Setting Up the Database

The University sample applications use a database (the University database) to store all the data (for example, course names and course summaries) used in the sample applications. Before you can build and run the University sample applications, you need to install and set up the database.

This appendix describes the setup process for the database. For details about the steps, see the product documentation for the database you are using.

Database Support

Setup Instructions for the Oracle Database

You can use the Oracle database in the following manner:

Setup for Local Database Instance

If you are using a local instance of the Oracle database, you need to install the following Oracle components:

Use the default database created by the Oracle installation program. You need the connection string for the Oracle database and the default user ID and password. Refer to the Oracle product documentation for information about obtaining this information.

Once the Oracle software is installed, you need to start the daemon for the Oracle database. The daemon is generally started as part of the start-up process for your machine. You also need to enable an XA resource manager and set privileges so that the XA resource manager can manage the interaction between the Oracle database and the sample applications (v$xatrans$).

Enter the following command to enable an XA resource manager that works with the University sample applications:

SQL>grant select on v$xatrans$ to public;

Note: Enter the following additional command only if you are using version 8.0 of the Oracle database.

SQL>grant select on dba_pending_transactions to user;

SQL>commit;

where user is the default user of the Oracle database.

For more information about performing these steps, see the Oracle product documentation.

Instructions for initializing the Oracle database are included in the descriptions of building the individual sample applications.

Setup for Remote Database Instance

If you are using a remote instance of the Oracle database (for example, a database running on another machine), you need to install the following Oracle components:

In order to use a remote instance of the Oracle database, you need to define an alias for the database. You need the following information:

Use the SQL *Net Easy Configuration Utility to define an alias for the remote instance of the Oracle database. For more information about performing these steps, see the Oracle product documentation.

The database you are accessing needs an XA resource manager enabled with privileges that allow interaction between the database and the sample applications (v$xatrans$).

Enter the following command to enable an XA resource manager that works with the University sample applications:

SQL>grant select on v$xatrans$ to public;

Note: Enter the following additional command only if you are using version 8.0 of the Oracle database.

SQL>grant select on dba_pending_transactions to user;

SQL>commit;

where user is the default user of the Oracle database.

Instructions for initializing the Oracle database are included in the descriptions of building the individual sample applications.