Preface

Net8 Administrator's Guide provides the information you need to understand and use the Net8 product and its related applications.

Note:
This guide contains information that describes the Net8 features and functionality within the Oracle8i and the Oracle8i Enterprise Edition products. Oracle8i and the Oracle8i Enterprise Edition have the same basic features. However, several advanced Net8 features are available only with Oracle8i Enterprise Edition. For example, to use Oracle Connection Manager, you must have Oracle8i Enterprise Edition. For information about the differences between Oracle8i and the Oracle8i Enterprise Edition and the features and options that are available to you, please refer to Getting to Know Oracle8i.

This Preface includes the following topics:

Audience

The information in this guide is intended primarily for network or database administrators (DBAs) responsible for making connection to services, such as the Oracle8i database, and network configuration. This guide is also provided for anyone who wants to understand how Net8 works.

How this Book is Organized

This guide is divided into the following parts, chapters, and appendices:

Part I: Net8 Overview and Concepts

Chapter 1, "Introduction to Net8"

Introduces Net8

Chapter 2, "Net8 Concepts"

Describes multi-threaded server or dedicated server connection models, client connection features, listener features, naming methods, and the Net8 support of LDAP-compliant directory services

Chapter 3, "Net8 Architecture"

Describes the Net8 architecture

Chapter 4, "Net8 Products and Tools"

Describes Net8 products and Net8 administration tools

Chapter 5, "Planning Your Network"

Describes considerations for planning a network using Net8. It explains the relationships of the Net8 products, and options for better managing your future network

Part II: Configuration

Chapter 6, "Configuring Naming Methods"

Describes how to configure the network using various Net8 methods

Chapter 7, "Configuring the Listener"

Describes how to configure the listener

Chapter 8, "Enabling Advanced Net8 Features"

Describes how to configure advanced and optional Net8 connection features, such as Oracle Connection Manager, client load balancing, connect-time failover, heterogeneous services, external procedures, and Oracle Rdb databases

Chapter 9, "Configuring Multi-Threaded Server"

Describes how to tune the components of the multi-threaded server architecture

Chapter 10, "Enabling Net8 Enhancements for Programmers"

Describes Net8 enhancements for programmers. This includes a review of Net8 Open, UNIX signal handling, and the bequeath adapter.

Part III: Net8 Testing and Troubleshooting

Chapter 11, "Establishing a Connection and Testing the Network"

Describes how to start Net8 components, establish a connection, and test a connection

Chapter 12, "Troubleshooting"

Describes procedures to troubleshoot Net8. This includes information on tracing and logging

Part IV: Reference

Appendix A, "Control Utilities"

Describes all commands for Net8 control utilities including the Listener Control Utility (LSNRCTL), Oracle Names Control Utility (NAMESCTL), and Connection Manager Control Utility (CMCTL)

Appendix B, "Protocol Addresses"

Describes how to configure protocol addresses

Appendix C, "Configuration Parameters"

Lists and describes configuration parameters for the networking configuration files.

Appendix D, "LDAP Schema for Net8"

Describes the Net8 object classes and attributes stored in LDAP-compliant directory service schema

What's New in Oracle8i

This section briefly lists the new Oracle8i features and provides pointers to other chapters in the document where you can get additional information. New features include:

Directory Naming

Network information can now be stored in a centralized LDAP-compliant directory service, including Oracle Internet Directory, Microsoft's Active Directory, and Novell Directory Services.

New Listener Features

Feature	See Also
Service Naming--Oracle8i database services are identified by a service name rather than an Oracle System Identifier (SID). This impacts the way connect descriptors are defined.	"Database Identification by Service Name Rather than SID"
Direct Hand-Off--The listener has the ability to hand of requests directly to an MTS dispatcher, without issuing a redirect message back to the client.	"Service Registration to the Listener"
Service Registration--Oracle8i database instances register information with the listener during database startup. This eliminates the need to configure the `listener.ora` file with service information.	"Multi-Threaded Server Model"
Connection Load Balancing--The listener is able to balance the number of active connections among various instances and MTS dispatchers for the same service.	"Connection Load Balancing"

New Client Connections Features

Feature More Information

Client Load Balancing--When more than one listener supports a service, a client can randomize requests to the various listeners.

"Client Load Balancing for Multiple Listeners"

Connect-Time Failover--When more than one listener supports a service, a client can be configured to fail over the client request to a different listener if the first listener fails.

"Connect-Time Failover for Multiple Listeners"

Feature	More Information
Client Load Balancing--When more than one listener supports a service, a client can randomize requests to the various listeners.	"Client Load Balancing for Multiple Listeners"
Connect-Time Failover--When more than one listener supports a service, a client can be configured to fail over the client request to a different listener if the first listener fails.	"Connect-Time Failover for Multiple Listeners"

New Oracle Connection Manager Features

Feature More Information

The Oracle Connection Manager Control Utility (CMCTL) has been enhanced with several new commands that allow for greater control.

