OraQA Update
Over the weekend I implemented a few changes to OraQA.com:
Instead of showing the question and the full answer, the home page – as well as the category and author archives – will show only the question. You will have to click on the question link to see the whole entry along with all the related comments. This way, you can easily browse the list of questions and pick the one that interests you without skipping the related comments. (Thanks Francois).
The latest comments are now displayed on the sidebar so you can keep track of the latest discussions.
A new category named “Question” is created. Any question that is published and that does not have an answer (i.e. seeking answers) will be in this category.
Here are some tips I find useful. You can keep track of all OraQA comments by subscribing to the global comments RSS feed, a link under the “Subscribe” section on the sidebar. You can also keep track of comments on a specific question either:
By subscribing to the RSS feed for comments on this question, a link at the bottom of each question page
Or by subscribing through e-mail (requires a log in), an option at the bottom of each question page
I have been trying (and will always try) to keep OraQA a place where you can find (or submit) answers to specific problems, an Oracle cookbook of sort. To that end, I have rejected many submissions that do not serve as a “recipe” in that cookbook, they are either too broad, or not well defined. OTN forums is a better place for this type of questions.
I got the following question from Vadim the other day: Would you consider it appropriate to post an answer to a question and put my signature below mentioning my website? Provided my post itself is indeed an answer to the question asked.
My answer: Absolutely. You can leave a link to your website (or blog) in your signature on any post or comment on OraQA. In fact, when you register, you can save the URL to your website (or blog) in your profile and it will automatically be linked to your name on any OraQA post or comment.
Got some cool and useful Oracle tips and tricks? head to OraQA.com…
Comments Off | Filed in Oracle | Tags: oraqaNVL, NVL2 or COALESCE?
In Oracle, as in other RDBMSs, nulls should be given a special treatment. In Oracle, there are three (maybe more?) functions that deal with nulls, NVL, NVL2 and COALESCE. I would like to ask you a question, but first, let me quickly refresh my memory:
12 Comments | Filed in Oracle | Tags: function, null, sqlSaving/Downloading files to/from Oracle using ColdFusion
Here is how to store and download Excel files to/from an Oracle database using ColdFusion.
34 Comments | Filed in ColdFusion, Oracle | Tags: database, lobOracle Rootkit
What is a rootkit?
According to Symantec’s definition:
A rootkit is a component that uses stealth to maintain a persistent and undetectable presence on the machine. Actions performed by a rootkit, such as installation and any form of code execution, are done without end user consent or knowledge.
Rootkits do not infect machines by themselves like viruses or worms, but rather, seek to provide an undetectable environment for malicious code to execute. Attackers will typically leverage vulnerabilities in the target machine, or use social engineering techniques, to manually install rootkits. Or, in some cases, rootkits can be installed automatically upon execution of a virus or worm or simply even by browsing to a malicious website.
Once installed, an attacker can perform virtually any function on the system to include remote access, eavesdropping, as well as hide processes, files, registry keys and communication channels.
Does a rootkit exist for Oracle?
Yes. In fact, Alexander Kornbrust, of Red Database Security GmbH, is developing Version 2.0 of a rootkit program he first unveiled in April 2005.
Why has Alex created a rootkit?
Alex claims his rootkits are not hacking tools but are designed to underscore weaknesses in databases from Oracle, Microsoft and others that make it easy to hide malicious activity.
What is the difference between the first version of Alex’s rootkit and the newer version?
The new version of the database rootkit will modify the computer memory used to run Oracle. Administrators could detect the first version of the rootkit by noting changes in the size of the data dictionaries that had been modified. The new version will allow attackers to disguise malicious elements without modifying the database views.
This is what I learned from reading this eWeek.com article. I had never heard about rootkits until I read the article. I believe that more DBA’s should be educated about this kind of stuff (if they are not already). Better yet, create a new position within your organization, a DBSA. Guess what the “S” stands for?
3 Comments | Filed in Oracle, Technology | Tags: rootkit, Securitysee-quel wins, but what about the others?
My last post about how to pronounce a few “words” generated several comments, some of them were funny. “see-quel” was the clear winner in how to pronounce SQL.
To continue having fun and to settle once and for all how the following “words” are pronounced, I will let democracy take its course in the form of the following short polls:
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Cast your vote and let the most used pronunciation win!
6 Comments | Filed in Oracle, Technology | Tags: lob, pl/sql, pronunciation, sqlWelcome Steven Feuerstein
Anyone who knows Oracle PL/SQL knows Steven Feuerstein, the PL/SQL guru and author of PL/SQL books. It looks like Steven has finally decided to enter the world of blogging. Check out his new blog, FeuerThoughts.
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14 Comments | Filed in Oracle | Tags: blog, pl/sqlChar or Car?
This post has no real value except to satisfy a curiosity I have had since I started developing Oracle applications. Through out my career as an Oracle developer, almost every time I meet or listen to someone I hear different pronunciation for a few common acronyms and datatypes. For example:
- SQL: I pronounce it “see-quel”, others just spell it “S-Q-L”
- CHAR (also VARCHAR): I pronounce it “char” as in charcoal, others pronounce it “car”
- CLOB: I pronounce it “see-lob”, others pronounce it “klob”
- BLOB: I pronounce it “bee-lob”, others pronounce it “blob”
- WSDL: I pronounce it… well, I just spell it: “W-S-D-L”, others pronounce it “wizdel”
- BPEL: I pronounce it “bee-pl”, others pronounce it…well, I have not heard anyone pronouncing it differently yet. In fact, the rhyme goes: “BPEL is good for the people”.
The question is: is there a “right” way to pronounce technical terms? Does it matter? For me, I just use whatever is easier on my tongue.
47 Comments | Filed in Oracle, Technology | Tags: lob, pronunciation, sqlOraQA Live!
As Tom Kyte blogged earlier today, OraQA is up and running and waiting for your questions and answers.
I had the idea of OraQA when I was browsing The ColdFusion Cookbook and I thought it would be great to have a similar site for the Oracle community.
In no particular order, I would like to thank the following Oracle bloggers for their help with the initial launch of OraQA:
And of course Tom Kyte.
4 Comments | Filed in Oracle | Tags: oraqaGoogle Store in The Middle East
The Arabic writing on the left says: “The newest computer games”. The one on the right says: “Computer maintenance”.
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Cool SQL function: DUMP
I have noticed that, in his latest book, Tom Kyte used the SQL function DUMP quite frequently to expose the internal representation and the size of a specific expression. To be honest, I do not use DUMP very often, but I do find it useful in certain situations. Continue reading…
