Favorite Free Applications to Troubleshoot Visual Manufacturing and Windows – Part 10 Wireshark

2 01 2021

January 2, 2021

I have been working with Infor Visual Manufacturing ERP system for roughly 21 years now, and have been assisting users at other companies with Visual Manufacturing issues for the last 20 years. In 2019 with Yahoo announcing the eventual shut down of their Yahoo Groups platform, I worked with two other long-term members of the Visual Manufacturing VMIUGLIST and VMIUG-TEC groups on Yahoo to set up those groups on the Google Groups platform. Since the groups were set up on Google Groups, I have periodically posted technical articles of various topics to the VMIUG-TEC group to help group members solve various types problems and to take better advantage of the Visual Manufacturing package. The most recent article series describes various free operating system commands and utilities that I have used to troubleshoot various types of issues with Visual Manufacturing, Windows servers, and networks. The article that I published in the group a few days ago is titled: “How To: Favorite Free Applications to Troubleshoot Visual and Windows – Part 10 Wireshark”. Eleven years ago on this blog I posted a series of of articles titled Network Monitoring Experimentations, where I showed how to use various functionality in Wireshark. As there is a strong tie-in with that article series and the latest article that I posted to the VMIUG-TEC group, I decided to re-post the VMIUG-TEC article here (with no changes).

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This article is the tenth article in the series of articles that describe free applications and utilities for troubleshooting Visual Manufacturing problems and general Windows reliability.  There are many such applications and utilities, but this article series will cover those that I have personally found helpful over the years.  Today’s article describes Wireshark (https://www.wireshark.org/download.html ), which is a very popular network activity capture and analysis tool.  Prior to 2006 Wireshark was commonly known as Ethereal, and was renamed to Wireshark when the original developer started working for a different company in 2006.  If I recall correctly, I first started using Ethereal in either late 2001 or early 2002 while testing the effectiveness of an iptables-based Linux firewall that I built from the ground up using a Linux firewalls book and a copy of Red Hat Linux.  Since that time, Ethereal and Wireshark have quite possibly assisted me in the resolution of more computer / network problems than any other tool that I have described so far in this article series.  A few such examples (including Wireshark screen captures when possible):

  • Greatly increase the throughput of file transfers.  A scheduled file transfer from a Windows Server 2016 server to a Synology NAS over a gigabit network connection executed at an average rate of 34 MB/s as long as the server was otherwise idle.  If another scheduled file transfer, for example copying Oracle backup files to the Windows server, was also in process, both file transfers would transfer at a maximum rate of four MB/s.  If BackupExec running on another server was actively backing up files on the Windows Server 2016 server, the speed of the scheduled file transfer would drop to just four KB/s!  With the help of Wireshark problems with the network switch, network cables, and Windows server configuration with four network ports connected to the same switch (network team created with the Microsoft Network Adapter Multiplexor Driver) could be eliminated as problems, even though some unexpected behavior caused by “Large Send Offload” being enabled was found in the Wireshark’s logs.  Once the problem with the scheduled file transfer was fixed, the scheduled file transfer executed at a rate faster than 113 MB/s (close to the maximum real-world throughput for gigabit network connections) even while BackupExec was copying files from the server at a rate of about 103 MB/s.  Two actual problems were found in this case.  1) When processes (ROBOCOPY in this case, which was mentioned in part two of this article series) are run in a Windows scheduled task, those processes are given a low I/O priority (as shown in Windows Resource Monitor) and a low memory priority.  To fix that problem, I exported the Windows scheduled task to an XML file, changed the <Priority>7</Priority> value to <Priority>4</Priority>, saved the XML file, deleted the original scheduled task, and then imported the previously exported XML file.  That change prevented Windows from automatically throttling down the disk activity of the process running in the scheduled task when another process also required disk activity.  2) The ROBOCOPY command that was running in the scheduled task also required a bit of adjustment to eliminate file caching, resumable copying, and intermediate progress updates.  So, the ROBOCOPY command changed from: ROBOCOPY /MIR /R:3 /Z /XO C:\Shares\Backup Y:\Backup To: ROBOCOPY /MIR /R:3 /J /NP /XO C:\Shares\Backup Y:\Backup
  • Determine how it was possible to ping the IP address of a “transparent” firewall located between the corporate network and programmable logic controllers (PLCs), yet it was not possible to access the configuration web interface of the “transparent” firewall.  Wireshark analysis of ARP broadcast traffic found that when devices were trying to resolve the MAC address of the IP address which was assigned to the firewall, another device that was thought to be discarded a few years ago also answered the ARP requests in addition to the firewall.  Wireshark identified the MAC address of both devices using the IP address, making it possible to hunt down the rogue device.
  • Pinpoint the cause of several multi-hour network outages to an old, barely used 3COM network switch that repeatedly fell off the network and then reappeared on the network.  That switch had the spanning tree protocol enabled, as did all other managed switches, and used default settings for the spanning tree protocol (which assign the same Priority value of 32768 to all devices, causing the device with the alphabetically lowest MAC address on the network to become the Root device to which all other switches attempt to map the lowest cost communication path).  Replacing that old switch with a newer non-3COM managed switch fixed that problem without requiring any adjustment to other switches (even though another switch near the servers should have been configured as the root switch).
  • Locate apparently offline / broken security cameras operating unexpectedly in the wrong network VLAN due to an inexperienced employee unplugging network cables and then reconnecting those network cables into the wrong network switch ports.
  • Collect evidence of a PLC becoming confused due to receiving excessive ARP packets, leading to the PLC unintentionally disabling client computer access to the network virus scanner server by poisoning the MAC routing tables in network switches due to the PLC specifying an invalid corrupt Target MAC address with the virus scanner server’s IP address specified as the Target IP address in unrequested ARP response packets.
  • Discover that optimizing network performance per Microsoft’s Server 2003 documentation leads to a Nagle – Delayed ACK problem when the Windows server attempts to copy files from a Linux server that is using SAMBA (to allow Windows computers to access files stored on the Linux server).
  • Decrease the Visual Manufacturing 6.5.2 startup time from more than 10 seconds to approximately one second.  The Wireshark log indicated that a change was needed to the database specifications in the SQL.INI file (eliminate TNS: from the remotedbname= lines), and also an undocumented missing file named NetHasp.ini had to be created in the Visual EXE folder.
  • Pinpoint the source of a flood of ARP packets on the network that were causing multiple PLCs (protected behind “transparent” firewalls) to malfunction and stop responding on the network.  Wireshark showed that a single computer was repeatedly sending out ARP requests trying to sequentially resolve the MAC address of all IP addresses in multiple class C subnets (with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0, the computer would repeatedly check the first four class C subnets).  Wireshark identified the MAC address and IP address of the sender of those packets, and then either the TRACERT command or a DNS lookup was performed to determine the computer that was sending the ARP packets (if TRACERT and DNS failed to locate the name of the device, the MAC routing tables in the various managed switches would have been checked to locate the switch port into which only the sender’s MAC address is listed to pinpoint the device).  Once the computer was located, it was connected wirelessly to a cheap Linksys router (specifically bought for this purpose), along with two other computers that were running Wireshark, and then Process Monitor (described in part five of this article series) was simultaneously run on the computer to determine what malware or other software on the Lenovo laptop was flooding the network with ARP packets.  Process Monitor nicely documents when applications send information across the network, but unfortunately it does not capture ARP traffic, which operates on Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layer two ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_model ), so Process Monitor could not quickly show which process(es) on the computer was sending the large number of ARP packets.  Wireshark running on the other computers showed that when connected to the cheap router the Lenovo laptop would repeatedly send out ARP packets sequentially by IP address in the class C subnet, and if any device responded to an ARP request, that device would then be pinged on a frequent basis without the computer sending out another ARP packet for the responding IP address (at least for a period of time when the entry aged from the computer’s resolved ARP table).  While Process Monitor could not identify the process sending out ARP packets, it did identify the programs that were running / accessing ARP.EXE (which was discussed in part two of this article series – the ARP command does not send the ARP packets, but when executed will list MAC addresses that are associated with IP addresses); a process named Lenovo.Modern.ImController.PluginHost.CompanionApp.exe (the only entry with a “Process Create” operation entry) and NortonSecurity.exe as shown in the second screen capture below (the Process Monitor log file became corrupt somehow by putting the computer to sleep with that log file still loaded in the program, but fortunately I had exported the log file to a CSV file and loaded that file into Excel to search for processes accessing ARP, so a screen capture of the information from Excel is shown below).  In Process Monitor I located one of the entries for Lenovo.Modern.ImController.PluginHost.CompanionApp.exe, and double-clicked that entry – the displayed information is shown in the third screen capture below.  From the Command Line that process appeared to be related to Lenovo Wifi Security.  A bit of research indicated that the Lenovo Wifi Security software may come preinstalled on Lenovo laptops, and may not have a legitimate purpose for remaining installed on the computer.  Temporarily disabling that program on the computer eliminated the flood of ARP packets sent across the network.

Quick Overview of Wireshark Functionality

From quickly viewing the above screen captures, you may have noticed that not all screen captures show the same columns of information in the top section of the window for each captured packet.  While it may not be obvious, Wireshark allows quickly adding additional columns for each packet row simply by right-clicking an entry in the decoded packet area near the bottom of the Wireshark window, and selecting Apply as Column from the popup menu.  Once added as a column, left-clicking that column’s header permits sorting the packet rows in ascending or descending order by the values contained in the column.  The right-click menu also contains the Apply as Filter item, which may be used to restrict the packets displayed to just those packets that have a similar value for the right-clicked statistic value.

Wireshark is available pre-compiled for Windows and Mac, and the source code may be downloaded and compiled for various other operating systems; see the download link at the start of this article for access to the setup programs and/or source code.  When installing the Windows version of Wireshark, the default values suggested by the setup program are probably good enough for most purposes, although you may want to select Wireshark Desktop Icon under the Create Shortcuts heading.

After installing Wireshark, upon starting Wireshark the top-half of the Wireshark window will show previously opened or saved Wireshark captures, while the bottom-half of the window shows network activity for the various network interfaces installed in your computer.  Starting a Wireshark capture may be as simple as double-clicking one of the listed network interfaces that shows some activity in the graph to the right of the network interface name.  For the below screen capture I single-clicked the wireless network interface to indicate the connection that I would likely select to use for the packet capture.

Selecting Options… from the Capture menu also allows starting a packet capture using a specific network interface installed in your computer, and also offers the ability to enable or disable promiscuous mode network packet captures.  Normally, network interfaces will ignore all (non-broadcast) network traffic that is NOT specifically directed to the network interface’s MAC or IP address.  Enabling promiscuous mode captures allows Wireshark to also show and log those packets that are NOT specifically directed to the network interface’s MAC or IP address; note that an upstream network switch, when functioning normally, will typically filter out most network traffic that is not specifically for the network interface’s MAC and/or IP address, unless the computer’s network port in the switch is configured as a “monitor port”, in which case a copy of all traffic passing through the switch would be also sent to the device connected to that “monitor port”.  The actual availability of promiscuous mode captures on wireless networks may be dependent on the wireless card drivers installed, so it may not be possible to capture all transmitted wireless traffic using Nagios on a computer connected wirelessly through a wireless access point.

To end a Wireshark capture, select Stop from the Capture menu, or click the red square toolbar button near the left of the toolbar (the shark-fin shaped button at the far-left of the toolbar may be used to start a capture in addition to the other methods previously mentioned).  Once capturing stops, Wireshark applies the configured color rules to the packets in the top section of the window to help draw attention to entries that may be of interest.  The color-coded vertical bar at the right of the window shows color codes of packets that were captured immediately before or after the displayed packets, allowing you to quickly jump to other potentially interesting sections of the packet log by clicking an area on that vertical bar.  The bottom half of the window shows the decoded information for the selected network packet, along with the raw bytes and ASCII character representation of the selected network packet.

By right-clicking a packet, and then selecting an item from the Follow submenu it is possible to easily apply a filter to only show the packets that are directly related to the selected packet, as well as an attempted ASCII character representation of the bytes in the packets.

