ppas_cleansp
Description
Use the pg_cleansp utility to remove the current replication state on a system where SharePlex is replicating to an Postgres target.
Caution: The effects of pg_cleansp are not reversible. To stop replication without restoring it to an initial state, you might be able to use the abort config or purge config command.
Usage guidelines
What this utility does
pg_cleansp does the following on the target system:
- Truncates the SHAREPLEX_OPEN_TRANS internal table in the SharePlex schema and any other SharePlex-installed tables as applicable.
- Removes the following from the variable-data directory: the queue files, the process log files, the contents of the statusdb (but not the file), the contents of the dump and state directories, and all but one entry in the event log (the status entry for pg_cleansp)
pg_cleansp preserves the following:
- The SharePlex database, account, and password, and only cleans the data in the SharePlex tables.
- User-created files such as the paramdb and the target configuration settings
Supported databases
All implementations of the Postgres open-source database on supported platforms
Run pg_cleansp
- Stop all SharePlex processes on the system.
- Shut down sp_cop.
-
Run the pg_cleansp utility from the bin sub-directory of the SharePlex product directory with the following syntax:
C:\users\splex\bin>pg_cleansp [port number ] database_name/user_name
where:
- port number is the port number of the SharePlex instance, if other than the default of 2100.
- database_name is the name of the SharePlex database.
- user_name is the name of the SharePlex user account.
-
Enter the password at the prompt.
Enter the password for the SharePlex User :
-
Type Y to confirm that you want to run cleanup for this SharePlex instance.
Are you sure you want to perform the clean for '/splex/vardir/var2' and port 2200? [N] : Y
License utilities
Description
Use the SharePlex license utilities to view and add license keys to hosts in the SharePlex replication environment. Each installation of SharePlex requires a valid license key. There are three types of SharePlex license keys:
- Temporary license keys (demonstration licenses)
- Permanent license keys
- Site license keys
SharePlex licensing information can be found in the Quest Software Product Guide. Please contact your account manager if you have questions.
If you do not have a valid license key, you may obtain one from Quest Technical Support or your Quest sales representative. Use the appropriate procedure in this documentation to obtain the necessary information to support your license request.
License utilities on Unix and Linux
On Unix and Linux systems, separate utilities are used to:
Gather information to request a license
Use the splex_uname utility to collect information about the local host that is required for Quest to generate a license key. Run this utility from the util sub-directory of the SharePlex product directory.
$ /proddir/util/splex_uname
The information is similar to the following example:
Local system info:
Host Name = irvspxu09
Host ID = 2198894273 (831076C1 HEX)
Operating System = SunOS
Machine model = SUNW,UltraAX-i2
CPU Type = sparc9
CPU Speed = 500
Number of CPUs = 1
Add a license key
Use the splex_add_key utility to add a license key to a machine during the installation of SharePlex or afterward to convert from one type of license to another.
You can use the splex_add_key utility as follows:
- You can use splex_add_key on the primary node of a cluster to install licenses for all secondary nodes in the cluster, because they all share one variable-data directory.
- You cannot use splex_add_key to add licenses for non-clustered machines from one machine. It must be run on each non-clustered replication system so that the license information is stored in the variable-data directory on each system.
To run splex_add_key
- Log on to the system as the SharePlex Administrator.
- Run sp_ctrl on the machine where you want to install a license key.
-
If SharePlex is running, shut it down.
sp_ctrl> shutdown
-
Run splex_add_key from the install sub-directory of the SharePlex product directory.
$ /proddir/install/splex_add_key
-
Choose the appropriate option for how to install the key:
SharePlex License Utility
1) Read license key from file
2) Enter license key manually
3) Add license key for alternate host
q) Quit License Utility
Enter option:
Note: Use option 3 when installing on secondary nodes in a cluster. To install SharePlex in a cluster, see "Preinstallation instructions for Oracle cluster" in the SharePlex Installation and Setup Guide for Oracle.
