10
Oracle Database Cache Migration

This chapter explains the process of migrating from Oracle Database Cache version 1.0.0 (formerly known as Oracle8i Cache) to 1.0.2 in Oracle9i Application Server.

Contents

• Pre-installation

• Pre-migration

• Environment

• Configuration

• Application Logic

• Tools

Pre-installation

Before migrating to Oracle9i Application Server, Release 1.0.2, you must first deinstall Oracle Database Cache.

The recommended method of deinstalling Oracle Database Cache consists of the following steps:

1. Make sure the cache is started. If it is not, start the cache, using Cache Manager or the OLD_HOME/bin/cachstrt script.

2. Run the Configuration Assistant, specifying the -deinstall option:

   prompt> wtacca -deinstall
   
   

3. Invoke Oracle Universal Installer and click Deinstall Products on the Welcome screen. Select Oracle8i Cache.

4. You can ignore the error message generated by the Configuration Assistant. Oracle Universal Installer will continue with the deinstallation.

Then, install Oracle Database Cache by installing Oracle9i Application Server, Enterprise Edition. Follow the instructions in the Oracle9i Application Server Installation Guide, Release 1.0.2 for Sun SPARC Solaris.

Pre-migration

No pre-migration tasks are necessary.

Environment

The following sections explain any environment variable changes you must make for Oracle Database Cache to access the proper executables, libraries, and configuration parameters. You must make the changes for the process in which you will run applications that access the cache.

You will need to make changes to the environment variables described in Table 10-1.

Table 10-1 Environment Variables Used by Oracle Database Cache

Variable	Description
PATH	Defines the search order for executables.
LD_LIBRARY PATH	Defines the search order for libraries.
ORA_OCI_CACHE	Enables routing of queries to the cache.

PATH

Update any PATH entries that refer to OLD_HOME so they point to NEW_HOME.

LD_LIBRARY_PATH

Set LD_LIBRARY_PATH so that the Oracle Database Cache library directory (NEW_HOME/lib) precedes library directories from other Oracle homes.

ORA_OCI_CACHE

Set ORA_OCI_CACHE to "1" so that all applications started from the process will use the cache. (Alternatively, you use parameters within OCI applications to control which applications or statements use the cache. For more information, see the Oracle Database Cache Concepts and Administration Guide in the Oracle9i Application Server Documentation Library.)

TNS_ADMIN

If you use the environment variable TNS_ADMIN, make sure that it is set to the NEW_HOME/network/admin directory.

Configuration

After you install Oracle Database Cache, you use Cache Manager to set up your cache. If you have Oracle Database Cache on more than one node and you have the same tables cached on all nodes, you can install the new version on one middle-tier node, then use Cache Manager to copy tables to the newly installed cache.

After you have installed the new version on one middle-tier node, take the following steps:

1. Invoke DBA Studio and connect to the origin database.

2. If you need to increase disk space for the cached tables, you can add data files or increase the size of an existing file. For more information, see the Oracle Database Cache Concepts and Administration Guide in the Oracle9i Application Server Documentation Library.

3. Select a cache from the previous release which you want to duplicate. Right-click and choose Copy Cached Tables. In the Available Caches list, select the caches to which you want to copy the setup and click the right arrow (>) to move the caches to the Selected Caches list.

4. Click OK.

Application Logic

Because of new and changed features in this release, you must take the following action:

• If your applications use static OCI libraries, you must relink those applications with the OCI library in the NEW_HOME.

This release of Oracle Database Cache includes the following new or changed features:

• PL/SQL packages that allow you to manage caches using a utility such as SQL*Plus

• Views that allow you to query the cache to obtain information about the state of the cache, statistics, and objects in the cache.

• Support for caching PL/SQL packages, procedures, and functions

  You can cache PL/SQL packages, procedures, and functions. To cache the PL/SQL objects, use the supplied PL/SQL procedure DBMS_ICACHE.ADD_PLSQL_OBJECT.

• Support for routing PL/SQL subprograms (procedures and functions) and anonymous blocks

  Now, Oracle Database Cache routes PL/SQL subprograms and anonymous blocks to the cache. To enable or disable this routing, use the supplied PL/SQL procedure DBMS_ICACHE.SET_FLAG with the parameter PLSQL_ROUTING_ENABLED.

• The ability to enable or disable statistics gathering

  You can enable or disable the gathering of statistics by using the supplied PL/SQL procedure DBMS_ICACHE.SET_FLAG with the parameter STATS_REPORTING_ENABLED.

For more information about these features, see the Oracle Database Cache Concepts and Administration Guide in the Oracle9i Application Server Documentation Library.

Tools

This release of Oracle Database Cache provides PL/SQL packages that allow you to manage caches using a utility such as SQL*Plus. These packages provide the same functionality as that provided by Cache Manager. In addition, they allow you to:

• Cache PL/SQL procedures, functions, and packages

• Enable and disable routing of PL/SQL subprograms (procedures and functions) and anonymous blocks

For more information see the Oracle Database Cache Concepts and Administration Guide in the Oracle9i Application Server Documentation Library.