The screen capture below shows the result of selecting TCP Stream from the menu for the [TCP Out-Of-Order] packet – this technique might be used to view the SQL statements sent to a database server, and the results sent back from the server.  Note that tcp.stream eq 110 appears near the top-left of the window – that is the automatically created and applied filter.  To again display all captured packets, click the X button at the far right of the green filter text area:

When troubleshooting problems with the help of a Wireshark packet capture, recognizing potential problem patterns in the packet capture may be difficult.  Recognizing patterns in the packet captures is often a significant step toward finding and fixing the source of a particular problem, so learning to recognize patterns is important.  As shown in the screen captures above, Wireshark makes effective use of color coding to draw attention to certain captured packets.  Wireshark’s Expert Information option on the Analyze menu processes the current packet capture, looking for network packets of potential interest, and then groups those packets by category.  IMPORTANT: Always make certain that the packet capture is saved before using the Expert Information option, as Wireshark will sometimes silently crash when summarizing the network packets.  [Note that if Wireshark does crash before you have saved a packet capture, the packet capture might have been written to a file with a name such as “wireshark_Wi-Fi 2CLAIW0.pcapng” (where “Wi-Fi 2” is the name of the network interface that was selected for the capture, and “CLAIW0” is a randomized set of characters) in your configured temp files folder, so you may be able to recover an unsaved Wireshark capture simply by renaming and then opening that file.]  Click the right pointing arrow next to a group name to see a summary of the packets that fall into the group, and click one of those packets to scroll the main Wireshark window to that packet.

Filters

As mentioned earlier, it is possible to right-click an entry in the decoded packet information to apply a filter which then causes Wireshark to only show other captured packets that have the same decoded value.  You are also able to manually create a filter specification by typing into the textbox that is located just below the toolbar.  As you type, Wireshark will change the background color of that textbox to either red or green depending on whether or not the filter is executable, and suggestions will be offered as you type to help you complete the filter so that it may be executed.  A couple of example filters are shown below:

Find packets set to or received from the IP address 23.38.130.175 (one of the IP addresses for support.infor.com):

ip.src == 23.38.130.175 || ip.dst == 23.38.130.175

Find ARP broadcast packets that are sent by the device having the MAC address 70:b3:d5:80:61:a4 that do not have a destination MAC address of 0a:01:05:1c:d1:64:

((frame.protocols == "eth:ethertype:arp") && (eth.src == 70:b3:d5:80:61:a4)) && !(eth.dst == 0a:01:05:1c:d1:64)

Show only OSI layer 2 network packets (technically, ARP is layer 2, but this filter eliminates ARP packets):

not ip and not arp

For additional Wireshark filter examples, see the “Wireshark Tutorial: Display Filter Expressions”  article created by Brad Duncan, or review the Wireshark documentation.

Potentially Important Additional Columns

The first time Wireshark starts only a small number of columns of information will appear for each network packet.  Depending on the type of problems that you are investigating, you may need to add additional columns of information to quickly understand the reason why certain packets appear in the packet capture.  For the screen captures that follow, I selected a TCP type network packet to view the decoded information in that packet.  As mentioned previously in this article, by right-clicking information in the decoded packet, you are able to quickly add additional columns of information for each packet in the upper window area.

In the Frame section of the decoded packet, you may want to add a column for “Time delta from previous frame”.  If you are checking for performance / communication speed problems and you are able to sufficiently eliminate unrelated information from the packet capture using filters, adding this column may help you quickly zero in on sections of the communication with the longest unexpected delays as this column will show the amount of elapsed time between the packet and the displayed packet that was logged immediately before the packet.  If you are not able to filter out unrelated communication from the Wireshark output, you may want to show the “Time since previous frame in this TCP stream” (mentioned below) instead.

If you are troubleshooting packet retransmits found in the packet capture or suspected network loops, you may want to add a column for “Identification” and “Time to Live” in the Internet Protocol Version section.  Each packet sent should have a unique “Identification” value, even if the packet is intentionally retransmitted by one of the devices.  If retransmissions appear in the Wireshark capture with the same “Identification” value, that potentially indicates that a harmful network loop exists that is causing packets to be incorrectly repeated on the network.  The “Time to Live” value typically starts at either 255, 128, or 64, and is decreased by one for every router that the packet passes through.  So, if duplicate packets appear on the network with the same “Identification” value, but different “Time to Live” values, that could indicate a routing problem that is incorrectly reintroducing packets on the network after being sent through a router.

Adding columns for “Sequence Number”, “Next Sequence Number”, “Acknowledgement Number”, “Calculated window size”, and “Time since previous frame in this TCP stream” may be helpful when investigating either unexpected network slowness or retransmissions.  If a packet appears with the same “Sequence Number”, but with a different “Identification” value, that probably indicates that the sender did not receive an acknowledgement (ACK) for that packet within a certain time limit.  If a packet appears with the same “Sequence Number” and “Identification” value, that probably indicates that there is a network loop causing duplicate packets to appear on the network.  When a device sends an ACK, it actually specifies the “Next Sequence Number” that the other device may send, rather than referring to the “Sequence Number” of the received packet (for some reason I frequently forget this acknowledgement numbering approach, which is why I am mentioning it here).  The “Time since previous frame in this TCP stream” statistic indicates the amount of elapsed time that has passed since the previous packet in a specific TCP conversation.  This statistic is very helpful when it is not possible to fully filter potentially unrelated network traffic from the packet capture.  If an unexpectedly large value appears in the column when added, then the next investigative step is to check the packets that appear in the packet capture between the current packet and the previous packet in the TCP conversation to see if, for example, a DNS lookup failed, which resulted in an eventual WINS broadcast that failed.  If nothing obvious appears in the packet capture, then the problem may be application, computer, or user “think time” causing the delay.  If the “Time since previous frame in this TCP stream” statistic does not appear in the decoded packet, first verify that you have selected a TCP type packet, right-click in the decoded packet information, and select “Protocol Preferences” – “Calculate conversation timestamps” from the popup menu.

Analyzing Performance Problems with Statistics

A quick glance at the Statistics menu in Wireshark suggests that there is substantial functionality in Wireshark to help analyze various types of potential network problems.  In this article I will only scratch the surface of the items found in the Statistics menu.  Assume that I have the Visual EXE files installed locally on a computer, that computer is connected to the company network using a VPN connection over the internet, and the person using the computer would like to start Visual Manufacturing and then the Purchase Requisition Entry Visual module.  Running Visual modules over a VPN connection using this approach is not recommended as Visual modules tend to be very chatty over the network, and with relatively high latency internet connections, Visual modules may take several seconds to respond to even the simplest command.  Out of curiosity, I wondered if Wireshark could help indicate what is causing the slowness, so I created a packet capture of Visual Manufacturing starting (from a shortcut that provided the username and password), and then opening the Purchase Requisition Entry module when connected over a VPN connection.  My first thought when ending that capture was that a whole lot of network communication was captured in the 63 second log capture.

After ending the capture, I found the network packet where the client computer first connected to the database server, and clicked that packet to select it.  From the Statistics menu I selected “TCP Stream Graphs” and then “Time Sequence (Stevens)” from the submenu.  The below screen capture shows the graph that appeared, which shows the number of network packets transmitted over time.  Fast rises indicate a lot of network packets transmitted in a short period of time, while slow rises in the network packets indicate that some sort of delay was preventing continued rapid communication with the database server.

Next, from the Statistics menu I selected “Flow Graph”.  The flow graph shows a summary of the network communication that appeared in the network capture in an easily understood format by IP address, which might be helpful to determine what was happening on the network when the client’s communication with the database server slowed, as shown in the previous screen capture.  In the following screen capture I replaced the displayed IP addresses with the function of the device (ex: Visual Client, File Server, and DB Server).  As pictured, the first 1.08 seconds was spent accessing various Visual INI files stored on a server with three potentially problematic packets, there was a 0.2 second delay with no network activity, and then communication with the database server started.  By scrolling down and to the right, additional communication, potentially unrelated to the Visual startup test, is revealed.

A lot of helpful information, including sample network captures showing various types of network activity, is accessible from Wireshark’s Help menu.  Other resources that I have found useful include the following videos and reference material:

Do not expect to learn everything about Wireshark in a few hours or days.  Instead, learn the basics of using Wireshark, and learn about the more advanced functionality as needed when troubleshooting various network or performance problems.  Of course, if you prefer to binge watch instructional videos, there are a number of very good 70+ minute long videos on YouTube from previous Sharkfest conferences to enjoy.

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VMIUGLIST and VMIUG-TEC Google Groups

Access to the VMIUGLIST and VMIUG-TEC Google Groups is restricted. Anyone who is a user of Infor Visual Manufacturing, works for Infor, or works for one of the official Infor sales channel partners will be authorized to access the groups.  To keep spam under control, we ask that when requesting to join the groups, the following information is provided:

  • The Visual version you currently use.
  • The company you are working for.
  • Your company email address.
  • Your position and why you wish to join.

The new groups may be found using the following Google search page (incidentally, once you are a member of the groups, including the phrase VMIUG in a search will also allow searching for content within the groups): https://groups.google.com/forum/#!search/vmiug


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Categories : Network Monitoring

Presentation – Working with Oracle Database in VB.Net with ODP.Net and Visual API Toolkit; Enhancing Visual Manufacturing 9.0.0

7 08 2017

August 7, 2017

A few weeks ago I gave a presentation to a regional group of ERP users, some with an Oracle Database backend and some with a Microsoft SQL Server backend.  The original intention for the presentation was to demonstrate an application package that I created the previous year which maintains and manages production equipment maintenance unplanned work orders as well as preventive maintenance work orders in the Visual Manufacturing ERP system, in addition to the production work orders that the Visual Manufacturing ERP system supports out of the box.  My custom application package was created specifically to use an Oracle Database backend with ODP.Net data access using the Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 version of VB.Net (the VB.Net language is similar to C#, essentially just with slightly different grammar rules), and the application package could not be purchased by other companies.

A bit of a dilemma as I planned to show a computer package that was not only not available for commercial purchase, but also where the majority of the audience members were using a Microsoft SQL Server backend.  The version of the Visual Manufacturing ERP package (8.0.0) that was released roughly two years ago introduced a “free” database platform independent API Toolkit that may be used with Visual Studio 2010 and later to not only retrieve information from the ERP database, but also create various types of document transactions in the ERP system.  A “free” database platform independent API, ah… the perfect solution to the bit of a dilemma I had with the presentation.  I told the organizer of the regional ERP group that I could probably create a version of the preventive and unplanned maintenance package that uses the “free” database platform independent API for 99+% of its tasks, and that reproduces the core functionality of the Oracle Database specific version that I wrote a year earlier, despite the fact that a year earlier the API Toolkit was incompatible with Oracle Database due to a design flaw (triggered whenever any column in a specific database table contained more than 64 characters), and the API Toolkit documentation ranges from OK but not very useful, to incomplete and inaccurate.  My five slide presentation morphed to a lengthy presentation with nearly 90 slides, as the focus of the presentation shifted from demonstrating how I extended the capabilities of an ERP system to manage equipment maintenance tasks, to documenting how to beat persuade the “free” database platform independent API Toolkit into submission to accomplish various other tasks in addition to reproducing the core functionality of the application that I created a year ago.  I believe that as a result of my presentation the API Toolkit is now much better documented, although I did leave a few stones unturned.

The presentation and associated files may be downloaded from this link.  The Crystal Reports plugin that is used by the project is a bit difficult to find through internet searches on the manufacturer’s website, so I downloaded those files and made them available from this link.  These files are located on Google Drive, click the down pointing arrow near the top-right of the Google Drive page to download the files (see the download picture in this article for assistance).

The following is a slightly edited version of the description of the presentation that I sent to the organizer of the regional ERP group roughly a month before the meeting.

Visual Manufacturing offers many useful built-in features for manufacturing environments. One task that either is not available or is poorly implemented/integrated into Visual Manufacturing is unplanned maintenance and preventive maintenance for equipment (resources) used in the manufacturing process. As customers demand that their suppliers demonstrate the existence of formal preventive maintenance programs, there is a growing need for a robust maintenance package – and it is especially helpful if that package directly integrates with Visual Manufacturing without any extra cost add-ons. The MFC Equipment Maintenance package, which was developed internally last year to help formalize and standardize the process of equipment maintenance in an environment with 25+ maintenance workers, will be demonstrated at the next meeting. The package essentially behaves as an extension to Visual Manufacturing’s Shop Resource Maintenance module, allowing maintenance staff to quickly generate, release, and close maintenance work orders in Visual Manufacturing to meet the requirements of both unplanned maintenance as well as preventive maintenance. As the maintenance work orders are maintained in the Visual Manufacturing database, all the native Visual modules for creating labor tickets, purchasing, issuing parts to work orders, and rolling up costs for accounting work just as they do with normal production work orders.

An equipment maintenance starter package, which primarily uses the free Visual 8/9 API Toolkit to duplicate the core functionality of the MFC Equipment Maintenance package, will also be demonstrated, with the VB.Net source code provided to attendees. Additional methods to exploit the Visual 8/9 API Toolkit will also be shown, including extended examples of a tool crib self-checkout application, a fast purchase order receiving application with barcode label printing, and a few other techniques for using the Visual 8/9 API Toolkit (including handling unexpected errors) will also be shown.

