tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114623132024-03-13T22:59:08.798-07:00Mike Ault's BlogMike Ault's thoughts on various topics, Oracle related and not.
Note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are not contributing to the overall theme of the BLOG or are insulting or demeaning to anyone.
The posts on this blog are provided “as is” with no warranties and confer no rights. The opinions expressed on this site are mine and mine alone, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.comBlogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-45100128285407065392020-02-15T08:24:00.005-08:002020-02-15T08:24:40.122-08:00Sheepdogs, Wolves and Sheep<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I read an interesting blog identifying
three types of people, sheep, wolves and sheep dogs; with the sheep
being the rank and file who basically keep their heads down and
expect others to care for them, the wolves those that prey on the
sheep and of course the sheepdogs being those who choose to defend
the sheep.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Interesting as this analogy is I don’t
believe it goes far enough. In the ranks of the sheep are actually
wolves that act like sheep and in the wolves are many sheep.
Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on circumstance) the true
natures of these changelings often come to the surface in time of
stress. What do I mean? Let me explain.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
First let us take the case of the
wolves who act like sheep. How many times have we heard “He/she was
such a nice person, I can’t believe they did this!” these are
examples of wolves who did their best to be sheep but one day it all
came crashing down and they revert to wolf ways, eating their young
and generally attacking anything within striking distance.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
On the other side are the sheep who act
like wolves, but usually only in a pack setting. Many gang and sect
members fall into this category. As long as they are safely
surrounded by the rest of their pack they act like wolves, isolate
them and they quickly turn tail (metaphorically speaking) and bleat
out the rest of the pack to save their own sheep hide. The real
wolves get great pleasure and many laughs over leading sheep astray,
of course they usually fall on these sheep and eat them (literally or
figuratively) by getting them to do such things as the ultimate
passive aggressive act such as wearing a vest packed with explosives
and setting it off in a flock of sheep.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Of course we also have sheep with
rabies and wolves with rabies that attack everyone around them
whether they are sheep, wolves or some other unknown subspecies…</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Of course we also have sheep who try to
be sheepdogs and wolves who think they are sheepdogs. Generally the
sheep who try to be sheepdogs are weeded out and placed in desk jobs,
or the cemetery. The ones who get desk jobs take it out on the rest
of the sheep for their own lack of sheepdogedness. The wolves who
try to be sheepdogs usually do very well for a while, but eventually,
unless they go out in a blaze of glory or reveal their wolfness in
some manner, they end up preying on the sheep in a more virtual
manner than the wolves who act like wolves, in the form of graft,
corruption, police brutality and other behaviors unbecoming to
sheepdogs.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Finally we have the stealth sheepdogs,
they submerge into the flock and act sheeplike until they are needed,
unfortunately unless they are prepared like the full sheepdogs, they
usually get the sheep dip kicked out of them once they do act.
However, many times they do actually help and prevent sheep from
falling prey to the weaker wolves.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So where do you fall? Sheep, sheepdog
or wolf? Or are you a pretender?</div>
<br />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-35164187701132938842020-02-15T06:59:00.000-08:002020-02-15T07:03:59.608-08:00Catching upI looked and realized I haven't blogged in too long a time. A lot has happened since my last post. I took classes in Z/VM (IBM), AI (MIT) and Blockchain (Blockgeeks, Oxford), then was laid off from IBM as they realigned the focus of storage (from senior level people to newbies that are cheaper.) So since Sept 4, 2020 I have been unemployed. After 250+ applications out and only a few interviews and no offers I am about to go semi-retired. I am upgrading my skill set by taking a Big Data Masters class from Intellipaat.<br />
<br />
Since Intellipaat is in India and of course I am not, that means my classes run from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm Monday-Thursday. Learning about Hadoop, Sqoop, Hbase, Flume, Pig, installing Hadoop clusters on AWS and all sorts of interesting topics. Soon I will be even more qualified to sit at home waiting for folks to respond to applications.<br />
<br />
In my spare time I helped my daughter find and move into her new house, redo her bathroom, built shelves at my daughters and for my office, an end table, a breakfast tray, small step stool and some coasters. I also wrote a cookbook with over 85 recipes in it from my 46 years of cooking. (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Recipes-Sunset-Cove-Michael-Ault-ebook/dp/B084T8XX1L/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=recipes+from+sunset+cove+kindle&qid=1581775548&sr=8-1">https://www.amazon.com/Recipes-Sunset-Cove-Michael-Ault-ebook/dp/B084T8XX1L/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=recipes+from+sunset+cove+kindle&qid=1581775548&sr=8-1</a>)<br />
<br />
So I am keeping busy.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-1934294662380830872018-02-18T09:29:00.001-08:002018-02-19T06:14:31.362-08:00Ethereum as a Competitor to Hyperledger <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ethereum as a
Blockchain Competitor to Hyperledger<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ethereum, a cryptocurrency based on blockchain, is making a
bid to become a competitor in the non-cryptocurrency uses of blockchain. In
recent months Ethereum has released the ERC721 protocol for non-fungible assets
for use with their blockchain. An example of the use of the ERC721 nonfungible
token standard with Ethereum is the internet based trading of Cryptotkitties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ethereum as a basic cryptocurrency requires that the
producer provide proof of work to create an Ether coin similar to Bitcoin. The
creation of an Ether coin generates a block. The entity keeping the block and
the creator establish a relation through the use of crypto-keys and wallets. A
wallet can be as simple as a piece of paper holding the keys or a fully secure
electronic wallet. If the key values are lost there is no way for the holder of
the Ether coins to get to their assets and they are forfeit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ethereum transactions have grown from just over a thousand
transactions per day in August of 2015 to close to one million with a peak of
1,349,890 on January 4, 2018. As of February 18, 2018, the total Ethereum
supply was 97,693,097.41 with a market capitalization of $92,305,323,083 USD.
The three supply types for Ethereum are Genesis, Block Rewards and Uncle
Rewards with Genesis holding the majority supply at 72,009,990 coins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Cryptokitties as a
Non-Fungible Example<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">While Cryptokitties sounds frivolous and has no purpose
other than to demonstrate PT Barnum's famous axiom, it shows the potential for
this Hyperledger competitor. Cryptokitties are cartoon images of cats that have
specific digital genes. When two of the Cryptokitties are bred by their owners,
a proprietary algorithm is used to combine the digital genes and produce a new
offspring with characteristics blended from both parents. People buy and sell
these Cryptokitties using Ethereum cryptocurrency. Each Cryptokitty is
supportedby a blockchain. The initial trading of Cryptokitties generated
millions of dollars of activity and shut down the Ethereum network on their
first day of trading, proving sometimes a project's worse enemy is success. You
may laugh at this but a recent “rare” Cryptokitty sold for the equivalent of
$110,000.00 USD. From their launch in November of 2017 to December 17, a mere
27 days, 153,739 kitties were bought and sold at a value of 16.6 million USD.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Changes to Ethereum<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ethereum currently uses proof of work (POW) as a basis,
similar to Bitcoin. Ethereum wants to move to proof of stake (POS) to reduce
computing requirements. Each Ethereum contract uses two components, gas and Ether.
