Starting Database Tools

2.2 Starting Database Tools

Oracle Database 12c Release 2 (12.2) mandates that the administrator starting all the administration tools such as Oracle Database Configuration Assistant, Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant, Oracle Net Configuration Assistant, and Oracle ASM Configuration Assistant, must be an operating system administrator.

The administrator must also be a member of the ORA_DBA and ORA_ASMADMIN group for using the Oracle Database Configuration Assistant and Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant tools when accessing Oracle ASM. The administrator must be a member of the ORA_ASMADMIN group for using the Oracle ASM Configuration Assistant tool.

Oracle needs the password of Oracle Home User to create new Windows services for Database, Listener, and other entities. To support this, all the administration tools have been modified to prompt for the password of Oracle Home User that is required only when the Oracle Home User is a Local or a Domain Windows User Account and the password for the Oracle Home User is not stored in the Oracle Wallet.

Topics:

Starting Database Tools in Multiple Oracle Homes
You can start database tools in multiple Oracle homes.
Running Tools with Windows User Account Control
You must ensure that only trusted applications run on your computer.
Starting Database Tools from the Start Menu
Describes how to start assistants and other tools from the Start menu.
Starting Database Tools from the Command Line
Describes how to start Oracle Database tools from the command line, and where to go for further information on using these products.
Starting Windows Tools
Describes how to start each Windows tool and where to go for more information on using these products.

2.2.1 Starting Database Tools in Multiple Oracle Homes

You can start database tools in multiple Oracle homes.

If you have multiple Oracle homes on your computer from previous releases, then see Appendix B, "Optimal Flexible Architecture" in Oracle Database Installation Guide for Microsoft Windows for a description of differences between Oracle homes in different releases.

Topics:

Starting Tools from Multiple Oracle Homes
Each Oracle home, including the first Oracle home you create on your computer, has a unique HOMENAME.

2.2.1.1 Starting Tools from Multiple Oracle Homes

Each Oracle home, including the first Oracle home you create on your computer, has a unique HOMENAME.

To start Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows from any Oracle home, from the Start menu, select All Programs, then select Oracle - HOMENAME, then select Configuration and Migration Tools and then select Administration Assistant for Windows.

2.2.2 Running Tools with Windows User Account Control

You must ensure that only trusted applications run on your computer.

To ensure that only trusted applications run on your computer, all Windows operating systems supported for Oracle Database 12c Release 2 (12.2) provide User Account Control. If you have enabled this security feature, then, depending on how you have configured it, Oracle Universal Installer prompts you for either your consent or your credentials when installing Oracle Database Client. Provide either the consent or your Windows Administrator credentials as appropriate.

You must have the Administrator privileges to run some configuration tools, or to run any tool or application that writes to any directory within the Oracle home. If User Account Control is enabled, and you are logged in as the local Administrator, then you can successfully run each of these commands in the usual way. However, if you are logged in as a member of the Administrator group, then you must explicitly run these tasks with Windows Administrator privileges.

The following tools must be run with Administrator privileges:

Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
Oracle Net Configuration Assistant. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
Oracle OLAP Analytic Workspace Manager and Worksheet. This tool is available as an Integrated Management Tool.
Oracle Database Configuration Assistant. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
Oracle Database Wallet Manager. This tool is available as an Integrated Management Tool.
Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
Oracle Net Manager. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
Oracle ASM Configuration Assistant. This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.
Oracle ASM Disk Stamping Tool (asmtool, asmtoolg). This tool is available as a Configuration and Migration Tool.

To run any Start menu tool with Administrator privileges:

Click the Start menu option.
Select All Programs, then select Oracle - HOMENAME.
Select the name of the tool, then right-click the name of the tool or application you want to run, and then select Run as administrator.

These steps describe how to start a tool as an Administrator from the command prompt:

Create a shortcut for the command prompt window on your desktop. An icon for that shortcut appears on the desktop.
Right-click the icon for the newly created shortcut, and specify Run as administrator.

