Weekend Learning: Exadata Database Machine and Exadata Storage Server versions

Have you ever asked yourself what the latest and greatest versions of Exadata components are?  So have I!  Well we are all in luck, as MOS document 888828.1 for the note "Exadata Database Machine and Exadata Storage Server Supported Versions" has all of the information you would ever need about Exadata versions!!

Weekend Learning: Configuring the Workflow Mailer for a Proxy Server

On Oracle EBS R12.1.3 you can follow the MOS document "How To Configure the Mailer to Connect To a Proxy Server" via article ID 2139133.1 and even if you do not plan on changing your configuration you may want to see what is required.  This article even has reference to the additional step required if you have moved on to R12.2 and want to do this!

Weekend Learning: Transparent Data Encryption and Disaster Recovery

Want to learn more about Transparent Data Encryption?  How about what you need to know if you are using it in a Disaster Recovery situation?  Look no further than Lukasz Feldman's post on LinkedIn!

Weekend Learning: Enabling data encryption for Oracle Payments module in R12

If you have upgraded to R12, or have a plan to do so, make sure you read MOS document "How To Enable Oracle Payments Data Encryption Functionality" from document ID 1301337.1 to learn how to get on the middle tier, create an Oracle Wallet .p12 file, and what concurrent requests you need to be running as well depending on what profile options you choose for the encryption method.

Weekend Learning: Background information on using 4k redo logs on Flash and SSD-based storage devices

Check out MOS document "Using 4k Redo Logs on Flash and SSD-based Storage" from note 1681266.1 to get details about using 4k storage media like Flash and SSD to see how they can be logically setup or used in hybrid situations to avoid misaligned I/O issues!

Weekend Learning: Required/recommended bundle patches and patch sets for OBIEE 11g

If you are running an Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition platform do yourself a favor and add the article "OBIEE 11g: Required and Recommended Bundle Patches and Patch Sets" to your favorites list in MOS via document ID 1488475.1 to keep on top of changes!!

Weekend Learning: Master reference note for "CPU time" wait events

If you have ever looked at what your database is doing in either a real time fashion, or via ASH/ADDM reports, then you have obviously seen wait events referencing the CPU and that does not mean there is a problem with the CPU or even with the database, but for the times when you are not sure make sure you have favorited the document ""DB CPU" / "CPU + Wait for CPU" / "CPU time" Reference Note" in My Oracle Support note 1965757.1 so you have a one-stop shop at your fingertips!  This would also be useful too, if you wanted to utilize it to check out possible issues when upgrading your database version or adding new features!

Weekend Learning: What APIs and programming languages can be used to make a connection to an Oracle DB?

While not directly on point for somebody in an application support role, you may need to know the information within MOS document "Oracle Client API's that can be used to access an Oracle database." from article ID 739169.1 so take a moment to brush up on your knowledge!

Weekend Learning: Bill Presentment Architecture (BPA) setup

Do you use XML for your PDF generation?  Have you looked at "Bill Presentment Architecture Set Up And Usage" on My Oracle Support from document ID 786553.1?  You should!  Find out if you can upgrade your processes and environment!!

Weekend Learning: Whitepaper on Exadata monitoring with Enterprise Manager

Do not miss this whitepaper on Monitoring Exadata Storage Server Grids with Enterprise Manager from the Maximum Availability Architecture (MAA) team which has the entire step by step process and all the SQL you need to set up all of the conditions you need to alert on!

Weekend Learning: Defining the TCP Socket (KGAS) wait event

I have talked about this wait event before as a potential warning sign of network issues, as well as an indicator when you have database traffic misbehaving, but what does Oracle say about the TCP Socket (KGAS) wait event?  I am SO glad you asked!  Wait no more, check out MOS article "What are 'TCP Socket (Kgas)' Waits?" from document ID 416451.1 for the official word on why this wait event is not a cause to open an SR with Support, and what issues it could be representing!

Weekend Learning: MySQL binary logs and when they are purged

How much do you know about MySQL?  Could you learn more?  Check out My Oracle Support article "When Are Binary Logs Purged?" from document ID 1937267.1 that talks about when they are purged, and then click on the links below in the article to learn about what binary logs actually are!  Always be learning and adding to your toolbox!

Weekend Learning: Creating statistics on global temporary tables

While the note "How to Create Statistics on Global Temporary Tables" on My Oracle Support from article ID 351190.1 is talking about post 9.2.0.6 Oracle databases, it also has specific information on how this is different for 12c and introduces the idea of dynamic sampling as well!  How does this apply to you?  Well, I have seen system generated global temporary tables perform badly where you really do not have any control over it, so this could possibly give you some kind of control!

Weekend Learning: Backing up and recovering Hyperion Planning applications

Tonight we have our first Weekend Learning of the year, and it is a pretty good one if you have Hyperion Planning in your environment from My Oracle Support article "How to Backup And Recover a Hyperion Planning Application" via document ID 1195635.1 and while I will be glad I had this at hand I really hope I never need to use it.  :}

Weekend Learning: PeopleSoft webcast archive and scheduled recordings

Ever wanted to know more about Oracle PeopleSoft applications?  Look no further than the "PeopleSoft Enterprise Advisor Webcast Schedule and Archived Recordings" page on My Oracle Support via note ID 1456265.1 for several years of archived webcasts in addition to current upcoming events too!

Weekend Learning: Oracle GoldenGate Director Management Pack - Master Note

Do you have to use GoldenGate?  Would you like to know more about it?  How about changing your configuration to install Director?  Check out My Oracle Support document ID 1307305.1 for "Master Note Oracle GoldenGate Management Pack - Director" and learn something about Director this weekend!

Weekend Learning: Oracle Payables - Information Center

I posted this last year in a batch of different Payables documents, but it bears reposting because it is such a great wealth of knowledge about Payables all in one spot so don't miss out on adding MOS document ID 1417598.2 to your bookmarks for the "Information Center: Oracle Payables" article!!

P.S.  I may have taken another unintended break and found out how it is easier to break a routine, than get into one, but I'm looking to start up another streak of nightly posting right NOW!  :}  Thanks for the continued viewership through this time of not so many posts, I hope to give you a lot of good information in the weeks to come so make sure you keep coming back here every day.

Weekend Learning: Setting up, monitoring, and tuning parallelism

Do not miss out on the MOS document "Setup, Monitor, And Tune Parallelism In The Database" this weekend via document ID 1549214.1 to get the scoop on what default parallelism is, parameter settings which influence this, best practices, AND a health check script which can help you determine if there is anything off in your system!

Weekend Learning: Reviewing Purchasing workflow activity

Tonight the My Oracle Support article "Reviewing the Workflow Activity for an In Process or Pre-Approved Purchasing Document [Video]" from note ID 1231023.1 presents different ways to get the data from behind the scenes for workflow by either an Analyzer, a Diagnostic, scripts, or through the application!

Weekend Learning: OEM 12c FAQ for Exadata Virtualized Database Machine

If you are running a virtualized Exadata installation, and using OEM to monitor your systems, do not miss out on document ID 1967758.1 for the MOS article "Oracle Enterprise Manager 12c Exadata Management and Virtualized Exadata Database Machine FAQ" which details what versions are compatible with each other and how you need to be configuring the agent too!