Oracle Database 10g XE (Express Edition)

Oracle Corporation's Database 10g Express Edition is a free database product. It is free to download, free to deploy, and free to distribute. This alone is appealing to many small business owners who need a cost-effective database system. It is also the first database designed for grid computing, which cuts management costs while providing the highest possible quality of service. This can also cut cost and increase profit.

Oracle Database Express 10g XE supports C, C++, Oracle Application Express, ODBC,PL/SQL, .NET, OLE DB,HTML DB, JDBC (Java), and PHP on both Microsoft Windows and Linux 32 bit platforms. Database administration is easily done through a browser interface.

A definite advantage of using Oracle Database 10g is that it uses the same code base as Oracle Database 10g R2, so any applications built using the express edition can be easily upgraded to use more advanced versions of Oracle's database products without changing the application code or the database definition statements. This means that if your business grows beyond the capabilities of the free express version of database 10g, it will be much easier to upgrade the system.

Along with the free download of Oracle Database 10g XE, you can download the free Oracle Developer Suite 10g. The Developer Suite 10g includes:

• Oracle Developer Suite 10g
  
  • Oracle Forms
    
  • Oracle Designer
    
  • Software configuration manager
    
  • Oracle Reports
    
  • Oracle Discoverer
    
• Oracle Business Intelligence Beans 10g
  
  • Presentation beans
    
  • Graph and cross graph data beans
    
  • Query calculation builders
    
• Oracle JDeveloper 10g (For Java development)
  

Oracle Database 10g XE has a disk footprint of only 150 MB. To have such a small footprint, limitations had to be set. Database 10g XE will only utilize 1 GB of memory with one processor, and will support up to 4 GB of user data. I looked at the online support forum and found it to be comprehensive, and the tutorials are interactive, providing hands-on learning. With the great development tools available and the easy scalability, Oracle Database 10g XE is a great database solution for most small businesses, DBA's, and developers.

Forgotten Password in Vista

Symptoms:

It had been quite a while since I had logged into my desktop, and I couldn't remember the password.

Gathering Information:

I searched online for a possible solution. I found a few using UBCD (Ultimate Boot CD), but was unable to bypass the password. I finally found a .ISO file for a boot CD called Kon Boot, which is used to bypass the login password. It does this by modifying the kernel on-the-fly while booting.

.

Hypothesis:

H1 Burn ISO to CD, then boot from the CD into Windows Vista.

Results:

While booting using the Kon Boot CD, the following screen appears

:

Press any key to continue. The next screen looks like this:

It then boots into the Vista login screen:

Type anything you want to in the password text box, and login.

It worked wonderfully! I was unable to reset or change the password using this boot CD, but I was able to access and back up any files I needed before re-installing Windows Vista.

Reflection:

This is a great tool for those of us who are a bit forgetful. I must admit that I find it a little unsettling that a person would be able to bypass my password so easily. There are ways to harden against person using Kon Boot on your computer such as TrueCrypt or requiring a smart card to log into your computer.

Windows 7 Won’t Shutdown

Symptoms:

Windows 7 was hanging during shutdown. I would have to manually shut it down which resulted in the "Windows did not shutdown correctly" the next time I booted the computer.

Gathering information:

I looked in the system's event log and found no errors regarding this problem. I also looked at any new programs and drivers.

Hypothesis:

H1. Delete/Uninstall recently installed drivers
H2. Delete/Uninstall recently installed programs

Results:

H1. I uninstalled a few recently updates drivers, and found it made no difference.
H2. I uninstalled the last 2 programs I installed, and the problem still persisted.

I then researched the problem on the internet and found a solution. Apparently there is a problem with certain audio services causing this problem. This can be solved creating a batch file that disables those services, and start the batch file when logging off. This solved the problem.

I found these steps HERE.

1. Create a .bat file (create txt file and change extention to .bat)
2. Right Click on file > "edit" and enter following info:
   net stop "Audiosrv"
   net stop "AudioEndpointBuilder"
3. Save file as "Audio stop"(or whatever you want) to your main drive ie: C:\Audio stop
4. Open "run" from start menu and enter "gpedit.msc" (without quotes) and hit "OK"
5. Now navigate from right pain of window "User Configuration" > "Windows Settings" > "scripts (Logon/Logoff)" > "Logoff"
6. From window that opens from clicking "Logoff" Click "Add" then browse to where you saved "Audio Stop.bat" earlier and double click on it.
7. Hit "Apply" and close.
   
   Window 7 will now automatically stop the Audio services when Shutting Down or Restarting allowing system to complete the process.

If this doesn't work for you, you may need to verify the names of the audio service(s) on your system and replace "audiosrv" with applicable service name, but this solution should work for most systems.

Reflection:

I found that there may be other services that would cause this problem, such as USB drivers, Firewire devices, etc. The solution for the problem is the same, just with different services disabled when you log off of the system.

Data Flow Diagrams and Beyond…

This week's class covered the subject of DFD's (Data Flow Diagrams). DFD's are the visual planning and breakdown of data flow through a system. As I sat working on my DFD for my class homework, an idea popped into my head. I had a thought about the Plan of Salvation, and how many of the charts I had seen were set up a bit like a data flow diagram. I began to consider the similarities and differences. I made a little DFD of the Plan of Salvation, and realized that there were too many variables for me to create even a context diagram. There were too many possible choices. Still hanging on to the concept, I began searching for a diagram of the Plan of Salvation. I found this one: http://www.utlm.org/images/eternalprogressionutlm.gifAs

I'm writing this, I'm heading down a different road than I had intended; Yes, I'm sidetracked. I realize that the chart I have of the Plan, is indeed a flow chart. If I were to attempt to create a diagram 0 of the Plan of Salvation, it would be so full of black and gray holes that it would be impossible to follow due to my lack of knowledge. Thinking of all of the blanks that would lead to black and gray holes, I realize that we have many tools available to us that we can utilize to fill in many of these holes. I can reveal some of the holes by praying for knowledge, reading, studying, and pondering the scriptures, and maintaining my spiritual awareness. In D&C 11:7, the Lord says, "Seek not the riches but for the wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you…," and In 1 Nephi 10:19, Nephi teaches, "for he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost…." I realize it is an odd way to think of it, but I can visualize a flow diagram that is filled in throughout our lives according to our humble quest for the knowledge of Deity.

So I haven't written about Data Flow Diagrams, but I do think it important where the thought of DFD's lead me. I may have a mild case of Attention Deficit Disorder and get sidetracked easily, but I find that often there is insight to be had in the straying. I have realized that everything I do in this world can in some way be related to the gospel, and should be thought of in such a way. As I find my way through this life, I will strive to remain conscious of the gospel in all things, and seek to further my knowledge of truth.