Gas is a subset of Ethereum and is used to pay for the transaction, the more
gas you give, the more computing resource can be applied to your contract. It
wasn’t clear what happens to the resource (measured in Wei) represented by gas,
it could be assumed that is collected by the Ethereum resource provider as
payment for use of the Ethereum network. Wei is the Ethereum currency and is
what is traded in a non-ERC721 token. The fungible type of token is based on
ERC20 fungible token standard and is how Ether is traded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Getting Gas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In Ethereum, gas is a measure of computational effort. Each
operation is accorded a fixed amount of gas. A possible example would be doing
a simple addition would cost 3 gas, doing a hash, 30 and sending a transaction
21000. A single unit of gas is fixed in price at 10 Szabo which is 1/100,000 of
an ether (a single Ethereum coin.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ethereum Denominations<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ether is measured in Finney, Szabo and Wei. Finney was named
for Hal Finney, the first bitcoin user after Satoshi Nakamoto. The Szabo is
named for Nick Szabo who developed bit gold and the concept of smart contracts
and the Wei is named for Wei Dai who developed the concept of bit-money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">ERC20 and ERC721<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">ERC20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">ERC stands for Ethereum Request for Comments and is the
protocol for creating Ethereum standards. ERC20 defines how Ethereum coins are
defined. Coins are not differentiated by serial number and can be broken down
in increments as small as 0.000001 Ether. There is no difference between any
Ethereum coin and another, a digitization of the concept of a real coin. By law
a paper currency must be serialized giving each bill a unique identification,
however coins do not have this restriction, so any coin is treated like any
other, this is the basis of the ERC20 fungible token.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">ERC721<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">ERC721 is a way to create unique asset identifiers in
Ethereum allowing the Ethereum blockchain to be used to track unique assets as
well as standard Ethereum coins. An ERC721 defined asset cannot be portioned,
it is sold or bought in its entirety. For example, the concept of buying a
fractional Cryptokitty is impossible. This ERC721 can be used to generate a
unique identifier for any non-fungible asset such as art, land, diamonds or
other non-currency assets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Cost of storage<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A reoccurring issue in Ethereum is the cost of storage for
the blockchain entries. It is assumed that to store in the Ethereum blockchain
requires more gas per transaction. Since blockchains store data essentially
forever, the cost is paid upfront for permanent storage. An example would be if
the Interplanetary database (IPDB) is used to store blockchain values the cost
for permanent storage is estimated to be $100 USD per gigabyte according to
Jammila Omaar, and Internet Policy intern at IPDB foundation. Using storage
cost models that incorporate pricing models based on storage of multiple copies
and a backup with decreasing storage costs. One gig of storage can store many
transactions with an estimate of 1000 transactions per 16 MB of storage. This
type of cost is leading to the use of IPFS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The internet protocol file system (IPFS), also known as the
interplanetary file system, is a way of tagging a picture, document or other
object and then using the tag in an Ethereum blockchain instead of storing the
entire object. IPFS is envisioned as a distributed file system that seeks to
connect all computing devices with the same system of files. IPFS is a
versioned file system that tracks versions over time. IPFS is similar to
bittorrent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The computer object is scanned and a digital hash tag is
generated that is unique (at least as unique as hash can be) for the object.
The object is stored locally but referenced by that tag in the blockchain. The
IPFS entry is two components, a data blob of less than 256kB and an array of
links to other IPFS objects. The link has a name, the hash and the cumulative
size of the linked object. Each time the object is reloaded it is re-scanned
and the hash compared to the existing hash, if the hash is different the new
hash is chained to the old and the object is versioned. This a peer-to-peer
model where the hash is sent to the network and all participants are queried if
they own the object represented by the hash. This indicates that in order for
the ID to be useful the local storage must be accessible to all clients of the
blockchain. The IPFS standard is still evolving and the security issues are
rife. If someone attempts to scan the same object, or a copy, the same hash is
given them. This begs the question: do they then get access to your copy
utilizing your storage resources to access it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Of course you don’t have to use IPFS and can store links to
data in a local database or filesystem in the blockchain if desired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Future goals of Ethereum<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Listening to the presentations at ETHDenver 2018 showed that
the goal of Ethereum is to replace fiat currencies with digital currency, the
premise being that fiat currencies have nothing to back them while digital
currencies do. None of the speakers seemed to give thought to the myriad of
digital disasters that could devastate a digital-only currency. Essentially
their goal is to replace currencies backed the good faith and credit of
countries with one backed by computer algorithms. Why this is a better basis
for currency was never made clear. Most of the primary presenters at the
conference seemed to be out of western Europe. With this move towards
non-fungible asset tracking in Ethereum it could be a credible contender
against Hyperledger in the non-fungible asset tracking arena. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">One of the goals of the ETHDenver hackathon was of course
the hackathon itself. Nearly two dozen projects were pitched. Of the two dozen
or so projects most were fluff. Several involved supply chain, a couple were to
assist Colorado in tracking absentee voters and one was to help track sexual
predators within the volunteer networks such as Doctors without borders and
such. In listening to the people pitch their products I was left with questions
as to whether they, or I, misunderstood the concept of Ethereum and blockchain
as most of their applications could easily be done outside of Ethereum
altogether as a simple App on a Iphone or Android. Of course, since the average
age appeared to be mid to low twenties this could explain the leaning toward
app like constructs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Competing with Ethereum based Blockchain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The major limiting factor of Ethereum is the dependence on
the concepts of tokens, gas and Ether itself. These concepts bind applications
into using Ether coins as a basis of performing any transactions within the
Ethereum environment as you must utilize gas to do any transaction in their
computing model. They also still use POW and POS to generate transaction models
which are computer and resource intensive. The major issues they discussed at EthDenver
related to scalability and security of their models.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I believe IBM must get Hyperledger into the hands of these
20-something blockchain developers. Perhaps a Hyperthon hackathon in Raleigh or
Atlanta where IBM or other sponsors offer prizes for the best Hyperledger based products with practical
applications. Show how the Hyperledger permissioned model, which doesn’t depend on POW or
POS, is a more scalable, flexible, as well as cost effective solution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ethereum Support<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There are many startup companies based on Ethereum. Ehtereum
Foundation, Consensys, POANetwork, Blockgeeks, Maiden, Satis, Gitcoin, Dharma
Labs, Livepeer, Zeppelin Solutions, FBG Capital and BlockGeeks are just a few
represented at ETHDenver. All have websites where they share whitepapers and
Ethereum code examples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Summary<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The EthDenver was a fascinating look into the Ethereum
universe. With Ethereum branching out into non-fungible assets they could
become a competitor to Hyperledger if they can overcome scalability and
security issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-72427580145532861832018-01-28T12:07:00.003-08:002018-01-28T12:07:37.527-08:00ReloadingOn most prepper boards you find a dichotomy when it comes to reloading ammunition. You have the die hard, have to do it, may not be able to buy it group and the don’t need it, buy preloaded, better quality in store bought group. I tend to side with the need it group. We are only one or two elections away from a democrat run house, senate and president which would be tough on ammo.<br />
<br />
I see the way they will make guns useless is to run up the taxes and regulations on ammo. Maybe I just need to tighten my tin foil hat but trusting politicians with something as critical as the defense of my family is not in my nature.<br />
<br />
I was finally able to get my reloading bench setup out in the shed today. Of course it has been a while since I reloaded so I will have to take it slow and careful the first couple of batches until I can get back in the rhythm. I usually load 9mm, 40cal and .38 special. I don’t shoot enough 7.62x39 or .223 or 5.56 to make it worthwhile but I do have the needed dies should I wish to do so. I also have dies for 7.62x59 and 8mm Mauser along with the needed size primers, bullets and type powder<br />
<br />
Anyway, I will take some shots (with a camera)when I do some reloading and put out a how-to when I get back into it. Keep your powder dry!Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-61351050455126483772018-01-24T08:25:00.002-08:002018-01-24T08:25:41.319-08:00Got a New Book Out, other writing newsI just realized I hadn't blogged abut my new book. I have published book two in the World In Darkness series, entitled: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/When-Darkness-Comes-Book-World-ebook/dp/B075Y9F3MK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1516810613&sr=8-2&keywords=when+darkness+comes+ault" target="_blank">When Darkness Comes</a>. The book picks up where book one left us, with the Lowmans all back together, but not for long! Hope you enjoy this post grid down post apocalyptic adventure.<br />
<br />
