Re: Oracle and Windows NT ?

Darren Howatt <dhowatt_at_xpress.ab.ca> wrote in article <339C2D29.B90_at_xpress.ab.ca>...
> Hi,
>
> Has anybody had any experience using an Oracle 7.3 or 8.0 Database
> in a NT 4.0/5.0 environment.
>
> I would appreciate as many frank comments as I can get.
>
> Thank you in advance,
>

We're using it for a small project right now.

Issues:
1. NT seems to require more memory than UNIX to achieve the same performance on the same platform.
2. Need to use a piece of shareware to get a clean(ish) automatic database shutdown on server shutdown (OracleSafeShutdown). Its a bit poor that Oracle don't provide the necessary functionality, especially since NT is now a tier 1 platform (as I understand it). 3. If the NT server is on a network, and allows file access, then you can create a security hole if you enable OS authentication (OPS$) logons. 4. Scripting DBA stuff (backups etc) is more difficult, unless you build up a complete posix toolset from gnu sources/Nt Resk Kit or buy something like MKS tools.
5. Svrmgr is line-mode only; oracle is 'encouraging' everyone to use Enterprise manager, which is OTT for small installations, IMHO (it seems to need a seperate standalone database to manage the database!!). Its worth installing sqldba from an older version, or licensing server manager for win3.1/win95 to assist management, or loading dba tools from Personal Oracle (or even all three!).
6. You will probably want to install 16 bit (win3.1/win95) tools on the NT server. Install each type (win3.1, Win95, WinNT) in its own home directory (ORAWIN, ORAWIN95, ORANT), and make sure that SQL*Net config files are the same in all directories. In any case, Win3.1/Win95 apps running on the same box as the database server will be slower than running on a seperate network connected PC. Also make sure that you are using very latest SQL*Net (we had to use 16 bit sql*net from Dev2k 1.3 win 3.1 CD to solve some bugs.)
7. I seem to recall that the default database creation on install does not prompt for SID, global database name, or block size (the 3 things that are all but impossible to change later). It doesn't prompt for filename locations and sizes either, but those are much easier to alter later. 8. Database to database links using named pipes between NT platforms dont work, unless database services are started by an account other than the default NT 'system' service account.
9. Clustering, Multi-machine Parallel server, and failover is only just becoming available now.
10. AFAIK, Server is only available on NT on Intel platforms. (No Alpha, PowerPC or MIPS versions).

Thats it.

Miles

-- 
Miles Thomas
Logica UK Ltd
thomasm "at" logica "dot" com
The above are personal opinions, and are
not necessarily the opinions of my employer.