Needless to say, I ended up expanding the scope of the presentation a bit, as I found that the documentation of the API Toolkit left a lot of functionality undocumented.  Demonstrating how Visual Manufacturing could be extended to manage unplanned maintenance and planned maintenance was the original intention of the presentation, but it is interesting to see how the scope expands once database independent approaches are implemented.  Below is a screen capture of one of the main windows in the MFC Equipment Maintenance application, which is used to manage the maintenance of individual pieces of equipment used in the production of customer ordered parts.  Oddly, some of the commercially available equipment maintenance packages charge unexpectedly high premiums for features such as maintaining more than two machine counters for a resource, storing basic warranty information, and integration with ERP/accounting programs.

The “starter” version of the program that I created for the presentation, which uses the API Toolkit to reproduce the core program functionality, is of course not as full featured, but allows maintaining additional information about resource IDs that are defined in Visual Manufacturing, creating and printing unplanned maintenance work orders, creating preventive maintenance templates (masters) and then applying those templates for resource IDs, and creating and printing preventive maintenance work orders.  Below is a screen capture showing the main window for the “starter” version of the program that was included with the presentation.

The bottom of the window in both cases is a HTML web page that shows recent unplanned maintenance work order history for the selected resource ID, as well as repair parts that were issued through Visual Manufacturing to those work orders.  The methods for retrieving that information from the database are a bit different when using ODP.Net compared to using the database independent methods that are exposed by the Visual API Toolkit.  Before showing those differences, however, I thought that it would be best to first potentially confuse the issue by showing five slightly different VB.Net coding syntaxes to perform essentially the same set of operations using the API Toolkit (this helps to demonstrate different coding methods used by different programmers and a potential source for confusion while referring to the documentation for the API Toolkit).  The task to be accomplished is to update an unplanned maintenance work order description, the associated maintenance operation’s estimated labor hours, and the associated description for the maintenance operation to repair the problem that is defined in the work order description.

Method 1:

objWO.Load("W", strWorkorderBaseID, strWorkorderLotID, "0")
 
For i = 0 To objWO.Tables.Count - 1
   If objWO.Tables(i).TableName = "WORKORDER_BINARY" Then
       If objWO.Tables(i).Rows.Count > 0 Then
           objWO.Tables(i).Rows(0).Item("BITS") = System.Text.Encoding.Default.GetBytes(txtFailureNote.Text)
           objWO.Tables(i).Rows(0).Item("BITS_LENGTH") = Len(txtFailureNote.Text)
           objWO.Tables(i).Rows(0).Item("TYPE") = "D"
       End If
   End If
   If objWO.Tables(i).TableName = "OPERATION" Then
       If objWO.Tables(i).Rows.Count > 0 Then
           objWO.Tables(i).Rows(0).Item("RUN") = Convert.ToDouble(txtFailureEstimatedHours.Text)
           objWO.Tables(i).Rows(0).Item("RUN_HRS") = Convert.ToDouble(txtFailureEstimatedHours.Text)
       End If
   End If
   If objWO.Tables(i).TableName = "OPERATION_BINARY" Then
       If objWO.Tables(i).Rows.Count > 0 Then
           objWO.Tables(i).Rows(0).Item("BITS") = System.Text.Encoding.Default.GetBytes(txtFailureRepair.Text)
           objWO.Tables(i).Rows(0).Item("BITS_LENGTH") = Len(txtFailureRepair.Text)
           objWO.Tables(i).Rows(0).Item("TYPE") = "D"
       End If
   End If
Next i

Method 2:

objWO.Load("W", strWorkorderBaseID, strWorkorderLotID, "0")
 
For i = 0 To objWO.Tables.Count - 1
    If objWO.Tables(i).TableName = "WORKORDER_BINARY" Then
        If objWO.Tables(i).Rows.Count > 0 Then
            objWO.Tables(i).Rows(0)("BITS") = System.Text.Encoding.Default.GetBytes(txtFailureNote.Text)
            objWO.Tables(i).Rows(0)("BITS_LENGTH") = Len(txtFailureNote.Text)
            objWO.Tables(i).Rows(0)("TYPE") = "D"
        End If
    End If
    If objWO.Tables(i).TableName = "OPERATION" Then
        If objWO.Tables(i).Rows.Count > 0 Then
            objWO.Tables(i).Rows(0)("RUN") = Convert.ToDouble(txtFailureEstimatedHours.Text)
            objWO.Tables(i).Rows(0)("RUN_HRS") = Convert.ToDouble(txtFailureEstimatedHours.Text)
        End If
    End If
    If objWO.Tables(i).TableName = "OPERATION_BINARY" Then
        If objWO.Tables(i).Rows.Count > 0 Then
            objWO.Tables(i).Rows(0)("BITS") = System.Text.Encoding.Default.GetBytes(txtFailureRepair.Text)
            objWO.Tables(i).Rows(0)("BITS_LENGTH") = Len(txtFailureRepair.Text)
            objWO.Tables(i).Rows(0)("TYPE") = "D"
        End If
    End If
Next i

Method 3:

objWO.Load("W", strWorkorderBaseID, strWorkorderLotID, "0")
 
If objWO.Tables("WORKORDER_BINARY").Rows.Count > 0 Then
    objWO.Tables("WORKORDER_BINARY").Rows(0).Item("BITS") = System.Text.Encoding.Default.GetBytes(txtFailureNote.Text)
    objWO.Tables("WORKORDER_BINARY").Rows(0).Item("BITS_LENGTH") = Len(txtFailureNote.Text)
    objWO.Tables("WORKORDER_BINARY").Rows(0).Item("TYPE") = "D"
End If
 
If objWO.Tables("OPERATION").Rows.Count > 0 Then
    objWO.Tables("OPERATION").Rows(0).Item("RUN") = Convert.ToDouble(txtFailureEstimatedHours.Text)
    objWO.Tables("OPERATION").Rows(0).Item("RUN_HRS") = Convert.ToDouble(txtFailureEstimatedHours.Text)
End If
 
If objWO.Tables("OPERATION_BINARY").Rows.Count > 0 Then
    objWO.Tables("OPERATION_BINARY").Rows(0).Item("BITS") = System.Text.Encoding.Default.GetBytes(txtFailureRepair.Text)
    objWO.Tables("OPERATION_BINARY").Rows(0).Item("BITS_LENGTH") = Len(txtFailureRepair.Text)
    objWO.Tables("OPERATION_BINARY").Rows(0).Item("TYPE") = "D"
End If

Method 4:

objWO.Load("W", strWorkorderBaseID, strWorkorderLotID, "0")
 
If objWO.Tables("WORKORDER_BINARY").Rows.Count > 0 Then
    objWO.Tables("WORKORDER_BINARY").Rows(0)("BITS") = System.Text.Encoding.Default.GetBytes(txtFailureNote.Text)
    objWO.Tables("WORKORDER_BINARY").Rows(0)("BITS_LENGTH") = Len(txtFailureNote.Text)
    objWO.Tables("WORKORDER_BINARY").Rows(0)("TYPE") = "D"
End If
 
If objWO.Tables("OPERATION").Rows.Count > 0 Then
    objWO.Tables("OPERATION").Rows(0)("RUN") = Convert.ToDouble(txtFailureEstimatedHours.Text)
    objWO.Tables("OPERATION").Rows(0)("RUN_HRS") = Convert.ToDouble(txtFailureEstimatedHours.Text)
End If
 
If objWO.Tables("OPERATION_BINARY").Rows.Count > 0 Then
    objWO.Tables("OPERATION_BINARY").Rows(0)("BITS") = System.Text.Encoding.Default.GetBytes(txtFailureRepair.Text)
    objWO.Tables("OPERATION_BINARY").Rows(0)("BITS_LENGTH") = Len(txtFailureRepair.Text)
    objWO.Tables("OPERATION_BINARY").Rows(0)("TYPE") = "D"
End If

Method 5:

Dim drRow As Lsa.Data.DataRow
 
objWO.Load("W", strWorkorderBaseID, strWorkorderLotID, "0")
 
If objWO.Tables("WORKORDER_BINARY").Rows.Count > 0 Then
    drRow = objWO.Tables("WORKORDER_BINARY").Rows(0)
    drRow("BITS") = System.Text.Encoding.Default.GetBytes(txtFailureNote.Text)
    drRow("BITS_LENGTH") = Len(txtFailureNote.Text)
    drRow("TYPE") = "D"
End If
 
If objWO.Tables("OPERATION").Rows.Count > 0 Then
    drRow = objWO.Tables("OPERATION").Rows(0)
    drRow("RUN") = Convert.ToDouble(txtFailureEstimatedHours.Text)
    drRow("RUN_HRS") = Convert.ToDouble(txtFailureEstimatedHours.Text)
End If
 
If objWO.Tables("OPERATION_BINARY").Rows.Count > 0 Then
    drRow = objWO.Tables("OPERATION_BINARY").Rows(0)
    drRow("BITS") = System.Text.Encoding.Default.GetBytes(txtFailureRepair.Text)
    drRow("BITS_LENGTH") = Len(txtFailureRepair.Text)
    drRow("TYPE") = "D"
End If

Method #5 above allows working with the API Toolkit using syntax that is somewhat similar to the syntax that is used with ODP.Net, where individual rows are processed one at a time with an OracleDataReader object, or bind variable values are specified for creating a single row with an OracleCommand object.

—

Let’s take a look at how the information at the bottom of the program’s main window is retrieved first in the application that I created last year, and then in the “starter” version that uses the API Toolkit.  In programming, it is typically best from a performance point of view to perform tasks either once or not at all (don’t perform unnecessary tasks).  As such, I tend to set up SQL statements that may be executed multiple times in various procedures in the form’s Load event.  When processing data, I try to minimize the number of executions of SQL statements sent to the database instance by carefully crafting SQL statements and then using what used to be termed as Control Break processing to act on the returned data.  This method improves performance over alternative methods, such as sending a unique SQL statement to the database instance to retrieve the list of issued part IDs for each work order row that is retrieved from the database.  I also try to use bind variables where possible to reduce the number of hard parses, and minimize the performance impact of the necessary hard parses.  At the top of the form code modules, I add the following Imports entries to make it easy to use ODP.Net for database access (note that a reference to Oracle.DataAccess.dll was also added):

Imports System.Data
Imports Oracle.DataAccess.Client
Imports Oracle.DataAccess.Types

The variable to store the reference to the SQL statement is declared in the form’s variables section near the top of the form code (immediately after the Public Class line):

Dim comRecentMaintenanceUM As OracleCommand

The connection to the Oracle Database is established in a login form, and that Oracle.DataAccess.Client.OracleConnection object (name may be shortened if the Imports entries are used) is given the name dbVMFG.  In the form’s Load procedure the SQL statement associated with the OracleCommand variable is specfied.

strSQL = "SELECT /*+ LEADING(RO) */" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " RO.ID," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " RO.FAILURE_MODE," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " RO.ENTRY_NOTE," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " RO.REPAIR_NOTE," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " RO.START_TIME," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " RO.END_TIME," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " RO.RESOURCE_IS_DOWN," & vbCrLf 'Added 6/20/2017 CH
strSQL = strSQL & " UW.WORKORDER_BASE_ID," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " UW.WORKORDER_LOT_ID," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " O.RUN_HRS," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " O.ACT_RUN_HRS," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " R.PART_ID," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " P.DESCRIPTION," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " R.CALC_QTY," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " R.ISSUED_QTY" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & "FROM" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " CUSTAPP.RESOURCE_MAINT_UM_WO UW," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " CUSTAPP.RESOURCE_OUTAGE RO," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " OPERATION O," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " REQUIREMENT R," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " PART P" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & "WHERE" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " RO.RESOURCE_ID= :1" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND RO.OUTAGE_DELETED='N'" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND RO.START_TIME>=TRUNC(SYSDATE-120)" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND RO.REPAIR_WO_TYPE=UW.WORKORDER_TYPE" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND RO.REPAIR_WO_BASE_ID=UW.WORKORDER_BASE_ID" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND RO.REPAIR_WO_LOT_ID=UW.WORKORDER_LOT_ID" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND RO.REPAIR_WO_SPLIT_ID=UW.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND UW.WORKORDER_TYPE=O.WORKORDER_TYPE" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND UW.WORKORDER_BASE_ID=O.WORKORDER_BASE_ID" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND UW.WORKORDER_LOT_ID=O.WORKORDER_LOT_ID" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND UW.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID=O.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_SUB_ID='0'" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.SEQUENCE_NO=10" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_TYPE=R.WORKORDER_TYPE(+)" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_BASE_ID=R.WORKORDER_BASE_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_LOT_ID=R.WORKORDER_LOT_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID=R.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_SUB_ID=R.WORKORDER_SUB_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.SEQUENCE_NO=R.OPERATION_SEQ_NO(+)" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " AND R.PART_ID=P.ID(+)" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & "ORDER BY" & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " RO.START_TIME DESC," & vbCrLf
strSQL = strSQL & " R.PART_ID"
 
comRecentMaintenanceUM = New OracleCommand(strSQL, dbVMFG)
comRecentMaintenanceUM.CommandType = CommandType.Text
comRecentMaintenanceUM.CommandTimeout = 30
comRecentMaintenanceUM.BindByName = False
comRecentMaintenanceUM.Parameters.Add("resource_id", OracleDbType.Varchar2, 15, "", ParameterDirection.Input)

