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Oracle Product Definitions

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Product Numbering
- X.y.z (example: Oracle7 Server 7.3.2)
X = Version
y = release updates
z = patches


Alert
A flexible, automated exception management and reporting tool that keeps you aware of critical activity in your database, helping you to automate your workflows and make better business decisions faster. Part of Oracle Applications.

ANO
Advanced Networking Option - integrates Oracle with enterprise-level network services including naming services, network encryption, single sign-on, and token authentication (repackage of Secure Netowrk Services, SQL*Net/DCE, and SQL*Net's native naming adapters). Ensures data confidentiality through software-based encryption like RC4 (from RSA 128-bit), DES, DES40 - it uses cryptographic check sums based on MD5 algorithm. It also supports 3rd party authentication products like Kerberos and SESAME (less common European extension) to provide a single network login for the whole environment, and it supports smart cards like SecurID that use pin codes and time-based tokens and biometrics like fingerprints and retinal scans. Has ability to encrypt all data passing between client and servers across open networks (SNS).

AppBuilder for Java
Oracle has used the Borland JBuilder code as the starting point for development of AppBuilder for Java. In AppBuilder 1.0, there are several key differentiators:


Apollo (Project)
Oracle's business-to-consumer Internet merchant server. Out of the box will give merchants an electronic storefront. It includes the Store Manager, Customer Service and Marketing wizards. Its batch loader can create, modify, and delete any store object while enforcing access control. A Staging System lets you view and test new storefronts incorporating structural and content changes will little or no downtime. Can also use ConText to perform sophisticated text searches anywhere in the store. It has a persistent shopping cart and supports profiles and preferences for the consumer. It also integrates with taxation software from Taxware. Its key strengths include high performance and scalability; superior, dynamic data management; end-to-end technology solution; a highly configurable and extensible architecture; and back-end systems integration.

Application Server
Dynamically generates HTML pages through the WRB (Web Request Broker) from data in the database to be used in corporate intranet or the public Internet. The WRB sits in between the HTTP server and the clients. Can make available internal data behind firewall to outside customers. It can handle cgi-bin, PERL, own program, etc. Provides SSL and proxy capabilities. Also bypasses CGI to have improved, scalable performance. Integrates Oracle 7 with applications written using Java, PL/SQL, and Server Side Includes so developer is free to use language and tools of choice. WebServer 2.1 allows Netscape's NSAPI to dispatch processes to the WRB. With WebServer 3.0 the Web Request Broker becomes a CORBA-compliant ORB so cartridges can reside on a separate machine than the HTTP listener or WRB. It will also connect to Microsoft's IIS Server (ISAPI) and will also store and manage all web site "assets" in Oracle7. The Web Library will provide versioning, security, and check-in/check-out and other management capabilities. The Web Application Server (3.0) will work with any XA-compliant resource managers so it supports transactional services. It also has a Perl, LiveHTML, and ODBC cartridges (adds to PL/SQL (maps HTML tags to PL/SQL functions) and Java cartridges). ICX (Inter Cartridge Exchange) also allows cartridges to communicate and share information. Also provides for database based authentication and a graphical log analyzer tool.

Payment Server
will allow processing of monetary transactions over the Internet. It will support multiple, concurrent payment mechanisms like VeriFone, CyberCash, and FirstData.

Firewall Security
will enable SQL*Net access through firewalls. 2 types of firewall architectures - stateful inspection in which the firewall makes security decisions based upon its knowledge of the network protocols, and proxy-based firewalls in which "helper" applications relay information from outside the firewall to inside the firewall (and vice versa) using a proxy for the desired service. Oracle has developed a SQL*Net application proxy.

Security Server
bundled with WebServer 3.0 - it provides a Certificate Authority (CA) function, including generation of public key/private key pairs and issuance of industry standard X.509 certificates, as well as the ability to revoke certificates. You will also be able to create local certificate revocation lists (CRLs) or access third-party CRLs.