-
If you are entering the key manually, type the license key exactly as you received it from Quest, including the SPLEXKEY= string if one prepends the key, any spaces, and any capitalization. Press Enter when finished typing the key.
-
Enter the SiteMessage text string provided by Quest with the license key.
Note: If you selected option 3 to install in a cluster, the utility continually prompts for another machine ID to license, until you exit the license utility.
- Enter q to exit the utility.
- Start SharePlex when you are ready for replication to resume.
View a license key
Use the splex_get_key utility to view the SharePlex license key, license type, and expiration date on a machine. Run this utility from the install sub-directory of the SharePlex product directory.
$ /proddir/install/splex_get_key
The information is similar to the following example:
$ /splex/proddir/install/splex_get_key
Customer Name = Quest
License Key = EANLCF3P56F8M1JB1K6RBJCBB6TBEP0
Product Name = SharePlex Oracle
License type = demo key
Expired on = 01/01/2008 12:00 AM
License utility on Windows
On Windows platforms, all licensing functions are performed through the SpUtils utility, including viewing the machine ID for a system. Launch the SpUtils utility from the shortcut on the Windows desktop.
Gather information to request a license
Select the Information tab to view information about the local host that is required for Quest to generate a license key. In a cluster, run SpUtils on each node.
Add a license key
Use SpUtils to add a license key to a machine during the installation of SharePlex or afterward to convert from one type of license to another. In a cluster, run SpUtils on the primary node.
- Log on to Windows as the SharePlex Administrator.
-
If SharePlex is running, do the following:
- Select the SharePlex Services tab.
- Select the port number of the SharePlex instance for which you want to add a license key.
- Click Stop.
- Wait for Current State to display a message that the service stopped.
- Select the License Keys tab.
-
Select the SharePlex port number from the Port list.
-
Click Add License, then type or paste the information exactly as you received it from Quest, as follows:
- License Key: The license key, including any spaces. The key is case-sensitive.
- Customer Name: The text string that was included with the license. The name is case-sensitive.
-
(Windows Cluster) To add a license for another node in a cluster, select the Add Alternate Host Id check box, then select the machine ID from the CPU ID list box. Repeat this step to add a license to all secondary nodes in the cluster.
-
Click OK to close the utility.
-
To start SharePlex, do the following:
- Select the SharePlex Services tab.
- Select the port number of the SharePlex instance that you licensed.
- Click Start.
- Wait for Current State to display a message that the service started.
View a license key
Select the License Key tab, then select the port number (if running multiple SharePlex instances) for which you want to view license information.
- Under License Key, view the actual license key and SiteMessage text string.
- Under Status, view the type of SharePlex installation, the license type, and the expiration date.
In a cluster, run SpUtils on each node to view the local license.
ots
Description
Use the OTS utility (ODBC Test Suite) to test the ability of SharePlex to connect to an Open Target target database through a selected ODBC driver, and then post test data to different column types.
Notes:
- The OTS utility uses a generic ODBC connection and data type handling method to provide a preliminary test of ODBC databases that are not yet SharePlex Certified (see How a database is considered for support by SharePlex ). The OTS utility is not needed for databases that are certified. For a list of certified databases, see the SharePlex Release Notes.
- This utility should not be considered as definitive proof of the suitability of an ODBC datastore as a SharePlex target. Comprehensive testing of actual data in a replica of the proposed production environment must always be part of the certification process.
Supported databases
Open Target databases being considered for use with SharePlex.
Requirements
-
Install the ODBC driver that you want to test.
-
(Linux) Set the following environment variables:
- OTS creates a table to test INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE operations. The table is created and owned by the user that connects to the database (see How to run OTS). This user must have sufficient permissions to create and own this table.
How to install a standalone OTS
OTS is available in the SharePlex build as well as a standalone version.
To install the standalone version:
Linux: Download the OTS package SPOodbc_test_suite-version-Beta-db_version-rh-40-amd64-m64.tpm. You are prompted for an installation directory.
Windows: Download the ots.exe file and place it in any directory.