"Oracle Connection Manager Control Utility (CMCTL)"

Feature	More Information
The Oracle Connection Manager Control Utility (CMCTL) has been enhanced with several new commands that allow for greater control.	"Oracle Connection Manager Control Utility (CMCTL)"

New Products

Feature More Information

Net8 Configuration Assistant--A post-installation tool that performs basic configuration. After installation, it automatically configures default configuration files.

"Net8 Configuration Assistant" and operating-system installation guides

TCP/IP with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol--A protocol for client/server authentication over a network using TCP/IP and the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

"TCP/IP with SSL"

Feature	More Information
Net8 Configuration Assistant--A post-installation tool that performs basic configuration. After installation, it automatically configures default configuration files.	"Net8 Configuration Assistant" and operating-system installation guides
TCP/IP with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol--A protocol for client/server authentication over a network using TCP/IP and the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).	"TCP/IP with SSL"

Oracle8i Database Features that Affect Net8

Feature More Information

Database services are identified by service name and instance name rather than Oracle System Identifier (SID)

"Database Identification by Service Name Rather than SID"

Feature	More Information
Database services are identified by service name and instance name rather than Oracle System Identifier (SID)	"Database Identification by Service Name Rather than SID"

Conventions

The following conventions are used in this book:

Convention Meaning

UPPERCASE

Calls attention to SQL commands, keywords, and initialization parameters.

bold

Boldface test indicates a term defined in the glossary.

lowercase courier

Indicates file names, directories and commands.

constant width

This typeface is used for user input and code examples.

Italic

Terms in italics indicate a variable or special emphasis. Italic is also used for book titles.

$ORACLE_HOME on UNIX and ORACLE_HOME on Windows platforms

In this Optimal Flexible Architecture (OFA)-compliant release, all subdirectories are no longer under a top level ORACLE_HOME directory. There can be an ORACLE_BASE directory, which may contain multiple Oracle home directories.

< >

Angle brackets enclose user-supplied names.

[ ]

Brackets enclose a choice of optional items from which you can choose one or none.

{ }

Curly brakets enclose required items.

...

Horizontal ellipsis points in code samples mean that parts of the sample have been omitted.

Convention	Meaning
UPPERCASE	Calls attention to SQL commands, keywords, and initialization parameters.
bold	Boldface test indicates a term defined in the glossary.
`lowercase courier`	Indicates file names, directories and commands.
`constant width`	This typeface is used for user input and code examples.
Italic	Terms in italics indicate a variable or special emphasis. Italic is also used for book titles.
$ORACLE_HOME on UNIX and ORACLE_HOME on Windows platforms	In this Optimal Flexible Architecture (OFA)-compliant release, all subdirectories are no longer under a top level `ORACLE_HOME` directory. There can be an `ORACLE_BASE` directory, which may contain multiple Oracle home directories.
`< >`	Angle brackets enclose user-supplied names.
`[ ]`	Brackets enclose a choice of optional items from which you can choose one or none.
`{ }`	Curly brakets enclose required items.
`...`	Horizontal ellipsis points in code samples mean that parts of the sample have been omitted.

Your Comments Are Welcome

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Part I: Net8 Overview and Concepts
Chapter 1, "Introduction to Net8"	Introduces Net8
Chapter 2, "Net8 Concepts"	Describes multi-threaded server or dedicated server connection models, client connection features, listener features, naming methods, and the Net8 support of LDAP-compliant directory services
Chapter 3, "Net8 Architecture"	Describes the Net8 architecture
Chapter 4, "Net8 Products and Tools"	Describes Net8 products and Net8 administration tools
Chapter 5, "Planning Your Network"	Describes considerations for planning a network using Net8. It explains the relationships of the Net8 products, and options for better managing your future network
Part II: Configuration
Chapter 6, "Configuring Naming Methods"	Describes how to configure the network using various Net8 methods
Chapter 7, "Configuring the Listener"	Describes how to configure the listener
Chapter 8, "Enabling Advanced Net8 Features"	Describes how to configure advanced and optional Net8 connection features, such as Oracle Connection Manager, client load balancing, connect-time failover, heterogeneous services, external procedures, and Oracle Rdb databases
Chapter 9, "Configuring Multi-Threaded Server"	Describes how to tune the components of the multi-threaded server architecture
Chapter 10, "Enabling Net8 Enhancements for Programmers"	Describes Net8 enhancements for programmers. This includes a review of Net8 Open, UNIX signal handling, and the bequeath adapter.
Part III: Net8 Testing and Troubleshooting
Chapter 11, "Establishing a Connection and Testing the Network"	Describes how to start Net8 components, establish a connection, and test a connection
Chapter 12, "Troubleshooting"	Describes procedures to troubleshoot Net8. This includes information on tracing and logging
Part IV: Reference
Appendix A, "Control Utilities"	Describes all commands for Net8 control utilities including the Listener Control Utility (LSNRCTL), Oracle Names Control Utility (NAMESCTL), and Connection Manager Control Utility (CMCTL)
Appendix B, "Protocol Addresses"	Describes how to configure protocol addresses
Appendix C, "Configuration Parameters"	Lists and describes configuration parameters for the networking configuration files.
Appendix D, "LDAP Schema for Net8"	Describes the Net8 object classes and attributes stored in LDAP-compliant directory service schema