SBL-OMS-00203: Error (null) invoking method "(null)" for Business Service "(null)"

We recently implemented Siebel and keep running into a few SBL errors now and then. We were being bugged by a SBL-OMS-00203 and here is a solution that worked for SBL-OMS-00203

ORA-06512

ORA-06512 or ORA 6512 is a common error faced by oracle users and administrators alike during the operations of an oracle database. The ORA-06512 error in itself does not indicate the actual issue or an exception code.

ORA-00904 and ORA-01722 calls from developers

I am surprised that many of the developers cannot even solve simple oracle errors like ORA-00904 and ORA-01722. These errors are caused by issues in your code, do not google and call your dba asking if the server is still up or if its running into some issue.

If you are a newbie PL/SQL developer, spend some time on ORA-06550 while you are reading through the above 2 errors

mtime find and unix

A good article that explains mtime, ctime and atime and usage of the same in find command of unix

Oracle releases updated to Sun Ray

Administrators and End Users Benefit from Broader Support of Heterogeneous Environments, Greater Efficiency, Access and Ease-of-Use
Sun Ray Software 5 provides a comprehensive Oracle-based virtualization solution that easily integrates with popular third-party technologies like Microsoft Windows Server, Microsoft Active Directory, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, and VMware View.
This broad support for heterogeneous environments is unique to Oracle’s desktop virtualization solutions and offers customers enhanced flexibility and investment protection.
New features in the Sun Ray Software 5 update include:
Support for Oracle Enterprise Linux – enables customers to choose among Oracle Solaris, Oracle Enterprise Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux or SUSE Linux Enterprise Server as their server platform to deploy Sun Ray Software;
Enhanced virtual desktop client – installs on existing PCs and allows them to be used as an alternative to a dedicated Sun Ray Client device. This enables organizations to quickly experience many of the benefits of the Sun Ray solution, using their existing desktops. New in this release is support for Mac OS X computers, in addition to existing support for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7;
Greater mobility – with the enhanced virtual desktop client, customers can now use smart card readers on supported PCs to “hotdesk” desktop sessions between PCs and dedicated Sun Ray Clients. “Hotdesking” allows users instant access to their desktop sessions simply by inserting a smart card into a Sun Ray Client or a PC with a smart card reader;
Sun Ray connector for VMware View 4 – allows Sun Ray Clients to be used as a client with the VMware View 4 virtual desktop infrastructure product;
Enhanced multimedia with bidirectional audio capabilities – improves the user experience with Windows applications.

ORA-06550 and ORA-06502

Two errors that continuously dog developers and dba's alike are ORA-06550 and ORA-06502. These are due to code issues within the PL/SQL that has been developed and a good explanation of the same is available at the locations below.


ORA-06502 :Text: PL/SQL: numeric or value error

Oracle Introduces Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler

Oracle's New SQL Developer Data Modeller Enables Data Modeling, Design and Development for Oracle Database, Delivering Comprehensive Capabilities to Ease Data Model Development. Data models are powerful communication aids that are used when initiating projects and consolidating or updating existing projects.

Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler delivers a spectrum of data and database modeling capabilities spanning:
Visual entity relationship modeling – Supports both Barker and Bachman notations so developers can switch between models to suit the audience’s needs or create and save different visual displays;
Forward engineering ERDs to relational models – Transforms all rules and decisions made at the conceptual level to the relational model, where details are further refined and updated;
Separate relational and physical models – Enables developers to develop a single relational model for different database versions or different databases such as Oracle Database, IBM DB2 V7 and V8 for Linux, UNIX and Windows and OS/390 mainframe, and Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and 2005; and,
Full spectrum of physical database definitions – Supports physical definitions such as partitions, roles, and tablespaces for specific database versions for multi-database, multi-vendor support leading to improved developer consistency and productivity.
The new tool integrates seamlessly with Oracle SQL Developer – Oracle’s popular graphical tool for database development – to let developers open and view previously developed designs as well as query, run and write reports against the reporting repository.
Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler is available for all editions of Oracle Database 11g and runs on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. The tool is also available for Oracle Database 10g.

ORA-12541 TNS no listener

ORA-12541 : TNS no listener error is generated by oracle network layer. This error occurs when the listener for the oracle server you are trying to reach is down or unreachable. ORA-12541

ITIL V3

A number of you dba's out there use ITIL in day to day life and are looking to upgrade from V2 to V3 in your organizations. Here is a quick reference that provides ITIL V3 introduction and the various areas that it addresses.

ITIL V3

ORA-03113

An ORA-03113 end-of-file on communication channel error is a very generic error that indicates that the connection has been lost. ORA-03113 is reported by the oracle client processes due to many reasons. ORA-03113 by itself does not indicate the cause of the issue and is accompanied by other messages that are either displayed on the client side or in the oracle database alertlog.

ORA-03113

ORA-12154 TNS Could not resolve service name

This is a collection of documents that refer to a solution related to this error. Looks like most of my end users are constantly googling for this..

ORA-12154

Oracle 11G - OLTP Table Compression

Oracle 11G introduces a new option to support compression of various structured, unstructured and other backup data. This option named Oracle Advanced Compression option provides multiple features including ( this feature extends the basic table compression that was available since 9i ) , Secure File Deduplication, RMAN Compression and Data Pump Compression.

Technorati : Compression, New Features, OLTP, Oracle 11g

Oracle 11G New Features - SQL Performance Analyzer

Database Administrators spend countless hours troubleshooting SQL statements that have taken upon a new life after a simple system or environment change. Oracle 11G SQL Performance Analyzer provides a solution to this never ending regressive statement issues. This new feature of Oracle 11G allows the database administrator to get a granular view of the impact to sql execution plans and statistics due to environment changes and the best part is that it completely automates the impact analysis process of extremely large SQL workloads

Oracle 11G - Database Replay

Database Replay a new feature of Oracle 11G provides DBAs and system administrators with the ability to accurately rerun actual production workloads, including online user and batch workloads, in test environments. By capturing the full database workload from production systems, including all concurrency, dependencies and timing, Database Replay enables you to realistically test system changes by essentially recreating production workloads on the test system -something that a set of scripts can never duplicate.

Technorati : New Feature, Oracle 11g, Real Application Testing

Oracle expansion in Hyderabad

Oracle and its salaries are expanding in Hyderabad Job Market at a very quick pace. During my recent trip to Hyderabad, I noticed that they have moved into their own campus and are continuing to lease a ton of office space in and around their campus. Hiring engines seem to be firing on all cylinders to meet the continued customer and consulting demand for offshore work.

ORA-03113 End of File

ORA-03113 seems to be an error that keeps haunting new dba's over and over again. Metalinks has tons of documentation on this error but a great place to start is on this ORA-03113 Error

Some of the regular readers have complained about ORA-12154 and here is a link to resolving the ORA-12154 error

ORA-00918 ate our weekend

A good explanation about solving the ORA-00918 issue.

Oracle is easier to manage than DB2

An interesting study by Edison Group that announced that oracle saves 38% in RDBMS Management cost over IBM DB2. Looks like this study is based on a study of the administrative tasks and the time it takes to complete those tasks. It claims that Oracle will save upto $30K+ in administrative costs...

More info can be found here and here

Oracle Accelerate for Small and Medium Businesses

Oracle announced Oracle Accelerate that delivers a complete set of applications and implementation tools combined with a partner system that delivers maximum value to small and medium enterprises implementing Oracle Applications.

More information can be found here

Hacking Oracle through Google

Hope you all got your hands on "Google Hacking for Penetration Testers” by Johnny Long by now.. if not, you can read a summary by don burleson over here