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Oracle® Database Installation Guide 10g Release 2 (10.2) for Microsoft Windows (64-Bit) on Intel Itanium Part Number B14317-02 |
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# 5 Getting Started with Oracle Database

This chapter describes where to go after you have completed an Oracle Database installation, such as how to check the installed contents, start various tools, and identify and locate various files. It covers these topics:

- Checking the Installed Oracle Database Contents and Directory Location

- Logging in to Enterprise Manager Database Control

- Starting and Stopping an Oracle Database

- Managing Automatic Storage Management

- Accessing Oracle Database with SQL*Plus or iSQL*Plus

- Reviewing User Accounts and Passwords

- Identifying Databases

- Locating the Server Parameter File

- Identifying Tablespaces and Data Files

- Locating Redo Log Files

- Locating Control Files

- Understanding Oracle Database Services on Windows

## 5.1 Checking the Installed Oracle Database Contents and Directory Location

Use Oracle Universal Installer to check the contents and directory location of your Oracle Database installation.

Follow these steps:

1. From the Start menu, select Programs, then Oracle - HOME_NAME, then Oracle Installation Products, then Universal Installer.

2. In the Welcome window, click Installed Products to display the Inventory dialog box.

3. To check the installed contents, find the Oracle Database product in the list.

   To find additional information about an installed product, click Details.

4. To check the directory location of the installed contents, click the Environment tab.

5. Click Close to exit the Inventory dialog box.

6. Click Cancel to exit Oracle Universal Installer, then click Yes to confirm.

## 5.2 Logging in to Enterprise Manager Database Control

Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control provides a Web-based user interface that you can use to monitor, administer, and maintain an Oracle database, including Automatic Storage Management.

To log in to Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control:

1. Open your Web browser and enter the following URL

       http://hostname:port/em

   In a default installation, the port number is 1158. If you are unsure of the correct port number to use, look for the following line in the `ORACLE_BASE``\``ORACLE_HOME``\install\portlist.ini` file:

       Enterprise Manager Console HTTP Port (db_name) = port

   Note: The `portlist.ini` file if not updated if you change a port number after you install Oracle Database. "Changing the Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Console Ports" explains how to find the Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control port number in this situation

   For example, if you installed the database on a host computer named `mgmt42`, and the port number listed in the `portlist.ini` file is 5500, then enter the following URL:

       http://mgmt42:5500/em

   Enterprise Manager displays the Database Control Login Page.

2. Log in to the database using the `SYSMAN` database user account. Enterprise Manager displays the Oracle Database home page.

   Use the password you specified for the `SYSMAN` account during the Oracle Database installation.

See Also: "Setting Credentials for the Job System to Work with Enterprise Manager" if you have difficulty logging into Enterprise Manager Database Control "Reviewing User Accounts and Passwords"

### 5.2.1 Understanding Database Control Login Privileges

When you log in to Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control using the `SYSMAN` user account, you are logging in as the Oracle Enterprise Manager super user. The `SYSMAN` account is automatically granted the roles and privileges required to access all the management functionality provided with Database Control.

You can also use the `SYS` and `SYSTEM` accounts to log in to Database Control. In addition, you can grant login privileges to other database users. To grant management access for other database users, use the following procedure:

1. Log in to Database Control.

   See Also: "Logging in to Enterprise Manager Database Control"

2. Click Setup at the top of the Database Control home page.

3. Click Administrators in the left navigation bar.

4. Click Create to create a new Enterprise Manager user.

5. In the Name field, enter the user name of an existing database user, or click the flashlight icon and select a user from the pop-up window.

6. Enter the password for this user, then click Finish.

Enterprise Manager assigns login privileges to the specified user and includes this user in the list of Enterprise Manager users on the Setup Administrators page.

