Oracle® Database

Release Notes

10g Release 2 (10.2.0.5) for IBM z/OS on System z

B25389-04

October 2012

This document contains important information that was not included in the platform-specific or product-specific documentation for this release. Unless stated otherwise, the information in this document applies equally to z/OS and z/OS.e.

It contains the following topics:

- Documentation Updates

- Unsupported Features and Functions

- Known Restrictions

- Documentation Accessibility

This document may be updated after release. To check for updates to this document and to view other product-specific release notes, see the Documentation section on the OTN Web site:

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/indexes/documentation/index.html

For additional information about this release, go to the Install CD-ROM, open the file welcome.html, and click the ReadMe tab. This provides access to the readme files.

1 Documentation Updates

The following section contain updates to the Oracle Database 10g documentation:

- Disk Space Requirements

1.1 Disk Space Requirements

Refer to Oracle Database Installation Guide for IBM z/OS on System z to determine the total Oracle non-database disk space requirements, including those for code, JCL, and samples.

2 Unsupported Features and Functions

This release of Oracle Database 10g for IBM z/OS on System z does not include support for the following features and functions. Existing customers should also consult Oracle Database System Administration Guide for IBM z/OS on System z for unsupported features or functions that should be taken into consideration during a migration or upgrade.

- Automated Storage Manager

- Cross Platform Transportable Tablespaces

- Generic Connectivity using ODBC

- HTML_DB

- Oracle Data Mining

- Oracle Dynamic Services Server

- Oracle HTTP Server

- Oracle Internet Directory

- Oracle Messaging Gateway

- Oracle Real Application Cluster Guard

- Oracle Java Server Pages

- Oracle Personalization

- Oracle Ultra Search

- Oracle Workflow

- Oracle Workspace Manager

3 Known Restrictions

The following is a list of known restrictions to this release of Oracle Database on IBM z/OS on System z:

- Advanced Queuing

- ALTER DATABASE...RESIZE

- Automatic Recall of Database Data Sets

- Client Runtime with C Programs

- IEEE Standard Floating Point Number Restrictions

- Java Virtual Machine (JavaVM)

- Native Compilation of Java and PL/SQL

- Oracle Datapump

- Oracle Enterprise Manager Intelligent Agent

- Oracle External Tables

- Oracle JDBC OCI Drivers

- Oracle OLAP

- Oracle Real Application Clusters

- Oracle Security Server

- Oracle Spatial Data Option

- Oracle Streams

- Oracle Universal Installer

- Oracle Utilities

- Oracle XML Developers Kit

- Propagation from Object Queues

- SQL*Plus linesize Variable Issues

- Upgrade Issues

- XML Database (XML DB)

3.1 Advanced Queuing

Non-repudiation of Advance Queuing messages sent across a firewall using Internet Document Access Protocol (IDAP) is not supported in this release.

3.2 ALTER DATABASE...RESIZE

Oracle database files on IBM z/OS on System z are implemented as VSAM linear data sets. IBM does not provide a space release function for VSAM data sets, so using ALTER DATABASE...RESIZE to make a database file smaller has no effect. Database files can be resized larger, both manually by using the ALTER command and automatically as they fill (when a tablespace is defined with AUTOEXTEND).

3.3 Automatic Recall of Database Data Sets

No support is available currently for automatically recalling IBM z/OS on System z data sets that are used by the Oracle server if they have been migrated to other media by IBM's DFSMShsm, or a similar product. This applies to the VSAM linear data sets (LDS) comprising the database, and to non-VSAM data sets such as parameter files. All such data sets must be on disk in their original form when they are opened by the server.

3.4 Client Runtime with C Programs

To use 10g Release 2 (10.2.0.5) Client with a C program, you must complete the following steps:

1. Ensure that the C for z/OS V1R2 compiler is installed, instead of or addition to the C for OS390 V2R10.

2. Recompile all OCI programs using the C for z/OS V1R2 compiler with the ENUM(INT) option.

Note:
Refer to z/OS V1R2.0 C/C++ Compiler and Run-Time Migration Guide for additional information about this issue.

3.5 IEEE Standard Floating Point Number Restrictions

The following is a list of restrictions that apply to the IEEE standard floating point numbers:

- The new BINARY_DOUBLE and BINARY_FLOAT database data types are not supported for client applications running on z/OS.
This restriction applies to both customer-written applications and Oracle tools and utilities on z/OS. Attempts to store or fetch these types from a client program running on z/OS produces unpredictable results with both local and remote Oracle10g servers.

