create, and modify database service and net service name entries.
	Oracle Database Configuration Assistant automatically configures additional Net8 server information in the following file during successful creation of the Oracle8i database:
	LISTENER.ORA file
		Configures service information for the Oracle8i database

1 You are prompted for this information if you have never configured this Oracle home for directory server access.

Client Network Configuration

The type of network configurations created with the client installation types and the amount of user input required are described below. Review the selections below and identify the network configuration that best matches your requirements and network configuration expertise:

If You Select These Installation Types...	Then...
Oracle8i Client Administrator Programmer Application User	Net8 Configuration Assistant first prompts you to select one of the following methods by which to configure access to your Oracle8i database: Directory naming
		A directory server
	Local naming
		A net service name enables you to make client connections to the Oracle8i database
	Depending on what you select, you are prompted to provide additional information.
	Net8 Configuration Assistant then automatically creates your Net8 client environment by configuring information in the following files:
	LDAP.ORA, if the directory naming method was selected above
		Configures directory server access by identifying the directory server type. It may also identify the directory location and the administrative context from which the client can look up net service names.
	TNSNAMES.ORA
		Configures a net service name, if a local naming method was selected above
	SQLNET.ORA file
		Configures the client's domain as the default domain (the domain in which your computer is located). This domain is automatically appended to any unqualified net service name given in the connect string.
		Configures the naming methods the client uses to resolve a name to a connect descriptor
Oracle8i Client Custom (and then select Net8 Client)	Net8 Configuration Assistant first prompts you to: Complete directory server access configuration, including entering a directory server type and location and administrative context from which the client can look up, create, and modify net service names1 Select the naming method to use to connect to databases. For example, selecting the local naming method enables the TNSNAMES.ORA file to be used. Depending on your selection, you are prompted for additional information. For the local naming method, you are prompted to enter a net service name, a database SID, and a networking protocol to use. Net8 Configuration Assistant then automatically creates your Net8 client environment by configuring information in the following files: SQLNET.ORA
		Configures the client to request operating system authenticated connections (OPS$) Configures the client's domain as the default domain (the domain in which your computer is located). This domain is automatically appended to any unqualified name. Configures the naming methods the client uses to resolve a name to a connect descriptor
	TNSNAMES.ORA
		Configures a net service name, if the local naming method was selected above to connect to your Oracle8i database
	LDAP.ORA, if directory naming was selected above
		Configures directory server access by identifying the directory server type. It may also identify the directory location and the administrative context.

1 You are prompted for this information if you have never configured this Oracle home for directory server access.