## 5.3 Starting and Stopping an Oracle Database

You can start and stop an Oracle database by using any of the following methods:

- Starting and Stopping the Database with Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control

- Starting and Stopping the Database with Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows

- Starting and Stopping the Database from the Microsoft Windows Services Utility

### 5.3.1 Starting and Stopping the Database with Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control

To start or stop the database:

1. From a Web browser, start Enterprise Manager Database Control and log in, for example:

       http://myserver:1158/em

   See Also: "Logging in to Enterprise Manager Database Control"

2. Click Home to go to the home page.

3. Under General, click Start to start the database or click Shutdown to shut it down.

### 5.3.2 Starting and Stopping the Database with Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows

Oracle Administration Assistant is available from the Custom installation type.

To start or stop the database:

1. From the Start menu, select Programs, then Oracle - HOME_NAME, then Configuration and Migration Tools, and then Administrative Assistant for Windows.

2. In the console window, expand the Oracle Administration Assistant for Windows tree structure.

3. Under Databases, right-click the name of the database that you want, and from the menu, select from the following options:

   - Connect Database

   - Start Service

   - Disconnect Database

   - Stop Service

   - Startup/Shutdown Options

### 5.3.3 Starting and Stopping the Database from the Microsoft Windows Services Utility

To start or stop the database:

1. From the Start menu, select Programs, then Administrative Tools, and then Services.

2. In the Services dialog box, locate the name of the database you want to start or stop.

3. Right-click the name of the database, and from the menu, select either Start, Stop, or Pause.

   To set its start-up properties, right-click Properties, and in the dialog box, select either Automatic, Manual, or Disabled.

## 5.4 Managing Automatic Storage Management

This section covers the following topics:

- Starting and Stopping Automatic Storage Management

- Automatic Storage Management Utilities

### 5.4.1 Starting and Stopping Automatic Storage Management

To start and stop Automatic Storage Management, in addition to using SQL*Plus or iSQL*Plus, you can use the Windows Services utility.

To start Automatic Storage Management using the Services utility:

1. From the Start menu, select Programs, then Administrative Tools, and then Services.

2. In the Services dialog box, start the following services by right-clicking their names and in the menu, select Start:

   - `OracleCSService`

   - `OracleASMService+ASM`

   To set the startup properties for these services, right-click Properties, and in the Properties dialog box, under Startup Type, select Automatic, Manual, or Disabled.

3. Exit Services.

To stop Automatic Storage Management using the Services utility:

1. From the Start menu, select Programs, then Administrative Tools, then Services.

2. In the Services dialog box, Shut down any databases that use ASM. Names of Oracle databases are preceded with `OracleService`.

3. Right-click the `OracleCSService` and `Oracle ASMService+ASM` services and from the menu, select Stop.

4. Exit Services.

See Also: Oracle Database Administrator's Guide for information on starting and stopping ASM instances by using SQL*Plus or iSQL*Plus

### 5.4.2 Automatic Storage Management Utilities

To manage Automatic Storage Management, you can use the following tools:

- asmcmd: This command-line tool lets you manage ASM disk group files and directories.

- Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control: If you have Oracle Enterprise Manager installed, you can use Grid Control to manage Automatic Storage Management functions such as migrating an existing database to ASM, checking the status of the ASM instance, checking the performance of the ASM disk groups, creating or dropping ASM disk groups, and so on.

- Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control: This utility lets you perform functions similar to Grid Control.

- SQL*Plus or i SQL*Plus: You can use Automatic Storage Management-specific commands from either of these tools. To connect to the ASM instance, you use the same methods that you use to connect to an Oracle Database instance.

See Also: "Logging in to Enterprise Manager Database Control" Oracle Database Administrator's Guide for more information about managing Automatic Storage Management Oracle Database Utilities for more information about the `asmcmd` utility

## 5.5 Accessing Oracle Database with SQL*Plus or iSQL*Plus

To issue SQL and PL/SQL statements to Oracle Database, you can use either SQL*Plus or its Web version, iSQL*Plus. These tools enable you to perform the same database management operations, as well as to query, insert, update, or delete data directly in the database.

To start SQL*Plus:

1. From the Start menu, select Programs, then Oracle - HOME_NAME, then Application Development, and then SQL Plus.

2. In the Log On dialog box, enter the user name, password, and for the host string, the name of the database to which you want to connect.

