Author: Marco Gralike
July 10

Oracle 11g – XMLIndex (part 1)

The following is an extension on the former post about “About Table(XMLSequence()) and XMLTable”. These examples where based on a XMLType column using CLOB storage. If you have read the “Oracle 11g – XMLType Storage Options“, then you should now know that this storage model is only performing if you had a document centric environment in mind.

Oracle’s 11g addition “XMLIndex”, will give you an solution for these kinds of environments.

The XMLIndex is a domain index, specially crafted for use in a XMLDB environment. It is a logical index with 3 components (excerpt Oracle 11g beta XMLDB Developers Guide):

Read the postOracle 11g – XMLIndex (part 1)
July 10

About Table(XMLSequence()) and XMLTable

A customer asked me how this XMLTable XML function works… Until now they had to use the TABLE(XMLSEQUENCE()) constructor.

While testing performance differences between a RedHat AS V3 (Oracle Enterprise Version 10.1.0.3, RAID 1+0) machine and a full blown LPAR IBM AIX 64b 5.3 environment (Oracle Enterprise Version 10.2.0.2) with EMC (RAID 5) they wanted to use the XMLTABLE XML function.

Why? Oracle promotes the use of the XMLTable function on 10.2.x and higher Oracle versions. My belief is that the TABLE(XMLSEQUENCE()) constructor will be deprecated in favor of the XMLTABLE function. Also the XMLTABLE function supports XQuery functionality.

They had a simple statement to test with.

Read the postAbout Table(XMLSequence()) and XMLTable
July 10

Oracle Enterprise Linux 5 Released

My laptop was stolen, so now fiddling around with a new laptop I take my chance to switch.

Searching for a Linux brand and not sure which one to pick, I ended up with Oracle Enterprise Linux 5. Apparently this has been released in June and is downloadable via the main site http://linux.oracle.com.

Why Oracle?

Not completely sure, but in the end this is a RedHat distro (RedHat AS V5?) and Oracle released it’s software on RedHat first. Second, I can get a support license via my employer. Also I am a Oracle DBA and knowing my base (the OS where my database relies upon), is always a good thing (a database NEVER stands alone, know your surroundings !).

My laptop is a DELL D820 Latitude.

My first setup in mind is:

  • A Linux distro (so now in my case, I give a try at Oracle Enterprise Linux 5)
  • Oracle Database 11g EE on Oracle Enterprise Linux
  • Crossover (I don’t want to switch to a virtual environment for Windows apps all the time)
  • VMware Server (to have an Windows alternative at hand when I need it)
  • Sonicwall VPN connection alternative/solution…?
  • Bittorent, music and video (XViD and stuff)

So lets see where this gets me.

Read the postOracle Enterprise Linux 5 Released