1

Networking Overview

Copyright © Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

 Objectives

After completing this lesson, you should be able to do

the following:
• Explain the solutions in Oracle9i that can be used
to manage complex networks
• Describe Oracle networking add-on solutions

1-2 Copyright © Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

 Network Environment Challenges

• Configuring the network environment

• Maintaining the network
• Tuning, troubleshooting, and monitoring the
network
• Implementing security in the network
• Integrating legacy systems

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 Simple Network: Two-Tier

Network
Client
Server

• Network connects client and server

• Client and server speak the same language or
protocol

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 Simple to Complex Network: N-Tier

Network Network

Client Middle tier Server

• Client can be a thin client or a PC

• Middle tier can contain applications and services
• Server holds actual data

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 Complex Network

TCP/IP SSL

TCP/IP SSL

TCP/IP

TCP/IP Named Pipes

TCP/IP

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 Oracle9i Networking Solutions

• Connectivity
• Directory Services
• Scalability
• Security
• Accessibility

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 Connectivity: Key Features of
Oracle Net Services

• Protocol independence
• Comprehensive platform support
• Integrated GUI administration tools
• Multiple configuration options
• Tracing and diagnostic toolset
• Basic security

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 Connectivity: Oracle Net Services

Administration and configuration

Oracle Net Oracle Net

Client Protocol Protocol Server

Any platform Any platform

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 Connectivity: Database Connectivity
with HTTP

Web browser HTTP Oracle9i

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 Directory Services: Directory Naming

• Process of resolving a network alias using an

LDAP-compliant directory server
• Clients must be configured to use the LDAP
compliant server

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 Directory Services: Oracle
Internet Directory

• Oracle’s LDAP compliant directory service

• Provides the following features:
– Integrates tightly with Oracle9i
– Simplifies network administration
– Provides a secure and reliable directory structure

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 Scalability: Oracle Shared Server

• Enables a large number of users to connect to a

database simultaneously
• Database resources are shared resulting in
efficient memory and processing usage
• Connections are routed via a dispatcher
• Server processes are not dedicated to each client
• Server processes serve client processes as
needed

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 Scalability: Oracle Connection Manager

Oracle Connection Manager offers:

• Multiplexing of connections
• Cross-protocol connectivity
• Network access control

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 Scalability: Oracle Connection Manager

1 2

3
Oracle Connection
Manager
Server

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 Security: Advanced Security

• Encryption
– Encodes between network nodes
– DES, RSA, 3DES
• Authentication
– Authenticates users through third-party services
and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
– Kerberos, Radius, CyberSafe
• Data Integrity
– Ensures data integrity during transmission
– MD5, SHA

1-18 Copyright © Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.

 Advanced Security Encryption

Corporate earnings are Corporate earnings are

up 45% this quarter up 45% this quarter
1 3
Oracle Advanced Security
Installed

Oracle Advanced Security

Installed Decrypt

Client Server
2
Encrypt

fdh37djf246gs’b[da,\ssk

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 Security: Oracle Net Services
and Firewalls

• Oracle works with key firewall vendors to provide

firewall support
• Oracle Net Firewall Proxy Kit allows firewall
vendors to provide connection support for Oracle
environments
• Oracle Net Firewall Proxy is based on Oracle
Connection Manager
• Oracle supports two categories of firewalls:
– Proxy-based firewalls
– Stateful packet inspection firewalls

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 Accessibility: Heterogeneous Services

• Enables access of legacy data as if it resides in a

single, local relational database
• Enables Oracle procedure calls to access non-
Oracle systems, services, or APIs

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 Accessibility: External Procedures

• Functions written in a 3GL language that can be

called from PL/SQL
• Allows the developer more flexibility than SQL or
PL/SQL provide
• Listener can listen for external procedure calls
• Connections to external procedure can be
configured during or after server installation

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 Oracle Net Services Configuration and
Administration Tools

• Oracle Net Manager

– Used for configuring and managing Oracle Net
– Client- or server-based tool
– Integrated with Oracle Enterprise Manager
• Oracle Net Configuration Assistant
• Oracle Net Control utilities
– Listener Control utility
– Oracle Connection Manager Control utility
– Oracle Names Control utility

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 Oracle Net Manager

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 Oracle Net Configuration Assistant

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 Summary

In this lesson, you should have learned how to:

• Explain Oracle’s solutions for managing complex
networks:
– Oracle Net Services
– HTTP Connectivity
– Oracle Internet Directory
– Oracle Shared Server
– Connection Manager
• Describe Oracle’s add-on solutions:
– Oracle Advanced Security
– Heterogeneous Services

1-26 Copyright © Oracle Corporation, 2002. All rights reserved.