As with the API Toolkit example code shown above, there is a slightly different syntax that may be used to set up the OracleCommand variable, a method that seems to be a little more clear because the SQL statement’s beginning and end is indented, but this formatting method is bit more difficult to adapt to C# as C# does not have an equivalent for the With syntax:

comRecentMaintenanceUM = New OracleCommand
With comRecentMaintenanceUM
    strSQL = "SELECT /*+ LEADING(RO) */" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " RO.ID," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " RO.FAILURE_MODE," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " RO.ENTRY_NOTE," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " RO.REPAIR_NOTE," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " RO.START_TIME," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " RO.END_TIME," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " RO.RESOURCE_IS_DOWN," & vbCrLf 'Added 6/20/2017 CH
    strSQL = strSQL & " UW.WORKORDER_BASE_ID," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " UW.WORKORDER_LOT_ID," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " O.RUN_HRS," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " O.ACT_RUN_HRS," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " R.PART_ID," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " P.DESCRIPTION," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " R.CALC_QTY," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " R.ISSUED_QTY" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & "FROM" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " CUSTAPP.RESOURCE_MAINT_UM_WO UW," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " CUSTAPP.RESOURCE_OUTAGE RO," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " OPERATION O," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " REQUIREMENT R," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " PART P" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & "WHERE" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " RO.RESOURCE_ID= :1" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND RO.OUTAGE_DELETED='N'" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND RO.START_TIME>=TRUNC(SYSDATE-120)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND RO.REPAIR_WO_TYPE=UW.WORKORDER_TYPE" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND RO.REPAIR_WO_BASE_ID=UW.WORKORDER_BASE_ID" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND RO.REPAIR_WO_LOT_ID=UW.WORKORDER_LOT_ID" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND RO.REPAIR_WO_SPLIT_ID=UW.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND UW.WORKORDER_TYPE=O.WORKORDER_TYPE" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND UW.WORKORDER_BASE_ID=O.WORKORDER_BASE_ID" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND UW.WORKORDER_LOT_ID=O.WORKORDER_LOT_ID" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND UW.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID=O.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_SUB_ID='0'" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.SEQUENCE_NO=10" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_TYPE=R.WORKORDER_TYPE(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_BASE_ID=R.WORKORDER_BASE_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_LOT_ID=R.WORKORDER_LOT_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID=R.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_SUB_ID=R.WORKORDER_SUB_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.SEQUENCE_NO=R.OPERATION_SEQ_NO(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND R.PART_ID=P.ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & "ORDER BY" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " RO.START_TIME DESC," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " R.PART_ID"
 
    .CommandText = strSQL
    .Connection = dbVMFG
    .CommandType = CommandType.Text
    .CommandTimeout = 30
    .BindByName = False
    .Parameters.Add("resource_id", OracleDbType.Varchar2, 15, "", ParameterDirection.Input)
End With

The procedure (actually a function) , using ODP.Net, that retrieves the recent unplanned maintenance history for a resource ID and the repair parts issued to those work orders is shown below:

Public Function RetrieveRecentMaintenance() As Boolean
    Dim strColor(4) As String
    Dim intToggle As Integer = 0
    Dim intToggle2 As Integer = 0
    Dim intColor As Integer = 0
    Dim intLastID As Integer = 0
    Dim intOffset As Integer = 0
    Dim snpData As OracleDataReader
    Dim sbHTML As StringBuilder = New StringBuilder()

    comRecentMaintenanceUM.Parameters("resource_id").Value = cboResourceID.Text

    strColor(0) = "bgcolor=#ffffff"
    strColor(1) = "bgcolor=#eeeeee"
    strColor(2) = "bgcolor=#ddddff"
    strColor(3) = "bgcolor=#ededff"

    sbHTML.Append("<HTML>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("<head>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("<title>Recent Maintenance for Resource</title>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("<style>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("<!--" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("table { font-size: 8pt; font-family: Arial }" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("-->" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("</style>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("</head>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("<body>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("<table width=100% border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("<tr bgcolor=#8080FF>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("<td align=""center"">Failure Mode</td>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("<td>Start Time</td>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("<td>End Time</td>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("<td>Description of Problem</td>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("<td>Repair Procedure</td>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("<td>Est Hrs</td>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("<td>Act Hrs</td>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("<td>Repair WO</td>" & vbCrLf)
    sbHTML.Append("</tr>" & vbCrLf)
 
    Try
        snpData = comRecentMaintenanceUM.ExecuteReader
        If snpData.IsClosed = False Then
            snpData.FetchSize = comRecentMaintenanceUM.RowSize * 1000
            Do While (snpData.Read())
                If intLastID <> snpData("id") Then
                    'New unplanned maintenance
                    intToggle = 1 - intToggle
                
                    intLastID = snpData("id")
                    'Output the row
                    sbHTML.Append("<tr " & strColor(intToggle) & ">" & vbCrLf)
                    sbHTML.Append("<td>" & snpData("failure_mode") & "</td>" & vbCrLf)
                    If Not (IsDBNull(snpData("start_time"))) Then
                        If Not (IsDBNull(snpData("end_time"))) Then
                            sbHTML.Append("<td>" & Convert.ToDateTime(snpData("start_time")).ToString("g") & "</td>" & vbCrLf)
                            sbHTML.Append("<td>" & Convert.ToDateTime(snpData("end_time")).ToString("g") & "</td>" & vbCrLf)
                        Else
                            sbHTML.Append("<td bgcolor=#ff0000>" & Convert.ToDateTime(snpData("start_time")).ToString("g") & "</td>" & vbCrLf)
                            sbHTML.Append("<td bgcolor=#ff0000>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf)
                        End If
                    Else
                        sbHTML.Append("<td bgcolor=#eeeeee>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf)
                        sbHTML.Append("<td bgcolor=#eeeeee>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf)
                    End If
                    If Not (IsDBNull(snpData("entry_note"))) Then
                        sbHTML.Append("<td>" & snpData("entry_note") & "</td>" & vbCrLf)
                    Else
                        sbHTML.Append("<td>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf)
                    End If
                    If Not (IsDBNull(snpData("repair_note"))) Then
                        sbHTML.Append("<td>" & snpData("repair_note") & "</td>" & vbCrLf)
                    Else
                        sbHTML.Append("<td>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf)
                    End If
                    If Not (IsDBNull(snpData("run_hrs"))) Then
                        sbHTML.Append("<td align=""right"">" & Format(snpData("run_hrs"), "#,##0.00") & "</td>" & vbCrLf)
                    Else
                        sbHTML.Append("<td align=""right"">0.00</td>" & vbCrLf)
                    End If
                    If Not (IsDBNull(snpData("act_run_hrs"))) Then
                        sbHTML.Append("<td align=""right"">" & Format(snpData("act_run_hrs"), "#,##0.00") & "</td>" & vbCrLf)
                    Else
                        sbHTML.Append("<td align=""right"">0.00</td>" & vbCrLf)
                    End If
                    If snpData("resource_is_down") = "Y" Then
                        sbHTML.Append("<td bgcolor=#bb1100>" & snpData("workorder_base_id") & "/" & snpData("workorder_lot_id") & "</td>" & vbCrLf)
                    Else
                        sbHTML.Append("<td bgcolor=#dddd00>" & snpData("workorder_base_id") & "/" & snpData("workorder_lot_id") & "</td>" & vbCrLf)
                    End If
                    sbHTML.Append("</tr>" & vbCrLf)
                End If
                
                If Not (IsDBNull(snpData("calc_qty"))) Then
                    intToggle2 = 1 - intToggle2
                    'Output a part row
                    sbHTML.Append("<tr " & strColor(intToggle2 + 2) & ">" & vbCrLf)
                    sbHTML.Append("<td>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf)
                    sbHTML.Append("<td>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf)
                    sbHTML.Append("<td>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf)
                    
                    If Not (IsDBNull(snpData("part_id"))) Then
                        If Not (IsDBNull(snpData("description"))) Then
                        sbHTML.Append("<td>" & snpData("part_id") & " - " & snpData("description") & "</td>" & vbCrLf)
                    Else
                        sbHTML.Append("<td>" & snpData("part_id") & " - </td>" & vbCrLf)
                    End If
                Else
                    sbHTML.Append("<td>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf)
                End If

                sbHTML.Append("<td align=""right"">Est Qty, Issued Qty:</td>" & vbCrLf)
                If Not (IsDBNull(snpData("calc_qty"))) Then
                    sbHTML.Append("<td align=""right"">" & Format(snpData("calc_qty"), "#,##0.00") & "</td>" & vbCrLf)
                Else
                    sbHTML.Append("<td align=""right"">0.00</td>" & vbCrLf)
                End If
                If Not (IsDBNull(snpData("issued_qty"))) Then
                    sbHTML.Append("<td align=""right"">" & Format(snpData("issued_qty"), "#,##0.00") & "</td>" & vbCrLf)
                Else
                    sbHTML.Append("<td align=""right"">0.00</td>" & vbCrLf)
                End If
                sbHTML.Append("<td>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf)
                sbHTML.Append("</tr>" & vbCrLf)
            End If
        Loop
        sbHTML.Append("</table>" & vbCrLf)
        snpData.Close()
    End If
Catch ex As Exception

End Try

sbHTML.Append("</body></html>")
wbRecentMaintenanceHistory.DocumentText = sbHTML.ToString()

RetrieveRecentMaintenance = True
sbHTML = Nothing
End Function

Using the database platform independent API Toolkit, rather than ODP.Net, forces changes to the code as the GeneralQuery object is very picky about the contents and syntax of SQL statements that are submitted.  Additionally, I tried to use fewer custom tables to store the information in the sample project that I included with the presentation than I did with the application that I created last year.  Also, in this version of the procedure for the “starter” application, I did not use a StringBuilder variable, but instead a normal String variable, so the display speed related to building the HTML code will be a bit slower than it would be otherwise.  To reduce potential confusion for people reviewing the code, I put the SQL statement directly into the function, rather than in the form’s Load procedure:

