White Papers

Please download and use any of our white papers. If you have any suggestions or comments, email them to oracle_dba@peasland.net for consideration.

10g OCP New Features Notes (20KB) - This paper is a collection of notes I used when studying for the 10g New Features OCP upgrade exam (1Z0-040). This is not a polished paper, but a random collection of notes which may be beneficial for studying for this exam. (06/16/2006)

Getting the Most Out of AWR (297KB) - This paper illustrates features of the AWR that might not initially be obvious. This paper assumes the reader has some familiarity with Statspack. (05/30/2006)

Setting Up DB Control in Oracle Database 10g (57KB) - Shows how to manually configure and control Oracle Database 10g's Database Control. (05/25/2006)

Policy Violations in Oracle Database 10g (248KB - PDF) - Shows how Oracle Database 10g's Policy Violations in OEM can help lock down your database. (09/25/2005)

Data Loading With External Tables (17KB) - Shows how Oracle 9i's External Tables can load faster than traditional programming methods.

Tuning PGA in Oracle 9i (10KB) - Discusses how to use Oracle 9i's new PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET in tuning the PGA working areas.

Segment Statistics (9KB) - Discusses how Oracle 9i's new V$SEGMENT_STATISTICS view can help you get information about index and table usage within your database. This is a great way to get answers to questions like which table is used the most and is the index used at all?

DBMS_OBFUSCATION Key Security (11KB)- Discusses some techniques on how to secure your encryption keys. This paper should be read after the above paper. This paper was presented at IOUG Live! 2003 in Orlando, FL. The Power Point presentation of this paper can be found here (104KB).

Grow That DBA Career (22KB) - Discusses some tips on how to get a job as a DBA, and how to advance from Junior DBA up to a Senior DBA. This paper was presented at IOUG Live! 2003 in Orlando, FL. The Power Point presentation of this paper can be found here (119KB).

Tuning Distributed Queries and the DRIVING_SITE Hint (11KB)- Discusses how to determine exactly which SQL statements are running in distributed environment. Also discusses how to use the DRIVING_SITE hint for distributed queries. This paper was presented at IOUG-A Live! 2001 in Orlando, FL. The Power Point presentation of this paper can be found here (111KB).

Encrypting Data In The Database (8KB)- Discusses how to use the DBMS_OBFUSCATION_TOOLKIT package to encrypt your sensitive data.

Dumping Oracle Blocks (19KB)- Discusses how to see the internals of Oracle data blocks and how to interpret the resulting trace files.

How Many Transactions (12KB)- Discusses how to measure the total transactions in an Oracle database. This isn't as easy a question to answer as one many intially guess.

Oracle 9i New Features (53KB)- An overview of 9i's new features. I wrote this paper while preparing for the 9i OCP Upgrade Exam. Some of it is a little raw so please bear with me.

RMAN Notes (22KB)- An overview of setting up and using RMAN to backup your database. I wrote this paper to help me understand RMAN as I was learning it. Again, some of it is a little raw as this is just a guide, not a finished paper.

SGA_MAX_SIZE And Granules (9KB)- Discusses how Oracle 9i uses this new parameter to facilitate the new dynamic SGA feature of Oracle 9i. It also discusses how granules play a role as well.

Solving User Problems (31KB)- Discusses how to help solve problems that an end user may be having with a database. Gives details on how to get information from the database to aid in solving the problem.

Tuning An Import With Wait Events (9KB)- Discusses my first foray into the exciting world of the Oracle Wait Event interface. This is a case study of how I was able to use wait events to tune a slow import process.

Wait Events For User Problems (27KB)- Discusses wait events more in-depth than the previous paper.

X$ Tables, A Primer (11KB)- Discusses what X$ tables are and how and if you should use them.

Contact me at oracle_dba@peasland.net if you have any questions.