ARO
Advanced Replication Option - easy to manage with GUI Replication Manager (what objects should be replicated, what are the replication sites, how should replicated data be propagated) which is integrated with Enterprise Manager. Trigger-base replication is quicker now because database triggers are now stored in compiled format unlike log sniffer-based replication like Sybase's. Also supports more complex application architectures like workflow, update-anywhere, and fail-over configurations. Also helps with concerns regarding site failure (of both server and disks).

ConText Option
Based on advanced linguistic technology, ConText automatically summarizes and profiles text. Unlike competitive products that simply count key words or use a hierarchical thesaurus to determine the main theme of a document (ConText uses heuristics, not statistics - position vs. repetition), ConText parses every sentence in a document to determine the relative weight of the different themes (up to 16/document) - uses 20,000 English based rules to do it. We have 20 people working just on linguistics piece. It uses natural-language processing technology (linguistics analysis) that can identify themes (words or short phrases that represent the main concepts in a document) and gists (a collection of the most important paragraphs in a document). Has fuzzy-match and sounds-like to match misspelled words and other "close" words. Allows retrieval of text (as well as updating) via standard SQL (contains clause) - so it is easier to use than learning a proprietary API - it is part of the kernel - it treats text as a peer to relational data. 90% of corporate data is text. Can search using wildcards, stemming (go, gone, going - to match plurals), and proximity search. Integrates powerful text reduction and classification features within Oracle Universal Server - manage all text with same scalability, security, integrity, fault-tolerance, and administrative ease expected in an enterprise-caliber RDBMS running in a parallel, multiprocessor architecture. Allows for parallel index builds (b/c of integration w/ db - just add more CPUs) - has very compressed indexes. Indexes text with a proprietary bit-mapped location index - not a conventional pointer system. Supports several languages and formats like HTML and PDF. Good for web content providers, legal, government/intelligence, help desks, and digital libraries. Competition is Verity and Fulcrum - but question their profitability. Policy - create for each text column in the table.

Examples:
CTX_DDL.CREATE_POLICY('docs_policy', 'docs_tbl.text');
CTX_DDL.CREATE_INDEX('docs_policy');

SELECT title FROM docs_tbl WHERE organization = 'Support' AND CONTAINS(docs_tbl.text, "WebServer') > 0; - CONTAINS keyword returns a score
SELECT SCORE(0), title FROM docs_tbl WHERE organization = 'Support' AND CONTAINS(docs_tbl.text, "WebServer', 0) > 0 ORDER BY SCORE(0); - the 0 in the SCORE clause matches the index used in the CONTAINS clause


Data Mart Suite
2 products - Oracle Data Mart Suite and Oracle Data Mart Suite-Sales & Marketing - includes the database software, design, data movement, and transformation tools, documentation, and training to quickly and easily implement a data mart. Oracle Data Mart Suite for NT consists of the followinf componets (all install through a single inegrated installation process and they work together and share information seamlessly):


Designer/2000
Modeling tool for client/server development, incorporating support for system analysis, software design, automatic code generation and business process re-engineering. Using its WebServer Generator, Designer/2000 automatically creates fully-functional OLTP Web applications that run over the Oracle WebServer. It allows you to create visual representations of process architectures and applications (database and application module diagrams) to define client- and server-side application definitions and logic. Supports modeling of complex systems with BPR (Business Process Reengineering), analysis, and design diagrammers - a CASE tool that has process modeling (swim lanes), systems modeling (ER, function hierarchy) and system design (foreign keys, server-based triggers). The RON (Repository Object Navigator) is the control panel for it.

Developer/2000
Development tool that sets new ease-of-use and productivity standards for client/server and Web development through the use of RAD techniques, object orientation, a unified client and server architecture, and effortless deployment on the Web. Developer/2000 is the first client/server development tool to deliver workgroup-through-enterprise scalability, achieved through breakthrough technology such as drag-and-drop application partitioning and extensive database integration. Competition is Powerbuilder and Forte. Font Aliases are used to port applications to different platforms. Format is source_font = destination_font like if from Windows to Macintosh then "MS Sans Serif".10=Geneva.12

Discoverer/2000
Enables users to gain immediate access to business information by supporting rapid querying ands reporting, multi-dimensional analysis. End-user tools that include Browser and Data Query. Discoverer 3.0 (Odysseus) will will give predictive query times.