How to run OTS
-
Run OTS. If you are running it from within an installation of SharePlex or the standalone OTS package on Linux, run it from the util subdirectory. If you are running the Windows standalone version of OTS, run it from the installation directory.
- Type one of the following:
OTS requires connection information for the tested database.
Enter data source name (DSN) or connection string: mydsn
How it works
The OTS utility performs the following tests:
- Connect to the Open Target target with a name and password or a connection string provided by the person that is running the utility.
- Query the target database for a list of supported operations and data types, including allowed storage values and whether a column is nullable.
- Issue a full set of SharePlex-supported DML and DDL operations for each data type.
- Summarize the results on screen (see How to interpret the OTS results).
-
Create a report, dump files, and logs to support debugging and support cases.
Note: The report file is only generated when OTS can connect to the database. If the connection fails, the file is empty.
How to interpret the OTS results
The OTS screen summary provides the following:
- A summary of the connection information that was used
- A summary list of data types that were tested
- Details of the test
The detail results are organized into tables, one per data type category, for example character data types or integer data types, as shown in the example.
Figure 1: Example detail table for character data types
Test: Character data types
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name Size Nullable Insert Insert Update Delete Add Drop Trunc Pass/Fail
Null Col Col
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
char 4096 Y P P P P P P P P
nchar 4096 Y P P P P P P P P
varchar 4096 Y P P P P P P P P
sysname 30 Y P P P P P P P P
nvarchar 4096 Y P P P P P P P P
The first three columns of each table (Name, Size, Nullable) are taken from a query to the ODBC driver. If the data type is allowed to contain NULL, the Nullable column shows a Y (yes). Otherwise, it shows an N (no).
Following the query columns are columns that represent the tests that were performed. There is a row for each data type that was tested. The SharePlex-supported operations that OTS tests are as follows:
- INSERT with NULL value
- INSERT
- UPDATE
- DELETE
- ALTER TABLE to ADD COLUMN
- ALTER TABLE to DROP COLUMN
- TRUNCATE TABLE
The results also show the maximum and minimum (where applicable) storage values that were used for CHAR and VARCHAR data types in each test:
- For a data type that has only a maximum value (VARCHAR and CHAR) OTS will insert a data length that is greater than the maximum size to determine whether the ODBC database driver returns an error or automatically truncates the data with no error.
- For a data type that has both minimum and maximum values (numerical data types) a series of operation tests are run for each value. Numbers less than the minimum value and greater than the maximum value are tested to see if the ODBC database driver returns an overflow error or automatically rounds off and truncates the value.
For each test of a data type and operation, a P (pass) or F (fail) result is given, indicating whether or not SharePlex was able to perform that specific DML or DDL operation with that specific data type.
The final column, Pass/Fail, shows at a glance whether the test passed or failed as a whole for a specific data type. An F for any given operation type across the row triggers an F in the Pass/Fail column, meaning an overall failure of testing for that data type.
How to use the results
The OTS utility is an initial screening tool for Open Target databases that are not yet Quest SharePlex Certified. Its purpose is to determine whether the types of operations that you want to replicate to a given target, with a given set of metadata, are likely to succeed, without requiring the installation or setup of SharePlex itself. For example, you could assume that SharePlex probably can post to a target if the outcome of the test is the following:
- All of the DML tests except one passed, but the failed data type is not defined in your data.
- All of the DDL failed, but you do not need to replicate DDL.
The OTS utility is only a first step. It is not a substitute for testing a full installation of SharePlex with your actual data, using actual operations that your source Oracle applications generate, and posting those replicated operations to your actual target tables in a test environment. Additionally, a successful test with OTS does not necessarily mean the database will be fully supported by SharePlex. See How to run OTS
How a database is considered for support by SharePlex
To determine whether SharePlex will support a given Open Target database, the following are considered:
- Can SharePlex, through OTS, run a full set of transactions through a given ODBC driver for the database?
-
Does SharePlex Product Management approve the technical and market feasibility of supporting the database?
- Have the SharePlex QA labs verified in testing that SharePlex can support the database?