I am also pursuing a screenplay with my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Suppressors-Shattering-Michael-Ault-ebook/dp/B01GS9UMC2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1516810770&sr=1-1&keywords=Suppressors%3A+The+Shattering" target="_blank">Suppressors</a> series. In speaking with a producer he felt it would make a great TV series. So here goes...of course much like Arthur C. Clarks <i><b>The Sentinel</b></i> was the germ of the idea that triggered the entire 2001 A Space Odyssey franchise, so is my first book in this series <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Suppressors-Shattering-Michael-Ault-ebook/dp/B01GS9UMC2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1516810770&sr=1-1&keywords=Suppressors%3A+The+Shattering" target="_blank">Suppressors: The Shattering</a> seemingly triggering an avalanche of ideas for series plots. I will try to keep you posted as this progresses.<br />
<br />
I have also submitted my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1?ie=UTF8&text=Michael+Ault&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Michael+Ault&sort=relevancerank" target="_blank">other books</a> and few short stories from my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Seeds-Wonder-Short-Story-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0033WSW7U/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1516811011&sr=1-5" target="_blank">Seeds of Wonder</a> anthology for consideration as movies/TV series. Time will tell.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-48153853684826876432018-01-24T07:50:00.001-08:002018-01-24T07:51:56.060-08:00Status at 1/24/2018Well, finally got the first server up and running and ready to install Oracle. Of course now I am at the stage where I have to do the install shuffle. The install shuffle is when you install a program on a pseudo-supported OS. Ubuntu falls under the pseudo-supported OS list for Oracle. What this means is that while you can get Oracle running on Ubuntu, don't count on Oracle for support. This means you need to have good Google or Bing skill to locate articles on why a particular subroutine or set of programs won't link.<br />
<br />
Right now I am dealing with undefined issues with routines in PL/SQL libraries. I will keep you posted on my status.<br />
<br />
Recently I was moved from FlashSystems/Oracle work into Financial Systems/ Blockchain/ FlashSystems/Oracle work. Loads to learn. I will be attending ETHDenver, an Etherium hackathon. Something tells me I will be one of the oldest in the room at most of the meetings.<br />
<br />
I have submitted presentations for the IBM series of Technical Universities in Cairo, Dubai, Brazil, London and Orlando. If they are accepted I will be very busy in the March/April time frame. My paper was turned down for Collaborate so I guess I will be a booth bunny.<br />
<br />
That is the news that is fit to print, see you around the blog sphere!<br />
<br />
<br />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-49727756617605345932017-02-02T13:32:00.000-08:002017-02-02T13:32:30.630-08:00Pasting up a ServerWhen you change out CPUs you have to remove the CPU heatsinks. The heatsinks are just held on with latched pressure levers. Between the CPU and the heatsink is thermal conduction paste. Now on old servers this will be mostly dried out and not very gooey, easy to wipe away when you remove the old CPU using a little paste dissolver. However, I had an interesting thing happen.<br />
<br />
I installed the new CPUs and the new memory in both servers, using new heatsink thermal paste. The paste comes in a little injector looking thing exactly like the barrel end of a hypodermic. The paste is supposed to be for a single CPU install, but let me tell you, there is more than enough in a single applicator for two CPUs. Anyway, I got the new memory and CPUs installed and sealed up the servers and switched them on. Expecting to see that each had 2-quad core servers running at 3.16 Ghtz and 32 GB of memory, imagine my surprise when one showed up with a 2.66 and a 3.16 Ghtz CPU. Yep, they sent me the wrong CPU, and trusting me didn't check out the fine print on the CPU itself so here I am with a freshly installed CPU that was identical to the one I removed. Okay, so I needed to remove the lower speed CPU, call the supplier and get a replacement with the speed I asked for. Easy right? Here is where the fun starts.<br />
<br />
Remember that heat transfer paste? Well when it is new, it is extra gooey and it turns out if you use the whole little injector on a single CPU a lot gets squeezed out to the sides making a mess of the CPU pad area and, unless you are very careful, it can easily get onto the CPU install pad itself. The problem is that the CPU install pad is actually a bunch of small hooked wires so you can't wipe the stuff off, you can't brush the stuff off, in fact the only option I can think of (now) would be to completely remove everything from the mother board, get some electronics spray cleaner and have at it. Unfortunately I tried wiping and then using a very fine brush to remove the embedded paper towel and the remaining paste. This resulted in many of those fine little hooked wires becoming fine little out-of-alignment straight wires. Scratch one CPU socket. Luckily Dell 2950s are still fairly available and I was able to order a replacement server for less than $200.00 delivered to my door. The replacement only had one 2 GHtz quad CPU and 4 GB of memory but that wasn't a concern.<br />
<br />
So today my new-used server arrived and I gutted my old one to rebuild the new one in its image. Transferring the dual 4 GB HBAs, hard drives and remote access port from the old to the new and installing the just arrived quad 3.66 Ghtz CPU along with the existing one I had from the first attempt and using one of the heatsinks from the first server. Needless to say I was careful with the thermal transfer paste. Now I have two servers with dual Quad 3.66 GHtz CPUs and 32 GB of memory and they are both running Ubuntu 16.04.1-64 bit server software. They are talking to a 5TB mini-SAN through dual 4 GB HBAs. Now on to the Oracle installs!<br />
<br />
I also got the replacement controller shield card for the Anet 3-d printer, but, before I install it I have to verify every single connector is set up correctly. There are three sensor cables, 5 motor control cables and 3 axis motion end stop cables that all need to be carefully checked for shorts in the Dupont connectors. Did I mention I hate Dupont connectors?<br />
<br />
I also got and installed the green lasers in the 3-d scanner, but need the printer to make some better holders that allow x and y axis calibration of the lasers themselves. Otherwise you get cylinders inside of cylinders and other scans turnout really weird.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-85417413173416746542017-01-23T10:21:00.001-08:002017-01-23T10:25:25.354-08:00Upgrading CPUs and other topicsIn addition to adding 16GB of memory by replacing the 16 GB with a 32 GB set in my Dell 2950's I will be installing 4 new E5460 3.16 GHz quad processors to replace the E5345 2.33 GHz processors to boost processing speed. I assume I can reuse the existing heat sinks and just swap out the CPUs. I should have the new CPUs by the 31st and should have the memory upgrades by then as well. I will try to post some pictures of the process when I do it. Once all this is done I should have some powerful Ubuntu servers running 12c Oracle RAC...if not, I will have a bunch of stuff to sell on Ebay!<br />
<br />
I am also in the process of learning the ins and outs of 3D scanning and printing using a Ciclops scanner and the ANET A8 DIY 3D Printer. Of course things are not off to an auspicious start. The primitive mounts on the Ciclops for the lasers cause issues with focusing and calibrating the lasers, I hope to have that fixed with some new laser mounts once I get the Printer working. In addition I have ordered some replacement green lasers for the red ones it currently uses. The CMOS in the camera used it much more sensitive to Red and you have fewer scanner issues if you swap out red for green lasers according to the experts.<br />
<br />
The ANET A8 DIY printer is whole nother story. I assembled it over the course of two days, then calibrated it, did the bed leveling, checked that the extruder and heated bed worked as they were supposed to and then, not even half-way through the first test print the Mosfet on the control board for the heated bed fried, frying the control board. I have ordered and obtained a RAMPS 1.4 upgrade control board and am now just waiting on the DuPont connectors and Dupont crimper I need to complete the upgrade, at my own cost of course. The reason at my cost is because GearBest, where I bought the printer has crappy support. I have also purchased an upgraded power supply. These are suggested upgrades from long time A8 users.<br />
<br />
I contacted GearBest to get a new board since this was literally less than a week since I got the printer. They said I obviously did something wrong and it was my fault so they wouldn't replace it. They offered me a generous 200 points (about 4 USD) for my trouble. This is the second time their support has been shall we say less than stellar. The first time was with a G2 mini-computer I bought from them which was DOA, I immediately notified them of this, they marked the report as "processing". It has been a year since then, and I reminded them to which they said since it had been a year, they couldn't do anything! In short, don't expect good client service from them, they are just a clearing house for cheap Chinese electronics, toys and games.<br />
<br />
Well, I will keep you posted on progress.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-69512300920432990852017-01-21T18:29:00.002-08:002017-01-21T18:30:30.637-08:00Going to UbuntuWell I was sitting in my home office looking at my servers. I've done that a lot in the last couple of years. Wondering why I was having such difficulty installing Oracle Linux and getting the darn things to be more than room heaters. Admittedly it hasn't been a full time pursuit. Anyway I have decided to install Ubuntu since I could get installation dvds and didn't have to jump through download this, make boot disk that. I have also ordered 32 gig upgrades for both servers. Hopefully I will be able to install Oracle12c RAC and get my cluster up and running. I may also download meshlab and a slicer so I can create files for my 3D printer. Currently times to conver the vertices into faces is extreme on my laptop.<br />
<br />
Anyway, will be posting my progress. TheMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-61019503847280285432016-09-06T15:24:00.003-07:002016-09-06T15:30:03.710-07:00Get What You Pay ForBelieve it or not I have been accused of being a writer. I try to ignore this terrible slander. However I have been known to sneak into an occasional writers seminar or the occasional presentation at a Con event (such as LibertyCon, DragonCon or ChattaCon not some anonymous meeting of ex-criminals.) Now if it is a free event you pretty much get whatever they want to give you. However, if I have paid for the privilege of being lectured by Joe (or Joan) Author and they are supposed to provide specific services I like to get what I paid for.<br />
<br />
To whit, critiques of works in progress. Usually seminars provide critiques of work in progress, work you did at the seminar or perhaps a pitch or proposal you created. I guess I have to agree with my wife (please don't revoke my man card, but after nearly 43 years of marriage I have found she is right, even when she isn't.) that I tend to do two things:<br />