Public Function RetrieveRecentMaintenance() As Boolean
    Dim i As Integer
    Dim intToggle As Integer = 0
    Dim intToggle2 As Integer = 0
    Dim intColor As Integer = 0
    Dim intOffset As Integer = 0
    Dim strLastID As String = ""
    Dim strSQL As String = ""
    Dim strHTML As String = ""
    Dim strColor(4) As String
    Dim gqResource As Lsa.Shared.GeneralQuery
    Dim drRow As Lsa.Data.DataRow
 
    gqResource = New Lsa.Shared.GeneralQuery(strMDatabase)
 
    strSQL = "SELECT" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " WO.BASE_ID AS WORKORDER_BASE_ID," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " WO.LOT_ID AS WORKORDER_LOT_ID," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " WO.USER_6 AS START_TIME," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " WO.USER_7 AS END_TIME," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " WO.USER_8 AS FAILURE_MODE," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " WO.USER_9 AS REPORTED_BY," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " WO.USER_10 AS RESOURCE_ID," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " WB.BITS AS ENTRY_NOTE," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " OB.BITS AS REPAIR_NOTE," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " O.RUN_HRS," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " O.ACT_RUN_HRS," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " R.PART_ID," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " P.DESCRIPTION," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " R.CALC_QTY," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " R.ISSUED_QTY" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & "FROM" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " VMFG.WORK_ORDER WO," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " VMFG.WORKORDER_BINARY WB," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " VMFG.OPERATION O," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " VMFG.OPERATION_BINARY OB," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " VMFG.REQUIREMENT R," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " VMFG.PART P" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & "WHERE" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " WO.TYPE='W'" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND WO.BASE_ID LIKE ?" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND WO.SPLIT_ID='0'" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND WO.SUB_ID='0'" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND WO.STATUS IN ('U','F','R','C')" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND WO.CREATE_DATE>= ?" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND WO.TYPE=O.WORKORDER_TYPE" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND WO.BASE_ID=O.WORKORDER_BASE_ID" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND WO.LOT_ID=O.WORKORDER_LOT_ID" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND WO.SPLIT_ID=O.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_SUB_ID='0'" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.SEQUENCE_NO=10" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_TYPE=R.WORKORDER_TYPE(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_BASE_ID=R.WORKORDER_BASE_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_LOT_ID=R.WORKORDER_LOT_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID=R.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_SUB_ID=R.WORKORDER_SUB_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.SEQUENCE_NO=R.OPERATION_SEQ_NO(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND R.PART_ID=P.ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND WB.TYPE(+) ='D'" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND WO.TYPE=WB.WORKORDER_TYPE(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND WO.BASE_ID=WB.WORKORDER_BASE_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND WO.LOT_ID=WB.WORKORDER_LOT_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND WO.SPLIT_ID=WB.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND WO.SUB_ID=WB.WORKORDER_SUB_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_TYPE=OB.WORKORDER_TYPE(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_BASE_ID=OB.WORKORDER_BASE_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_LOT_ID=OB.WORKORDER_LOT_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID=OB.WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.WORKORDER_SUB_ID=OB.WORKORDER_SUB_ID(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND O.SEQUENCE_NO=OB.SEQUENCE_NO(+)" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " AND OB.TYPE(+) ='D'"
    strSQL = strSQL & "ORDER BY" & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " WO.CREATE_DATE DESC," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " WO.USER_6 DESC," & vbCrLf
    strSQL = strSQL & " R.PART_ID"
 
    gqResource.Prepare("-", strSQL)
    'gqResource.Parameters(0) = "EMUM-" & cboResourceID.Text & "-____" 'Begins with EMUM- and ends with -YYYY
    gqResource.Parameters(0) = "EMUM-" & cboResourceID.Text & "-%" 'Begins with EMUM- and ends with -YYYY or -YY
    gqResource.Parameters(1) = DateAdd(DateInterval.Day, -120, Date.Today)
 
    strColor(0) = "bgcolor=#ffffff"
    strColor(1) = "bgcolor=#eeeeee"
    strColor(2) = "bgcolor=#ddddff"
    strColor(3) = "bgcolor=#ededff"
 
    strHTML = "<HTML>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "<head>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "<title>Recent Maintenance for Resource</title>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "<style>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "<!--" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "table { font-size: 8pt; font-family: Arial }" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "-->" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "</style>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "</head>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "<body>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "<table width=100% border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "<tr bgcolor=#8080FF>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "<td align=""center"">Failure Mode</td>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "<td>Start Time</td>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "<td>End Time</td>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "<td>Description of Problem</td>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "<td>Repair Procedure</td>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "<td>Est Hrs</td>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "<td>Act Hrs</td>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "<td>Repair WO</td>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "</tr>" & vbCrLf
 
    Try
        gqResource.Execute()
    
        If (gqResource.Tables(0).Rows.Count > 0) Then
            For i = 0 To gqResource.Tables(0).Rows.Count - 1
                drRow = gqResource.Tables(0).Rows(i)
                If strLastID <> (drRow("workorder_base_id") & drRow("workorder_lot_id")) Then
                    'New unplanned maintenance
                    intToggle = 1 - intToggle
               
                    strLastID = drRow("workorder_base_id") & drRow("workorder_lot_id")
                    'Output the row
                    strHTML = strHTML & "<tr " & strColor(intToggle) & ">" & vbCrLf
                    strHTML = strHTML & "<td>" & drRow("failure_mode") & "</td>" & vbCrLf
                    If Not (IsDBNull(drRow("start_time"))) Then
                        If Not (IsDBNull(drRow("end_time"))) Then
                            strHTML = strHTML & "<td>" & drRow("start_time") & "</td>" & vbCrLf
                            strHTML = strHTML & "<td>" & drRow("end_time") & "</td>" & vbCrLf
                        Else
                            strHTML = strHTML & "<td bgcolor=#ff0000>" & drRow("start_time") & "</td>" & vbCrLf
                            strHTML = strHTML & "<td bgcolor=#ff0000>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf
                        End If
                    Else
                        strHTML = strHTML & "<td bgcolor=#eeeeee>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf
                        strHTML = strHTML & "<td bgcolor=#eeeeee>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf
                    End If
                    If Not (IsDBNull(drRow("entry_note"))) Then
                        strHTML = strHTML & "<td>" & System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(drRow("entry_note")) & "</td>" & vbCrLf
                    Else
                        strHTML = strHTML & "<td>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf
                    End If
                    If Not (IsDBNull(drRow("repair_note"))) Then
                        strHTML = strHTML & "<td>" & System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(drRow("repair_note")) & "</td>" & vbCrLf
                    Else
                        strHTML = strHTML & "<td>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf
                    End If
                    If Not (IsDBNull(drRow("run_hrs"))) Then
                        strHTML = strHTML & "<td align=""right"">" & Format(drRow("run_hrs"), "#,##0.00") & "</td>" & vbCrLf
                    Else
                        strHTML = strHTML & "<td align=""right"">0.00</td>" & vbCrLf
                    End If
                    If Not (IsDBNull(drRow("act_run_hrs"))) Then
                        strHTML = strHTML & "<td align=""right"">" & Format(drRow("act_run_hrs"), "#,##0.00") & "</td>" & vbCrLf
                    Else
                        strHTML = strHTML & "<td align=""right"">0.00</td>" & vbCrLf
                    End If
                    strHTML = strHTML & "<td>" & drRow("workorder_base_id") & "/" & drRow("workorder_lot_id") & "</td>" & vbCrLf
                    strHTML = strHTML & "</tr>" & vbCrLf
                End If
 
                If Not (IsDBNull(drRow("calc_qty"))) Then
                    intToggle2 = 1 - intToggle2
                    'Output a part row
                    strHTML = strHTML & "<tr " & strColor(intToggle2 + 2) & ">" & vbCrLf
                    strHTML = strHTML & "<td>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf
                    strHTML = strHTML & "<td>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf
                    strHTML = strHTML & "<td>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf
                    If Not (IsDBNull(drRow("part_id"))) Then
                        If Not (IsDBNull(drRow("description"))) Then
                            strHTML = strHTML & "<td>" & drRow("part_id") & " - " & drRow("description") & "</td>" & vbCrLf
                        Else
                            strHTML = strHTML & "<td>" & drRow("part_id") & " - </td>" & vbCrLf
                        End If
                    Else
                        strHTML = strHTML & "<td>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf
                    End If
  
                    strHTML = strHTML & "<td align=""right"">Est Qty, Issued Qty:</td>" & vbCrLf
                    If Not (IsDBNull(drRow("calc_qty"))) Then
                        strHTML = strHTML & "<td align=""right"">" & Format(drRow("calc_qty"), "#,##0.00") & "</td>" & vbCrLf
                    Else
                        strHTML = strHTML & "<td align=""right"">0.00</td>" & vbCrLf
                    End If
                    If Not (IsDBNull(drRow("issued_qty"))) Then
                        strHTML = strHTML & "<td align=""right"">" & Format(drRow("issued_qty"), "#,##0.00") & "</td>" & vbCrLf
                    Else
                        strHTML = strHTML & "<td align=""right"">0.00</td>" & vbCrLf
                    End If
                    strHTML = strHTML & "<td>&nbsp;</td>" & vbCrLf
                    strHTML = strHTML & "</tr>" & vbCrLf
                End If
            Next i
        End If 'If (gqResource.Tables(0).Rows.Count > 0)
    Catch ex As Exception
 
    End Try
    strHTML = strHTML & "</table>" & vbCrLf
    strHTML = strHTML & "</body></html>"
  
    wbRecentMaintenanceHistory.DocumentText = strHTML
 
    RetrieveRecentMaintenance = True
    gqResource.Dispose()
End Function

The presentation slides and support documents, of course, dive into greater detail about how the sample application works.

The presentation topics extended beyond merely reproducing the core functionality of the equipment maintenance application that I created a year ago, taking a deep dive into the undocumented areas of the API Toolkit.  Below are a few screen captures from the presentation, demonstrating various capabilities of the Visual API Toolkit (click the pictures for a larger view).  The top section of the API Toolkit Demo window shows how to connect to the Visual Manufacturing database using three different methods, as well as how to retrieve basic information from the API Toolkit.  The first tab (top-left in the below picture) shows how to create and copy Visual Manufacturing work orders using the API Toolkit for equipment maintenance type tasks (procedures may be generalized for working with normal production work orders).  The second tab (top-right in the below picture) shows how to perform various transactions in Visual Manufacturing using the API Toolkit.

The Toolkit functionality is divided into seven categories.  The first of those categories, Financials (bottom-left in the below picture), allows working with standard financials accounts payable and receivable type documents.  Clicking one of the Load buttons generally retrieves a single document from the database, and displays the header information for that document in the table at the bottom-left of the application window.  Documents tend to contain more than one result table (child tables), so the bottom-right of the API Toolkit Demo window contains a grid that shows all of the retrieved table names, column names, column data types, whether or not the column permits NULL values, and whether or not the column is provided a default value if one is not provided in your application code – the standard documentation for the most part excludes this type of helpful information.  The various Browse buttons potentially retrieve all of the related document headers and the specified columns without retrieving any sub-tables.  The second category, Inventory (bottom-right), allows working with part IDs and creating inventory transactions in Visual Manufacturing.

The third category, Purchasing (top-left in the below picture) allows working with purchase orders and receiving purchased items into inventory.  The fourth category, Sales (top-left in the below picture) allows working with customer orders and related types of documents.  The fifth category, Shared (bottom-left in the below picture) is more or less a catch-all for maintaining various types of lists in the database, such as employees, product codes, and commodity codes.  The sixth category, ShopFloor (bottom-right in the below picture) is used to manage work orders, create labor tickets for those work orders, and manage the resource IDs.

The final category, Trace (not pictured), is rather limited, and is used to maintain or review part trace (such as mill heat code) information.  Whenever a Browse button is clicked in the API Toolkit Demo main window, the demo application uses Reflection to obtain additional (otherwise unpublished) information about the selected API Toolkit item, retrieving all of the item’s methods (functions) and calling parameter types – this information is displayed in a secondary popup window.  For those methods that return DataRow objects, the bottom section of the window shows the various columns found in the DataRow, as well as their data types and default value, and sample VB.Net code to set the value for the table column.

Scrolling the top half of the window down shows that the demo program also attempts to retrieve the actual parent, child, and grandchild database table names from the API Toolkit, along with the key columns that are used for joining those tables:

Information from the popup window may be sent into Microsoft Excel by clicking the Excel icon, with the program providing additional VB.Net compatible code usage examples, thus allowing rapid use of unfamiliar portions of the API Toolkit.  The top half of the popup window is shown on the Calling Code tab in the Excel spreadsheet:

The bottom half of the window is transferred to the second tab, Method Columns, of the generated spreadsheet:

The below pictures show slides from the presentation that show the other example applications that were included in the API Toolkit Demo application.  The first picture shows an attempt to adapt a barcode labor collection application to use the API Toolkit to create and edit labor tickets – the example was implemented with mixed results, as indicated on the slide:

The next two slides show the Simplified Receiving application in use, receiving purchase items into Visual’s inventory using the API Toolkit:

The last three slides show a tool crib self-checkout application that translates standardizes UPC barcode labels into their corresponding Visual Manufacturing part IDs, and if the employee using the application has an in-process labor ticket, that work order’s information is retrieved automatically when the employee’s ID number is entered:

While there is not much Oracle Database specific content in the presentation, it is somewhat interesting to see the lengths that I had to go through to use a database agnostic API to perform various tasks in the database.  Some of those tasks would have been much easier and faster to implement using pure Oracle methods, but given that the majority of the audience used SQL Server and not Oracle Database and the fact that the API Toolkit was previously poorly documented (despite having hundreds of pages of documentation), the two month development time for the presentation was likely time well spent.


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Categories : VB.Net

Huge Presentation – Working with Oracle Database in C#, VBScript, and Excel; Enhancing Visual Manufacturing 8.0.0

2 11 2016

November 2, 2016

In late September 2016 I gave a somewhat long presentation that lasted roughly four and a half hours.  Surprisingly, the only glitch that I encountered during the live demonstration portion of the presentation was due to an apparent bug, at least in Excel 2010, that causes long object names (specifically checkbox names on the YearEnd tab) to be discarded when the .XLSX file format is used rather than the .XLS file format.  This Huge Presentation required roughly two months to put together, and half of that time was spent updating the contents of a presentation that I originally gave in 2009 that originally required three months to assemble.  I initially used Windows 10 and Excel 2016 for most of the updates, and then found significant compatibility problems when trying to test the live demonstration portion of the presentation with Windows 7 and Excel 2010… so, I spent literally days fixing the presentation contents so that Windows 7 and Excel 2010 were supported again.