EBU
Enterprise Backup Utility - when used in conjunction with a media management product (which offers reliable, high performance handling of backup media devices) it will deliver unmatchable expertise with the Oracle7 Server for a reliable, high-end backup solution (provided free of charge but need a media management product to provide an integrated solution). It's used on conjunction with Oracle's log archiving utility to perform complete database backups. It consists of several executables and a catalog that maintains all current and historical information about the databases in your backup strategy. Its benefits include reliability (consistent because it performs all its operations through easy-to-understand command scripts, does end-to-end checksumming to ensure restore checksum compares to backup checksum, backup configuration checking, error detection and cleanup, and database block verification upon restore), high performance (scalable, parallelized backups that support high speed media devices- multiple datafiles or tablespaces can be streamed in parallel to the backup device, multiplexing when backup media rates significantly exceed disk access rates so datafiles from separate disks can be combined into a single data stream for backup to one device, null block compression skips over null Oracle Data Blocks, and all I/O streams are buffered to alleviate temporary speed mismatches between disks and backup media devices), availability (online backups or entire database or just part of one, can restore part of database that is damaged while leaving unaffected areas available for use), usability (automatically validates database configuration data prior to performing backup, lights-out backups supported so no need for human intervention, will do aggregate restores by using the most current backups first, does point-in-time restores, supports dry runs for testing, and can backup or restore a logical database even if it is comprised of several physical databases through one single point of control), and flexibility (open API, supports many media management products and many different backup devices).

ECI
Electronics Commerce Initiative - help companies reach consumers with products and services using electronic networks.

Enterprise Manager
A systems management toll to help manage the complete Oracle environment - system, databases, networks, applications, etc. Consists of console, common services, and intelligent agents running on the managed nodes. The Enterprise Manager Performance Pack provides a bundle of applications for performance monitoring, tuning, and diagnostic products. Supports SNMP so 3rd party applications can communicate with the agent. Directly accesses the SGA so more efficient method of collecting statistics.

Common Services
Standard Applications
Integrated Applications
Performance Pack Applications
Expert
A rule-based expert system for analyzing the data collected with Oracle Trace. Generates configuration and tuning recommendations. Will automatically generate script files to implement suggestions.

Express Analyzer
Querying tool to go against Express Server. Since the 'cube' has to be built beforehand you really have to know what your questions are going to be (unlike Odysseus). He end-user layer will reflect the questions you plan on asking.

Express Server
A multidimensional relational database, not a relational OLAP product. Oracle OLAP Server - runs on UNIX, IBM mainframes, and Microsoft NT. It's data model is a cube where all data becomes elements of arrays which stress the data relationships (unlike a flat table for a RDBMS). Is OLAP with advanced decision support capabilities which include time series, forecasting, financial modeling, what-if scenarios, trends, regression analysis, etc. It uses a multidimensional data model (data is implicitly joined) which helps mine massive data stores. Personal Express runs on stand-alone PCs and PC/LANs. Also allows users to reach through to RDBMS data when want details behind summary. Variables (or measures) in Oracle Express can be derived from columns in the RDBMS (relational columns map to dimensions and data maps to arrays). Dimensions of the cube enforce referential integrity and are stored only once and reused. Keys aren't stored with the data in Express since when the data is written it writes it using a data map (to the cells in the cube) so all like data is stored together so it's retrieved faster and more efficiently.