Alternatively, at the command line, you can enter the following command at a Windows command prompt:

    SYSTEM_DRIVE:\> sqlplus user_name/password

For example, to log on as SYSTEM using the password `welcome`, you enter:

    SYSTEM_DRIVE:\> sqlplus system/welcome

If you are logging on as `SYS`, you would need to connect as `SYSDBA`:

    SYSTEM_DRIVE:\> sqlplus sys/welcome as sysdba

To start iSQL*Plus:

1. Open your Web browser and enter the following URL:

       http://hostname:port/isqlplus

   If you are unsure of the correct port number to use, check the `ORACLE_BASE``\``ORACLE_HOME``\install\portlist.ini` file.

   Note: The `portlist.ini` file if not updated if you change a port number after you install Oracle Database. "Changing the iSQL*Plus Ports" explains how to find the iSQL*Plus port number in this situation

2. In the Login window, enter the user name, password, and for the connect identifier, the name of the database to which you want to connect.

See Also: SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference SQL*Plus Quick Reference

## 5.6 Reviewing User Accounts and Passwords

All databases created by Oracle Database Configuration Assistant include the `SYS`, `SYSTEM`, `SYSMAN`, and `DBSNMP` database accounts. In addition, Oracle provides several other administrative accounts. Before using these other accounts, you must unlock them and reset their passwords. Table 5-1 describes these accounts, listing their user names and passwords.

See Also: "Unlocking and Changing Passwords" for information about using Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control to view a complete list of the user accounts defined for your database "Modifying Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor Parameters" in Oracle Database Platform Guide for Microsoft Windows (32-Bit) for instructions on how to change the password for Oracle Counters for Windows Performance Monitor Oracle Database Administrator's Guide for information about Oracle security procedures and security best practices

### 5.6.1 Reviewing Administrative Accounts

Table 5-1 describes the administrative user names.

Table 5-1 Administrative Accounts

User Name | Description | See Also
--- | --- | ---
`ANONYMOUS` | Allows HTTP access to Oracle XML DB. | Not applicable
`BI` | Owns the Business Intelligence schema included in the Oracle Sample Schemas. It is only available if you loaded the Sample Schemas. | Oracle Database Sample Schemas
`CTXSYS` | The Oracle Text account. | Oracle Text Reference
`DBSNMP` | Used by Management Agent of Oracle Enterprise Manager to monitor and manage the database. This account is created only if you configure the database to use Database Control. | Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control Installation and Basic Configuration
`DIP` | Used by Directory Integration Platform (DIP) to synchronize the changes in Oracle Internet Directory with the applications in the database. | Oracle Internet Directory Administrator's Guide
`DMSYS` | Performs data mining operations. | Oracle Data Mining Administrator's Guide
`EXFSYS` | Owns the Expression Filter schema. | None
`HR` | Owns the Human Resources schema included in the Oracle Sample Schemas. It is available only if you loaded the Sample Schemas. | Oracle Database Sample Schemas
`IX` | Owns the Information Transport schema included in the Oracle Sample Schemas. This account is available only if you loaded the Sample Schemas. | Oracle Database Sample Schemas
`LBACSYS` | The Oracle Label Security administrator account. | Oracle Label Security Administrator's Guide
`MDDATA` | Used by Oracle Spatial for storing Geocoder and router data. | Oracle Spatial User's Guide and Reference
`MDSYS` | The Oracle Spatial and Oracle Locator administrator account. | Oracle Spatial User's Guide and Reference
`MGMT_VIEW` | Used by Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control. | None
`OE` | Owns the Order Entry schema included in the Oracle Sample Schemas. This account is available only if you loaded the Sample Schemas. | Oracle Database Sample Schemas
`OLAPSYS` | Owns the OLAP catalogs | Oracle OLAP Application Developer's Guide
`ORDPLUGINS` | The Oracle interMedia Audio and Video account. Plug-ins supplied by Oracle and third party plug-ins are installed in this schema. | Oracle interMedia Reference
`ORDSYS` | The Oracle interMedia Audio, Video, Locator, and Image administrator account. | Oracle interMedia Reference
`OUTLN` | Centrally manages metadata associated with stored outlines. Supports plan stability, which enables maintenance of the same execution plans for the same SQL statements. | Oracle Database Performance Tuning Guide
`PM` | Owns the Product Media schema included in the Oracle Sample Schemas. This account is created only if you loaded the Sample Schemas. | Oracle Database Sample Schemas
`SCOTT` | An account used by Oracle sample programs and examples. | Oracle Database Administrator's Guide
`SH` | Owns the Sales History schema included in the Oracle Sample Schemas. This account is available only if you loaded the Sample Schemas during an Enterprise Edition installation | Oracle Database Sample Schemas
`SI_INFORMTN_SCHEMA` | Stores the information views for the SQL/MM Still Image Standard. | Oracle interMedia Reference
`SYS` | Used for performing database administration tasks. | Oracle Database Administrator's Guide
`SYSMAN` | The account used to perform Oracle Enterprise Manager database administration tasks.This account is created only if you configure the database to use the Database Control. | Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control Installation and Basic Configuration
`SYSTEM` | Used for performing database administration tasks. | Oracle Database Administrator's Guide
`WMSYS` | The account used to store the metadata information for Oracle Workspace Manager. | Oracle Database Application Developer's Guide - Workspace Manager
`XDB` | Used for storing Oracle XML DB data and metadata. | Oracle XML DB Developer's Guide

