
Oracle Server Manager Overview
This chapter introduces Oracle Server Manager and gives you an overview of its major components.
This chapter covers the following topics:
- A description of Server Manager
- An overview of Server Manager's organization
Attention: Oracle Corporation has begun to obsolete SQL*DBA. SQL*DBA is being replaced by Oracle Server Manager. It is urged that you begin to migrate to Server Manager.
What is Server Manager?
Server Manager is Oracle's database administration tool. The graphical component of Server Manager (Server Manager/GUI) allows you to perform database administration tasks with the convenience of a graphical user interface (GUI). The line mode component of Server Manager (Server Manager/LineMode) provides a line mode interface.
Server Manager and Database Administration
Server Manager is designed to replace SQL*DBA and provide administrative functionality through an easy-to-use interface. You can use Server Manager to:
- Perform traditional administrative tasks, such as database startup, shutdown, backup, and recovery. Rather than manually entering the SQL commands to perform these tasks, you can use Server Manager's graphical interface to execute the commands quickly and conveniently.
- Concurrently perform multiple tasks. Because you can open multiple windows simultaneously in Server Manager, you can perform multiple administrative and non-administrative tasks concurrently.
- Administer multiple databases. You can use Server Manager to administer a single database or to simultaneously administer multiple databases.
- Centralize database administration tasks. You can administer both local and remote databases running on any Oracle platform at any location worldwide. In addition, these Oracle platforms can be connected by any network protocol(s) supported by SQL*Net and the MultiProtocol Interchange.
- Dynamically execute SQL, PL/SQL, and Server Manager commands. You can use Server Manager to enter, edit, and execute statements. Server Manager also maintains a history of statements executed. Thus, you can re-execute statements without retyping them, a particularly useful feature if you need to execute lengthy statements repeatedly.
- Perform administrative tasks using Server Manager's line mode interface when a graphical user interface is unavailable or undesirable.
Portability
Server Manager is available for multiple GUI environments, yet adopts the native look and feel of the platform on which it is running. So, Server Manager running on Motif looks like a Motif application and Server Manager running on Windows looks like a Windows application.
Supported Oracle Server Releases
You can use Server Manager to administer any database running Oracle7 release 7.0 or later. You can also simultaneously administer different databases running different releases of Oracle7.
Server Manager/LineMode
Server Manager/Line Mode provides line mode when your environment does not support a graphical user interface or when a command line interface is desirable. In line mode, you can explicitly execute commands on a command line.
You may want to use Server Manager in line mode when a graphical device is unavailable (such as when dialing-in from a non-GUI terminal) or when performing unattended operations (such as when running nightly batch jobs or batch scripts that do not require user intervention).
Using Server Manager
To use Server Manager to administer a database, you must install Server Manager on your personal computer. You must also install several views on the databases you wish to administer.
Note: For more information about Server Manager, see the Oracle Server Manager User's Guide
Server Manager Organization
Server Manager's graphical interface is divided into three major components:
Administration Manager
The Administration Manager is the primary administrative component of Server Manager. You will probably use the Administration Manager to perform most of your administrative tasks.
The following figure illustrates the Administration Manager with the Tablespaces folder open.
Figure 1 - 1. Administration Manager
SQL Worksheet
A SQL Worksheet allows you to dynamically enter SQL statements, PL/SQL code, and Server Manager commands. You can also run scripts from a SQL Worksheet.
The following figure illustrates the SQL Worksheet.
Figure 1 - 2. SQL Worksheet
System Monitors
The System Monitors allow you to gather and inspect performance statistics. These statistics can be useful for tuning your database.
The following figure illustrates an example of using filters in the SQL Area monitor.
Figure 1 - 3. SQL Area Monitor
Invoking System Monitors
You can start a system monitor from the file menu or by executing the MONITOR command in a SQL Worksheet.
Note: For more information about Server Manager and System Monitors, see Chapter 10 in the Oracle Server Manager User's Guide.
Server Manager in Line Mode
In line mode you can execute the Server Manager commands, execute SQL statements, PL/SQL code, and run SQL scripts.
Note: For more information about Server Manager in Line Mode, see Oracle Server Manager User's Guide.