Gateways
If you want to access non-Oracle databases in a distributed computing environment. It integrates across a heterogeneous and multi-vendor environment. It addresses the differences between the vendor's SQL dialects. Transparent Gateways provide a non-procedural, set-oriented data access via SQL (can perfom distributed joins and 2 phase commits, run triggers and stored procedures, etc.). The tranparent gateway software usually rins on the same system as the target data source (DB@/MVS, Informix, Ingres, SAP, Sybase, Teradata, etc.). Procedural Gateways respond to PL/SQL requests to execute a stored procedure - to get to legacy or non-tabular data (execute transactions on any system that supports APPC - VSAM, IMS, IDMS, Adabas, etc.). The Open Gateways Toolkits can be used to create a custom implementation where Oracle doesn't provide its own solution.

GEMMS
Global Enterprise Manufacturing Management System - part of Oracle Applications

Glue
A single, cross-platform, high level application programming interface that provides the critical link between leading client tools and applications and back-end services. Provides a high-level API that makes support of multiple platforms, protocols, and APIs transparent to the programmer.

HTML Developer Suite
Contains: (will replace OAS SDK)


Hot Standby Database
Used to support the capability of maintaining a duplicate, or standby, database of a primary database for recovery from disasters t the production site. Increases data availability via switch to the standby database sooner than if the usual recovery procedures had been applied to the primary database. Usability is increased because now have methodology to support disaster recovery. It uses archived log information to do it. The standby database is on physically different hardware (disk and CPU) separate from the primary database. The standby database is kept constantly in recovery mode.

InterOffice
A collaborative computing environment.

InterOffice Client -- Standard Web Browser -- Custom Apps (OLE, OCX) -- ODMA-Compliant Apps -- MAPI-Compliant Apps

Open Interfaces
HTML/HTTP -- POP3 -- XAPIA-CSA -- OLE Automation -- Java -- OCX/ActiveX -- ODMA -- IMAP4 -- C/C++


Msg. -- Cal./Scheduling Dir. Svcs. -- Doc. Mgt. -- Workflow -- Discussions -- Gateways
InterOffice Server Components
Oracle Universal Server
J/SQL
An integration of SQL statements in Java programs (what Pro*C does for C by hiding OCI calls, J/SQL does for Java by hiding JDBC calls). More concise that JDBC because in JDBC values are passed to and from SQL by position (not by name) and without compile time type-checking. The J/SQL preprocessor is itself a Java program. It can run on client, application tier (WebServer) and database tier and the syntax is the same in all cases.

JDeveloper Suite
Provides a complete set of products for building and deploying data-driven Java applications. JDeveloper Suite combines the power and productivity of the Java programming language with the scalability and reliability of Oracle's platform for enterprise computing. It contains


LSX
Product jointly developed by Oracle and Lotus to allow Notes applications to access Oracle data.

Mobile Agents
Provides for client-agent-server computing - it extends client-server architecture into mogile systems. The agent executes work on behalf of the client - it tries to minimize use of mobile client's communications link. It is an event driven, store, and forward system so applications can be asynchronous (the client doesn't wait for the transaction to process). Used by field personnel away from the office to access, update, and connect seamlessly to the corporate database - via Oracle Gateways

MRP
Material Requirments Planning - part of Oracle Applications

MTS
Multi-Threaded Server - Provides ability to connect many clients to the same server without the need for a dedicated server process for each user. The advantage of the MTS configuration is that the system overhead is reduced (minimizes the memory and processing resources needed on the server side as the number of connections to the database increases) so the number of users that can be supported within available memory is increased. The server picks up requests (process called the dispatcher puts them there) from a request queue in the SGA. Hundreds of users can be supported by a handful of shared server processes. Pre-spawned servers are the single-threaded (bequeathed not redirected) equivalent of MTS - connect time is better, but use additional memory. Oracle also provides an XA-interface to the server.