- Use of z/Architecture Binary Floating Point (BFP, also known as IEEE 754 floating point) in Oracle applications running on z/OS is not supported.
This restriction means that customer-written Oracle applications cannot bind or define host variables that are BFP types in an Oracle SQL statement. This restriction also affects tools and utilities: both SQL*Loader and the server External Table feature cannot load file data that is BFP.

Traditional System/370 floating point data (now known as Hexadecimal Floating Point or HFP) remain supported, as in the past.

3.6 Java Virtual Machine (JavaVM)

The following java methods are not supported with the JavaVM:

- java.lang.Runtime.exec()

- java.lang.System.load()

- java.lang.System.loadLibrary()

- java.lang.System.mapLibraryName()

- java.nio.channels.

3.7 Native Compilation of Java and PL/SQL

Native compilation of Java or PL/SQL programs is not supported.

3.8 Oracle Datapump

Oracle Datapump is restricted to HFS and zFS file systems.

3.9 Oracle Enterprise Manager Intelligent Agent

The following sections contain issues that affect Oracle Enterprise Manager Intelligent Agent:

- Available Functions with Oracle Enterprise Manager Intelligent Agent

- Configuration of Oracle Enterprise Manager Intelligent Agent

- Database Startup and Shutdown with Oracle Enterprise Manager

- Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control Console and iSQL*Plus

- Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control Console Not Shipped

3.9.1 Available Functions with Oracle Enterprise Manager Intelligent Agent

OracleDatabase 10g for IBM z/OS on System z supports only a minimal set of system statistics and these may not reflect the actual performance of the system.

3.9.2 Configuration of Oracle Enterprise Manager Intelligent Agent

Configuration of the Agent must be done manually. The Oracle Enterprise Manager Configuration Assistant is not supported with this release.

3.9.3 Database Startup and Shutdown with Oracle Enterprise Manager

OracleDatabase 10g for IBM z/OS on System z supports database startup and shutdown from the console. Before you use this feature, ensure that the OSDI rdbms and net subsystem are active.

3.9.4 Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control Console and iSQL*Plus

OracleDatabase 10g for IBM z/OS on System z does not support the iSQL*Plus interface from the console.

3.9.5 Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control Console Not Shipped

Currently, OracleDatabase 10g for IBM z/OS on System z only ships with the Oracle Enterprise Manager Agent. Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control Console is not supported, though this release supports a remote Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control Console. This is because the repository for this console must not reside on a z/OS platform.

3.10 Oracle External Tables

External Tables is an Oracle feature that enables you to process non-Oracle operating system files as Oracle database tables. On IBM z/OS on System z, the External Tables feature is limited to accessing files in the HFS and zFS file systems.

3.11 Oracle JDBC OCI Drivers

Oracle JDBC OCI drivers are supported for a limited subset of features. When you use a feature that is not supported, an error is returned with a message displayed to state that the feature is not supported. The Database character set must be WE8EBCDIC1047 or similar.

3.12 Oracle OLAP

The following sections contain issues affecting Oracle OLAP:

- Oracle OLAP API

- Oracle OLAP Installation

3.12.1 Oracle OLAP API

The Oracle OLAP API interface is not supported.

3.12.2 Oracle OLAP Installation

Dynamically linking options into the Oracle kernel as part of the Oracle Universal Installer installation is not supported in this release. If you choose the OLAP optional feature, then after the Oracle Universal Installer installation is complete, you must complete the following task manually to link the required code into Oracle:

1. Set your $ORACLE_HOME and $ORACLE_HLQ_PDS.
Do this by running the ENV file in your ORACLE_HOME location. For example:

cd $ORACLE_HOME/server/rdbms
make -f ins_rdbms.mk olap_on
make -f ins_rdbms.mk ioracle

A backup copy of the oracle executable is kept automatically in $ORACLE_HOME/server/rdbms/bin. It is named oracleO.

2. (Optional) Allocate a temporary AUTHLOAD to hold the new Oracle executable.
The final stage of the relink make attempts to copy the new Oracle executable into your AUTHLOAD, provided the link is successful. To allocate a temporary AUTHLOAD:

1. Allocate your new AUTHLOAD, using the same attributes as the current AUTHLOAD

2. Set the ORACLE_HLQ_PDS environment variable to point to this new HLQ.

3. Refer to the Oracle OLAP documentation to run the OLAP installation scripts.
At a minimum, you must run the script $ORACLE_HOME/olap/admin/olap.sql.

3.13 Oracle Scheduler

External jobs are not supported from Oracle Scheduler on IBM z/OS on System z.