As far as I am aware, the live presentation was not recorded.  However, I managed to sneak out a copy of the slide deck of the presentation (210+ slides, most with an extensive Notes section); the full source code of the examples – some of which were written in C#, Visual Basic 6.0, VBScript, Excel macro language, or the macro language used by Visual Manufacturing; and more.  The presentation and support files that I created as part of the presentation may be downloaded from Google Drive at this link.  The Crystal Reports free runtime support files, which are required to create PDF versions of Crystal Report files from a VBScript, and within the C# IIS example project, may be downloaded from Google Drive at this link. On the Google Drive site, click the Download button to save the Visual8MacrosAndExcel.zip file to your computer.  Once the download completes, extract the contents of that file to a new C:\Visual8MacrosAndExcel folder in the root of the C:\ drive (some of the examples specifically refer to this folder name – adjust the examples as necessary if you extract the files to a different location).  Some of the examples may also require a C:\Visual folder to be created.

presentation-download

So, what is in the presentation and support files?  A huge collection of programming examples that are usable essentially out of the box for people using Infor’s Visual Manufacturing 8.0.0 with an Oracle Database backend.

  • For people using older versions of Visual Manufacturing with an Oracle Database backend, take a look at the 2009 version of the presentation which may be downloaded from the VMIUG-TEC Yahoo group’s files area.
  • For people using Visual Manufacturing 8.0.0 with a SQL Server backend, all I can say is good luck with converting the code examples – a few people have successfully converted a handful of the examples.
  • For people who have no experience with Visual Manufacturing, but are interested in programming against an Oracle Database backend, the examples in the presentation could be very helpful.
  • For people who are bored, just want to listen to roughly 4.5 hours of computer generated speech (likely sounds best on Windows 10), or suffering from severe sleep insomnia, download the presentation and click the Read to Me button on every slide in the presentation.

So, what is in the presentation?  A partial list:

  • 135+ VBScript or Visual Manufacturing macros.
  • At least 13 custom helper EXE or DLL files, including a few to help specifically with minor cases of sleep insomnia, that may be used within VBScript, Excel macros, and other programs.  There is even a custom helper that allows inserting a web page into just about any program window.
  • C# ASP.Net (IIS) project that allows selecting data from the database based on date ranges or other criteria, with the results returned to the client in web pages using HTML tables (Repeater control or the “hard way” with HTML table code created manually), or potentially sent to Microsoft Excel or PDF files (with Crystal Report files as the report source).
  • Potential solutions for various problems encountered when trying to use the C# project with IIS.
  • Visual Manufacturing 8.0.0 “macro encyclopedia” – listing/detailing essentially every macro variable that is available in Visual Manufacturing 8.0.0.
  • Executing Microsoft Excel macros, Excel functions, and using Excel user forms from within a VBScript or Visual Manufacturing macro.
  • Printing a label to a Zebra printer that supports the ZPL language using a VBScipt file with the help of an Excel macro.
  • Generating multiple Microsoft Outlook emails from a VBScript file that accesses an Oracle Database.
  • Determining if the person logged into the computer is a member of an Active Directory group within a VBScript or Visual macro so that an action may be allowed or denied.
  • Basics of writing SQL statements.
  • Enabling the Developer/macro functionality in Microsoft Excel 2016.
  • Methods of retrieving and using Oracle Database data in Microsoft Excel, and potentially pushing data back into the database.
  • Executing Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) calls in Microsoft Excel against the local computer and/or other computers in the Active Directory domain.  For domain administrators, for example, this functionality would permit retrieving a list of every running process on every computer in the domain, and then selectively killing specific processes running on a specific remote computer (or starting a process on that remote computer).
  • Extracting most or all of the icons that are built into Microsoft Excel.

If you find the presentation or the support files helpful, feel free to leave a comment.  If you need assistance with some of the examples, I will do what I can to help as time permits.  If you need help converting the examples to work with a SQL Server backend… you are on the wrong blog – I cannot help with that conversion.

(Updated with a few pictures from the presentation slides November 3, 2016):

C# ASP.Net Project:

part-search-in-edge

Part Search page running in the Edge browser in Windows 10

Part Search in Visual.png

Part Search page running in the Visual Manufacturing banner – top half of output

 

part-search-in-visual2

Part Search page running in the Visual Manufacturing banner – bottom half of output

 

VMBrowse in Visual.png

VMBrowse page in the Visual Manufacturing banner – Part Browsing

 

VMBrowse in Visual2.png

VMBrowse page in the Visual Manufacturing banner – Work Order Browsing

 

Labor Search in Manufacturing Window.png

Labor Ticket search page embedded into the Manufacturing Window

 

Excel Sample Project:

windows-management-instrumentation-in-excel

Windows Management Instrumentation control panel in Excel

 

Extract Excel Icons.png

Extract Excel’s built-in icons

 

resource-check-in-excel

Resource Check – a very light-weight version of Nagios

 

Resource Check in Excel2.png

Resource Check – graphical view, red shows down status

 

exploded-structure-viewer-in-excel

Exploded Structure Viewer

 

exploring-foreign-keys-query-of-excel

Showing database table relationships using defined foreign keys – Querying Excel

 

material-planning-in-excel

Material Planning in Excel

 

material-planning-in-excel2

Multi-level Material Planning review in Excel

 

shop-order-drill-down-in-excel

Multi-level cost analysis in Excel

 

 


Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : C#, Excel, VBS

Programming for Style and Beautiful Black Boxes – is Fast Performance an Afterthought?

24 06 2016

June 24, 2016

I have been working with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system platform for a bit over 16 years.  Through various methods of observation, including the use of 10046 extended Oracle SQL traces, Process Monitor traces, Wireshark traces, and just general observation of the various components of the ERP system, I noticed a strong emphasis on code modularization.  In some cases, excessive modularization that causes interesting patterns to appear in Oracle SQL traces and Process Monitor traces.  For example, a Process Monitor trace might show repeated patterns: access to the same Windows registry entries, followed by file path searches to access the same set of files, followed by communication with the Oracle Database server, followed by accesses to additional Windows registry entries, and additional files – this sequence of events might repeat hundreds, thousands, or millions of times as if the program were executing in a tight loop.

I am currently in the role of a senior developer, with opportunities for Oracle DBA work, direct support of the same ERP system, Citrix Server support, and whatever else requires attention from a software perspective (plus I have the opportunity to work with a great team of fellow IT people and dabble a bit with the hardware side as well).  This transition took place a couple of months ago, right around the time of one of my previous blog posts.  I have written a couple of interesting programs in the last couple of months, including a system for the Maintenance department to use to track planned and unplanned equipment maintenance, tightly integrating into the ERP system.  I have also spent some time reviewing the programming source code and modifying programs written by a fairly well known consulting firm that specializes in writing custom software for the ERP system.

The developer of those programs was brilliant in his programming style – so brilliant, that as a mere senior developer I have difficulty tracking some of his programs’ execution from one black box procedure to another, with some variables being passed by memory address location and modified in the second black box, and other variables packaged into a new variable as comma delimited lists that are then passed into the second black box.  The second black box may call a third black box that separates the comma delimited list passed in by the first black box.  The second black box, now having the de-delimited list of variables, may then pass a SQL statement to another black box to retrieve a value from the database, and then call that same black box again to retrieve another value from the same table row in the database.  This programmer was brilliant, burying some important code three, four, five, or six black box levels deep, far beyond my capability as an outside developer to track the program execution (at least without instrumenting the code to write to a log file, indicating I am now in black box ABCD, I received values “M,N,O,P,Q” and translated that into R=M, S=O, T=P, U=Q, and am preparing to execute black box EFGH passing in variables J, K, and L).  It is a brilliant design, until someone has to debug the execution.  Why did this label print claiming that there were 50 parts in this weighed parts bin, when the parts bin next to it from the previous work order lot, filled to about the same level with the same type of part, has a label indicating that its part bin contained 390 parts?  (This is an actual problem that I investigated in the last week – buried deeply in the black box design I found the culprit, a SQL statement with ROWNUM in the WHERE clause where the SQL statement also contained an ORDER BY clause.)

While debugging another programming project written by the same consulting firm, I found an interesting example of brilliant programming style and crafting black boxes that left me wondering, is brilliant programming style and crafting black boxes more important than application performance?  Is not inefficiencies in application performance a bug?

I stumbled across a short code block in the other programming project that was retrieving information from an Oracle database.  As an outsider, I thought that roughly 21.5 seconds was an excessive amount of time for this short code block to execute, retrieving information about 3,083 objects in a database table and populating a treeview control in the user interface.  Here is the VB.Net code that I found:

    Private Sub TubsToolStripMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles TubsToolStripMenuItem.Click
        Try
            Dim i As Integer
            Dim strSQL As String, rs As ADODB.Recordset, rs2 As ADODB.Recordset
            Dim Anchor As Point = New Point(0, MenuStrip1.Height)

            Dim rsTub As Data.DataTable
            Dim dt As Data.DataRow
            Dim OldCursor As Windows.Forms.Cursor
            OldCursor = Windows.Forms.Cursor.Current
            Windows.Forms.Cursor.Current = Windows.Forms.Cursors.WaitCursor
            Label1.Visible = False
            Label2.Visible = False
            DataGridView1.Visible = False
            DataGridView2.Visible = False
            Button1.Visible = False
            Button3.Visible = False
            btnAddNew.Visible = False
            '
            '   Display the information for all the tubs.
            '
            tv1.BeginUpdate()
            tv1.Nodes.Clear()

            '
            '   Add the root level node.
            '
            tv1.Nodes.Add("Tubs")

            '
            '   Get the information from the database.
            '

            strSQL = "Select Distinct TubID from MTS_TubAttributes"
            rs = DBSelect(strSQL)
            '
            '   Add this information to rsTub.
            '
            rsTub = New Data.DataTable
            rsTub.Columns.Add("TUBID", Type.GetType("System.String"))
            rsTub.Columns.Add("TUB", Type.GetType("System.Int32"))

            While Not rs.EOF
                dt = rsTub.NewRow
                dt("TUBID") = rs("TubID").Value
                dt("TUB") = CDbl(rs("TubID").Value)
                rsTub.Rows.Add(dt)
                rs.MoveNext()
            End While
            Call SafeRSCloseAndClean(rs)
            '
            '   Done with that, sort the tubs by tub
            '

            Dim strExpr As String
            Dim strSort As String
            strExpr = "TubID IS NOT NULL"
            ' Sort descending by column named CompanyName.
            strSort = "Tub ASC"
            Dim foundRows() As DataRow
            ' Use the Select method to find all rows matching the filter.
            foundRows = rsTub.Select(strExpr, strSort)
            For i = 0 To foundRows.GetUpperBound(0)
                tv1.Nodes(0).Nodes.Add(foundRows(i).Item("TubID"))
                '
                '   Add the details.
                '
                strSQL = "Select * from MTS_TubAttributes Where TubID = '" & foundRows(i).Item("tubID") & "' Order By AttributeID"
                rs2 = DBSelect(strSQL)
                While Not rs2.EOF
                    tv1.Nodes(0).Nodes(i).Nodes.Add(rs2("AttributeID").Value & " - " & rs2("AttributeValue").Value)
                    rs2.MoveNext()
                End While
                Call SafeRSCloseAndClean(rs2)
            Next
            foundRows = Nothing
            rsTub.Dispose()
            tv1.EndUpdate()
            MakeTV_Visible()
            Windows.Forms.Cursor.Current = OldCursor
        Catch ex As Exception
            Call LogError("TubsMenuItem", Err.Number, Err.Description)
        End Try
    End Sub

Is that brilliant style with beautiful black boxes?

  1. Create a SQL statement to select a distinct list of TUBID objects from the MTS_TUBATTRIBUTES table
  2. Pass that SQL statement to a black box to retrieve a recordset from the database
  3. Manipulate the results into a sorted list
  4. Loop through the sorted list building SQL statements (with literals rather than bind variables) to retrieve the attributes rows that describe the TUBID from the same MTS_TUBATTRIBUTES table
  5. Pass the generated SQL statement to a black box to retrieve a second recordset from the database
  6. Create the treeview control nodes from the second recordset rows.
  7. Close the second recordset by passing it to another black box.
  8. Jump back to step 4 another 3,082 times.

