These days supporting business means always handling varied and shifting priorities.
But, if you expect your Oracle databases to handle these changes and perform consistently at high levels, you need to have a maintenance process. The first part of that is an assessment: How are my databases performing, and are there any problems? It sounds simple, but for most modern complex database environments, a proper assessment requires a variety of tools and a lot of experience interpreting the results.
This presentation takes attendees step-by-step through an Oracle database health check. We’ll look at issues related to size, space, configuration, performance, security, and best practices. We’ll also see why in many cases it’s prudent to bring in an independent third party to perform your database assessments.
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The Real Value of Oracle Health Checks
1. Presented by:
Session ID
The Real Value of Oracle
Health Checks
Zane Warton, DBA Manager, Oracle
Database Services, Datavail Inc.
101110
2. Experienced
• 20+ years of Oracle DBA
• Multiple roles
• Wide variety of industries
• OCP
Leader
• Guides team of DBAs to deliver measurable
results
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About Me
3. Datavail Overview
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Databases, Analytics, and
Application Data Integration
16+ years delivering
data services
700+ customers
with average
client retention of
7 years
Managed services,
projects, and
staffing
We are data specialists
• All major platforms: SQL Server, Oracle, DB2,
MySQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, AWS, Azure
• Comprehensive development &
operational services
• US & Global models
• Reactive and proactive services
Database Operations
• EBS
• Hyperion/Essbase
• Microsoft Dynamics
• SharePoint
• Custom development
• Microsoft .NET
• Oracle APEX
Application
Management
• Microsoft SSRS, SSIS, SSAS
• PowerBI
• Oracle OBIEE, BICS, GoldenGate
Analytics, Visualization & Integration
• Informatica
• Oracle Data Integrator
• ETL development and operational run
4. INSYNC 21 4
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The Work from Home package includes:
• Datavailopoly – the game for DBAs by DBAs
• Datavail mask
• Noise-canceling headphones
• Datavail hoodie
• Datavail insulated cup
• Sherpa blanket
5. Agenda
• Bad Advice
• What Happens When Health Checks Aren’t Performed?
• Why Health Checks are Important
• What Should an Oracle Database Health Check Include?
• Best Practice Recommendations
• Health Check Examples
• Final Thoughts
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6. Bad Advice for Databases & Database
Administrators
• “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
• "You are too busy."
• "I know who set it up, and they do good work.“
• "We haven't had any complaints."
• "No incidents or alerts means no problems."
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7. What Happens When Health Checks
Aren’t Performed?
• Database crash
• Long delays in dashboard
refresh/database updates
• Difficulty logging in, backing up the
database
• Security intrusions you do not notice
• Can’t replicate the database
accurately
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• Complaints from database users
• Not getting complaints from
database users
• A hit to the pocket with a fine for
failure to comply
• A breach of security
• Loss of data, loss of time
AKA DBA HELL
8. The Importance of Health Checks
Organizational change is constant. Priorities are fluid.
Reasons being:
• Project workload
• Merger and internal reorganization
• Loss of staff/not enough staff
• Fire fighting
• Budget
Any complicated system requires maintenance to ensure high performance.
• Proactive vs Reactive
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9. The Importance of Health Checks
Regular assessments give you the required information to help
eliminate issues that cause slowness, poor performance, and
eventually, unavailability.
• It’s the first step in database planning
• Establish the baseline
• It’s also the first step whenever or if there’s a major database issue
• Diagnostic tools and/or vendors are available
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• AWR
• Statspack
• Autonomous Health Framework -dbchk
(Doc ID 2550798.1)
10. What Should an Oracle Database Health
Check Include?
• A health check with a vendor involvers granting access to your
organization’s confidential data – make sure you find one with a
strong track record with the configuration you’re using
• At Datavail, we use a custom assessment developed by our team
• Major annual health checks
• Minor bi-weekly mini-checks
• Comprehensive check OS and Database system
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11. Instance Configuration
• Is it a supported version of Oracle?
• Has it been patched?
• Current patch level
• Database components
• Non-default parameters and hidden
parameters
• spfile in use
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Size & Space Issues
• Space utilization, file system (ASM)
• Tablespace critical and warning
threshold levels
• Memory Size – SGA, PGA
• Object size
Components of a Health Check
12. Backups
• Should be easy to find, and on a different drive/mount
point from datafiles
• Backups should be removed to tape or VTL
• Tape library should have off-site storage on rotation
(Iron Mountain or similar); or other Disaster Recovery
plan in place (Data Guard to a remote site)
• Uses RMAN or industry standard tool
• Restore procedure is tested regularly
• Backups should be running as per DR standards –
Backups should alarm when failures occur
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File system / OS
• Adequate space – Datafiles not
over allocated; filesystem with at
least 20% larger that datafiles;
place appropriate limits on
datafile growth
• OS installed on own drive/mount
point
• Database files on separate mount
point from backups and archived
log files
Components of a Health Check
13. Performance Issues
• Redo logs
• Duplicate SQL issues
• Stats gathering
• Invalid objects
• v$waits
• Alert log, trace files
• Jobs/scheduler
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Security Issues
• Incorrectly assigned default tablespaces
• Analysis of user accounts
• Dormant accounts present security risks
• Are privileges properly assigned?
• Failed login attempts
Components of a Health Check
14. Best Practice Recommendations
Results should be consolidated into reports and interpreted for clear
recommendations.
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Snapshot in time
• Include all configuration settings
• Current size information
• Performance snapshot
Archived for later reference for
planning and troubleshooting
Health Check Frequency
• Monthly for high-stress, high-turnover agile
environments
• Quarterly for a growing user base
generating growing data
• Semi-annually for nongrowing, steady-
state user bases
16. Final Thoughts
• Important component of a proactive organization.
• Keep a healthy database operating environment.
• It may be difficult for in-house DBAs to perform regularly
due to breadth of knowledge and experience required.
• It may be helpful to partner with a third-party expert to
perform regular health checks to catch any issues early for
resolution.
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17. INSYNC 21 17
Fill Out
Cloud Survey
Fill out the Cloud Adoption
survey for a chance to WIN a
Work from Home package!
https://www.techvalidate.com/registr
ation/bdbc0b7e1d
The Work from Home package includes:
• Datavailopoly – the game for DBAs by DBAs
• Datavail mask
• Noise-canceling headphones
• Datavail hoodie
• Datavail insulated cup
• Sherpa blanket
18. At Quest, you belong.
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