<br />
1. Not stand up for myself<br />
2. Let other people walk all over me<br />
<br />
Now I guess those two are closely related. I tend to believe I pick my battles, if it isn't going to make a difference in five years is it that important? Anyway I have found I tend to allow the other seminar attendants to go first. I like to think I am being tactical, figuring out who gives the best comments, to whom I should pay attention and who has spent too much time alone with their cats. Have you noticed most female writers seem to be inordinately fond of cats? What this results in is that I end up being critiqued near the end of the seminar. <br />
<br />
Now, if all things where even and fair each attendee would get exactly the same amount of time. For the most part the seminar leaders do try to be fair. However many times they are up against hard stops or if there are guest speakers, the guest speaker's schedules. It seems no matter what I try, I end up at the end of the day or coming up against a secondary speaker. I even completely switched my seating around in one seminar, only to have the leader reverse the order. <br />
<br />
So, from now on, in future seminars I will the first with my hand raised (or however they say to indicate preference) to volunteer to be foisted on my own petard (whatever the heck a petard is, and no it is not the latest Captain of the Enterprise, that was Picard.) So I hope by being more direct and forceful I can get my fair share of criticism. Hmmm....that sounds not quite right. Anyway it will also mean I get to respond to the criticism.<br />
<br />
You see at the seminar I most recently attended they made several comments and questions about my work, but then when I was supposed to get to respond, the guest speaker showed up and I wasn't able to explain how I was correct and they were not (well, they were wrong on some of the facts they were sure of...) anyway I fell that they should make way for the paying clients not the free guests. Besides, the guest spent most of the time talking about her cats, if I want that I will peruse Facebook.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-4593761324169205602016-01-25T12:25:00.001-08:002016-01-25T12:38:19.529-08:00Time marches on...Where does it go? It was October since my last post. Of course trips to Orlando, Tampa, Cannes, France, A week long cruise, San Francisco, Raleigh-Durham and Honk Kong took a bit of time away. I am making slow progress on the home cluster. I finally was able to pick up a half-height cabinet to house it in. Now I just need to get some rails, I need two more sets.<br />
<br />
My biggest problem has been getting Oracle Linux to install, seems you need a Linux install to create a Linux install disk from the ISO...or maybe I am just getting too old to deal with it...<br />
<br />
If anyone has a OLE install disk they want to send me I would appreciate it!<br />
<br />
Reached one of those milestones, I am officially old enough to withdraw from my 401K without penalty tax. Don't know if that is good thing or not!<br />
<br />
Published another Novella titled "The Emerald Curse" the third in a series with my Hero Rex Franklin. IN this one he gets pulled into a search for Spanish treasure while installing a tsunami warning network in the Turks and Caicos. You can see it here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019HKNXUW?*Version*=1&*entries*=0" target="_blank">The Emerald Curse</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JBjigvehqy8/VqaHIFy-8FI/AAAAAAAAAV4/wjPoAVdmyLA/s1600/final300x400.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JBjigvehqy8/VqaHIFy-8FI/AAAAAAAAAV4/wjPoAVdmyLA/s320/final300x400.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
I am still trying to decide if I should self-publish, look into Kindle Scout program or try traditional publishing with the first book in my new series: <em>Suppressors: The Shattering</em>. It posits a world where magic is and always has been real, but it is being suppressed and what happens when this suppression begins to breakdown...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GChLH8eABNo/VqaHlMHEZPI/AAAAAAAAAWE/KqWcYVpM2JI/s1600/the%2Bsuppressors_book_cover4_72.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GChLH8eABNo/VqaHlMHEZPI/AAAAAAAAAWE/KqWcYVpM2JI/s320/the%2Bsuppressors_book_cover4_72.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
Made it through this years snow fall had to drive in from Atlanta on Friday night just following the storm in. Had a few minor scares coming over the hills into Helen, Ga and down the mountain on the other side but nothing I couldn't handle. Then we just hunkered down up here in Sunset Cove until the snow melted. The driveway and roads are all clear now.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pDcfCkfGnoU/VqaGyup2htI/AAAAAAAAAVs/J1SX8H1sVVI/s1600/IMG_8383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pDcfCkfGnoU/VqaGyup2htI/AAAAAAAAAVs/J1SX8H1sVVI/s320/IMG_8383.JPG" width="320" /></a>Well, as I make more progress on the cluster I will post. God bless.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-64934867001337717422015-10-19T10:48:00.000-07:002015-10-19T10:48:44.931-07:00Marie's Book FinishedWell, we finished up Marie's book and I think it turned out very well. As I promised here is a link. The finished title is "Ghost Stories and Legends of Murphy, NC" and it is available on CreateSpace and Amazon. If you like ghost stories and legends this book is a must read.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1517725313?keywords=marie%20ault&qid=1445275118&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1517725313?keywords=marie%20ault&qid=1445275118&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1</a><br />
<br />
Have a look, download it for free if you are a Kindle Prime user!Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-31475461763797201822015-09-06T18:43:00.000-07:002015-09-06T18:43:09.016-07:00Ghost and History WalkI helped my daughter get some photos for a book she is doing about the Legends and Ghosts of Murphy. Four hours of walking around and taking pictures of various places and things in town that are involved with the stories she has collected. It should be great! I will post a link as soon as she gets it together and we publish on CreateSpace.<br />
<br />
The book is in support of a Ghost and History walk we are trying to pull together for October and November for the Wherehouse of Murphy, come on by and sign up!<br />
<br />
Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-31704319047861934922015-09-06T09:04:00.000-07:002015-09-06T09:04:08.150-07:00Got my Book BackMy contract with Black Rose Writing has run out and I received the rights to the book back. They also allowed me to purchase the files, cover art and such cleansed of their logos. This made republishing the book under CreatSpace a snap and the book was re-published as a second edition in less than 3 days. <br />
<br />
My biggest issue with Black Rose Writing was the price point they placed on my book. "Prelude to Darkness" is a 250 page book and they placed a $17.95 price on it. People just will not buy that expensive a book unless it is in the 300-400 page or longer range. I put the book up for a price point of $9.99 which could have been less except it would have generated negative returns in some of the expanded markets.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prelude-Darkness-World-Book/dp/1517179564/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1441555370&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=Prelude+to+Darkness+Ault&pebp=1441555379580&perid=06E4AR6BTSQTFY6D5974">http://www.amazon.com/Prelude-Darkness-World-Book/dp/1517179564/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1441555370&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=Prelude+to+Darkness+Ault&pebp=1441555379580&perid=06E4AR6BTSQTFY6D5974</a><br />
<br />
Anyway I hope that people will find the book more accessible at this new price point. <br />
<br />
I am attending the New York Pitch conference this month and hope to sell my new book "The Suppressors" about the premise that magic is and always has been real but a group known as the Dark Adepts has been suppressing it using suppressor portals, but what happens when their network begins to break down allowing wild magic? I also have book three of my Rex Franklin series with Rex installing a tsunami warning network in the Turks and Caicos and getting pulled into a search for lost Spanish emeralds just about ready if they allow you to pitch more than one maybe I will pull it out as well!<br />
<br />
I will be traveling to Ft Worth, New York, Raleigh, Orlando, Cannes France and then going on a cruise all before Thanksgiving. Something tells me I will be ready for the holiday downtime.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-49871629205824843372015-04-26T09:05:00.000-07:002015-04-26T09:05:14.316-07:00Heading HomeWell, this is my last day away from home. I've been on the road to SNIA-DSI conference, Oracle Collaborate Conference and vacation. It will be good to get back home. I really enjoyed fishing with my father and brother even if we didn't catch our limit. I am also seriously looking into the gasifier I got a chance to see in action for the Wherehouse in Murphy, both to offset energy costs and to sell.<br />
<br />
Stopped by the kids place in Kingston Georgia, work is progressing nicely and they should be able to move in soon. We will take Susan's Mom out for lunch today then head on up to home. <br />
<br />
I plan on concentrating on getting the 12c cluster up and running next week. Of course Open World, EDGE and another SNIA event are coming up as well as trips to the Midwest and New York as well as California. Of well, travel so fast old age can't catch ya I guess!Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-57171951733826402102015-04-09T20:32:00.004-07:002015-04-09T20:32:52.815-07:00This WeekJust finished attending SNIA-DSI conference in Santa Clara, California. Next week it is off to IOUG Collaborate 2015 in Las Vegas. So a busy time. I was able to attend several presentations about flash, testing and futures. I also was able to visit Calypso who makes a great testing platform for SSDs and flash, if you have SSDs or flash to test, I suggest you look them up(<a href="https://calypsotesters.com/">https://calypsotesters.com/</a>).<br />
<br />
I presented to day on implementing IDC testing guidelines using VDBench. Unfortunately since I was in the last time slot on the last day I only had a few attendees but they asked many questions and seemed to enjoy the presentation. <br />
<br />
Tomorrow evening I am attending an open house at All Power Labs (<a href="http://www.allpowerlabs.com/">http://www.allpowerlabs.com/</a>) who knows, if I like what I see I may contact a unit for my retirement home. They manufacture a 20 KW biomass fueled gasifier that power a generator. I looked at a 15-20KW solar option but it is very pricey at $80k (with batteries).<br />
<br />
Well, that is about all for now.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-67492579945096265652015-03-24T08:22:00.002-07:002015-03-24T08:22:29.797-07:00Progress...Sort of!
