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simplify SQL Server installation

“SQL FineBuild makes it easy for anyone to produce a best-practice installation and configuration of SQL Server.

“Simplify the time needed to deploy any of the following builds:

Main Instance Server Build – for multi-drive servers (clustered or non-clustered)

Additional Named Instance Server Build – adds another SQL Server instance to a server

Workstatiodrive[sic] desktop machines

Client Tools Only Build – just the tools, to allow remote administration of SQL Server

“There are five members of the FineBuild family:

  • SQL2016 FineBuild to install SQL Server 2016
  • SQL2014 FineBuild to install SQL Server 2014
  • SQL2012 FineBuild to install SQL Server 2012
  • SQL2008R2 FineBuild to install SQL Server 2008 R2
  • SQL2008 FineBuild to install SQL Server 2008
  • SQL2005 FineBuild to install SQL Server 2005

“All of these can be downloaded at FineBuild V3.2.1
source: http://sqlserverfinebuild.codeplex.com/

steps

http://sqlserverfinebuild.codeplex.com/documentation

 

external links

Source for this is the original author in a SQL Server Central post about replication.
Get more information about FineBuild from discussions on CodePlex.

 


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managing mixed environments with MobaXterm

connect from Windows clients to Linux servers

MobaXterm Professional provides full X server and SSH support in a portable (no install required) customized (no unwanted games nor tools) application.

connect from Linux servers to Windows clients

Diligent system administrators usually isolate the EPM system servers completely from the Internet, allowing no direct connections. The recommended practice is to download and validate more than 20GB of Oracle EPM source software and patches to a client desktop before transferring to the EPM servers. By running MobaXterm on a Windows client, secure connections, rapid file transfer and remote terminal access is straight-forward from the Windows client to Solaris/Linux servers AND from Solaris/Linux servers to the Windows client.

description

Prerequisite: MobaXterm Professional
This post describes the process that I use to setup MobaXterm Professional. The cost is negligible as we remove components undesirable in client environments (e.g., games, port scanner, network packet capture, http server, NFS server, et cetera).

In addition, we will add plugins (e.g., httperf, Curl, and DnsUtils like dig or  nslookup).

The Home Edition is free, subject to MobaXterm terms and conditions, but somewhat limited and excludes professional support.

steps

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easy alias to show all files in OS X

From Ian Lunn:

… All I need do now is type showFiles and hideFiles whenever I need to show/hide OS X’s hidden files. Here’s how you can do it too.

How to set up an alias for AppleShowAllFiles. Edit ~/.bashrc:

alias showFiles='defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES; killall Finder /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app'
alias hideFiles='defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles NO; killall Finder /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app'


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OSX: the first 30 minutes

After your Apple® arrives, what next?

The very first things one should do on OS X are system updates, Homebrew setup, install Java,  install GNU system tools, , install favorite editor, setup the shell & configure the bash_profile.

System Update

Before you start the 30 minute timer…

Connect to the Internet
Unplug everything except the power supply (no external drives, no usb keyboards/mice, etc.)

Select ‘’ > ‘About This Mac’ > ‘Software Update’

Install all available updates.
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loading calculation manager from a prompt file

CalcMgrCmdLineLauncher.cmd replaces CmdLineLauncher.cmd

Not much has changed between Business Rules and Calculation Manager when using the CmdLineLauncher for loading with a runtime prompt file.

steps

The solution to using CalcMgrCmdLineLauncher.cmd with Runtime Prompts AND getting multiple values passed in to work as they have previously.

Create a string value in variable manager of Calculation Manager
Create the substitution variables in the application (Planning in this case)
Process the rule from command line like: CalcMgrCmdLineLauncher.cmd [-f:passwordFile] /A:appname /U:username /D:database [/R:business rule name | /S:business ruleset name] /F:runtime prompts file


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REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED

Host key verification failed when reconnecting ssh

This is a desired and expected behavior to guarantee a secure connection. When running a temporary SSH server on Windows, it can be repetitive.

steps

Begin by starting the SSH server in MobaXterm on Windows where the source software was downloaded
'Servers' > 'Start SSH/SFTP Server' > 'OK'
From the Linux server, ssh into the Windows Server
'ssh WindowsUser@WindowsServer.where.SourceSoftwareIsDownloaded.com'
Alternately, attempt an rsync to rapidly transfer and verify the source software and patch archives (this requires some fiddling to get right).
'rsync -Ivvvrtz -e "ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null" --progress WindowsUser@WindowsServer.where.SourceSoftwareIsDownloaded.com:/drives/l/ /u01/hyperion/installer'

Some time later, when you attempt to repeat the process, ssh will fail with error like:

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@ WARNING: REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED! @
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOMEONE IS DOING SOMETHING NASTY!
Someone could be eavesdropping on you right now (man-in-the-middle attack)!
It is also possible that the RSA host key has just been changed.
The fingerprint for the RSA key sent by the remote host is
34:df:34:df:34:df:34:df:34:df:34:df:34:df:34:df.
Please contact your system administrator.
Add correct host key in /home/<user>/.ssh/known_hosts to get rid of this message.
Offending key in /home/<user>/.ssh/known_hosts:3
RSA host key for <servername> has changed and you have requested strict checking.
Host key verification failed.

This is caused by stopping and restarting MobaXterm on the Windows server; The SSH Server fingerprint will change.

Delete the offending key (the location of known_hosts will vary):
sed '3d' -i /var/lib/sss/pubconf/known_hosts  
sed -i -e 3d /home/<user>/.ssh/known_hosts

Note: the sed command is worth learning.

