2.1 Oracle ORAchk Scope and Supported Environments

Review the scope and supported environments for Oracle ORAchk.

2.1.1 Oracle ORAchk Scope of Oracle Stack Supported

Oracle ORAchk performs health checks for the entire range of Oracle products from hardware, to Oracle Database, middleware, and applications. Oracle ORAchk proactively scans for top known problems (based on prioritization of reported issues) within an Oracle system.

The scope of Oracle ORAchk increases with new releases. Review the following list for the current scope of ORAchk.

Oracle Database

  • Single-instance Oracle Database

  • Oracle Grid Infrastructure and Oracle RAC

  • Maximum Availability Architecture (MAA) validation

  • Upgrade Readiness validation

  • Oracle GoldenGate

  • Application Continuity

Enterprise Manager Cloud Control (12c only)

  • Management Repository

  • Management Agents

  • Oracle Management Service (OMS), version 12.1.0.1 and later on Linux only

E-Business Suite

  • Oracle Payables (R12 only)

  • Oracle Workflow

  • Oracle Purchasing (R12 only)

  • Oracle Order Management (R12 only)

  • Oracle Process Manufacturing (R12 only)

  • Oracle Fixed Assets (R12 only)

  • Oracle Human Resources (R12 only)

  • Oracle Receivables (R12 only)

  • Oracle Customer Relationship Management

  • Oracle Project Billing

Oracle Identity and Access Management

  • Oracle Identity Manager (11.1.2.2.x and 11.1.2.3.x)

  • Oracle Access Manager (11.1.2.2.x and 11.1.2.3.x)

  • Oracle Unified Directory (11.1.2.2.x and 11.1.2.3.x)

Oracle Hardware Systems

  • Oracle Solaris

  • Oracle Solaris Cluster

  • Oracle Systems configuration for Oracle Middleware and Oracle Applications

  • Oracle ZFS Storage Appliance

  • Oracle Virtual Networking

Oracle Siebel

  • Oracle Siebel verification of the database configuration for stability, best practices and performance optimization (Siebel 8.1.1.11 connecting to Oracle Database 11.2.0.4.)

Oracle PeopleSoft

  • Oracle PeopleSoft verification of database best practices

2.1.2 Oracle ORAchk Supported Platforms

Review the list of Oracle ORAchk supported platforms.

Oracle ORAchk is supported on the following platforms:

  • Intel Linux* (Oracle Linux/RedHat 5, 6, 7 and SuSE 9,10, 11, 12)

  • Linux on System Z (RedHat 6, 7 and SuSE 12)

  • Oracle Solaris SPARC (Solaris 10 and 11)

  • Oracle Solaris x86-64 (Solaris 10 and 11)

  • AIX **

  • HPUX**

  • Microsoft Windows (2008 and 2012)***

Note:

*No planned support for Linux Itanium.

*Only 32-bit platforms are supported for 32-bit EBS environments using the command ./orachk -ebs32bit

** Requires BASH Shell 3.2 or later to be installed on the systems

*** Requires Cygwin to be installed.

Related Topics

2.1.3 Oracle ORAchk Supported Database Releases

Review the list of supported database releases for Oracle ORAchk.

Oracle ORAchk is supported on the following database releases:

  • Oracle Database 10g Release 2 or later

  • Oracle Database 11g Release 1 or later

  • Oracle Database 11g Release 2 or later

  • Oracle Database 12c Release 1 or later

2.1.4 Cygwin Requirements

Install Cygwin to use Oracle ORAchk on Microsoft Windows operating system.

Cygwin is a free utility that provides a POSIX compliant Linux-like environment on a Microsoft Windows host. Technically, it is a DLL (cygwin1.dll) that acts as a Linux API layer providing substantial Linux API functionality.

Cygwin provides a bash scripting shell environment that is compatible with Oracle ORAchk. After installing Cygwin, configure the SSH daemon on the host. SSH daemon is needed only for Oracle RAC installations.

Oracle ORAchk includes hundreds of database and application checks that run on Microsoft Windows.

2.1.4.1 How to Install Cygwin on Microsoft Windows Hosts

To use Oracle ORAchk on Microsoft Windows, you must install Cygwin on the Microsoft Windows servers.

  1. Download the latest version of Cygwin, which is available at the following URL:
  2. During Cygwin installation you are prompted to select the packages to install. Select at least the following:

    • Perl/*

    • Tcl/expect

    • Archive/unzip

    • Archive/zip

Note:

Some Cygwin mirror download sites do not include all the packages. If you find the necessary packages are not available, then try a different mirror site.

Note:

SSH configuration is required for cluster-wide runs, and required for single-instance Oracle Database and Oracle Restart environments.

2.1.4.2 Configuring SSH

Configure SSH and test your Cygwin setup.

Note:

  • SSH Configuration is needed only for cluster-wide runs and required for single-instance Oracle Database and Oracle Restart environments.

  • While configuring SSH, run cygwin.bat as an Administrator user on Microsoft Windows Server 2012 or later release, or Windows 7 or later release.

  • If MKSNT is installed and running, then remove the path of mksnt from the environment and stop the SSH server.

  1. Go to the C:\cygwin directory, open the Cygwin.bat file in edit mode using any editor, and add the following line before running the bash shell. 
    set CYGWIN=binmode ntsec
    For example, here are the contents for the Cygwin.bat file after adding the above line: 
    @echo off
C:
chdir C:\cygwin\bin
set CYGWIN=binmode ntsec
bash --login -i
  2. Save and close the Cygwin.bat file.
  3. Right-click the Cygwin.bat file and select Run as administrator.
  4. Verify that Cygwin (cygrunsrv) is installed properly.
    1. Run C:\cygwin\Cygwin.bat, and then run the cygsrvrun -h command:

      If Cygwin is installed properly, then all the help options for Cygwin are displayed on the screen. If this command returns an error message, then reinstall Cygwin.