When you open this window, the title bar reads Administrator: Command Prompt. Commands running within this window are run with Administrator privileges.

2.2.3 Starting Database Tools from the Start Menu

Describes how to start assistants and other tools from the Start menu.

It also directs you about further information on using these products.

Note:

When you use an assistant, you must have read and write access to the directory where database files are created or moved to. To create an Oracle Database instance, you must have the administrator privilege. If you run Database Configuration Assistant from an account that is not part of the Administrators group, then the tool exits without completing the operation.

Note:

All Start menu paths begin with the Start menu where you select All Programs, then select Oracle - HOMENAME and so on.

Table 2-2 Starting Database Tools from the Start Menu

Tool	Start Menu Path	More Information
Microsoft ODBC Administrator	From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Microsoft ODBC Administration	Microsoft ODBC Administration online help
Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows	From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Administration Assistant for Windows
Oracle Automatic Storage Management Configuration Assistant	From Configuration and Management Tools, select Automatic Storage Management Configuration Assistant	Oracle Grid Infrastructure Installation Guide
Oracle Database Configuration Assistant	From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Database Configuration Assistant
Oracle Directory Manager	From Integrated Management Tools, select Oracle Directory Manager	Oracle Internet Directory Administrator's Guide
Oracle Locale Builder	From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Locale Builder	Oracle Database Globalization Support Guide
Oracle Net Configuration Assistant	From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Net Configuration Assistant	Oracle Database Net Services Administrator's Guide
Oracle Net Manager	From Configuration and Migration Tools, select Net Manager	Oracle Database Net Services Administrator's Guide
Oracle Wallet Manager	From Integrated Management Tools, select Wallet Manager	Oracle Database Enterprise User Security Administrator's Guide
SQL*Plus	From Application Development, select SQL*Plus	SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference

2.2.4 Starting Database Tools from the Command Line

Describes how to start Oracle Database tools from the command line, and where to go for further information on using these products.

Table 2-3 Starting Database Tools from the Command Line

Tool	Enter at Prompt	More Information
Oracle ASM Disk Stamping Tool Oracle ASM Disk Stamping Tool (GUI version)	`C:\> asmtool` Following are the list of options: `C:\> asmtool -add` `C:\> asmtool -addprefix` `C:\> asmtool -list` `C:\> asmtool -delete` `C:\> asmtoolg` Note: `asmtoolg` is the GUI-based tool that performs the same actions as the command-line `asmtool` tool.	"Marking Disk Partitions for Oracle ASM Before Installation" in Oracle Grid Infrastructure Installation and Upgrade Guide for Microsoft Windows x64 (64-Bit)
DBVERIFY	`C:\> dbv` DBVERIFY starts and prompts you for a file name parameter. To obtain a list of parameters, enter: `C:\> dbv help=y`	Oracle Database Utilities
Data Pump Export	`C:\> expdp` `user name` EXP starts and prompts you for parameters. To obtain a list of these parameters, enter: `C:\> exp help=y`	Oracle Database Utilities for instructions on use of Data Pump Export Oracle Database Error Messages for information on error messages
Data Pump Import	`C:\> impdp` `user name` IMP starts and prompts you for parameters. To get a list of these parameters, enter: `C:\> imp help=y`	Oracle Database Utilities for instructions on use of Data Pump Import Oracle Database Error Messages for information on error messages
Database Configuration Assistant	`C:\> dbca` Oracle Database Configuration Assistant tool starts in interactive mode. For silent options and other command-line options, enter: `C:\> dbca -help`	"Starting DBCA" in Oracle Database 2 Day DBA
Database Upgrade Assistant	`C:\> dbua` Oracle Database Upgrade Assistant wizard starts in interactive mode. For silent options and other command line options enter: `C:\> dbua -help`	Oracle Database Upgrade Guide
Export	`C:\> exp` `user name` EXP starts and prompts you for parameters. To obtain a list of these parameters, enter: `C:\> exp help=y`	Oracle Database Utilities for instructions on use of Export Oracle Database Error Messages for information on error messages
Import	`C:\> imp` `user name` IMP starts and prompts you for parameters. To get a list of these parameters, enter: `C:\> imp help=y`	Oracle Database Utilities for instructions on use of Import Oracle Database Error Messages for information on error messages
Net Services Configuration	`C:\> netca` Oracle Net Configuration Assistant tool starts in interactive mode. For silent options and other command-line options, enter: `C:\> netca -help`	Oracle Database Upgrade Guide
ORADIM	`C:\> oradim` `options` To get a list of ORADIM options, enter either of the following: `C:\> oradim` `C:\> oradim -? \| -h \| -help`
Oracle Wallet Manager	`C:\> cd` `ORACLE_HOME\bin` `C:\ORACLE_HOME\bin`> `launch.exe` `ORACLE_HOME\bin owm.cl`
Password Utility (ORAPWD)	`C:\> orapwd` Password file is hidden. Use Windows Explorer to see it in a file list. From the View menu, select Options, then select View and then select Show All Files.
Recovery Manager (RMAN)	`C:\> rman` `parameters`	Oracle Database Backup and Recovery User's Guide
SQL*Plus (SQLPLUS)	`C:\> sqlplus`	SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference
SQL*Loader (SQLLDR)	`C:\> sqlldr` SQL*Loader displays a Help screen with available keywords and default values.	Oracle Database Utilities Oracle Database Error Messages "Starting Windows Tools"
TKPROF	`C:\> tkprof`	Oracle Database Performance Tuning Guide
User Migration Utility	`C:\> umu` `parameters` To get a list of parameters, enter: `C:\> umu` `help=yes`	"Using the User Migration Utility" in Oracle Database Enterprise User Security Administrator's Guide

