Configuring iSQL*Plus, 5 of 8

Configuring the Middle Tier

The Oracle HTTP Server and the iSQL*Plus Server are installed on the middle tier during Oracle9i installation. This section discusses configuration options for the middle tier. Specific topics discussed are:

Configuring the iSQL*Plus Server
Configuring the Oracle HTTP Server

Configuring the iSQL*Plus Server

The iSQL*Plus Server is installed during Oracle9i installation on the middle tier. You can:

Define connection identifiers
Set the iSQL*Plus session timeout behavior
Change the appearance of iSQL*Plus screens by modifying the cascading style sheet
Enable/disable the iSQL*Plus Server

Defining a Connection Identifier

You can create new connection identifiers for use in iSQL*Plus. The new definitions are made in the tnsnames.ora file on the middle tier machine which is running the iSQL*Plus Server.

To create a new connection identifier for iSQL*Plus

Log in to the middle tier machine which is running the iSQL*Plus Server as the system administrator.
Change directory to %ORACLE_HOME%\network\admin
Open tnsnames.ora in a text editor.

Add a new line to the end of file in the form:

connection identifier = (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS_
LIST=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=www.oracle.com)
(PORT=1521)))(CONNECT_DATA=(SID=orashop)))

See the Oracle Net Services Administrator's Guide for more information about defining connection identifiers.

Setting the iSQL*Plus Session TimeOut

Timing out iSQL*Plus sessions frees up resources for other users. The timeout settings determine whether sessions will timeout, and how long before they timeout. By default, an iSQL*Plus session times out after 60 minutes. You can edit the iSQL*Plus configuration file, isqlplus.conf, to change the lines affecting the timeout behavior. The syntax of the two lines to change in the configuration file is:

iSQLPlusTimeOut {On|Off} 
iSQLPlusTimeOutInterval {n}

Where n is the number of whole minutes of inactivity until the session times out. The default is 60.

When a user tries to use a timed out iSQL*Plus session, the Log In screen is displayed and the user is prompted to log in again. The iSQL*Plus timeout feature is independent of the Oracle HTTP Server keep alive settings.

Changing the Default Cascading Style Sheet

iSQL*Plus uses a cascading style sheet to control the format of the user interface. You can replace the default style sheet with your own style sheet. It is recommended that you do not delete the default style sheet, but rename it so that you can revert to it if necessary.

To replace the default cascading style sheet

Navigate to the %ORACLE_HOME%\sqlplus\admin\iplus\ directory.
Rename the existing default style sheet from iplus.css to another name.
Copy your new style sheet to the %ORACLE_HOME%\sqlplus\admin\iplus\ directory.
Rename your new style sheet to iplus.css.
You may need to refresh your browser display to see the effects of your new style sheet.

Enabling or Disabling iSQL*Plus

You can edit the Oracle HTTP Server configuration file to disable iSQL*Plus.

To disable the Oracle HTTP Server

Stop the Oracle HTTP Server.
Change directory to the Oracle HTTP Server configuration directory by entering:
```
cd %ORACLE_HOME%\Apache\Apache\conf
```
Open the oracle_apache.conf configuration file.
Comment out the isqlplus.conf include line by inserting a # at the beginning of the line as follows:
```
# include "ORACLE_HOME\sqlplus\admin\isqlplus.conf"
```
Where ORACLE_HOME is the hard-coded path of your Oracle home directory.
Save your oracle_apache.conf file.
Check your edits by parsing the edited configuration file. See "Testing the Oracle HTTP Server Configuration File"
When you next start the Oracle HTTP Server, iSQL*Plus is disabled.

To re-enable iSQL*Plus, reverse the edit to uncomment the include line in oracle_apache.conf.

Configuring the Oracle HTTP Server

Additional iSQL*Plus configuration information must be included in the Oracle HTTP Server configuration file, httpd.conf, for the iSQL*Plus Server.

There are two levels of include:

httpd.conf includes the Oracle9i configuration file, oracle_apache.conf
oracle_apache.conf includes the iSQL*Plus configuration file, isqlplus.conf.

Changes are usually only made to:

oracle_apache.conf to enable Oracle HTTP Server authentication at the User privilege level
isqlplus.conf to disable iSQL*Plus

After making changes to isqlplus.conf, the top level Oracle HTTP Server configuration file, httpd.conf, should be checked, and then the Oracle HTTP Server stopped and started to implement the configuration file changes.

Testing the Oracle HTTP Server Configuration File

To check the Oracle HTTP Server configuration file, httpd.conf, and any included configuration files for errors

Open a Windows Command Prompt.
Change directory to the Oracle HTTP Server home directory by entering:
```
cd %ORACLE_HOME%\Apache\Apache
```
Parse the Oracle HTTP Server httpd.conf configuration file by entering:
```
apache -t
```
Any errors in the configuration file are displayed. If there are any errors, edit the included configuration files, oracle_apache.conf or isqlplus.conf, again to correct them and then test again. If there are no errors, the message "Syntax OK" is displayed.

Starting and Stopping the Oracle HTTP Server

For changes to the Oracle HTTP Server configuration file, httpd.conf, and any included configuration files to take affect, you must stop and restart the Oracle HTTP Server if it is running. There is no convenient way to know how many users are currently accessing the server, so it is important to have the server down for the shortest time. When making changes to configuration files, use the apache -t command to parse the httpd.conf configuration file and report any errors before starting and stopping the Oracle HTTP Server.

To stop and start the Oracle HTTP Server

Open a Windows Command Prompt.
Change directory to the Oracle HTTP Server home directory by entering:
```
cd %ORACLE_HOME%\Apache\Apache\
```
Stop the running Oracle HTTP Server by entering:
```
apache -k shutdown
```
Start the Oracle HTTP Server by entering
```
apache -k start
```