      $ cygrunsrv -h
Usage: cygrunsrv [OPTION]...

Main options: Exactly one is required.

  -I, --install <svc_name>  Installes a new service named <svc_name>.
  -R, --remove <svc_name>   Removes a service named <svc_name>.
  -S, --start <svc_name>    Starts a service named <svc_name>.
  -E, --stop <svc_name>     Stops a service named <svc_name>.
  -Q, --query <svc_name>    Queries a service named <svc_name>.
  -L, --list [server]       Lists services that have been installed
                            with cygrunsrv.
  <svc_name> can be a local service or "server/svc_name" or "server\svc_name".

---more---

Report bugs to <cygwin@cygwin.com>.
  5. To configure the SSHD service, run C:\cygwin\Cygwin.bat, and then run the following command: 
    $ ssh-host-config
    • Cygwin prompts you to answer the following questions: 
        *** Query: Should privilege separation be used? <yes/no>: yes
        *** Query: New local account ‘sshd’? <yes/no>: yes
        *** Query: Do you want to install sshd as a service?
        *** Query: <Say “no” if it is already installed as a service> <yes/no>: yes
        *** Query: Enter the value of CYGWIN for the daemon: [] binmode ntsec
        *** Query: Do you want to use a different name? <yes/no>: no
    • At this point, if you want to use the same name, that is, cyg_server, enter no. You are then prompted the following questions: 
      *** Query: Create new privileged user account ‘cyg_server’? (yes/no) yes
*** Query: Please enter the password:
*** Query: Reenter:
    • If the configuration is successful, then Cygwin displays the following message: 
      Host configuration finished. Have fun!
  6. Backup the passwd file. Make a copy of this file before editing it.
  7. Edit the passwd file. Use any editor to open the passwd file in edit mode. Remove only those entries of the user that you use to connect to the host on which you plan to run Oracle ORAchk.
  8. Create a /etc/passwd file.
    • For a local user: Run C:\cygwin\Cygwin.bat, and then run the following command: 
      /bin/mkpasswd -l –u USER >> /etc/passwd
      For example: 
      /bin/mkpassword -l –u pjohn >> /etc/passwd

    • For a domain user: Run C:\cygwin\Cygwin.bat, and then run the following commands:

      /bin/mkpasswd –d –u USER >> /etc/passwd
      For example: 
      /bin/mkpasswod –d –u pjohn >> /etc/passwd

      mkdir –p /home/USER
      For example: 
      mkdir –p /home/pjohn

      chown USER /home/USER
      For example: 
      chown pjohn /home/pjohn
  9. (Domain user only) Start the SSH daemon in an Oracle RAC environment. SSH is not necessary for single-instance Oracle Database or Oracle Restart environments.

    1. Right-click My Computer, and select Manage.

    2. In the Computer Management dialog box, go to Services and Applications, and select CYGWIN sshd.

    3. Right-click CYGWIN sshd and select Properties.

    4. In the Properties window, go to the Log On tab.

    5. Specify the fully qualified domain user name and password, for example, EXAMPLE\USER1, and then click Apply.

    6. Run C:\cygwin\Cygwin.bat, and run the following: 
      chown USERNAME /var/log/sshd.log
chown –R USERNAME /var/empty
chown USERNAME /etc/ssh*
chmod 755 /var/empty
chmod 644 /var/log/sshd.log

      Note:

      If /var/log/sshd.log does not exist, you do not have to run the following commands: 
      chown USERNAME /var/log/sshd.log
chmod 644 /var/log/sshd.log
  10. Complete one of the following steps to start the SSH daemon for the first time, and verify the SSH daemon status whenever the server reboots.
    Run C:/cygwin/Cygwin.bat, and run the following command: 
    /usr/sbin/sshd

    Or

    Run C:/cygwin/Cygwin.bat, and run the following command: 
    cygrunsrv -S sshd

    Or

    Perform these steps:

    1. Right-click My Computer, and select Manage.

    2. In the Computer Management dialog box that appears, go to Services and Applications, and select CYGWIN sshd.

    3. Click CYGWIN sshd, and then click Start.

      Figure 2-1 Cygwin - sshd

      Description of Figure 2-1 follows
      Description of "Figure 2-1 Cygwin - sshd"

      Note:

      Run the following: 
      chown –R USERNAME /var/empty
chown USERNAME /etc/ssh*
chmod 755 /var/empty
      If the /var/log/sshd.log file exists, then also run these commands: 
      chown USERNAME /var/log/sshd.log
chmod 644 /var/log/sshd.log
  11. Test your Cygwin setup.
    Run the following command on the local node and remote nodes: 
    ssh –l USERNAME localhost ‘date’

    Or

    ssh –l USERNAME this node ‘date’
    For example: 
    ssh –l phohn example.com ‘date’

    This command prompts you to specify the password. When you specify the correct password, the command returns the accurate date.

See Also:

  • Cygwin FAQ, if you experience a process fork failure, memory leak error, or a file access error after configuring SSH, which is available at the following URL:

    http://cygwin.com/faq.html

  • Cygwin community, if you are unable to find a workaround for your problem, which available at the following URL:

    http://cygwin.com/problems.html