NCA
Network Computing Architecture - provides a common platform that integrates client software with Web application servers and database servers by communications technologies (CORBA based) that allow software components to work together even if they are built using different standards. It's Oracle's end-to-end, cross-platform infrastructure (environment, framework) for developing, deploying, and managing multi-tier Web-enabled applications. For object-based, network-centric applications across the network economy. The 3 application components are client, application server (based on an ORB - Object Request Broker), and database. Also provides interfaces so application components can communicate; the protocols that define how the communications take place; a brokering capability to facilitate connectivity, synchronization, and data transfer between components; support for deployment and management of services; and support for transactions, messaging, and data access. NCA is built around the concept of a software bus (ICX) - a logical mechanism that all application components use to communicate with each other. Combines robustness of client/server, reliability of the mainframe, ease of use and low cost deployment of Web, and extensibility, flexibility of the distributed object world. It is a system software platform for all future Oracle products. The Network Computing Architecture is a common set of technologies that will allow all PCs, Network Computers and other client devices to work with all Web servers, database servers and application servers over any network. Network Computing Architecture is the productization of Oracle's vision for network computing, and will help companies protect their technology investments by allowing mainframes, client/server, Internet and intranets, and distributed object software to work together. So can extend anywhere (client, application server, database), use any language (JAVA, JavaScript, C/C++, Visual Basic, SQL), use any programming model (Web, Client/Server, Distributed objects, Transaction monitors), and it has universal extensibility (HTML/HTTP, CORBA/IIOP, ActiveX/DCOM, Stored procedures).

NCA's pluggable components which extend the NCA environment are called Cartridges and are based on CORBA objects (they can be programmed in multiple languages - PL/SQL, Java, C, C++, and Visual Basic). They are modular, implement a set of related functions, encapsulate only the required logic and data for those functions, and publish an interface sufficient only to access that functionality (defined by dynamic Universal Cartridge Services). They implement application functionality or provide support services. The software bus they plug into is called ICX (Inter-Cartridge Exchange). Their interfaces are specified in IDL (interface definition language) and they communicate via IIOP. The 3 types of cartridges are client, application server, and data (all support both Web and CORBA interfaces). Document and text cartridges will most likely be used on the web interface whereas code cartridges will be used on a CORBA interface.

Components will access ICX through a set of libraries (will support HTTP and CORBA/IIOP protocols). It simplifies and standardizes client/server interactions because communication is now independent of platform, component type, or component location. Communications between application components are facilitated by a 3rd component called a broker which resolves client references to services, establishes a connection between them, coordinates and synchronizes processing, and transfers data across the connection. Object references made through IDL are satisfied by the broker.

The 3 support services for NCA are Universal Cartridge Services (to deploy, administer, and manage application cartridges), Scalable Cartridge Services (support for transactions, messaging and queuing, and data access - can be deployed anywhere within the architecture), and Specialized Cartridge Services (user interface services on client; distribution, connectivity, load balancing, and recovery on application server; and database extensibility services on database server - they are specific to one server (tier) - primarily the database server). A DataCartridge is a database-pluggable software component that allows new data types to be exploited with ease in the database. They are an Oracle Universal Server software component with data types, methods, and interfaces that provides domain-specific functionality, is safe and solution-oriented, uses native and extensible services, and presents ,multiple interfaces (SQL, PL/SQL, OCI, Pro*C, C++, Web, CORBA). An example is a currency data cartridge with convert and exchange methods or a spatial cartridge that works on point, polyline, and polygon objects and its methods include project, rotate, map, etc.. Will allow you to create other data types, new operators, and extensible optimizers and indexing routines. Move from stored procedures to SQL Extensions (blades) to Data Cartridges - they enable logic to reside with the data via object technology. To create one you model the data as one or more object types, create the object types (spec and body), and then provide safe method implementations (PL/SQL, external procedures, Java, etc.). Must be concerned with the data model, behavior, storage, scaleability, concurrency, recovery, indexing, and performance. DataCartridges can't crash the database kernel like Informix's DataBlades and you don't have to relink the database kernel when you want to add a new one. DataBlades also use a proprietary API and must be written in C, whereas DataCartridges are based on open, standard interfaces (IDL, SQL) and can be written in several languages (PL/SQL, C/C++, or Java with an IDL mapping).