3.14 Oracle Real Application Clusters

If you use ARCHIVE mode with Oracle Real Application Clusters (Oracle RAC), then you must either set the LOG_ARCHIVE_FORMAT/DEST values, or ensure that each instance within the Oracle Real Application Clusters cluster is in a separate subsystem and uses the same OSDI service name for each instance. Failure to do so causes database recovery to fail, due to an inability to find archive log files.

3.15 Oracle Security Server

For Oracle Security Server, an Oracle10g server or client on IBM z/OS on System z cannot be a participant in an Oracle security connection. However, an Oracle database server on IBM z/OS on System z can be the security repository.

3.16 Oracle Spatial Data Option

The SDO_GEORASTER feature is not supported.

3.17 Oracle Streams

The DBMS_FILE_TRANSFER PL/SQL package is not supported.

3.18 Oracle Universal Installer

The following configuration assistants for Oracle Universal Installer are not supported:

- Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA)

- Enterprise Manager Configuration Assistant (EMCA)

3.19 Oracle Utilities

The utilities Oracle Trace and dbnewid are not available.

Additional utilities are also not available with this release. For a complete list of unavailable utilities, refer to the documents Oracle Database Installation Guide for IBM z/OS on System z and Oracle Database System Administration Guide for IBM z/OS on System z.

3.20 Oracle XML Developers Kit

The following parts of the XML Developers Kit are not supported:

- XML Class Generator for Java and C++

3.21 Propagation from Object Queues

Propagation from object queues with BFILEs is not supported in Oracle Database 10g.

3.22 SQL*Plus linesize Variable Issues

When running SQL*Plus, if the linesize variable exceeds the SPOOL data set record length, the record truncates, and you may receive the following error:

SP2-0308: cannot close spool file.

To work around this problem, ensure that the SQL*Plus linesize variable is less than or equal to the SPOOL data set record length.

This issue is tracked with Oracle bug 4564229.

3.23 Upgrade Issues

If you upgrade an Oracle9i database to Oracle Database 10g Release 1, Oracle Flashback features using a timestamp may fail. To work around this problem, enter the following SQL script from the Oracle Database 10g database:

SQL> DELETE FROM smon_scn_time WHERE orig_thread <> 0;
SQL> COMMIT;

This issue is tracked with Oracle bug 3994270.

3.24 XML Database (XML DB)

The following XML DB components are not supported in this release:

- WebDAV access

- HTTP access

- FTP access

4 Documentation Accessibility

For information about Oracle's commitment to accessibility, visit the Oracle Accessibility Program website at http://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=acc&id=docacc.

Access to Oracle Support

Oracle customers have access to electronic support through My Oracle Support. For information, visit http://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=acc&id=info or visit http://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=acc&id=trs if you are hearing impaired.

Oracle Database Release Notes, 10g Release 2 (10.2.0.5) for IBM z/OS on System z

B25389-04

Copyright © 2006, 2012, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

This software and related documentation are provided under a license agreement containing restrictions on use and disclosure and are protected by intellectual property laws. Except as expressly permitted in your license agreement or allowed by law, you may not use, copy, reproduce, translate, broadcast, modify, license, transmit, distribute, exhibit, perform, publish, or display any part, in any form, or by any means. Reverse engineering, disassembly, or decompilation of this software, unless required by law for interoperability, is prohibited.

The information contained herein is subject to change without notice and is not warranted to be error-free. If you find any errors, please report them to us in writing.

If this is software or related documentation that is delivered to the U.S. Government or anyone licensing it on behalf of the U.S. Government, the following notice is applicable:

U.S. GOVERNMENT END USERS: Oracle programs, including any operating system, integrated software, any programs installed on the hardware, and/or documentation, delivered to U.S. Government end users are "commercial computer software" pursuant to the applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation and agency-specific supplemental regulations. As such, use, duplication, disclosure, modification, and adaptation of the programs, including any operating system, integrated software, any programs installed on the hardware, and/or documentation, shall be subject to license terms and license restrictions applicable to the programs. No other rights are granted to the U.S. Government.

This software or hardware is developed for general use in a variety of information management applications. It is not developed or intended for use in any inherently dangerous applications, including applications that may create a risk of personal injury. If you use this software or hardware in dangerous applications, then you shall be responsible to take all appropriate fail-safe, backup, redundancy, and other measures to ensure its safe use. Oracle Corporation and its affiliates disclaim any liability for any damages caused by use of this software or hardware in dangerous applications.

Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Intel and Intel Xeon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. AMD, Opteron, the AMD logo, and the AMD Opteron logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices. UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group.

This software or hardware and documentation may provide access to or information on content, products, and services from third parties. Oracle Corporation and its affiliates are not responsible for and expressly disclaim all warranties of any kind with respect to third-party content, products, and services. Oracle Corporation and its affiliates will not be responsible for any loss, costs, or damages incurred due to your access to or use of third-party content, products, or services.

Oracle Legal Notices

Copyright Notice

Copyright © 1994-2016, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

License Restrictions Warranty/Consequential Damages Disclaimer

This software and related documentation are provided under a license agreement containing restrictions on use and disclosure and are protected by intellectual property laws. Except as expressly permitted in your license agreement or allowed by law, you may not use, copy, reproduce, translate, broadcast, modify, license, transmit, distribute, exhibit, perform, publish, or display any part, in any form, or by any means. Reverse engineering, disassembly, or decompilation of this software, unless required by law for interoperability, is prohibited.

Warranty Disclaimer

The information contained herein is subject to change without notice and is not warranted to be error-free. If you find any errors, please report them to us in writing.

Restricted Rights Notice

If this is software or related documentation that is delivered to the U.S. Government or anyone licensing it on behalf of the U.S. Government, then the following notice is applicable:

U.S. GOVERNMENT END USERS: Oracle programs, including any operating system, integrated software, any programs installed on the hardware, and/or documentation, delivered to U.S. Government end users are "commercial computer software" pursuant to the applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation and agency-specific supplemental regulations. As such, use, duplication, disclosure, modification, and adaptation of the programs, including any operating system, integrated software, any programs installed on the hardware, and/or documentation, shall be subject to license terms and license restrictions applicable to the programs. No other rights are granted to the U.S. Government.

Hazardous Applications Notice

This software or hardware is developed for general use in a variety of information management applications. It is not developed or intended for use in any inherently dangerous applications, including applications that may create a risk of personal injury. If you use this software or hardware in dangerous applications, then you shall be responsible to take all appropriate fail-safe, backup, redundancy, and other measures to ensure its safe use. Oracle Corporation and its affiliates disclaim any liability for any damages caused by use of this software or hardware in dangerous applications.

Trademark Notice

Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Intel and Intel Xeon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. AMD, Opteron, the AMD logo, and the AMD Opteron logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices. UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group.

Third-Party Content, Products, and Services Disclaimer

This software or hardware and documentation may provide access to or information about content, products, and services from third parties. Oracle Corporation and its affiliates are not responsible for and expressly disclaim all warranties of any kind with respect to third-party content, products, and services unless otherwise set forth in an applicable agreement between you and Oracle. Oracle Corporation and its affiliates will not be responsible for any loss, costs, or damages incurred due to your access to or use of third-party content, products, or services, except as set forth in an applicable agreement between you and Oracle.

Alpha and Beta Draft Documentation Notice

If this document is in preproduction status:

This documentation is in preproduction status and is intended for demonstration and preliminary use only. It may not be specific to the hardware on which you are using the software. Oracle Corporation and its affiliates are not responsible for and expressly disclaim all warranties of any kind with respect to this documentation and will not be responsible for any loss, costs, or damages incurred due to the use of this documentation.

Private Alpha and Beta Draft Documentation Notice

If this document is in private preproduction status:

The information contained in this document is for informational sharing purposes only and should be considered in your capacity as a customer advisory board member or pursuant to your beta trial agreement only. It is not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality, and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions. The development, release, and timing of any features or functionality described in this document remains at the sole discretion of Oracle.

This document in any form, software or printed matter, contains proprietary information that is the exclusive property of Oracle. Your access to and use of this confidential material is subject to the terms and conditions of your Oracle Master Agreement, Oracle License and Services Agreement, Oracle PartnerNetwork Agreement, Oracle distribution agreement, or other license agreement which has been executed by you and Oracle and with which you agree to comply. This document and information contained herein may not be disclosed, copied, reproduced, or distributed to anyone outside Oracle without prior written consent of Oracle. This document is not part of your license agreement nor can it be incorporated into any contractual agreement with Oracle or its subsidiaries or affiliates.

Documentation Accessibility

For information about Oracle's commitment to accessibility, visit the Oracle Accessibility Program website at http://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=acc&id=docacc.

Access to Oracle Support

Oracle customers that have purchased support have access to electronic support through My Oracle Support. For information, visit http://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=acc&id=info or visit http://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=acc&id=trs if you are hearing impaired.