Now imagine, instead of the program running on a computer that is on the same local network as the database server (with a typical ping time of less that 0.001 seconds), what would happen if this program were run on a computer that has a WAN connection to the database server (let’s assume a 0.060 second, or 60ms typical ping time).  In a best case scenario (which is not possible), just sending the 3,083 distinct SQL statements to the database to be parsed (without waiting for a recordset to be returned) will waste at least 185 seconds (3,083 * 0.060 = 184.98), even if it takes the Oracle Database server 0.000000 seconds to hard parse each of the 3,083 unique SQL statements.  That is a fantastic way to look busy without actually completing much, if any, useful work.

I have a hard time accepting inefficient design as anything but a bug, even if it requires deviating from brilliant style with fantastic black boxes, so I retrofitted the brilliant style using something that I seem to recall being called “control break logic”.  I decreased the 3,084 SQL statement count to a single SQL statement, and pre-expanded the top-most node in the treeview control to save the end user one extra click.  I did not remove the DBSelect or the SafeRSCloseAndClean black boxes (one might wonder if the DBSelect black box is opening a database connection to send the SQL statement to the database, and the SafeRSCloseAndClean black box is closing that database connection), nor did I convert the code to use Oracle’s .Net Oracle.DataAccess objects rather than ADO, or clean up much of the formatting to match my typical conventions.  Here is the end result of the “control break logic” implementation:

    Private Sub TubsToolStripMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles TubsToolStripMenuItem.Click
        Try

            Dim i As Integer
            Dim intNodeCount As Integer = -1
            Dim strLastTub As String = ""
            Dim strSQL As String, rs As ADODB.Recordset
            Dim Anchor As Point = New Point(0, MenuStrip1.Height)

            Dim OldCursor As Windows.Forms.Cursor
            OldCursor = Windows.Forms.Cursor.Current
            Windows.Forms.Cursor.Current = Windows.Forms.Cursors.WaitCursor
            Label1.Visible = False
            Label2.Visible = False
            DataGridView1.Visible = False
            DataGridView2.Visible = False
            Button1.Visible = False
            Button3.Visible = False
            btnAddNew.Visible = False
            '
            '   Display the information for all the tubs.
            '
            tv1.BeginUpdate()
            tv1.Nodes.Clear()

            '
            '   Add the root level node.
            '
            tv1.Nodes.Add("Tubs")

            '
            '   Get the information from the database.
            '

            strSQL = "SELECT" & vbCrLf
            strSQL = strSQL & "  *" & vbCrLf
            strSQL = strSQL & "FROM" & vbCrLf
            strSQL = strSQL & "  MTS_TUBATTRIBUTES" & vbCrLf
            strSQL = strSQL & "WHERE" & vbCrLf
            strSQL = strSQL & "  TUBID IS NOT NULL" & vbCrLf
            strSQL = strSQL & "ORDER BY" & vbCrLf
            strSQL = strSQL & "  TO_NUMBER(TUBID)," & vbCrLf
            strSQL = strSQL & "  ATTRIBUTEID," & vbCrLf
            strSQL = strSQL & "  ATTRIBUTEVALUE"

            rs = DBSelect(strSQL)

            strLastTub = ""

            Do While Not (rs.EOF)
                If strLastTub <> rs("tubid").Value Then
                    'New tubid
                    intNodeCount = intNodeCount + 1
                    tv1.Nodes(0).Nodes.Add(rs("TubID").Value)
                    strLastTub = rs("tubid").Value
                End If

                tv1.Nodes(0).Nodes(intNodeCount).Nodes.Add(rs("AttributeID").Value & " - " & rs("AttributeValue").Value)

                rs.MoveNext()
            Loop
            Call SafeRSCloseAndClean(rs)

            If tv1.Nodes(0).Nodes.Count > 2 Then
                tv1.Nodes(0).Expand()
            End If

            tv1.EndUpdate()
            MakeTV_Visible()
            Windows.Forms.Cursor.Current = OldCursor
        Catch ex As Exception
            Call LogError("TubsMenuItem", Err.Number, Err.Description)
        End Try
    End Sub

Did the above code change result in a performance improvement?  The client computer (which is a bit slow), completed the above procedure in roughly 5.2 seconds, a pretty healthy improvement from the original 21.5 seconds observed with the original code.  The result would have been even more impressive running over a WAN connection that has a 0.60 second (60ms) ping time – the 184.98 seconds wasted just sending the 3,083 distinct SQL statements to the database to be parsed (actual execution and retrieval of the resultsets would have significantly added to that time) was completely eliminated, and properly setting the array fetch size (rather than leaving it set at the ADO default) would further enhanced performance over the WAN connection.

Maybe a 4.13 factor improvement in performance is not significant enough to consider this change as an improvement?  As a fun experiment, I commented out the following lines in the code of my modified version of the code so that the treeview control is not populated:

tv1.Nodes(0).Nodes.Add(rs("TubID").Value)

tv1.Nodes(0).Nodes(intNodeCount).Nodes.Add(rs("AttributeID").Value & " - " & rs("AttributeValue").Value)

I then re-timed the execution of the modified procedure – it now completes in less than 0.2 seconds.  With that in mind, on this particular computer populating the treeview probably takes about 4.9 seconds to complete (4.9 + 0.2 seconds is within 0.1 seconds of the measured time for the original execution of modified procedure) regardless if the code is running in the original unmodified procedure or my modified version of that procedure.  If we subtract out the uncontrollable treeview update time (there is a way to improve this performance further), then the unmodified procedure completes in 21.5 – 4.9 = 16.6 seconds, while my modified version of the same procedure completes in less than 0.2 seconds, so an actual 83 factor improvement when the program is run on a computer that is located in the same LAN as the Oracle Database server.  Something is bugging me, but it is not this procedure’s performance problem any longer.

Thoughts?  Is excessive code procedure modularization a goal to achieve?  Is excessive code procedure modularization something to avoid as much as possible?  Or is there a happy medium (a play on words here, using this definition: a person claiming to be in contact with the spirits of the dead and to communicate between the dead and the living) to the headache that excessive code procedure modularization seems to cause for me?


Comments : 3 Comments »

Categories : C#, VBS

C# Web-Based Forms with Oracle Database Access

20 02 2016

February 20, 2016

I have been experimenting a bit with ASP.Net, having used classic ASP (with VBScript) for generating various web-based reports somewhat extensively more than a decade ago.  While before I used little more than Microsoft’s Notepad application and occasionally Microsoft FrontPage for HTML syntax verification, the development environment that I have been using for ASP.Net is the free Visual Studio Express 2015 for Web development environment.  To say that the development approach is different is a bit of an understatement, of course some credit is due to the transition from VBScript to C# (or its close cousin VB.Net).

I created a sample project using C#, ASP.Net, and an Oracle Database connection to demonstrate some of the functionality, reproducing a date selector control format that I originally created for use in Visual Basic 6.0 in early 2002, as shown at the top-right of the picture below:

CWebNCMRReport

First, we will create a table in the database using a modified script from another article that I posted six years ago:

CREATE TABLE EMPLOYEE_ATTEND_TEST AS
SELECT
  DECODE(TRUNC(DBMS_RANDOM.VALUE(0,16)),
          0,'MIKE',
          1,'ROB',
          2,'SAM',
          3,'JOE',
          4,'ERIC',
          5,'BILL',
          6,'DENNIS',
          7,'PATRICK',
          8,'JIMMY',
          9,'JOHN',
          10,'SARAH',
          11,'JILL',
          12,'PHILLIS',
          13,'STEPHANY',
          14,'DENISE',
          15,'MARTHA') EMPLOYEE_ID,
  TRUNC(SYSDATE)-ROUND(DBMS_RANDOM.VALUE(0,1000)) SHIFT_DATE,
  DECODE(TRUNC(DBMS_RANDOM.VALUE(0,10)),
          0,'VAC',
          1,'HOL',
          2,'BEREAVE',
          3,'JURY',
          4,'ABS',
          5,'EXCUSE',
          6,'MIL',
          'OTHER') INDIRECT_ID
FROM
  DUAL
CONNECT BY
  LEVEL<=3000;

The above script creates a table with 3,000 rows, randomly assigning employee names and different attendance absence codes to each of those rows.  The goal of the sample project is to allow a user of the web form to make a date and/or employee name selection, and then have the matching rows from the database table displayed in a HTML table on the web page using alternating colors for each table row.  There are of course potential areas of improvement, leaving open the possibility of a follow up article (and an opportunity for code improvement suggestions from readers of this article).

To start, we need to create a new project in Visual Studio Express 2015 for Web (the directions should be similar for the full version of Visual Studio).  From the File menu, select New Project… Under the Templates heading, expand Visual C#, then select Web.  Give the project a useful name (I named the project WebsiteTestingApplication), select an appropriate parent folder for the project (I selected C:\Projects\CodeCSharp\), make certain that there is a checkmark next to Create directory for solution, then click the OK button.

CWebCreateNewProject

Next, select the Empty template (if not already selected), make certain that Host in the cloud is not selected, then click the OK button.

CWebCreateNewProject2

In the Visual Studio IDE (integrated development environment), right-click the project in the Solution Explorer, select Add, and then click New Item…

CWebAddNewItem

In the Add New Item dialog, under the Visual C# heading at the left make certain that Web is selected, then select Web Form in the center pane.  Give the form an appropriate name (I selected DatabaseQueryTest.aspx – this name will be shown in the web browser address bar), then click the Add button:

CWebAddNewItem2

The starting pre-generated HTML code for the page should then appear in the IDE.  Feel free to specify a table for the page between the <title> </title> elements (I specified C# Website Database Test – hoopercharles.wordpress.com), and change the form name (id) attribute (I specified frmWebsiteDatabaseTest):

CWebNewASPXPageMinorModifications

Since my development computer is running a 64 bit version of Windows, it is best to specify that the Platform Target for the application is either 32 bit (x86) or 64 bit (x64).  I will select x86 so that the project will use the 32 bit Oracle Client on the computer as well as the 32 bit Crystal Reports runtime drivers.  From the Project menu, select WebsiteTestApplication Properties, click the Build heading at the left, then change the Platform target to x86:

CWebProjectPropertiesPlatformTarget

Next, we will add references to the project, which will permit querying the Oracle database, and potentially displaying Crystal Report files.  From the Project menu, select Add Reference…:

CWebProjectAddReference

While this article will not use the Crystal Reports functionality, select the items as shown below by placing checkmarks to the left of the items (if these items are not in the list, installing the free Crystal Reports XI runtime should add these items to the list of selectable items) after clicking the Extensions option at the left:

CWebProjectAddReference2

Scroll down to the Oracle.DataAccess item and place a checkmark next to that item (note: the 64 bit driver may be selected even though we selected x86 as the Platform Target, as a result, we may need to fix this reference item later).  Click the OK button:

CWebProjectAddReference3

Once the references are added, view the C# code that is associated with the DatabaseQueryTest.aspx page by right-clicking that page in the Solution Explorer and selecting View Code: (selecting View Markup will redisplay the HTML code that previously appeared on screen, while View Designer attempts to show an editable preview of the page):

CWebViewCode

We need to add a few using entries near the top of the C# code to simplify the process of using the items exposed by the add-ons that were just referenced, as shown below:

CWebViewCode2

To the list of using entries, add:

using Oracle.DataAccess.Client;                 // ODP.NET Oracle managed provider
using Oracle.DataAccess.Types;                  // ODP.NET Oracle managed provider
using CrystalDecisions.Shared;                  // Crystal Reports support
using CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine;   // Crystal Reports support
//using CrystalDecisions.Windows.Forms;         // Crystal Reports support, not needed for this project

(Note that there is a minor issue with the default list of using clauses when using database access techniques, but this problem will be addressed later.)

Below the opening bracket below the public partial class DatabaseQueryTest : System.Web.UI.Page line, add the following code, which will create variables for a connection to the Oracle database, create two variables for reading resultsets from the database, create four database command variables (for specifying the SQL statements and bind variable definitions), and a Boolean variable that tracks whether or not the database connection attempt was successful:

        OracleConnection dbDatabase;
        OracleDataReader snpEmployeeID;
        OracleDataReader snpAttendance;
        OracleCommand comEmployeeID;
        OracleCommand comAttendanceSD;
        OracleCommand comAttendanceEmp;
        OracleCommand comAttendanceSDEmp;
        
        Boolean blConnected = false;

Save All of the project, then press the F5 key to run the web page.  On my 64 bit development computer with x86 specified as the Platform Target, I immediately received an error stating that there was a mismatch between the processor architecture of the project and the Oracle.DataAccess dll that has a processor architecture of AMD64:

CWebPossibleProblem32Bit64Bit

If you encounter this problem, expand References in the Solution Explorer window, right click Oracle.DataAccess and then select Remove from the menu.  Next, from the Project menu select Add Reference…, click the Browse button, then manually locate and add the 32 bit version of the Oracle.DataAccess.dll file.  On my development computer I have a 32 bit Oracle client with the necessary odp.net drivers installed in the folder C:\Oracle\product\11.2.0\client_1\ so in the Select the files to reference window I browsed to the folder: C:\Oracle\product\11.2.0\client_1\odp.net\bin\4, selected the Oracle.DataAccess.dll file, and then clicked the Add button:

CWebPossibleProblem32Bit64BitFix

Save All files in the project again, then press the F5 key to run the project (the current aspx page in the project).  If errors such as “The name ‘CommandType’ does not exist in the current context” or “The name ‘ParameterDirection’ does not exist in the current context” appear (note that this error may not appear until the code is added to the Page_Load procedure near the end of this article):

CWebPossibleProblemSystemData

There is a good chance that System.Data is not included in the using statement at the head of the code module.  In such a case, add the following line before the using Oracle.DataAccess.Client; line:

using System.Data;

Press the F5 key again, and the blank web page should appear without complaint.