Supports a broad range of clients - Web-browser based clients (HTTP, HTML), traditional client/server (IIOP, IDL, and bridge technology to SQL*Net), and ActiveX (through COM/CORBA bridge). Legacy systems can be wrapped in cartridges with just their key interfaces exposed via IDL.

Network Manager
It configures all files and data required by Oracle Names. It comes with Network Manager, NetConv, NetPrint, and NetFetch.

OCI
Oracle Call Interface - used to make Oracle library calls - provides support for multi-threaded client applications. Non-blocking OCI is for when applications make calls to the server and retrieves control back immediately.

ODP
Oracle Developer Progam - provides technical information to developers. Has quarterly technical CDs, product CDs, and a members-only web site.

Oracle8
Oracle8 Notes

OO4O
Oracle Objects for OLE - delivers high performance data access without the complexity of native database API's or the overhead of external data drivers to use Visual Basic, C++, and any OLE 2.0 scripting-enabled applications. Benefit over ODBC (easier than using SQLPASSTHROUGH) is that it allows you to get at advanced Oracle7 features such as as shared SQL, PL/SQL, stored procedures, array processing, and serer-side query parsing instead of local client parsing. Version 2.1 offers the capability of returning PL/SQL Cursors (read-only). Other beneifts include access to multiple databases, highly customized cache settings, and ease of use.

OTS
Object Transaction Service

OVS
Oracle Value Service - includes Personal Oracle, Personal Oracle Lite, Programmer/2000, Power Objects, Mobile Agents Developer's Kit and Clients, Express Objects, Express Analyzer, and Personal Oracle Express Server.

OWA
Oracle Web Agent - a CGI-based interface to data and applications stored in Oracle7 - built into Oracle 7.3.

OWL
Oracle Web Listener - HTTP listener built into Oracle 7.3.

Parallel Query Option
It does dynamic workload partitioning so multiple processes are executed. For DSS applications and ad-hoc queries it does dynamic data partitioning so that table scans are very fast (not really needed for OLTP). To split query among several CPUs - will scale linearly so if 10 CPUs instead of 1 then the query should be 10 times as fast. The split is defined by the DBA and/or user. It is usually used in data warehousing applications. It includes parallel query, Parallel data loading, and parallel index creation. Parallel backup and recovery is built right into Oracle7. You can't parallelize index-range scan operations so NESTED LOOP joins driven by the index-range scan can't take advantage of it; however if you access the driving table with a full-table scan each of the 3 join operations can take advantage of the parallel query option.

Parallel Server Option
OPS - is the preferred method to provide fail-over support in a clustered or MPP environment (architectures that do not share memory) - addresses issue of node failure. Good for redundancy/availability, but real use is for increased capacity/scalability. For 24x7x365 availability and accessibility to data, scalability, and load balancing in multi-node (clustered) systems. Allows more than one node in a loosely coupled configuration common access to a single database (logical and physical) maintained on shared disk services - the DLM (Distributed Lock Manager) coordinates things so two or more node don't overwrite the same data at the same time (provides fault tolerance). If their is a failure it will recover incomplete transactions, but it doesn't provide against site failures like a standby database. It offers high throughput capacity, ease of operation, and no potential for data loss though. It requires that the hardware and operating system have clustering (almost always with mirrored disks). Tries to eliminate inter-instance communication (false pings). PCM (Parallel Cache Management) facility provides fault tolerance and additional scalability for multiple nodes in a clustered configuration.