Note:

Three special conditions apply when running Export or Import utilities on Windows. First, default values for BUFFER and RECORDLENGTH parameters are 4 KB and 2 KB respectively. This default RECORDLENGTH parameter does not depend on the value of BUFSIZ defined in the system header file. If you specify a value larger than USHRT_MAX (64 KB), you get a warning message. Second, the VOLSIZE parameter is not supported. Third, to export an entire database, you must use the EXP_FULL_DATABASE role.
Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Express is another database tool for managing the database. For information about logging in to Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Express, see "Configuring the HTTP Port for EM Express" in Oracle Database 2 Day DBA.

Topics:

About Archiving Redo Log Files
If you installed Oracle Database through the Typical installation, then it is created in the NOARCHIVELOG mode. If you created your database through the Custom option of Oracle Database Configuration Assistant, then you had the choice of either ARCHIVELOG or NOARCHIVELOG.

2.2.4.1 About Archiving Redo Log Files

If you installed Oracle Database through the Typical installation, then it is created in the NOARCHIVELOG mode. If you created your database through the Custom option of Oracle Database Configuration Assistant, then you had the choice of either ARCHIVELOG or NOARCHIVELOG.

In NOARCHIVELOG mode, redo logs are not archived. Setting your archive mode to ARCHIVELOG and enabling automatic archiving causes redo log files to be archived. This protects Oracle Database from both instance and disk failure.

2.2.5 Starting Windows Tools

Describes how to start each Windows tool and where to go for more information on using these products.

Table 2-4 Starting Windows Tools

Tool	Start Procedure	More Information
Event Viewer	From the Start menu, select All Programs, then select Administrative Tools and then select Event Viewer.	Your operating system documentation
Local Users and Groups	From the Start menu, select Settings, then select Control Panel. Double-click Administrative Tools. Double-click Computer Management. In the console tree, click Local Users and Groups.	Your operating system documentation
Microsoft Management Console (MMC)	From the Start menu, select All Programs, then select Oracle - HOMENAME, then select Configuration and Migration Tools and then select Administration Assistant for Windows.	Your operating system documentation
Registry Editor	At the command prompt, enter: C:\> regedit	Your operating system documentation
Task Manager	Right-click the Task bar and select Task Manager.	Your operating system documentation

Note:

Microsoft Management Console is started whenever Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows is started.