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well it has been a while since my last post, I have been
working with the components of my RAC setup and got the passwords for the
servers, and the HP SanSwitch, plugged in the SFPs/GBICs and have been battling with
the switch ever since. Indications are that the switch is malfunctioning. When
I run a minicycle command it tells me the switch is faulted but I can’t find
the component that is causing the fault indication. It appears the actual port
controller may be bad. Anyway, for $90 bucks I will toss it and get a new 4gb
IBM switch for $140 with a 8 port license. Hopefully I will get the switch
Monday and then I will finally get to see if the 5TB MediaVault storage system
is working.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once I get everything working I will look into going over to
Oracle Linux on the servers and then load up Oracle12C. I will continue to
report on my progress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I attended IBM Interconnect and a writing conference since
my last post. I have also finished the first draft of my next fiction book “The
Suppressors” and contributed 2 chapters to a new Oracle trouble shooting book.
Of course I have also been traveling with the job and staying busy at Sunset
Cove. I helped my oldest daughter put in some raised beds for growing plants
(well, we started anyway!). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also am very happy to say my fifth grandchild, Evelyn Joy
Bojczuk, was born 3/21/2015 at 1:25 in the morning. 6 pounds and 13 ounces and
19.5 inches long. Mother and baby are perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Getting ready to head over to Raleigh to do some webcast
recordings and week after next off to SNIA in Santa Clara and then EDGE in Las Vegas.
After that it is a week fishing with my Father and Brother. Meanwhile my
property manager will be cleaning up the storm and snow damage at Sunset Cove
and will be preparing the upper and lower gardens for planting. The Asian
pears, apple and pear trees are all blossoming and spring is finally here!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-56244623951878538652014-09-08T11:08:00.000-07:002014-09-08T11:08:04.871-07:00Status of Home Lab
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, all the equipment is stacked onto a heavy duty plastic
storage shelf. I will probably retrieve my wire rack from Atlanta next time I
am through there. Of course if anyone wants to donate a computer rack (even a
half-rack would do) I would be willing to consider it…</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I unpacked the FC switch I realized they hadn’t
included GBICs so I had to order some off Ebay. In addition the FC optical
cables I had were the wrong type so I had to order more. Looking at the small
SAN I purchased I discovered it is using a serial connection rather than a Ethernet
so I ordered the appropriate adapter…from Hong Kong. Unfortunately it came with
a 230 v power adapter (not even dual voltage) so I had to order a new power
supply. The serial-to-Ethernet adapter also had a male plug as does the SAN, so
back to Ebay for a female-to-female adapter. Hopefully by tomorrow all these
various cables, adapters and power supplies will have arrived and I can finally
start configuring the system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At least all the KVA cables worked (Keyboard-Video Adapter
interface) and I can talk to both servers from the same touchpad/ keyboard and
Monitor. The servers come with a minimal install of Windows Server 8, unfortunately
it seems someone has set a password. Luckily I am blowing the whole OS setup
away on both servers and installing Oracle Linux, so the lack of a Windows
password really doesn’t bother me that much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once everything is up I get to set up the network (2-1GB Enet
switches, one for general networking between the operator, servers, FC switch
and SAN and the interconnect, set of the 4GB SAN switch for proper zoning, format
and configure the SAN and then configure the OS on the servers and install
Oracle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ll keep you posted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am also doing an All-Flash-Array (AFA) testing setup at
work for the IDC based testing. We are looking at setting up VDBench through Windows
to test the IBM FlashSystem 840 in accordance with the IDC guidelines and then having
the setup and generated setup documentation available so any client can use the
guidelines for testing to satisfy them we aren’t using smoke and mirrors in our
claims for performance of the FS840. I will post any lessons learned for that
as I experience them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This weekend I split and stacked about a cord of wood here
at Sunset Cove for the basement woodstove in case the projections that this
will be another record snow year for Tennessee, North Carolina and points North
comes true. Luckily I have a hydraulic splitter that made quick work of the
actual splitting, but the loading, unloading and stacking still had to be done
by hand. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also had to adjust the brakes
and clutch on the tractor and buy a new battery for it. The clutch still needs
a tweak as the Power-Takeoff (PTO) isn’t disengaging properly when the clutch
is fully depressed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Looks like next weekend I get to pick more pears. Since the
apple crop this year was a bit disappointing I guess instead of hard cider I
will make what they call Peary which is Pear Cider. I made five gallons of hard
apple cider last year but it only lasted until half-way through the winter, so
to make enough for it to last until the next crop comes in I guess I will have
to do 10-15 gallons which will be around three bushels of pears. If I can get
it setup next weekend then it can ferment for the three weeks I am going to be
gone to OOW, Edge and vacation. Then I will have just enough time to filter it
and bottle it before the relatives show up for the Punkin Chunkin in late
October. If you have never seen a Punkin Chunkin, check it out online, there is
probably one near you. Essentially you build the best punkin throwing device
you can envision then compete for distance, last year 900 yards was the winning
distance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The gardens need to be tilled under as we are getting the
last of the tomatoes and cucumbers now. Luckily I have a yard service that will
do that for me. I’ll have them weed wack the gardens to grade then till the
plants under and then place some of that weed-block fabric over the top to kill
off any weeds that want to try a comeback. In a few weeks we’ll plant the
winter garden items.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The hydroponics setups are still languishing in the
greenhouse, afraid I haven’t had a chance to get the lower well re-lined and I
need a good supply of water to do them properly and about 6 weeks of non-travel
so I can monitor the ammonia and nitrate levels daily to get the biologics established
on the growth media, then you put in the Tilapia and get the nitrate cycle
going and then start growing some leafy vegetables like Lettice, Kale, Boc choy
or even good old spinach. Maybe later I will look at vertical gardening
techniques to do something more dense. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course deer season is just around the corner and I have
that new platform stand to put together down overlooking the Orchard. I spent
several weeks trying to figure out where the deer where last year only to
realize they were busy raiding the orchard for low-hanging and windfall fruit.
Since it is near the road I will need to use archery only. That reminds me,
have to tune the new compound bow and adjust the draw length to allow for my
d-loop and trigger as well as sight in the black powder and deer rifles and
check that the crossbow is still sighted in as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then there is also the ongoing work with my half ownership
in the Wherehouse of Murphy, an art gallery and hand-made item, antique and
general merchandise store. We also do free concerts, Yoga and art classes.