PL/SQL
Oracle's block-structured procedural language for Oracle7 - 4th generational language. It allows you to group SQL statements together and send as a block. The PL/SQL engine will execute procedural statements and the RDBMS will execute SQL statements (SQL statement executor). It adds new features to SQL like RPCs (Remote Procedure Calls). A PL/SQL library is a collection of PL/SQL program units (packages, procedures, and functions) which encapsulates implementation details from users of the library since they only need to know it's API (Application Programming Interface). Wrapped PL/SQL delivers PL/SQL in a binary source format so to protect intellectual property and from unauthorized modification (an example is ORA_FFI - Foreign Functions Interface). Supports anonymous blocks, structured parameter passing, and procedure overloading (multiple procedures share same name and are distinguished by parameters they accept). A multi-statement or multi-transaction PL/SQL procedure will execute only a single request to Oracle. Compiles procedures only once and they're stored in executable form. Cursor variables and array interface is supported. Good for SQL-intensive code whereas a language like Java is more appropriate for logically complex (CPU-intensive) programs.

Power Objects
OPO - Oracle's visual development tool for BASIC developers building mobile, client/server and intranet applications, combines strong database integration with established industry standards such as BASIC and OLE, new techniques including visual object orientation, Netscape's Plug-in architecture for intranet-enabled applications and drag-and-drop metaphors for ease of use.

PowerBrowser
Internet browsing tool geared more towards the database. Allows someone to use HTTP instead of SQL*Net to get at the database.

Precompilers
Allows you to write embedded SQL in languages like C and Cobol and then use Oracle precompilers first to convert the exec SQL statements to native calls to the Oracle API (almost OCI) and then compile with the languages native compiler. Can easily change the database used then like move from Sybase to Oracle without having native API calls in your program that would have to be changed. Product names are Pro*C, Pro*Cobol, etc.

Proxy Server
High-performance server software for providing corporate users secure high-speed access to the Internet by filtering and caching Web content locally, conserving network bandwidth, reducing network traffic and providing users with fast access to Web pages. Oracle Proxy Server 1.0 features include:


SDO
Spatial Data Option - used to add spatial/geographic data to database (replaces row and column data with an easy to visualize map) - it is an integrated set of functions and procedures that enables spatial data to be stored, accessed, and analyzed quickly and efficiently in an Oracle7.3 database. Spatial Data Option 8.0 will store geometric objects as abstract data types within feature based tables within the RDBMS. Need to use desktop mapping or GIS software to view it - 85% of tables have some type of geographic component associated with it - address, zip code, territory, phone number, etc. Now can get other benefits of an RDBMS for your spatial data like data integrity, recovery, and security features. Adds location aspect to decision making process. If everything is stored in one database now don't have to coordinate and synchronize different data sources. Spatial types supported in 7.3.3 are point, line, polygon, and polygon with holes. Spatial indexing features include locate - find objects within indexed data space that overlap a given point, fence locate - find objects within an indexed data space that overlap a query area, and spatial join - find pairs of objects within two indexed data spaces that spatially interact with one another, and spatial clustering - provide basis for clustering data based on spatial location. Queries that can be done include overlap, equaliy, contains, select with fence, and within distance.

example:
SELECT A.SDO_GID, B.SDO_GID
FROM ROADS_SDOGEOM A, PARKS_SDOGEOM B (SDO geometry tables)
WHERE SDO_GEOM.INTERACT('ROADS', a.sdo_gid, 'PARKS', b.sdo_gid) (this is a geometric query function)
AND (A.sdo_code BETWEEN B.sdo_code AND B.sdo_maxcode OR B.sdo_code BETWEEN A.sdo_code AND A.sdo_maxcode) (this part is the Spatial Index clause);

Security Server
Provides a Certificate Authority (CA) which allows customers to order, create, and revoke X.509 certificates. Using the CA, Oracle customers can issue certificates to their employees or customers, for use in applications requiring identification and authentication. The Oracle Security Server also provides an authentication cartridge which obtains user identities from X.509 certificates, and passes this identity to Oracle applications such as Oracle Web Application Server.

