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Q: How does the Oracle database on
Windows work? How do I tune the Oracle database on Windows?
A: The Oracle
RDBMS on Windows web site describes how the Oracle database operates on
Windows, as well as provides tips on performance tuning.
Q: I use C#, Visual Basic, Active
Server Pages, Visual C++, or another Windows-specific programming
language. How does Oracle provide data access?
A: Oracle offers a variety of data access methods for
COM-based, .NET-based, and Win32/64-based programming languages. Oracle
developers can use any one of the following data access drivers based on the
Windows programming language employed:
These data access drivers have been engineered to provide superior performance
with Oracle and expose the database's advanced features which may not be
available in third-party drivers.
Q: I use C#, Visual Basic .NET, or
another .NET language. How does Oracle support .NET? What about web services?
A: The Oracle database provides optimum .NET data access
support through the Oracle Data Provider
for .NET, allowing .NET applications to access advanced Oracle
features.
The Oracle
Developer Tools for Visual Studio .NET help streamline the development
of Oracle database applications right from within Visual Studio. It enables
developers to browse and modify their Oracle schemas, leverage powerful wizards
and designers, automatically generate code, and view and edit Oracle data.
These and other features, including stored procedure editing with Intellisense,
syntax coloring, and an integrated help system, are designed to speed
development and make it easy to learn how to develop Oracle applications for
Windows.
Oracle Application Server allows programmers to easily
and quickly build web services via SOAP, WSDL, UDDI, and XML. SOAP and XML
support has been available since Oracle9iAS. By their very definition,
web services are intended to be cross-platform. As such, Oracle web services
support .NET web services.
Q: What is the maximum amount/number
of memory, processors, etc. that Oracle on Windows can support?
A: Oracle supports the maximum amount of memory and
maximum number of processors allowable under Windows 2000, XP, and Server
2003. Oracle supports fail over using Microsoft Cluster Server with
Oracle Fail Safe for up to eight nodes on Windows 2003 Datacenter. Oracle
Real Application Clusters on Windows is supported beyond four nodes.
Visit the High Availability home
page for more information.
Q: Why does Oracle integrate with
Windows?
A: Oracle is committed to provide open solutions for our
customers. This allows customers to choose the software technologies that best
fit their needs. Oracle is integrated closely with popular Windows-based
languages and servers to make development and deployment of Oracle products on
Windows simple and seamless.
Q: What is the target market for
Oracle's integration with Windows?
A: Oracle's integration with Windows benefits all areas
of IT infrastructure: client, middle-tier, and data tier. At each of these
levels, Oracle allows developers, software architects, and database
administrators to take advantage of native Windows servers and technologies.
This integration ensures Oracle is scalable, fault-tolerant, high-performing,
and easy to develop and deploy on Windows. Whether your applications using the
native Windows services, .NET, COM, or Java, Oracle offers strong support for
Windows technologies.
Q: What Windows integration
features are available in the Oracle database?
Oracle is committed to providing the best database on
Windows. Below is a brief description of the integration features:
Oracle Data
Provider for .NET (ODP.NET)
The Oracle Data Provider for .NET (ODP.NET) features
optimized data access to the Oracle database from a .NET environment. Unlike
other .NET providers, ODP.NET is a native driver and does not use a data access
bridge, which can hurt performance. ODP.NET allows developers to take advantage
of advanced Oracle database functionality. The data provider can be used from
any .NET language, including C# and Visual Basic .NET. The
Oracle Developer Tools for Visual Studio .NET streamlines database
development as an add-in for the development environment.
Oracle Services
for Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS)
The Oracle Services for MTS leverage Oracle databases
as resource managers for distributed transactions through the Microsoft
Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC). These services provide client-side
connection pooling to MTS and allow transaction coordination of COM and .NET
components involving Oracle databases. MTS, which is also known as COM+ and
.NET Enterprise Services, is a superset of the DTC.
Oracle Objects for
OLE (OO4O)
OO4O is a COM-based API that provides high performance
data access to Oracle databases and exposes Oracle features, such as objects
and advanced queueing, not available through ADO. OO4O can be used in any COM
development environment, such as Visual Basic, PowerBuilder, or Delphi. OO4O
can interact with MTS and IIS.
OLE DB
The Oracle Provider for OLE DB offers high performance
and efficient access to Oracle data for OLE DB and ADO developers. Developers
programming with Visual Basic, C++, or any COM client can utilize the provider
to access Oracle databases.
