6. Final Words

6.1 Useful Software

Now that you've managed to get Oracle installed, you'll want to try and use it. Although it's possible to do everything from your server PC, it's generally best to user the client-server facilities and use another machine to access your database.

Naturally Oracle have a large collection of, largely, pretty good client software, however there's not much for Linux at this time. Of the Oracle software, I recommend getting hold of the following:

• Oracle Enterprise Manager. It's much easier not to have to remember all those obscure ALTER USER and ALTER SYSTEM commands.
• Oracle WebDB. It can be quite difficult to install, but it can allow people to build impressive web-sites without knowing any HTML.

But most of the best software comes from other places...

• Tool for Oracle Application Development (T.O.A.D.). This used to be free but is now owned by Quest Software. You can download a free version (if you're prepared to do it every couple of months) or you can pay for it. It's significantly more expensive than free but is not bad value.
• SQLNavigator. Also by Quest Software. I've not really used it but it's been highly recommended by all who have.
• Orac. A nice, configurable DBA-tool.

6.2 Useful Books

I seem to get most of my Oracle information from colleagues and books. I'm not able to give away my colleagues, but the books I recommend are as follows:

• Oracle Performance Tuning, Mark Gurry and Peter Corrigan, O'Reilly and Associates, ISBN 1-56592-237-9.
• Oracle Design, Dave Ensor and Ian Stevenson, O'Reilly and Associates, ISBN 1-56592-268-9.
• PL/SQL Programming, "PL/SQL Programming," Steven Feuerstein, O'Reilly and Associates, ISBN 1-56592-335-9.
• PL/SQL Built-in Packages, "PL/SQL Built-in Packages," Steven Feuerstein, O'Reilly and Associates, ISBN 1-56592-375-8.

You'll note a bit of an O'Reilly theme there. I've not found a bad O'Reilly book yet. Similarly, I've never found a good Oracle Press book.

6.3 Useful Internet resources

There's a lot of useful stuff on the web.

• Oracle Technet. This is Oracle's public and free support website. Lot's of very useful information there.
• Oracle Metalink. Oracle's private (you need a support contract) support website. Only slightly more useful than Technet!
• Oracle Fans. Editorials and support forums. No official connection to Oracle (so the information there is less biased!).
• OraFaq. A site full of questions and answers regarding Oracle on all platforms.
• Oracle Linux mailing list (Send a mail to ListGuru@fatcity.com with the words 'SUBSCRIBE ORACLE-LINUX-L' in the body.
• And don't forget my website!