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Patch 17529887 successfully applied or NOT

Fun with whether or not Patch 17529887 successfully applied

tested with file V44215-01
5/24/2015
The README for Patch 17529887: (Release 11.1.2.3.500 Patch Set Update (PSU): 17529887)  indicates you can apply to 11.1.2.3.0 and that there are no prerequisites beyond the usual Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package.

This is not exactly the case, as various Windows OS prerequisites impact whether the patch is applied successfully.

As others have noted, the ADF patches often do not truly apply. I have applied the superpatch on nearly a dozen systems without having any issues so was surprised to finally see the ADF patch deployment failure today.

A new interesting quirk came up as well, when installing the patch with local accounts on a multi-node system. The Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host will fail to process vbscripts like:

D:\software\17529887\custom\scripts\create_version_history.vbs(32, 1) Microsoft VBScript runtime error: Path not found

The intrepid Windows administrators had not set up Windows with cohesive Region and Language settings.

steps

Rollback the patch

D:\Oracle\Middleware\EPMSystem11R1\OPatch\opatch rollback -id 17529887 -oh D:\Oracle\Middleware\EPMSystem11R1 -jre D:\Oracle\Middleware\jrockit_160_37

Check that Region and Language settings match the System Locale. This was corrected by changing the Region and Language setting from “English (United Kingdom)” to “English (United States)“.

Reapply the patch.

Verify after restart that the expected versions are picked up and showing in Workspace > About.

description

None

external links

None at this time


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Smart View hits .400+

NOTE: Valid Oracle ID required
Oracle Smart View for Office 11.1.2.5.710 Readme | Patch Name 2655392 | This download link was good on 9/14/2017:
https://updates.oracle.com/Orion/Services/download/p26553924_11125000_Generic.zip?aru=21471912&patch_file=p26553924_11125000_Generic.zip

Smart View for Office to 11.1.2.5.710 is coming mid-August, 2017

Oracle Smart View for Office 11.1.2.5.700 Readme | Patch Name 21178353 | This download link was good on 4/18/2017: https://updates.oracle.com/Orion/Services/download/p25606837_11125000_Generic.zip?aru=21178353&patch_file=p25606837_11125000_Generic.zip

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/middleware/epm/downloads/smart-view-1112x-2412371.html

Oracle Smart View for Office 11.1.2.5.600 Readme | Patch Name 23168020 | This download link was good on 7/18/2016: https://updates.oracle.com/Orion/Services/download/p23168020_11125000_Generic.zip?aru=20255072&patch_file=p23168020_11125000_Generic.zip

Oracle Smart View 11.1.2.5.520 Readme | Oracle EPM BI Proactive Support post

Oracle® Smart View for Office Release 11.1.2.5.500 PSU. Readme

Oracle Hyperion Smart View for Office Release 11.1.2.5.410 PSU. Readme

Release 11.1.2.5.400, Patch 20327649 is now available. Readme

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Oracle Help Center and EPM 11.1.2.4

Oracle Enterprise Performance Management System Documentation
Release 11.1.2.4

The documentation for Oracle EPM Release 11.1.2.4 is widely available from Oracle Help Center.

You may be familiar with Oracle Help Center as the new documentation portal. The old documentation portal is OTN technetwork.

The majority of this content summarizes notes from an Oracle presentation of what is new and what is coming.

Release 11.1.2.4

Some of the good news is:

  • commitment to existing applications
  • innovation with new offerings
  • more cloud
  • more mobile – “Managing the close on the run”

This translates as:

  • FDMEE – complete parity with legacy FDM
  • FDMEE – data synch between EPM applications
    • DRM integrations
    • Sub-ledger transactions for ARM
    • HFM journal write-back
    • Import from any relational with simple UI mapping
    • SAP BW metadata load
    • Integration with FCM
  • Supplemental Data Manager (new product)
  • FM (HFM) reborn with some platform independence, pre-built dashboards, application creation wizards (a.k.a. Web Profile Editor), and stellar performance claims, especially in consolidation times
  • FM User Interface gets some love as formats and layouts are more controllable
    • Disable modules for an entire application
    • Security role fixes for Task and Data Audit
    • Audit log on metadata difference after load, a.k.a., metadata merge utility
    • UDAs are 256 characters
    • Support for on-demand rules
    • DCOM replaced with TCP communications
    • Web control of system settings
    • Multi-file select for load actions
  • Platform independent (with limitations, notably to Exalytics–long live Big Iron!)
  • Ongoing commitment to deployment simplicity
  • FCM:  a well-supported product receives continued investment
    • Close Manager
    • Account Reconciliation Manager
    • Supplemental Data Manager
    • TAX
  • …more to be discovered

Extended Support

Extending support for EPM 11.1.2.x releases is the sleeper announcement that deserves applause! Oracle extended Premier Support to April 2018 and Extended Support to April 2021.
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Do not patch 11.1.2.2 EPM System servers with Essbase Client .104-106

tested PSU 11.1.2.2.104,~.105, ~.106
After installation of the Essbase Client via exe file p17608120_111220_MSWIN-x86-64.zip a number of source files will be over-written and corrupted. For example, epmsys_registry.bat, validate.bat, and ziplogs.bat will no longer work. The applications will still start from Windows Services.msc but will no longer communicate with each other nor with the Admin Server.

steps

The general format I use in this publication is to provide steps to replicate the issue.

You should not replicate this issue.

If you insist on replicating the issue, install the client in a vanilla server, then back-track any mismatch between target files and the files installed by the Essbase Client using a nice diff utility. Here is one for Mac OS X.
[continue reading…]

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