Oracle Open
Database Connectvity (ODBC)
The Oracle ODBC driver provides optimized ODBC access
to the Oracle database from Windows clients.
COM Automation
Feature
The COM Automation Feature allows Oracle databases to
communicate with COM Automation servers, such as Microsoft Office, using SQL,
PL/SQL, and Java stored procedures. It is primarily used for server-initiated
data access to a client COM Automation Server. The COM Automation Feature
exposes APIs to instantiate COM objects, get and set their properties, and
invoke their methods.
Very Large Memroy
(VLM)
On Windows 2000 and higher, Oracle interfaces with the
Microsoft's Address Windowing Extensions (AWE), which allows the Oracle
database to access to up to 64 GB of memory. On Windows NT Server, Oracle
interfaces with the Intel PSE36 device driver which makes up to 16 GB of memory
available to Oracle. This support enables very large amounts of database
buffers which will help performance for transaction-intensive applications by
reducing disk I/O and keeping more data cached. This is one of the many
integration features of the Oracle RDBMS on Windows.
Directory & Security
Oracle provides integration with Oracle Internet
Directory, Microsoft Active Directory, and Windows native authentication in
order to simplify and centralize administration on Windows. The integration
permits single sign-on and flexible security management.
Oracle Fail
Safe
Oracle Fail Safe provides easy-to-deploy high
availability (through fast failover) on commodity Windows clusters for both
data tier and application tier components for nearly all Oracle products
shipping on Windows.
Q: Where can I find more
information about the Oracle database on or integration with Windows?
A: Visit the Windows
Technology Center on OTN for more information.
Q: Where can I find more
information about Oracle integration with .NET?
A: Visit the .NET
Developer Center on OTN for more information.
Q: Which versions of the Oracle database are supported on which versions of
Windows?
A:
| Oracle10g Release 2 (10.2) |
Supported Windows Operating Systems |
| Enterprise Edition (Server) |
Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Server 2003 R2 |
| Standard Edition (Server) |
Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Server 2003 R2 |
| Personal Edition
|
Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Server 2003 R2 |
| Express Edition
|
Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003 |
| Client |
Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Server 2003 R2 |
| Oracle Database 10g (10.1)
|
Supported Windows Operating Systems |
| Enterprise Edition (Server) |
Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Server 2003 R2 |
| Standard Edition (Server) |
Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Server 2003 R2 |
| Personal Edition |
Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Server 2003 R2 |
| Client |
Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Server 2003 R2 |
| Oracle9i Release 2 (9.2) |
Supported Windows Operating Systems |
| Enterprise Edition (Server) |
Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Server 2003 R2 |
| Standard Edition (Server) |
Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Server 2003 R2 |
| Personal Edition
|
Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Server 2003 R2 |
| Client |
Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Server 2003 R2 |
| Oracle9i Release 1 (9.0.1)
|
Supported Windows Operating Systems |
| Enterprise Edition (Server) |
Windows 2000/XP |
| Standard Edition (Server) |
Windows 2000/XP |
| Personal Edition |
Windows 2000/XP |
| Client |
Windows 2000/XP |
| Oracle8i Release 3 (8.1.7) |
Supported Windows Operating Systems |
| Enterprise Edition (Server) |
Windows 2000 |
| Standard Edition (Server) |
Windows 2000 |
| Personal Edition
|
Windows 2000 |
| Client |
Windows 2000 |
Note:
For AMD64/EM64T platform information, refer to this certification
matrix.
Windows 2000 support indicates support for Professional, Server, Advanced
Server, Datacenter editions.
Windows XP support indicates support for Professional Edition (32-bit) and XP
2003 (64-bit Itanium). Windows XP 2003 is supported for Oracle 9.2 and 10.1
only. Microsoft is discontinuing support for Windows XP for Itanium.
Windows Server 2003 support indicates support for Standard, Enterprise,
Datacenter, Web editions (32-bit) and Enterprise and Datacenter editions
(64-bit Itanium).
Windows NT and Windows 98 have been desupported by Oracle.
Oracle Standard Edition support includes support for Standard Edition One.
Consult Oracle Metalink for updated
operating support information.
Q: Which Windows operating
systems has Oracle desupported or plans to desupport?
A: In general, Oracle will end support of its products
on a Windows operating system at the same time the operating system enters
Microsoft's Non-Supported Phase or equivalent thereof. Currently, Oracle and
Microsoft have desupported Windows NT and Windows 98. Consult
Oracle Metalink for more details.