See Also: "Privileges, Roles, and Security Policies" of Oracle Database Concepts "The Oracle Database Administrator" of Oracle Database Administrator's Guide "Administering External Users and Roles on Windows" of Oracle Database Platform Guide for Microsoft Windows (32-Bit)

### 5.6.2 Unlocking and Changing Passwords

Passwords for all Oracle system administration accounts except `SYS`, `SYSTEM`, `SYSMAN`, and `DBSNMP` are revoked after installation. Before you use a locked account, you must unlock it and reset its password. If you created a starter database during the installation, Oracle Database Configuration Assistant displays a screen with your database information and the Password Management button. Use the Password Management button to unlock only the user names you will use.

If you created a starter database during the installation, but you did not unlock the required account, unlock the account using one of the following methods:

- Using SQL*Plus to Unlock and Change Passwords

- Using Enterprise Manager Database Control to Unlock and Change Passwords

Note: To permit unauthenticated access to your data through HTTP, unlock the `ANONYMOUS` account.

See Also: Oracle Database Administrator's Guide for more information about: Unlocking and changing passwords after installation Oracle security procedures Security best practices

#### 5.6.2.1 Using SQL*Plus to Unlock and Change Passwords

Use SQL*Plus to unlock accounts and change passwords any time after the installation process.

To change a password after installation:

1. Start SQL*Plus:

       c:\> sqlplus /NOLOG

2. Connect as `SYSDBA`:

       SQL> connect sys/SYS_password as sysdba

3. Enter a command similar to the following, where `account` is the user account that you want to unlock and `password` is the new password:

       SQL> ALTER USER account [IDENTIFIED BY password] ACCOUNT UNLOCK;

   In this example:

   - The `ACCOUNT` `UNLOCK` clause unlocks the account.

   - The `IDENTIFIED` `BY` `password` clause resets the password.

#### 5.6.2.2 Using Enterprise Manager Database Control to Unlock and Change Passwords

To unlock and reset user account passwords with Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control:

1. Log in to Database Control.

   See Also: "Logging in to Enterprise Manager Database Control"

2. Click Administration.

3. In the Security section of the Administration page, click Users.

   Enterprise Manager displays a table containing all database accounts. The Account Status column indicates whether the account is locked and whether the password is expired.

4. Select the user account you want to modify, then click Edit.

5. Use the General page of the Users property sheet to change the password and lock or unlock the selected account. Click Help for additional information.