Luckily I am mostly a silent partner and Joy Stein handles most of that for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did I mention I am also writing the third book in the Rex
Franklin series? Yep, Rex is installing a Tsunami warning system in the Turks
and Caicos when he gets roped into helping out his least favorite ex-boss fetch
a fortune in emeralds from a Spanish wreck….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also toying with writing a book on Oracle AWR Analysis, in
my spare time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Add into that the travel and full-time work load of IBM and
it rounds out my schedule nicely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No rest for the wicked I guess. And people wonder why I
laugh when they ask “But Mike if you retired what would you do with yourself?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-51192726346848220822014-08-29T11:29:00.000-07:002014-08-29T11:29:01.101-07:00A Friday at Bradley International
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, sitting here in Poughkeepsie waiting on my flight back to Atlanta. Asfar as the proof of concept I was here for, let me give you one take-away, when Oracle says put the RAT clients on a different server, they mean it! Of course it didn't help that the client was testing 24 databases simultaneously on the same Power8 box...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
Anyway, John with the IBM lab and I convinced them to move RAT to its own server and things are now going great. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
I decided I better put down on paper what I need to do for the home lab:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Action Plan for Lab Set up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Convert files to disk
images on DVD<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cable up systems<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="a">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Interconnet <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
</ol>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">i.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2-1 GB Ethernet cables and switch<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="a">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Network<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
</ol>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">i.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2-1 GB ethernet cables for servers<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 1.5in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ii.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 cable for SAN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 1.5in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">iii.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 Cable for Storage Switch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 1.5in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">iv.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 GB Ethernet switch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 1.5in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">v.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 wifi switch for remote access (2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup>
floor office to basement lab)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="a">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">SAN<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
</ol>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">i.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Install 4-4 GB HBAs (2 per server installed)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 1.5in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ii.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Install 6-4 GB FC optical cables between components
and Switch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 2in; mso-list: l0 level4 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2
for SAN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 2in; mso-list: l0 level4 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2
for each server<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 1.5in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">iii.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4 GB switch setup<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 2in; mso-list: l0 level4 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Zone
SAN and servers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<ol start="4" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="a">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Install OS<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
</ol>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">i.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Install Oracle enterprise Linux on each server<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 1.5in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ii.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Locate and install any needed drivers for HBA,
monitor, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 1.5in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">iii.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Implement multipathing to SAN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<ol start="5" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="a">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Install Oracle12c<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
</ol>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">i.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Install grid software<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 1.5in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ii.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Install RAC software<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 1.5in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">iii.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Create database<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<ol start="6" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="a">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Download SLOB and/or
Swingbench and install<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Create and load databases<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
</ol>
Trying to keep it simple to allow for some flexibility.<br />
Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-25822743610709962272014-08-27T13:39:00.002-07:002014-08-27T13:39:18.997-07:00New Lab status
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, I have all the equipment, power cords and Ethernet cords.
I am waiting on some Fibre channel cables that should arrive by Tuesday at the
latest. I purchased a WiFi Ethernet switch so I can connect to the system form
my loft office without having to go all the way downstars. I salvaged my KVM
switch and cables along with the power cords, Ethernet switches and touchpad
keyboard and monitor from my old lab. Should get the system mostly wired and
cables on Friday night and be able to start loading the OS on Monday with any
luck, then begins the joy of loading Oracle12c! I have a line on a couple of
FusionIO 190 gb cards I made an offer on them, we will see if they will give
them up. I offered $175 apiece for them since I have no idea how many PE cycles
they have on them. I figure to use the FusionIO cards as flash cache for the
RAC instances since it won’t be shared storage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I
am at the Atlantsa airport waiting on a flight to Poughkeepsie where I will be
helping on a proof of concept tomorrow, it is about boarding time so I will
keep this entry short.</span>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-8305426263360893152014-08-21T06:23:00.001-07:002014-08-21T06:23:18.716-07:00Upgrading the Lab
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am afraid I have been a bit negligent in my blog posts of
late. I will endeavor to make them more frequently and of course try to make
them interesting and enlightening! I am embarking on a new project, I am
rebuilding my computer lab with newer, better equipment. To that end I just
completed the purchase of the following gear:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 – Dell PowerEdge 2950
III servers<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="a">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2x2.83 GHz E5440 Quad core
<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">16 GB memory<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4x500 GB internal drives<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">PERC6i 2PS<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4 – Dell Qlogic QLE2460
single port 4 GB FC PCIe HBAs<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 – A7394a HP Storageworks
SAN 4 GB/s Switch with 32 active ports<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1- CIPRIO MediaVault RX 4
GB dual FC Storage 5 TB array (capable of RAID0, RAID1 or RAID3)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, you should realize I have
access to a full IBM Power8 server with an IBM FlashSystem 840 attached via
remote access to the STG lab, but when I am testing and learning I prefer a
system where if I crash it or trash it, it will effect only my work. Once I learn
what not to do I will take advantage of the advanced equipment that IBM has
made available. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is interesting to note that when
I started writing Oracle books I purchased a new server (back in the late 1990’s)
at that time I got a hyper-threaded, dual core system with 2 GB of memory for
about $5K. When RAC was released I needed to upgrade so I purchased 2 – single core
hyper-threaded servers with 4 GB or memory, a 1 GB switch and 2 disk arrays at a total cost of around
$3K. For all of the equipment listed above I paid $1.6K on Ebay. It just goes
to show the incredible decrease in costs and increase in capabilities that have
occurred over the last 20 years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next I will be acquiring Oracle
OEL for the operating system and Oracle12c for testing and learning on. I will
post my lessons learned as I go along. I hope to test many of the new features
of 12c such as container databases, in-memory database options, use of Flash
Cache in container, regular and RAC 12c databases and of course use of the
in-memory option with a 12c RAC database. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next I have to decide whether to
install the equipment in the house or out in the shed, if I do it in the shed I
have to build a computer room out there and put in a small AC unit. I an
existing AC unit that will work, just have to cut the needed ports in the side
of the building and install the intake/outlet lines for the air handler
section. Of course instead of building a room it may be more cost effective to
buy a small 8x10 foot shed and place it in the larger 30x50 foot equipment shed.
I’ll post pictures along with the blog entries as I go along.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-29652848739971681322014-06-13T09:18:00.002-07:002014-06-13T09:21:04.373-07:00UnderstandingExcerpt from a meeting yesterday:<br />
<br />
"IBM now has the VSC that wraps around multiple clustered SVCs providing virtualization of the XIV, V7K and FS840. The FS840 is completely built on FPGA technology utilizing ASIC to provide a purpose built architecture driving latency to microseconds and proving the highest IOPS. We support FC, IB, FCoE, and iSCSI via the SVC and IB and FC directly." <br />
<br />
I realized that I completely understood what had just been said, guess I am full Geek now. Over half of understanding a technology is understanding its verbiage, in this case its acronyms. I realized that if I was talking to someone on my cell phone and said this, 95% of the people around me would think I was channeling Robin Williams from the movie "Good Morning Vietnam!" with his famous acronym speak when talking about the visit of the vice president. If you haven't heard it, I am sure it is on YouTube or available somewhere on line. Here it is written but it just isn't as funny:<br />
<br />
:<strong>Adrian Cronauer:</strong> Excuse me, sir. Seeing as how the V.P. is such a V.I.P., shouldn't we keep the P.C. on the Q.T.? 'Cause if it leaks to the V.C. he could end up M.I.A., and then we'd all be put out in K.P.<br />
<br />
Anyway, hope you can all LOL and don't have a SHTF moment anytime soon.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-62290216029404967292013-09-25T15:17:00.001-07:002013-09-25T15:17:33.544-07:00How is publishing a successful book like Nuclear Physics?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are probably looking at this title and wondering what
the heck I am talking about. Let me explain. When I was in the Navy I was a
Nuke, that meant we attended 2 years of training where a $20K dollar (in 1973
dollars) education was shoved where the sun don’t shine one nickel at a time.