Q: Can I use one version of the Oracle
Database (e.g. Oracle10g) with a different version of the Oracle client
(e.g. Oracle9i)?
A: Yes, Oracle supports using different versions of the
Oracle client with the Oracle Database. In general, a database server version
supports the two major database client releases prior to its release and the
two major releases after its release. For example, Oracle8i server
supports the major client releases prior to it (Oracle7 and Oracle8) and the
major releases after it (Oracle9i and Oracle10g). A database
client version also supports two major server releases prior to its release and
two major release after. Consult Oracle
Metalink for more details on specific releases.
Q: Is Windows Terminal
Server/Services and Remote Desktop Connection supported?
A: Terminal Server/Services and Remote Desktop
Connection are supported. Some Oracle components will be exceptions to this
support. Please check the Oracle Database release notes for your specific
version for more details.
Q: Does Oracle certify against the
latest Windows service packs?
A: Oracle certifies against the specific Microsoft
operating system and, if applicable, service packs (SPs) stated in the Oracle
product documentation. Oracle will support the use of our products on any later
SP as soon as that SP becomes generally available. Depending upon the severity,
quantity and impact of the SP-related issues found, Oracle may recommend that
customers wait until relevant Oracle patches have been released before
upgrading to a particular SP. Oracle may recommend or discourage the
installation of specific SPs if the SPs will significantly affect the operation
of Oracle software, either positively or negatively. If such a statement is
deemed necessary, then Oracle Development will disseminate this statement in as
timely a fashion as possible after the release of an SP.
Q: Does Oracle support
64-bit Windows on Itanium and on multi-core "Montecito" Itanium?
A: Yes, the Oracle database supports 64-bit Windows
Server 2003 and XP 2003 and can be downloaded from
OTN. Oracle was the first vendor to make database software publicly
available for the 64-bit Windows Itanium platform in December, 2000. Oracle9i
Database Release 2 was the first production database supported on 64-bit
Windows.
For multi-core "Montecito" Itanium processors with Windows Server 2003 Service
Pack 1 or higher, Oracle Database 10g Release 2 (10.2.0.2 or higher), Oracle
Database 10g Release 1 (10.1.0.5 or higher), and Oracle9i Release 2 (9.2.0.8 or
higher) are supported. Consult Metalink note:
400227.1
for more information on installation.
Does Oracle support Windows
x64 (x86-64) for AMD64 and Intel EM64T?
A: Consult the following matrix for certification
information.
| Oracle Database 10g (10.2) Release 2
|
Supported Windows Operating Systems |
| 32-bit Database Server and Client |
32-bit Windows |
| 32-bit Client |
64-bit Windows x64 |
| 64-bit Database Server and Client |
64-bit Windows x64 |
| Oracle Database 10g (10.1) |
Supported Windows Operating Systems |
| 32-bit Database Server and Client |
32-bit Windows |
| 32-bit Database Client |
64-bit Windows x64 |
| Oracle9i Release 2 (9.2) |
Supported Windows Operating Systems |
| 32-bit Database Server and Client |
32-bit Windows |
| 32-bit Database Client |
64-bit Windows x64 |
Note:
32-bit Windows consists of the family of 32-bit Windows operating systems using
AMD64 and EM64T.
Windows x64 consists of the following operating systems: Windows Server 2003
x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 R2 x64 Edition (Standard, Enterprise,
Datacenter) and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.
Consult Oracle Metalink for updated
operating support information.
Oracle was the first to make a 64-bit database developer release publicly
available for AMD64 and Intel EM64T chipsets.
Does Oracle support Windows
Encrypting File System (EFS)?
A: Yes, EFS is supported and is transparent to
Oracle. However, there is a tradeoff in using it. EFS will slow database
peformance as it constantly encrypts and decrypts data, so it's not encouraged
for high performance applications.
Q: How do I migrate from SQL
Server (or another database) to Oracle?
A: The Oracle Migration
technology web site provides tools and documentation on moving your database to
Oracle.
Q: How can Oracle
interoperate with a non-Oracle database?
A: Oracle provides two connectivity solutions to address
the needs of disparate data access: Oracle
Transparent Gateways and Oracle Generic Connectivity. Oracle
Transparent Gateways provides access to many non-Oracle data stores, including
Microsoft SQL Server, Informix, Ingres, and Sybase from an Oracle environment.
Oracle Generic Connectivity provides access to many data stores for which
Oracle does not have a gateway solution. This feature enables transparent
connectivity using ODBC and OLE DB.
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