Configuration of OraRacDumpAreaTest

Trace files, typically used for troubleshooting issues with key database operations, are stored in dump area destinations marked for every such operation. For instance, a background dump destination can be specified using the BACKGROUND_DUMP_DEST initialization parameter in Oracle; trace files for the background processes are written to this destination only. Similarly, trace files for user processes are generated and stored in the user dump destination, which is set using the USER_DUMP_DEST parameter in Oracle.

The dump destinations so created should be adequately sized, so that there is always enough space in the destination directory for storing trace files. If any of the destination directories become full, then trace files cannot be created for the corresponding database operation; while the absence of trace files can make debugging difficult, in some cases, it can even bring the database operations to a standstill.

In order to avoid such anomalies, the usage of each dump destination should be monitored, and administrators promptly alerted to space inadequacies, so that required space is made available in the dump directory. The OraRacDumpAreaTest serves this purpose effectively. This test runs periodic checks on the usage of every dump destination that has been configured for monitoring, and alerts administrators if any of the configured dump destinations or dump drives are likely to run out of space.

The default parameters associated with this test are:

• The TEST PERIOD list box helps the user to decide how often this test needs to be executed.

• In the HOST text box, specify the HOST for which this test is to be configured.

• Specify the port at which the specified host listens to in the PORT text box.

• The variable name of the oracle instance is specified in ORASID textbox.

• A ServiceName exists for the entire Oracle RAC system. When clients connect to an Oracle cluster using the ServiceName, then the cluster routes the request to any available database instance in the cluster. By default, the SERVICE NAME is set to none. In this case, the test connects to the cluster using the ORASID and pulls out the metrics from that database instance which corresponds to that ORASID. If a valid SERVICE NAME is specified instead, then, the test will connect to the cluster using that SERVICE NAME, and will be able to pull out metrics from any available database instance in the cluster.

  To know the ServiceName of a cluster, execute the following query on any node in the target cluster:

  select name, value from v$parameter where name =‘service_names’

• In order to monitor an Oracle database server, a special database user account has to be created in every Oracle database instance that requires monitoring. A Click here hyperlink is available in the test configuration page, using which a new oracle database user can be created. Alternatively, you can manually create the special database user. When doing so, ensure that this user is vested with the select_catalog_role and create session privileges.

  The sample script we recommend for user creation (in Oracle database server versions before 12c) for eG monitoring is:

  create user oraeg identified by oraeg ;

  create role oratest;

  grant create session to oratest;

  grant select_catalog_role to oratest;

  grant oratest to oraeg;

  The sample script we recommend for user creation (in Oracle database server 12c) for eG monitoring is:

  alter session set container=<Oracle_service_name>;

  create user <user_name> identified by <user_password> container=current default tablespace <name_of_default_tablespace> temporary tablespace <name_of_temporary_tablespace>;

  Grant create session to <user_name>;

  Grant select_catalog_role to <user_name>;

  The name of this user has to be specified in the USER textbox.

• Provide the password of the specified database user in the PASSWORD textbox.

• Confirm the PASSWORD by retyping it in the CONFIRM PASSWORD textbox.

• By default, the eG agent auto-discovers the name and full path to all dump destinations on the target Oracle Cluster database server. This is why, the DumpFilePath parameter is set to none by default. If required, you can manually specify the path to the dump destination to be monitored. For eg, /user/john/udump. In this case , multiple paths can also be provided as a comma-separated list - e.g., /user/john/udump, /user/john/bdump.

• If multiple components of the same component type are awaiting configuration, then an APPLY TO OTHER COMPONENTS button will appear in this page. Clicking on this button will allow you to apply the configuration to all/selected components of that type.

• Once the necessary values have been provided, clicking on the UPDATE button will register the changes made.

When changing the configuration for specific servers, a “*” beside the text box corresponding to the parameter signifies that these values have to be manually configured by the user. The parameter values that require to be configured will typically be prefixed with a “$” or contain a series of “*”. A value of “none” in the parameter value indicates that the corresponding parameter value can be changed if required.