In that training we learned nuclear physics, chemistry, electrical theory,
fluid dynamics and heat transfer, in short, anything they thought we would need
to run a nuclear power plant on a Navy ship.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the classes was nuclear physics in this class we
learned about the nuclear multiplication formula. Now I don’t have fancy
formula rendering software but here is what this formula looked like:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
K=N*F*P*e*Pth*Pf </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
K is the multiplication factor</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
N is the thermal neutron production from fission</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
F is the probability that an absorbed neutron is absorbed in
fuel</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
P is the fraction of neutrons that slow down to thermal
energies without getting absorbed</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
e is the fast fission factor (ratio of total neutrons
produced to total neutrons from thermal fission</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pth is the thermal neutron non-leakage factor</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pf is the fast neutron non-leakage factor</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If K is less than 1 then the reactor is sub critical and if
it equals 1 then the reactor is steady state and critical and if it is greater
than 1 then the reactor is super-critical and power is increasing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So…what the heck does this have to do with selling a book
successfully? Well, let’s re name the terms of the equation a bit:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
K = Chance that book will succeed</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
N is the number of books sent out/given away/available to
the public</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
F is the probability a book will reach someone who will read
it</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
P is the percentage of books that never get read</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
e is the total number of books read in the first week they
are purchased over the total number of books read within the first month after
they are sold</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pth is the ratio of books read within the last month that
result in an additional sale</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pf is the ratio of books read within the last week that
result in an additional sale</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, if a lot of books are given away/sent out/sold initially
but none of them result in new sales (Pth and Pf are near zero) then the book won’t
make it. As long as each book put into someone’s hands generates more than 1
additional sale each the book should be successful. If K=1 then the book will
have steady sales, but not spectacular, if it is less than 1 the book is dead
and greater than 1 then the sales are accelerating and the book is successful.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok, so it has been a slow day, see what happens when you
have too many things stuffed in your head and your idle brain starts making
connections….</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-28004494695077752482013-08-07T13:22:00.000-07:002013-08-07T13:22:32.716-07:00DISPATCH the DISPATCHERS Parameter!<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As you can tell from the title I have little use of the DISPATCHERS parameter. In the default <span class="SpellE">init.ora</span> provided by Oracle DBCA this value is set, so. Many people leave it set thinking Oracle is saying it is a good idea or best practice to have it set. From the Oracle11g manual:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Configure the </span><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">DISPATCHERS</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> parameter if either of the following conditions <span class="GramE">apply</span>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="bold1"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">You need to configure another protocol other than TCP/IP</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Configure a protocol address with one of the following attributes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">ADDRESS (ADD or ADDR)</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">DESCRIPTION (DES or DESC)</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">PROTOCOL (PRO or PROT)</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span> </li>
</li>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="bold1"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">You want to configure one or more of the optional dispatcher attributes</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">CONNECTIONS</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> (</span><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">CON</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> or </span><st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">CONN</span></code></st1:place></st1:state><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">)<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref881"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref882"></a><o:p></o:p></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">DISPATCHERS</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> (</span><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">DIS</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> or </span><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">DISP</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">)<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref883"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref884"></a><o:p></o:p></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">LISTENER</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> (</span><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">LIS</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> or </span><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">LIST</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">)<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref885"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref886"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref887"></a><o:p></o:p></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">MULTIPLEX</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> (</span><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">MUL</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> or </span><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">MULT</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">)<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref888"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref889"></a><o:p></o:p></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">POOL<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref890"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref891"></a> (POO)</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SERVICE</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> (</span><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SER</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> or </span><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SERV</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">)<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref892"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref893"></a><o:p></o:p></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SESSIONS</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> (</span><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SES</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> or </span><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SESS</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">)<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref894"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref895"></a><o:p></o:p></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">TICKS</span></code><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref896"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="sthref897"></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> (</span><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">TIC</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> or </span><code><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">TICK</span></code><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">)”<o:p></o:p></span> </li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Obviously, the second option is only when you have the DISPATCHERS already set. Most of the time I see DISPATCHERS set to configure the XDB protocol, for example:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">dispatchers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">(PROTOCOL=TCP) (SERVICE=acmedb1XDB)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, the question is, when do you need the XDB protocol? Going again to the Oracle11g</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Manual:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Note:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">If you create your Oracle database with Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA), DBCA configures a dispatcher for Oracle XML DB (XDB). This is because XDB protocols like HTTP and FTP require shared server. This results in a </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">SHARED_SERVER</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> value of 1. Although shared server is enabled, this configuration permits only sessions that connect to the XDB service to use shared server. To enable shared server for regular database sessions (for submitting SQL statements), you must add an additional dispatcher configuration, or replace the existing configuration with one that is not specific to XDB. See <a href="http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/server.112/e25494/manproc003.htm#i1008129#i1008129">"Configuring Dispatchers"</a> for instructions.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, whether you need it or not, DBCA sets it up, even if you tell it you don’t want shared servers initialized. You will only use XDB if you are doing XML, FTP or HTTP transfers in and out of your database or if you are using APEX you will need the XDB protocol. Now, if you use XDB protocols and need DISPATCHERS set that way, then go no further, you are set correctly (however, you may want to see what this does to your system, so read on!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So you are probably thinking: “Big deal, so DISPATCHERS is set, so what?” I mean<span class="GramE">,</span> compared to the myriad other things Oracle creates and runs in the background on our behalf this seems a bit mild, right? Actually, no, let me explain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Setting DISPATCHERS or setting SHARED_SERVERS turns on shared servers in Oracle. Shared servers are a means to do connection pooling in Oracle with SHARED_SERVERS configuring how many shared processes to have and DISPATCHERS setting up the master DISPATCHER processes which then serves out the connections to the connection processes setup with SHARED_SERVERS. So, if no one connects to the XDB process, shared servers are never used, so what is the big deal? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, shared server expects connections to be shared; certain types of shared connections must share memory areas. One example is that some types of memory sharing in PL/SQL will move form the shared pool to the large pool, this can improve PL/SQL performance form some operations, in version 9 of Oracle it was a way to prevent certain out of memory operation from happening in the SQL pool as a result of PL/.SQL. Shared servers also may require processes to share temporary segments.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is were the rubber meets the road, when the processes must share memory areas (for example temporary segments) then those areas cannot automatically be controlled by automatic memory management and won’t fall under PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET, MEMORY_MAX_TARGET or SGA_MAX_SIZE<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or their related parameters. Processes such as parallel query slaves and RMAN backup processes fall under this set of processes as do some parallel back ground and DDL statements. In addition, if you have STAR_TRANSFORMATION set to TRUE and DISPATCHERS set, then CREATE_BITMAP_AREA_SIZE and BITMAP_MERGE_AREA_SIZE also fall out from under automatic controls.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, what did I just say? Essentially DISPATCHERS turns off PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET control for temporary segments for certain parallel and background processes and removes bitmap temporary sizing parameters from AMM control. Under this situation, you must use manual sort/hash area control using the SORT_AREA_SIZE parameter. In the Oracle11g 11.2 manual about SORT_AREA_SIZE, CREATE_BITMAP_AREA_SIZE, <span class="GramE">BITMAP</span>_MERGE_AREA_SIZE:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="notep1">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Note:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Oracle does not recommend using the <code><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">SORT_AREA_SIZE</span></code> parameter unless the instance is configured with the shared server option. Oracle recommends that you enable automatic sizing of SQL working areas by setting <code><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET</span></code> instead. <code><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">SORT_AREA_SIZE</span></code> is retained for backward compatibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Note:</span></b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Oracle does not recommend using the CREATE_BITMAP_AREA_SIZE parameter unless the instance is configured with the shared server option. Oracle recommends that you enable automatic sizing of SQL working areas by setting PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET instead. CREATE_BITMAP_AREA_SIZE is retained for backward compatibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Note:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Oracle does not recommend using the BITMAP_MERGE_AREA_SIZE parameter unless the instance is configured with the shared server option. Oracle recommends that you enable automatic sizing of SQL working areas by setting PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET instead. BITMAP_MERGE_AREA_SIZE is retained for backward compatibility.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And, so far, these are the only places this is mentioned, other than HASH_AREA_SIZE, but since HASH_AREA_SIZE is derived from the sessions SORT_AREA_SIZE I am assuming that if we set SORT_AREA_SIZE, HASH_AREA_SIZE will follow, but that could be a bad assumption. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So how can you tell if this is happening in your system? First, you will get a load of sorts and temporary activities between 64K and 512 <span class="SpellE">mb</span> on your system. Check out the AWR PGA Aggregate Target histogram to see this. Why do I say that? Well, according to the released algorithm details of how PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET works it uses the undocumented parameter ” _PGA_MAX_SIZE” to determine how much temporary area to give to specific user up to 5% of the total PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET setting. Now on some systems this defaults to 256 megabytes and on others to 512 megabytes. So in the most current releases the 512 megabyte setting is the default so PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET should handle most sorts and temporary actions at less than 512 megabytes without resorting to going to disk. The reason for 64k being the minimum is that is the setting for SORT_AREA_SIZE if you haven’t reset it so up to 64K the default SORT_AREA_SIZE should handle any out-of-band sort requests. Here is an example PGA Aggregate Target Histogram showing out-of-band sorts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="background: white; margin: 4pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #336699; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">PGA <span class="SpellE">Aggr</span> Target Histogram<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Optimal Executions are purely in-memory operations <o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ul>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"><td style="background: #0066cc; padding-bottom: 1.5pt; padding-left: 3pt; padding-right: 3pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Low Optimal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td><td style="background: #0066cc; padding-bottom: 1.5pt; padding-left: 3pt; padding-right: 3pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">High Optimal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td><td style="background: #0066cc; padding-bottom: 1.5pt; padding-left: 3pt; padding-right: 3pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Total Execs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td><td style="background: #0066cc; padding-bottom: 1.5pt; padding-left: 3pt; padding-right: 3pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Optimal Execs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td><td style="background: #0066cc; padding-bottom: 1.5pt; padding-left: 3pt; padding-right: 3pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">1-Pass Execs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td><td style="background: #0066cc; padding-bottom: 1.5pt; padding-left: 3pt; padding-right: 3pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">M-Pass Execs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">2K<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">4K<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">2,897,891<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">2,897,891<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">64K<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">128K<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">8,659<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">8,659<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">128K<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">256K<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">5,303<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">5,303<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">256K<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">512K<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">208,918<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">208,918<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;"><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">512K<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">1024K<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">5,130,286<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">5,130,286<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;"><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">1M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">2M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">350,877<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">350,877<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;"><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">2M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">4M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">6,992<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">6,904<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">88<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;"><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">4M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">8M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">2,686<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">2,632<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">54<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;"><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">8M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">16M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">4,047<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">4,022<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;"><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">16M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">32M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">614<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">588<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;"><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">32M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">64M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">1,166<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">1,160<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;"><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">64M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">128M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">394<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">381<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;"><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">128M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">256M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">227<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">215<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14;"><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">256M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">512M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">153<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">149<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 15;"><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">512M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">1024M<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">35<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">22<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: #ffffcc; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 16; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">2G<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">4G<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="background: white; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As you can see from the above chart only 24 out of 253 of the temporary executions-to-disk were greater than 512 MB and none were lower than 64 KB. This could indicate out-of-band sorts if the PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET is set to a sufficient size and DISPATCHERS or SHARED_SERVERS is turned on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Temporary space requests between 64K and 512MB that generate actual disk IO activity are called (at least by me) out-of-band sorts. The best way to clean these up is to turn off the DISPATCHERS parameter if you aren’t using XML DB and XDB related protocols. Also make sure SHARED_SERVERS isn’t set. If you can’t turn off DISPATCHERS because you are using the XDB service it creates, then set SORT_AREA_SIZE to 512MB. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When should you consider turning off DISPATCHERS? </div>
<ol style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in;">You are running a 3<sup>rd</sup> party application which makes no use of HTTP, FTP or APEX
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in;">You are running an in house application that makes no use of HTTP, FTP or APEX
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in;">You aren’t using XML, HTTP, FTP or APEX in your application. </li>
</li>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One thing to remember, if you are only using XDB services for batch processing or only for intermittent connections you can actually set DISPATCHERS dynamically and turn it on and off at will. Leaving DISPATCHERS set 24x7 when you only need it for a 10 minute window at night for a batch process can cause many issues as shown above. Consider only turning on DISPATCHERS or SHARED_SERVERS when you need it. </div>
</div>
Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11462313.post-86069174000444369882013-01-11T11:54:00.000-08:002013-01-11T11:54:01.022-08:00Brain WashingWith the tragic shootings in Aurora, Colorado and Newtown, Connecticut and almost daily reports of children or young adults using violence or the threat of violence to right perceived or actual wrongs that children are spiraling out of control. What could be the cause? <br />
<br />
<br />
In experiments with rats in high-density populations the incidents of psychotic and anti-social behavior in the rat populations soared. While the violence and behaviors in the inner-cites of places like Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and London may be explained away through environmental stress due to overcrowding, Aurora, Colorado and Newtown, Connecticut hardly fall into the super-dense population categories. What else can cause people to behave in ways that are considered inhumane and psychotic? One is brain-washing, either deliberate or accidental. In well documented cases using hypnotic suggestion and other techniques subjects, who normally would eschew violence in any form, were made to shoot, stab, blowup or in other ways harm other people, admittedly in a simulated environment, but the subjects didn’t know that it was simulated. <br />
<br />
If you look at references about brain washing you will find they all utilize to some extent several key methods:<br />
<br />
1. Drugs to make the subject more compliant and open to suggestion<br />
<br />
2. Sensory deprivation<br />
<br />
3. Sleep deprivation<br />
<br />
4. Isolation<br />
<br />
5. Utilize a stressor<br />
<br />
6. Repetition of key ideas, phases and concepts<br />
<br />
One of the most prescribed drugs for pre-and-post adolescent children is arguably Ritilin. Ritilin blocks Dopamine uptake thus increasing the amount available. This blocking of Dopamine leads to enhanced concentration and ability to stay on task, it also makes the subject more compliant and open to suggestion. Of course Ritilin isn’t the only psycho-active drug used to control behavior, Prozac, Adderall, Concerta and several others are also used. This shows we meet the first of the key methods.<br />
<br />
In the 1950-1970 timeframe most children played outdoors and spent very little time indoors watching TV or playing video games since video games had yet to be developed. Beginning in the 80s and now coming to full bloom most children spend an inordinate amount of time glued to the TV or video games, with the TV or computer becoming a de-facto electronic babysitter. Unfortunately this use of an electronic babysitter results in sensory deprivation as only sight and hearing are usually engaged depriving the children of the full immersion sensory input that was present in outside playtime. So now we have met the second key method.<br />
<br />
With the breakdown of the family unit and most homes requiring both parents to work, rules such as bedtimes and other key constraints on behavior have become lax. Many children are not getting the needed number of hours of sleep because of this. This we have met the third method.<br />
<br />
TV and video games (and other computer behaviors) are isolating. Some may argue that social computing such as Facebook, Twitter and other networks are opening communication, however, these technologies lack the honesty of face-to-face communication. The person on the other side of the virtual communication could be who they say they are or someone with an agenda using the virtual communication as a means of manipulation. So rather than providing sincere communication much virtual communication can fall under the heading of propaganda, lies and falsehoods leading to further isolation from reality if that is the primary means of communication. Video games can lead to complete isolation in a made-up world, I can testify the fact that before I recognized them as the time drain they are I would spend hours, isolated and alone, striving to get to the next level of a game. So we can also show we meet item 4 of our list.<br />
<br />
Stressors are all around us, usually we are taught to deal with them in non-violent ways. Bullying, verbal abuse and other stressors are all present to some degree in many schools causing further isolation of specific individuals. Individuals are isolated because they are different or refuse to fit in. This of course drives up real isolation and feelings of resentment making that person self-stressing in the brain-washing cycle. The feeling that everyone is against them is reinforced, sometimes over years of time, especially when ill-conceived zero-tolerance policies punish both bullies and victims equally. <br />
<br />
Finally, what ideas or concepts are being driven into the conscious and sub-conscious brains of our children, especially those addicted to violent video games? Desensitization to violence and killing and a complete amoral attitude toward the taking of life is what most violent video games teach. Most first-person-shooters involve killing everyone who isn’t a part of your group. Now, as a child I played army, cowboys and Indians, and other “violent” games, but the guns didn’t shoot, there wasn’t splattered gore, severed limbs and carnage over and over again. At the end of the game when I was a child we all were still friends and no one was dead. We knew we were playacting with those army, cowboy, spaceman and other games and we weren’t isolated, drugged, sleep and sensory deprived and didn’t play the games for several hours each day with no other play.<br />
<br />
Essentially we are drugging children into a receptive state, allowing them to be sensory and sleep deprived, overloading their visual and auditory senses with images of death and violence and then wondering why they behave like monsters.<br />
<br />
Do all children exposed to video games become monsters? No, of course not. However there are a certain percentage of individuals that with the combination of the five factors mentioned will become a killer. Now, it could be argued that even without the five factors some percentage of individuals have a predilection for becoming a psychopath. In many cases, the warning signs were there to tell us the individual needed help, but in our society of political correctness we tend to overlook behaviors that would have thrown up alarm bells before suing each other became the national pastime.<br />
<br />
So, what is the fix? For some children who are true psychopaths there is nothing you can do to stop their destructive spiral other than isolating them from the rest of the world. However, by enforcing discipline, teaching self-worth, ensuring children get a majority of their play from interactive sources external to TV and computers and eliminating or restricting TV and video game play are a start. We must also break the narcissistic me-first, entitled behaviors so prevalent in todays society. We should require strict reviews by multiple Doctors before placing children on psycho-active drugs. We need to teach conflict resolution so we can reduce the chances of violence being the only outlet for destructive impulses. In addition in schools and other social settings bullying must be mitigated and inclusion of children from diverse backgrounds taught.<br />
<br />
If we don’t get a handle on this violence generating brainwashing I am afraid our society as a whole may face a lost generation of children sacrificed on the altar of political correctness and misguided experiments in child rearing. <br />
<br />
Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863836374532649517noreply@blogger.com4