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Oracle GoldenGate version 11.1.1.1 released

After long wait Oracle finaly relesed new Oracle GoldenGate version 11.1.1.1 which supports encrypted tablespaces.

About Replicating TDE-encrypted data

Oracle GoldenGate supports the Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) at the column and tablespace level.

● Column-level encryption is supported for all versions of 10.2.0.5, 11.1, and 11.2.
● Tablespace-level encryption is supported for all versions of 10.2.0.5 and 11.1.0.2.

Required database patches

To support TDE, one of the following Oracle patches must be applied to the database,
depending on the version.

● Patch 10628966 for 10.2.0.5.2PSU
● Patch 10628963 for 11.1.0.7.6PSU
● Patch 10628961 for 11.2.0.2

Critical Patch Update – January 2011

The Critical Patch Update for January 2011 was released on January 18th, 2011. Oracle strongly recommends applying the patches as soon as possible. Please note that Sun products are included to this Critical Patch Update.

The Critical Patch Update Advisory is the starting point for relevant information. It includes a list of products affected, pointers to obtain the patches, a summary of the security vulnerabilities, and links to other important documents. Supported Products that are not listed in the “Supported Products and Components Affected” Section of the advisory do not require new patches to be applied.

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Oracle Enterprise Manager 11g

Oracle Enterprise Manager 11g is out and looks promising. Oracle Enterprise Manager allows you to monitor your databases from a single web based interface. You can see performance matrix as well as deploy patches and upgrades. I have only used EM to manage databases, but you can also use it for applications, middleware, hardware, as well as the OS.

EM is the base application and from there you can add different “packs” including

• Change Management Pack
• Configuration Management Pack
• Data Masking Pack
• Diagnostic Pack
• Provisioning Pack
• Tuning Pack

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Oracle buys Silver Creek Systems

Oracle said Monday it acquired Silver Creek Systems Inc., which focuses on product data quality. Silver Creek Systems is based in Westminster, Colo.

“Lack of standardized product data continues to be a challenge for many enterprises,” said Hasan Rizvi, senior vice president, Oracle Fusion Middleware Product Development. “With the addition of Silver Creek, Oracle is extending its industry leading data integration offering with complementary solutions to enhance product data quality and help customers get more accurate and consistent product data for use across their enterprise.”

Feds OK Sun acquisition

Oracle Corp. said Thursday that the U.S. Department of Justice has approved its proposed acquisition of Sun Microsystems Inc. and terminated the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

Santa Clara-based Sun stockholders approved the transaction on July 16. Closing of the transaction is subject to certain conditions, including clearance by the European Commission.

The $7.4 billion acquisition by Redwood City-based Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL), which has a campus in Rocklin, is being closely watched by the European Union, with questions raised about Sun’s Java software language.

Oracle stops Project Sequoia

Oracle Corp. has stopped work on a $313 million data center in Utah. The Salt Lake Tribune reported Tuesday that Oracle quietly stopped construction on the center, in West Jordan, near the Salt Lake City Municipal Airport, three months ago. The halt is linked to Oracle’s planned acquisition of Sun Microsystems the paper said.

Oracle cuts workforce by 500

Looks like even the mighty Oracle is not free and clear in the down turn.  Oracle has sliced approximately 500 positions from its sales and consulting staff businesses in North America, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

The positions, which would account for less than 2 percent of Oracle’s North American workforce as of November, were cut on Friday, according to the Journal.

Oracle Critical Patch Day

Every few months Oracle issues a Critical Patch for its products, and today’s the day for the new one.
According to its Critical Patch Pre-Release Announcement, Oracle will be issuing one of its large, periodic patches today to address security vulnerabilities in its products – in this case a total of 41 fixes.

They address several versions of Oracle Database, Secure Backup, Application Server, WebLogic Server and Portal, and more. Oracle is recommending that customers apply the fixes as soon as possible.

OTN forums infiltrated with virus spam

Sad but true, even OTN (Oracle Technology Network) is subject to viruses.  Oracle’s OTN forums are under attack today, with spammers, posting disguised links that redirect to web pages that deploy viruses on your computer.

OTN has become NSFW, with members posting insults, personal threats of physical violence, spam, xenophobic and racist remarks, and now, destructive hyperlinks disguised as information.