If the answer to questions 1 and 2 are yes, then the database is ODBC-approved. This means the database is then eligible for testing in the QA labs to answer question 3.
It is not realistic to test every possible edition, version, and platform of a given database. Based on market and technical factors, Product Management will determine which variants of a database will be tested. If those tests are successful, Product Management can then consider assigning the database a designation of SharePlex Certified.
provision
Description
Use the provision utility to change a host name or IP address in the SharePlex configuration.
The SharePlex processes rely on the host names or IP addresses of the source and target machines to route data properly. The provision utility enables you to change host names or IP addresses within an active SharePlex instance, without reactivating a new configuration.
Note: The provision utility does not change anything in the database. It only affects SharePlex internal objects.
Supported databases
All databases supported by SharePlex on all supported platforms
Guidelines for using provision
- provision is only valid for SharePlex version 6.1.1 and above.
- (SharePlex 7.0.2 only) If provision is being used because the host name of a machine changed, contact Quest Support to request a new license. Otherwise SharePlex will not start after the change.
-
(SharePlex 7.0.2 only) Add the following parameter to the param-defaults file before you run provision:
SP_CFP_DEBUG I live int() 0x00000000
-
If running SharePlex on an AIX machine, set EXTSHM before running provision.
export EXTSHM=ON
-
Run provision on all of the machines in the SharePlex configuration. Each machine can reference the IP addresses of all the other machines.
Run provision
- Stop sp_cop. If sp_cop is running, provision will fail. Note: provision prevents sp_cop from being started while it is running.
-
Using the command line of the operating system, run provision from the SharePlex util sub-directory of productdir with the following syntax:
provision -f old_name[:old_ipaddress] -t new_name[:new_ipaddress] [-p port] [-n]
provision -h <new hostid> [
-p <port>]
-n
| -f old_hostname[:old_ipaddress] |
- -f is required and represents "from."
- old_hostname is the old (current) host name.
- old_IPaddress is the old IP address. Use if the IP address cannot be obtained from the network.
|
| -t new_hostname[:new_ipaddress] |
- -t is required and represents "to."
- new_hostname is the new host name.
- new_IPaddress is the new IP address. Use if the IP address cannot be obtained from the network.
|
| -p port |
For Windows systems, specifies the port of the SharePlex instance for which provision is being run.
(You can run the "-p" port provision only on the Windows system.) |
| -n |
Runs provision without actually making any changes. Generates a report on the changes that provision will make.
Important! The best practice is to run provision with -n first, to make certain you agree with the potential changes, then run it without -n to make the changes. |
| -h new_hostID |
- -h is required and represents changing host ID or replacing host ID
- new_hostid is the new IP address
|
| -i |
-i is required and represents host information |
Example:
provision -f oldname -t newname -n
provision -h newid -n
provision -i
- View the event log to view every change that was made. If the provision run fails or you do not agree with the changes that were made, you can undo them by running the undo_provision script. See Undo changes made by provision .
Undo changes made by provision
The provision utility creates an undo_provision script that can be used to restore the host names and IP addresses to their previous state. Run the undo_provision script from the util subdirectory of the SharePlex product directory. There are no input arguments to this script.
Known issues
The following may occur but do not affect the integrity of the replication environment:
- The provision utility does not change the active configuration file. This means that the configuration file no longer represents the current state of replication after provision is run. If you need to run the compare config command, or if you decide to reactivate the configuration, update the host name or IP address in the configuration file first.
- If an Export or Import error occurred when SharePlex connected to a machine before the name or address was changed, the error status persists and cannot be cleared.
- If the new or changed machine is a source machine, provision generates new routing information, but the Read process may still have the old routing in its cache. When you start sp_cop, Read might generate a warning that the stored IP address does not match the one for the machine. You can ignore this error.
- After provision is run for a source host, it might not update the "hostname" column in SHAREPLEX_ACTID table with the new host name details. If that column is not correctly updated, you must update the SHAREPLEX_ACTID table manually to specify the new host name. This is only required if the name change affected a source machine.
