Insufficient total swap space installing Oracle Database 11gR2 on AIX

Problem:
While installing Oracle Database 11gR2 on AIX 6.1, OUI reports that not enough swap space is available. Oracle Installer reports that the swap size is 4GB. It should be about 7.5GB.

Solution:
Increase swap space by using the ‘extendlv’ command.

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System failed to generate the PDF document

Problem:

After installing the R12.1 Vision instance on Windows Server 2003 and patching to R12.1.3, navigated to Purchasing, Vision Operations (USA) > Buyer Work Center > Orders. Selected an order’s radio button, selected View PDF from the drop-down list and clicked Go.

The following error was displayed:

System failed to generate the PDF document. Please contact your system administrator.

Solution:

Navigate to the XML Publisher Administrator responsibility > Home > Administration. Under Properties > General, change Temporary directory from /tmp to C:TEMP and save.

SEVERE: Failed to allocate port(s) in the specified range(s)

Problem:

When creating the Enterprise Manager Database Control repository, the following error is displayed:

SEVERE: Failed to allocate port(s) in the specified range(s) for the following process(es): 
JMS [5540-5559],RMI [5520-5539],Database Control [5500-5519],EM Agent [3938] | [1830-1849]

Solution:

Ensure that the IP address and hostname are correctly set, as well as the ORACLE_HOSTNAME environment variable.

Shared Folder Is Not Accessible

Problem:

After sharing folders on Windows 2003, unable to access them from Windows XP. XP does not prompt for the Windows 2003 login. The following message appears:

\APPSWINDOWS11gR2 is not accessible. You might not have permission 
to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this 
server to find out if you have access permissions. 
Access denied

Solution:

Manually map network drives to the Windows 2003 shared folders from XP machine using the NET USE command, adding the /USER switch to include the user name.

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Basic RMAN Commands

Here is a list of some RMAN commands I frequently use:

1. To connect to RMAN without a repository:

rman target /

2. To crosscheck backups:

crosscheck backup;

3. To list expired backups:

list expired backup;

4. To delete expired backups:

delete expired backup;

5. To set a disk destination for backups:

CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE DISK FORMAT   ‘E:backupDEV1%U’;

6. To include a maximum size of 2GB for backupset pieces:

CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE DISK MAXPIECESIZE 2G FORMAT ‘E:backupDEV1%U’;

7. To execute a backup to the default location:

backup database;

8. To restore and recover datafile 30:

run {

restore datafile 30;

recover datafile 30;

}

Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage When Connecting to OEM

Problem:

After applying latest OS updates (October 9, 2012) on Windows XP SP3, Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) can no longer connect to Oracle Enterprise Manager (11g) via SSL (https). Firefox is able to connect to OEM.

Solution:

Update for Windows XP (KB2661254-V2) affecting certificates. Quick fix: from Add/Remove Programs, check ‘Show updates’, remove Update for Windows XP (KB2661254-V2) and reboot.

Note that removing Windows updates may affect your computer’s security. Proceed at your own risk.

*** UPDATE: Oracle has fixed the issue in MOS ID: 1489557.1 (EM Grid Control 11g Console Not Accessible Via Internet Explorer After Applying Microsoft Security Patches On Client PC)

Reference:

Microsoft Security Advisory (2661254): Update For Minimum Certificate Key Length
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/advisory/2661254

Microsoft Security Advisory (2749655): Compatibility Issues Affecting Signed Microsoft Binaries
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/advisory/2749655
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ORA-01843: not a valid month

Problem:

When trying to convert the char column (attribute9) to date using the to_date function in SQL Developer, the following error is displayed:

ORA-01843: not a valid month
01843. 00000 -  "not a valid month"
*Cause:   
*Action:

Solution:

Dates were stored in two different formats (mm/dd/yyyy) and (dd-mon-yyyy) in the attribute9 column. Convert all dates to one format (dd-mon-yyyy).

‘ap7001are.us.oracle.com’ Target Host in R12 Database Control

‘ap7001are.us.oracle.com’ Target Host in R12 Database Control

Problem:

After enabling and launching Database Control on an R12.1 instance, the instance ‘ap7001are.us.oracle.com’ is seen as a target host and ‘PROD_ap7001are.us.oracle.com’ as the listener.

Solution:

Drop and recreate the Enterprise Manager repository on the R12 instance.

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tzOffset for America/Caracas is -270(min), but agent is running with tzOffset -240(min)

Problem:

While configuring Enterprise Manager Database Control for an R12.1 instance on Windows 2008, the following error is encountered:

tzOffset for America/Caracas is -270(min), but agent is runnning with tzOffset 
-240(min)

Solution:

Change time zone in emd.properties and operating system.

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11g Database Not Starting With spfile On Windows

Problem:

After creating an spfile on an 11g instance (11.1.0.7) on R12.1.3 on Windows 2008, it does not automatically appear when the ‘show parameter spfile’ command is issued in SQL*Plus.

Solution:

When the database is started via the Windows Services panel, it seems that the pfile is used by default, even though the spfile may have been created. Stop and start the database via SQL*Plus to see the spfile.

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