University Seminars

The University Seminars are held on Sunday, May 1st and Thursday, May 5th. These seminars are held in both full-day and half-day formats and are packed with intensive training. Directly before and after the symposium, attendees have the opportunity to add on additional training to their Live! experience with a variety of seminar topics presented by leading Oracle professionals.

For a small additional fee, learn the hottest solutions, tips and techniques. Space is limited and reservations are made on a first come first serve basis.

Full-day University Seminars (Sunday, May 1, 2005 - 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)

Registration rate - $520 USD after April 1, 2005

Half-day University Seminars (Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)

Registration rate - $275 USD after April 1, 2005

Sunday University Seminars
U1: Data Modeling Made Easy
U2: Java-Based Oracle Web Development
U3: Managing Oracle OLAP 10g
U4: Healing and Recovery from Compulsive Tuning Disorder with Oracle 10g
U5: Oracle Environment Security
U6: Understanding and Assisting the Cost-Based Optimizer
U7: Overview of Oracle 10g RAC and Grid Technology
U8: Advanced Backup and Recovery through 10g
U9: Oracle 10g New Features for DBAs
U10: Oracle 10g/9i for Developers: What You Need to Know (Hands-on)
U11: DBA Basics for the Newer DBA

Thursday University Seminars
U13: The Life of an Oracle Cursor and its Impact on the Shared Pool
U15: All About Rollback Segments, Automatic Undo and Flashback Query
U16: In-depth Guide to Native Dynamic SQL Collections and File I/O in PL/SQL
U17: Managing the Next Generation Database

 

U1: Data Modeling Made Easy

Speaker: Judi Hotsinpiller, The University of Utah
Focus Area: Application Server and Web Services
Expertise: Beginner
Prerequisite: Basic understanding of databases, and SQL.
Abstract: This seminar covers the use of Entity Relationship Modeling in detail, through many real life examples, practical business problems and solutions. With material that is used in the usual 4-day Oracle University course this one-day seminar will get to the heart of the matter and make data modeling fun and easy. Learn to normalize until it hurts and de-normalize until you can use it in the real world. This will be hands on pencil and paper modeling class where you will learn how to make practical models your company can implement.

U2: Java-Based Oracle Web Development

Speaker: Chris Ostrowski, TUSC
Focus Area: Architecture and Infrastructure
Expertise: All
Prerequisite: None
Abstract: This seminar will cover a number of topics including a number of components you should “study” to round out your development knowledge. JDeveloper 10g (and the ADF) is an amazing development environment. Each new version gets closer to rivaling Oracle Forms. Now with the Oracle Application Developer Framework (ADF), which includes TopLink and Struts, you can quickly and easily develop a GUI/HTML-based Web application using this point-and-click, drag-and-drop development tool. After JDeveloper’s ADF is covered, we’ll talk about Java Server Pages, Java Stored Procedures, and Java Database Connectivity. This seminar will wrap up discussing a number of other tools you might want to consider for your development efforts.

U3: Managing Oracle OLAP 10g

Speaker: Chris Claterbos and Dan Vlamis, Vlamis Software Solutions
Focus Area: Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence
Expertise: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Knowledge of Data Warehousing concepts desired, including dimensional design and star schemas
Abstract: In Oracle10g, Oracle has introduced significant new features in the OLAP Engine. These new features increase the possibility of creating many sorts of business intelligence applications, such as collaborative budgeting, collaborative forecasting, predictive analysis, and modeling applications. All of this is now available within the Oracle10g database. With this new freedom comes a new challenge in managing the database. How are cubes built and updated? What is the best storage location for your data? When should the OLAP option be used? What are the major new capabilities in Oracle OLAP 10g and how does this affect the design of a data warehouse? We will discuss what new tools are used to manage OLAP and how easy it is to create comprehensive OLAP databases. We will also present best practices and strategies pulled from a decade of experience with Oracle OLAP technologies.

U4: Healing and Recovery from Compulsive Tuning Disorder with Oracle 10g,

Speaker: Gaja Krishna Vaidyanatha, DBPerfMan.com
Focus Area: Database Administration
Expertise: All
Prerequisite: Oracle performance concepts, Oracle database experience, operating systems concepts
Abstract: Compulsive Tuning Disorder (CTD) is the unofficial branch of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which originates from the world of human behavior (or misbehavior) and psychiatry. CTD was discovered on one dark November night in the year 2000. It has since then found its place in many relevant and meaningful performance tuning/optimization discussions.

The world of Oracle performance management has a reputation as part science, part art, and mostly wizardry. This seminar imparts the core principles of performance management by sharing a methodology to investigate, determine, and implement "meaningful solutions" to real problems. Although this seminar covers all releases of Oracle from 7 – 9iR2, it pays special and close attention to the exciting possibilities of Oracle 10g, which (by the way) does facilitate a much faster healing and recovery process.