## 5.7 Identifying Databases

The Oracle Database 10g software identifies a database by its global database name. A global database name consists of the database name and database domain. Usually, the database domain is the same as the network domain, but it need not be. The global database name uniquely distinguishes a database from any other database in the same network. You specify the global database name when you create a database during the installation, or when using Oracle Database Configuration Assistant. For example:

`sales.us.mycompany.com`

In this example:

- `sales` is the name of the database. The database name portion is a string of no more than 30 characters that can contain alphanumeric, underscore (_), dollar ($), and pound (#) characters. The `DB_NAME` initialization parameter specifies the database name.

- `us.mycompany.com` is the network domain in which the database is located. Together, the database name and the network domain make the global database name unique. The domain portion is a string of no more than 128 characters that can contain alphanumeric, underscore (_), and pound (#) characters. The `DB_DOMAIN` initialization parameter specifies the domain name.

The `DB_NAME` parameter and the `DB_DOMAIN` name parameter combine to create the global database name value assigned to the `SERVICE_NAMES` parameter in the initialization parameter file.

The system identifier (SID) identifies a specific database instance. The SID uniquely distinguishes the instance from any other instance on the same computer. Each database instance requires a unique SID and database name.

For example, if the SID and database name for an Oracle database are `ORCL`, then each database file is located in the `ORACLE_BASE``\``ORACLE_HOME``\``orcl` directory, and the initialization parameter file is located in the `ORACLE_BASE``\admin\``orcl``\pfile` directory.

## 5.8 Locating the Server Parameter File

The starter database contains one database initialization parameter file. The initialization parameter file, `init.ora.``xxxxx`, must exist for an instance to start. A parameter file is a text file that contains a list of instance configuration parameters. The starter database `init.ora` file has preconfigured parameters. You do not need to edit this file to use the starter database.

The server parameter file (SPFILE) is created from the initialization parameter file, then the initialization parameter file is renamed. The SPFILE file name is `spfile` `SID``.ora` and is located in the `ORACLE_BASE``\``ORACLE_HOME``\database` directory.

You can use Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control to view the location of the server parameter file and list all of the initialization parameters, as follows:

1. Log in to Database Control.

   See Also: "Logging in to Enterprise Manager Database Control"

2. Click Administration.

3. In the Instance section of the Administration page, click All Initialization Parameters.

   Database Control displays a table listing the current value of each initialization parameter.

4. Click SPFile.

   Database Control displays a table listing the value of each initialization parameter specified in the server parameter file. The location of the server parameter file is displayed before the table.

See Also: "Oracle Database Specifications for Windows" of Oracle Database Platform Guide for Microsoft Windows (64-Bit) on Intel Itanium for a list of Oracle Database-specific initialization parameters for Windows and their default values Oracle Database Reference for more information about initialization parameters

## 5.9 Identifying Tablespaces and Data Files

An Oracle Database is divided into smaller logical areas of space known as tablespaces. Each tablespace corresponds to one or more physical data files. Data files contain the contents of logical database structures such as tables and indexes. A data file can be associated with only one tablespace and database.

Note: The `SYSAUX` and `SYSTEM` tablespaces must be present in all Oracle Database 10g release 2 (10.2) databases.

Table 5-2 list the tablespaces and data files in the Oracle Database. By default, the data files are located in the `ORACLE_BASE``\oradata\``DB_NAME` directory.