Sedona
Component-centric application development framework for cartridge development in any tier. Will provide an object-oriented and component-based life-cycle approach to modeling, design, development, and deployment of cartridges. Object manager and repository to let developers use any component's functionality to model, assemble, and deploy applications. It coordinates interactions between components spanning different native object systems. Adapters let it support the native features of each object system it interacts with (CORBA, D/COM, ActiveX/OLE, Java, C++, ORDBMS), and has an open API to create additional adapters.. Allows a developer to model and understand the relationships between objects as a part of the application building process. In Sedona the model is the application. Lets a developer build multi-tier distributed component applications - it's also team based (check-in, check-out, and branching of components). Also uses ConText for performing fully indexed text searches on the component's documentation. Built entirely using itself (C++ is implementation language). All Oracle's application development products will evolve to use Sedona's Active Repository (will share common, active metadata and browsing and search tools).

SET
Secure Electronic Transaction - message-level authentication and encryption to Oracle's security arsenal for electronic commerce. Used for secure credit card payment.

SNS
Secure Network Services - handles privacy issues by doing data encryption from SQL*Net to the Database. Also handles integrity issues by doing cryptographic checksums.

Software Manager
Provides a comprehensive solution for efficiently managing software in distributed environments. It sits on top of the Enterprise Manager platform. It provides software distribution and management, software asset and license management, and software configuration and control. Can distribute any software - both Oracle and Non-Oracle and can do it immediately or schedule it. It pushes packages to local file or database servers and then clients pull the products from local servers. The Oracle Software Manager repository gives a complete view of all the software used across the network (asset information - how many updates do you need). Can compare assets to Oracle licenses (license file comes directly from Oracle's license database) to see if in compliance.

SQL*Loader
Used to load data into an Oracle table - comes with server.

SQL*Net
Provides the connectivity between Oracle databases and Oracle tools and applications - it is a enterprise-wide connectivity solution for distributed computing environments. It provide both client-server and server-server communcation. Enables clients and servers to connect to each other, send data (SQL statments, data response), initiate interrupts from the client or the server, and disconnect when the session is complete. It also resolves all differences between the internal data representations and/or character sets of the computers being used. Connections are either bequeathed (single connection) or redirected (two connections). Provides directory service integration and network encryption. Allows for multiple connection routes from clients to a single data source through new load balancing functionality. SQL*Net Dynamic Discovery Option (first called Plug and Play Option) targets workgroup environments to reduce configuration complexities and the necessity of configuration files. SQL*Net/OPEN provides a single common interface for database application to all industry-standard network protocols - it is SQL*Net's API. V2 can't coomunicate with V1, but they can co-exist.

V2 Architecture
Utilities used with
Configuration Files
Features (Version)

TKPROF
Used to report on disk I/O and CPU usage - comes with server.

TPO
Transaction Processing Option - provides row-level locking (not page or block level). Increases consistency of data - built into Oracle7.

Trace
Flexible and powerful performance data collection tool of performance statistics. Used to trace a single database connection from the client to completion on the server - it will pinpoint trouble along the way.

Trusted Oracle
A fully featured and mature MLS (multilevel security) database server. Has TCSEC (Orange Book) B1 assurance level and ITSEC E3. MLS platforms include DEC MLS+, Trusted Solaris, HP-UX CMW, and DG/UX with DSO. Standrad Oracle supports DAC (discretionary access control) which mediates user access to data through database privileges. Trusted Oracle also supports MAC (mandatory access control) which uses labels to identify the sensitivity of data and the user's session. The user's session label must match or exceed the sensitivity label on the data in order to access it.

Video Server
OVS - what is used in Interactive Television (ITV). Used for multimedia catalogs, kiosks, employee training, walk-through a house, learn about a product, etc. 1 hour of video takes up 750 Meg in the video server.

Web Developer Suite (formerly NetSolutions)
A software developer's kit (SDK) which enables developers to develop and deploy robust, high performing and scalable solutions running on NCA. Provides freedom of choice among languages and development environment and works in a cross-platform distributed environment. Includes full development licenses for:


WRB
Web Request Broker - has a cartridge-based extensible design to permit it to support new business functions as required. It does dispatching to and load-balancing among cartridges. All server cartridges are run as individual processes which guarantees that any fault will not affect other parts of the server.



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