U5: Oracle Environment Security

Speaker: Kenny Smith, Inplexus
Focus Area: Database Administration
Expertise: All
Prerequisite: All DBA's will benefit
Abstract: Securing the Oracle database is critical to many organizations today. The database may contain sensitive data like social security numbers, health records or credit card information which must be kept confidential. Regulations like HIPAA, CISP and Sarbanes Oxley are driving organizations to harden Oracle systems and protect them against tampering or misuse. This seminar covers security features of the Oracle database and how those features can be implemented to harden an Oracle system.

U6: Understanding and Assisting the Cost-Based Optimizer

Speaker: Jonathan Lewis, JL Computer Consultancy
Focus Area: Database Administration
Expertise: Intermediate
Prerequisite: DBAs should have a couple of years experience. Developers should be interested in how the database handles SQL
Abstract: This seminar will contain four main components. 1) Why Isn’t Oracle Using My Index, 2) Mechanisms of Joins, 3) Range Scans, Selectivity, and 10053, and 4) Hints, Cheats and Strategies.

• Why isn't Oracle using my index?
  In this component, we aim to acquire a highly visual, rather than mathematical, understanding of when Oracle will ignore an index. We start with a simple example that pin-points the cause of the problem and identifies the simplistic assumptions that the cost based optimizer uses. Then we introduce a couple of parameters which give Oracle better information about our system and allow it to identify the appropriate execution path frequently. We end by mentioning a number of the complications that our first example has avoided.
  
• Mechanisms of Joins
  We start by asking why it is so important to examine and understand join mechanisms. Then we look at details (and anomalies) of the nested loop, sort-merge, and hash joins; identifying strengths, weaknesses, and costs of each in turn. In the case of sort-merge and hash joins, we examine trace events, and their output, which allows us to investigate what, is happening when response times become extreme.
  
• Range scans, selectivity, and 10053
  In this session we move on from the simple example of the first session to investigate what happens in the more general cases of using an index. How does Oracle decide whether to use an index for a range scan - what are the effects of multi-column indexes? How is the optimizer affected when we store date information using a string format? We also take a closer look at trace files generated from event 10053 to find out how much work Oracle needs to do in the optimization phase.
  
• Hints, Cheats and Strategies
  What is a hint? How do hints really work? Is it a good idea to use hints? How can we help Oracle pick the right execution path without spending all our time tweaking and hinting code? How can we "fix" third party application code? How can we convert a system from rule-based to cost-based with minimum risk? What are the key new features in the Oracle 10g optimizer?

U7: Overview of Oracle 10g RAC and Grid Technology

Speaker: Michael R. Ault, Burleson Oracle Consulting and Training
Focus Area: Database Administration
Expertise: Intermediate
Prerequisite: The attendee should be an experienced DBA interested in RAC technology
Abstract: This seminar's objectives are to understand RAC and grid technologies, explore the various clustering technologies used, and listen to an overview of new 10g RAC related features.

U8: Advanced Backup and Recovery through 10g

Speaker: Tim Quinlan, TLQ Consulting, Inc.
Focus Area: Database Administration
Expertise: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Intermediate DBA skills with some prior backup and recovery experience
Abstract: This seminar will discuss advanced backup and recovery techniques available in Oracle9i and Oracle 10g. This is intended for intermediate to advanced DBA's and assumes attendees understand basic user-managed backup and recovery features. Therefore basic features will only be discussed briefly to allow more time for the more advanced topics. Main topics covered include advanced backup and recovery tips and techniques, standby databases and data guard as well as recovery manager. Other topics relating to Oracle availability will also be touched upon in this fast moving seminar.

U9: Oracle 10g New Features for DBAs

Speaker: Daniel Liu, First American Real Estate
Focus Area: Database Administration
Expertise: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Participants need to have the basic knowledge of database administration in Oracle9i or earlier versions Oracle Server
Abstract: Oracle Database 10g, next-generation database, is the industry's first designed for grid computing. Grid computing reduces the cost of IT by clustering servers together to act as a single large computer, dynamically shifting server resources between applications on demand. Daniel Liu, the co-author of Oracle 10g New Features for the DBA by Rampant TechPress, will introduce the new features in Oracle Database 10g. Those topics include: new initialization parameters, Automatic Storage Management (SAM), Cross Platform Transportable tablespaces, new SYSAUX tablespace, high-speed Data Pump utility, extended Flashback functions, RMAN enhancements, Column-level Virtual Private Database (VPD), database tuning and performance improvement, new SQL enhancements, high availability improvements in Log Miner, Real Application Clusters (RAC), Data Guard, Oracle Streams, and more. The topics covered in this seminar are primary for the database administrators.