Table 5-2 Tablespaces and Data Files

Tablespace | Data File | Description
--- | --- | ---
`EXAMPLE` | `EXAMPLE01.DBF` | Stores the Sample Schemas, if you included them.
`SYSAUX` | `SYSAUX01.DBF` | Serves as an auxiliary tablespace to the `SYSTEM` tablespace. Some products and options that previously used the `SYSTEM` tablespace now use the `SYSAUX` tablespace to reduce the load on the `SYSTEM` tablespace.
`SYSTEM` | `SYSTEM01.DBF` | Stores the data dictionary, including definitions of tables, views, and stored procedures needed by the Oracle Database. Information in this area is maintained automatically.
`TEMP` | `TEMP01.DBF` | Stores temporary tables and indexes created during the processing of your SQL statement. If you are running a SQL statement that involves a lot of sorting, such as the constructs `GROUP` `BY`, `ORDER` `BY`, or `DISTINCT`, then you may need to expand this tablespace.
`UNDOTBS` | `UNDOTBS01.DBF` | Stores undo information. The undo tablespace contains one or more undo segments that maintain transaction history that is used to roll back, or undo, changes to the database. All starter databases are configured to run in automatic undo management mode.
`USERS` | `USERS01.DBF` | Stores database objects created by database users.

To use Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control to view the list of tablespaces currently available in your database:

1. Log in to Database Control.

   See Also: "Logging in to Enterprise Manager Database Control"

2. Click Administration.

3. In the Storage section of the Administration page, click Tablespaces.

   Enterprise Manager displays a table containing all the tablespaces currently defined for this database instance. For more information about using Database Control to view, modify, and create tablespaces, click Help.

See Also: "Tablespaces, Data Files, and Control Files" of Oracle Database Concepts "Managing Tablespaces" and "Managing Data Files and Tempfiles" of Oracle Database Administrator's Guide "Managing the Undo Tablespace" of Oracle Database Administrator's Guide

## 5.10 Locating Redo Log Files

A redo log can be either an online redo log or an archived redo log. The online redo log is a set of two or more redo log groups that records all changes made to Oracle data files and control files. An archived redo log is a copy of an online redo log that has been copied to an offline destination. If the database is in `ARCHIVELOG` mode and automatic archiving is enabled, then the archive process or processes copy each online redo log to one or more archive log destinations after it is filled.

The starter database and the custom database each contain three redo log files located in the `ORACLE_BASE``\oradata``\``DB_NAME` directory. Redo log files hold a record of all changes made to data in the database buffer cache. If an instance fails, then Oracle Database uses the redo log files to recover the modified data in memory.

To use Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control to view or modify the redo log files for your starter database:

1. Start your Web browser and log in to Database Control.

   See Also: "Logging in to Enterprise Manager Database Control"

2. Click Administration.

3. In the Storage section of the Administration page, click Redo Log Groups.

   Enterprise Manager displays a table containing the control files currently defined for this database instance.

4. To view the name and location of the redo log file associated with a particular group, select that group then click View.

   For more information about using Database Control to view, modify, and create tablespaces, click Help.

See Also: Oracle Database Backup and Recovery Basics "Managing Archived Redo Logs" in Oracle Database Administrator's Guide

## 5.11 Locating Control Files

The starter database and the custom database contain three control files located in the `ORACLE_BASE``\oradata``\``DB_NAME` directory. Oracle recommends that you keep at least three control files (on separate physical drives) for each database, and set the `CONTROL_FILES` initialization parameter to list each control file.

A control file is an administrative file required to start and run the database. The control file records the physical structure of the database. For example, a control file contains the database name, and the names and locations of the database data files and redo log files.

To use Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control to view or modify the control files for your starter database:

1. Log in to Database Control.

   See Also: "Logging in to Enterprise Manager Database Control"

2. Click Administration.

3. In the Storage section of the Administration page, click Controlfiles.

   Enterprise Manager displays a table containing the control files currently defined for this database instance. For more information about using control files and backing up control files, click Help.

See Also: "Managing Control Files" of Oracle Database Administrator's Guide for information about setting this initialization parameter value

## 5.12 Understanding Oracle Database Services on Windows

Two main Oracle services are automatically started after installation when you create a database:

- `OracleService` `SID` (Oracle Database service)

- `Oracle` `HOME_NAME` `TNSListener` (Oracle Database listener service)

If you installed Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control, then the `OracleDBConsole` `SID` service is automatically started. In you configured Automatic Storage Management, the `OracleCSService` and `OracleASMService+ASM` services are listed as well. However, other services for networking or other individual components may not automatically start.