U10: Oracle 10g/9i for Developers: What You Need to Know (Hands-on)

Speaker: John King, King Training Resources
Focus Area: Database Administration
Expertise: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Attendees should be familiar with some earlier version of Oracle. Student must provide network-capable laptop to participate in hands-on opportunity
Abstract: This seminar includes HANDS-ON practice opportunities. In order to participate in the hands-on opportunities, you will need to bring your laptop. There will not be any laptops or computers available in the room. Session includes HANDS-ON practice opportunities. The features of Oracle 10g extend the capabilities of the database in many ways. Attendees will be introduced to the new and improved features of Oracle 10g that directly impact application development and some of the more important Oracle 9i features they might have missed. Special emphasis is placed on features that can reduce development time, make development simpler, improve performance, or speed deployment. Specific topics include: New SQL statements, case/accent-insensitive query, regular expressions, expanded LOB storage, new data types (BINARY_FLOAT, BINARY_DOUBLE, SDO_GEORASTER), new Statistical functions, Model clause, recycle bin, ISO Join options, CASE statement, Outer join improvements, XML support, External tables, MERGE, Object improvements and expanded Java capabilities. Attendees will be better equipped to create new applications or modify existing applications to take full advantage of Oracle10g and Oracle 9i.

U11: DBA Basics for the Newer DBA

Speaker: Robert Freeman, TUSC
Focus Area: Database Administration
Expertise: Beginner
Prerequisite: Designed for the newer DBA. Little or no DBA experience is required
Abstract: This session will cover fundamental Oracle DBA topics (using 10g), and relate them to forthcoming IOUG sessions. Topics include: Oracle architecture, Creation of databases, Introducing Database Control - The DBAs friend, The Data Dictionary, starting and stopping the database, administration of users, creation and administration of database objects, basic administration tasks (e.g. basic scripts to use), basic tuning tips, Oracle database backup and recovery.

U13: The Life of an Oracle Cursor and its Impact on the Shared Pool

Speaker: Anjo Kolk, VERITAS Software
Focus Area: Application Server and Web Services
Expertise: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Some programming backgrounds and Oracle internals backgrounds
Abstract: There are many ways to interface programs to the Oracle database. Developers can choose between programming in OCI8, JDBC (thin or thick), Precompilers, etc. There has already been said a lot about the fact that cursors should be kept open or cached so they don't need to be reparsed for the next execute. However caching cursors or openen cursors have an impact on the shared pool. The caching of SQL statements increases the need of more memory in the shared pool. In this seminar we will look at the shared pool and the Oracle library cache and the way cursors are stored in shared pool and library cache. We will also look at the different Oracle APIs and init.ora parameters that affect the cursors and shared pool. This seminar should be useful for developers to understand they way they should code applications and for DBAs to better understand why certain applications always seem to have shared pool problems and what you can do to improve things.

U15: All About Rollback Segments, Automatic Undo and Flashback Query

Speaker: Kirtikumar Deshpande, Verizon
Focus Area: Database Administration
Expertise: All
Prerequisite: Oracle database concepts and database administration. Some experience with database recovery and ORA-1555 error
Abstract: The Automatic Undo Management and Flashback Query are two of the most talked about new features of Oracle9i Database. In Oracle9i, we have Undo Segments instead of Rollback Segments. In this seminar, we will discuss, in detail, why and how Oracle uses Rollback Segments, what are Undo Segments, how Oracle automatically manages Undo Segments, what is, and is not automatic about them. We will discuss the tasks that are still DBAs responsibility. You will also learn how Undo Segments attempt to minimize 'Snapshot too old' error, and the role Undo Segments play in Flashback Query. Flashback Query allows you to access data, as it existed at a point in time in the past. A demonstration will show these features in action. You will also learn how non-DBA users can use Flashback Query to recover from accidental data deletions, modifications as well as track data changes. We will also explore the pros and cons of using these features and their limitations.

U16: In-depth Guide to Native Dynamic SQL Collections and File I/O in PL/SQL

Speaker: Steven Feuerstein, Quest Software
Focus Area: Database Administration
Expertise: All
Prerequisite: A working knowledge of PL/SQL
Abstract: This half-day program will give attendees an in-depth understanding of the following key PL/SQL technologies: native dynamic SQL (including dynamic PL/SQL and method 4 dynamic SQL); collections (including multi-level collections, string-indexed lists, and the use of FORALL and BULK COLLECT to turbocharge your SQL); file I/O with UTL_FILE (with an emphasis on new Oracle9i Release 2 features). Steven will demonstrate individual features with an extensive array of sample scripts, all of which will be available to attendees for use after the class. All attendees will receive a copy of the Oracle PL/SQL Language Quick Reference, 3rd edition (O'Reilly and Associates).

U17: Managing the Next Generation Database

Speaker: George Trujillo, Trubix
Focus Area: Database Administration
Expertise: All
Prerequisite: A background in database design and experience in Oracle development and database management.
Abstract: This seminar is intended for developers, analysts, DBAs and managers who need to understand the upcoming challenges of Oracle databases in the Internet environment of today.  This seminar will focus on key technical areas that developers, DBAs and data modelers and analysis are going to have to understand to be successful in Oracle database environments.  XML is going to play a major strategic role in relational databases this year.  This presentation will discuss the key elements of XML technology and then look at the key tools Oracle has available in Oracle10g for implementing XML.