Next, we need to switch back to the Markup view for the DatabaseQueryTest.aspx page.  In the Solution Explorer, right-click the DatabaseQueryTest.aspx file and select View Markup:

CWebViewMarkup

Between the div and /div elements below the <form id=”frmWebsiteDatabaseTest” runat=”server”> line we need to add HTML code to create the date selector region of the web page.  In this case, I used a HTML table to control the positioning of the items that should appear in the date selector region:

CWebMarkupForCalendarSelect

(WordPress decided to steal and destroy the HTML code that I posted, refer to the picture above and type the code shown – the full style entry is shown below.)

style="position:absolute; max-width:275px; max-height:400px; left:5px; top:5px; border:inset; overflow:auto; background-color:#ffffff; background-image: linear-gradient(90deg, #ffffff, #ccccdd); box-shadow: 3px 3px 12px #010101;"

 

Next, take a look at the preview of the page to see the results of adding the above code.  In the Solution Explorer, right-click DatabaseQueryTest.aspx and select View Designer:

CWebAddDateSelectionCode

The Designer should show a window similar to what appears below:

CWebAddDateSelectionCode2

The buttons appearing on the page do nothing yet, so we need to create the C# code that is associated with the buttons.  Double-click the Today button to create the generic code that is associated with that button being clicked.  When the Today button is double-clicked, a new tab named DatabaseQueryTest.aspx.cs will open next to the existing DatabaseQueryTest.aspx tab.  Switch back to the DatabaseQueryTest.aspx tab and double-click the Yesterday button to create the generic code that is associated with that button being clicked.  Repeat this process for the remaining buttons, working from left to right, top to bottom.

Below is the C# code that I created for each of the 14 buttons – copy this code into the appropriate location in the code found on the DatabaseQueryTest.aspx.cs tab (note that the Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript code seems to be necessary, otherwise a date selector button will need to be clicked twice before the page is correctly updated):

        protected void cmdToday_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            cboStartDate.Text = DateTime.Today.ToShortDateString();
            cboEndDate.Text = DateTime.Today.ToShortDateString();
            // Force a page load so that the Repeater table is updated
            Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(typeof(Page), "autoPostback", Page.ClientScript.GetPostBackEventReference(this, String.Empty), true);
        }
        protected void cmdYesterday_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            cboStartDate.Text = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-1).ToShortDateString();
            cboEndDate.Text = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-1).ToShortDateString();
            // Force a page load so that the Repeater table is updated
            Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(typeof(Page), "autoPostback", Page.ClientScript.GetPostBackEventReference(this, String.Empty), true);
        }
        protected void cmdThisWeek_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            Int32 i = 0;
            DateTime varStartDate;
            for (i = 0; i <= 6; i++)
            {
                if (DateTime.Today.AddDays(-i).DayOfWeek == DayOfWeek.Monday)
                {
                    varStartDate = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-i);
                    cboStartDate.Text = varStartDate.AddDays(0).ToShortDateString();
                    cboEndDate.Text = varStartDate.AddDays(6).ToShortDateString();
                    break;
                }
            }
            // Force a page load so that the Repeater table is updated
            Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(typeof(Page), "autoPostback", Page.ClientScript.GetPostBackEventReference(this, String.Empty), true);
        }
        protected void cmdLastWeek_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            Int32 i = 0;
            DateTime varStartDate;
            for (i = 0; i <= 6; i++)
            {
                if (DateTime.Today.AddDays(-i).DayOfWeek == DayOfWeek.Monday)
                {
                    varStartDate = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-i - 7);
                    cboStartDate.Text = varStartDate.AddDays(0).ToShortDateString();
                    cboEndDate.Text = varStartDate.AddDays(6).ToShortDateString();
                    break;
                }
            }
            // Force a page load so that the Repeater table is updated
            Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(typeof(Page), "autoPostback", Page.ClientScript.GetPostBackEventReference(this, String.Empty), true);
        }
        protected void cmdThisMonth_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            DateTime varStartDate;
            varStartDate = new DateTime(DateTime.Today.Year, DateTime.Today.Month, 1);
            cboStartDate.Text = varStartDate.AddDays(0).ToShortDateString();
            cboEndDate.Text = varStartDate.AddMonths(1).AddDays(-1).ToShortDateString();
            // Force a page load so that the Repeater table is updated
            Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(typeof(Page), "autoPostback", Page.ClientScript.GetPostBackEventReference(this, String.Empty), true);
        }
        protected void cmdLastMonth_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            DateTime varStartDate;
            varStartDate = new DateTime(DateTime.Today.Year, DateTime.Today.Month, 1).AddMonths(-1);
            cboStartDate.Text = varStartDate.AddDays(0).ToShortDateString();
            cboEndDate.Text = varStartDate.AddMonths(1).AddDays(-1).ToShortDateString();
            // Force a page load so that the Repeater table is updated
            Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(typeof(Page), "autoPostback", Page.ClientScript.GetPostBackEventReference(this, String.Empty), true);
        }
        protected void cmdYeartoDate_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            DateTime varStartDate;
            varStartDate = new DateTime(DateTime.Today.Year, 1, 1);
            cboStartDate.Text = varStartDate.AddDays(0).ToShortDateString();
            cboEndDate.Text = DateTime.Today.ToShortDateString();
            // Force a page load so that the Repeater table is updated
            Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(typeof(Page), "autoPostback", Page.ClientScript.GetPostBackEventReference(this, String.Empty), true);
        }
        protected void cmdLastYear_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            DateTime varStartDate;
            varStartDate = new DateTime(DateTime.Today.Year - 1, 1, 1);
            cboStartDate.Text = varStartDate.AddDays(0).ToShortDateString();
            cboEndDate.Text = varStartDate.AddMonths(12).AddDays(-1).ToShortDateString();
            // Force a page load so that the Repeater table is updated
            Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(typeof(Page), "autoPostback", Page.ClientScript.GetPostBackEventReference(this, String.Empty), true);
        }
        protected void cmd7Days_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            cboStartDate.Text = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-6).ToShortDateString();
            cboEndDate.Text = DateTime.Today.AddDays(0).ToShortDateString();
            // Force a page load so that the Repeater table is updated
            Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(typeof(Page), "autoPostback", Page.ClientScript.GetPostBackEventReference(this, String.Empty), true);
        }
        protected void cmd30Days_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            cboStartDate.Text = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-29).ToShortDateString();
            cboEndDate.Text = DateTime.Today.AddDays(0).ToShortDateString();
            // Force a page load so that the Repeater table is updated
            Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(typeof(Page), "autoPostback", Page.ClientScript.GetPostBackEventReference(this, String.Empty), true);
        }
        protected void cmd60Days_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            cboStartDate.Text = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-59).ToShortDateString();
            cboEndDate.Text = DateTime.Today.AddDays(0).ToShortDateString();
            // Force a page load so that the Repeater table is updated
            Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(typeof(Page), "autoPostback", Page.ClientScript.GetPostBackEventReference(this, String.Empty), true);
        }
        protected void cmd90Days_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            cboStartDate.Text = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-89).ToShortDateString();
            cboEndDate.Text = DateTime.Today.AddDays(0).ToShortDateString();
            // Force a page load so that the Repeater table is updated
            Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(typeof(Page), "autoPostback", Page.ClientScript.GetPostBackEventReference(this, String.Empty), true);
        }
        protected void cmd120Days_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            cboStartDate.Text = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-119).ToShortDateString();
            cboEndDate.Text = DateTime.Today.AddDays(0).ToShortDateString();
            // Force a page load so that the Repeater table is updated
            Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(typeof(Page), "autoPostback", Page.ClientScript.GetPostBackEventReference(this, String.Empty), true);
        }
        protected void cmd180Days_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            cboStartDate.Text = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-179).ToShortDateString();
            cboEndDate.Text = DateTime.Today.AddDays(0).ToShortDateString();
            // Force a page load so that the Repeater table is updated
            Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(typeof(Page), "autoPostback", Page.ClientScript.GetPostBackEventReference(this, String.Empty), true);
        }

Save All of the project, then press the F5 key to run the web page.  You should then see something similar to the below screen capture, and the buttons in the date selector region should almost work (we have not added any date entries into the DropDownList controls).  We also have not yet added the Select Employee ID section of the page:

CWebApplicationTest1

Switch back to the Markup view, and locate the /div line that follows the /table line.  We will now add the HTML code that allows selecting an employee ID, the asp:Repeater code that will handle the display of the resultset that is returned from the Oracle database, and a simple area with an instruction for the end user of the web page.  Directly below the /div line that follows the /table line add the code shown below that begins with the div style line:

CWebMarkupForEmployeeSelect

The code (almost formatted, missing the leading spaces and blank lines:

<div style="position:absolute; max-width:260px; max-height:400px; left:300px; top:5px; border:inset; overflow:auto; background-color:#ffffff; background-image: linear-gradient(90deg, #ffffff, #ccccdd); box-shadow: 3px 3px 12px #010101;">
<asp:Label ID="lblEmployeeID" Width="250px" Text="Select Employee ID" runat="server"></asp:Label>
<asp:DropDownList ID="cboEmployeeID" style="position:relative;left:5px;" Width="250px" runat="server" AutoPostBack="true"></asp:DropDownList>
</div>
<div style="position:absolute; max-width:400px; max-height:500px; left:10px; top:260px; overflow:auto; box-shadow: 3px 3px 12px #010101;">
<asp:Repeater id="tblAttendance" runat="server">
<HeaderTemplate>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width:400px;max-width:400px">
<tr style="background-color:#8080FF">
<th>Employee ID</th>
<th>Shift Date</th>
<th>Indirect Code</th>
</tr>
</HeaderTemplate>
<ItemTemplate>
<tr style="background-color:#ffffff">
<td><%# Eval("employee_id") %></td>
<td style="text-align:right"><%# Eval("shift_date") %></td>
<td><%# Eval("indirect_id") %></td>
</tr>
</ItemTemplate>
<AlternatingItemTemplate>
<tr style="background-color:#eeeeee">
<td><%# Eval("employee_id") %></td>
<td style="text-align:right"><%# Eval("shift_date") %></td>
<td><%# Eval("indirect_id") %></td>
</tr>
</AlternatingItemTemplate>
<FooterTemplate>
</table>
</FooterTemplate>
</asp:Repeater>
</div>
<div style="position:absolute; max-width:260px; max-height:150px; left:300px; top:200px; border:inset; overflow:auto; background-color:#ffffff; background-image: linear-gradient(90deg, #fcfc08, #ffd800); box-shadow: 3px 3px 12px #010101;">
<asp:Label ID="lblInstructions" Width="250px" Text="" runat="server"></asp:Label>
</div>

Switch back to the C# code (the DatabaseQueryTest.aspx.cs tab) and locate the Page_Load procedure, which automatically executes when the web page is rendered for the client browser.  Change the Page_Load procedure so that it includes the code shown below (change MyUserName, MyPassword, and MyDBName to appropriate values to permit a connection to your database:

        protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            String strSQL = "";
            String strUserName = "";
            String strPassword = "";
            String strConnection = "";
            Int32 i = 0;
            // Connection Pooling article: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/issue-archive/2006/06-jul/o46odp-097508.html
            //   connection pooling documentation: https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/win.112/e23174/featConnecting.htm#ODPNT169
            //   connection pooling is enabled by default, may be turned off by specifying Pooling=false in the strConnection variable
            
            // Connect to the database - connection pooling is used to minimize the number of actual new database connections required
            strUserName = "MyUserName";
            strPassword = "MyPassword";
            strConnection = "Data Source=MyDBName;User Id=" + strUserName + ";Password=" + strPassword +";";
            strConnection = strConnection + "Pooling=true;Min Pool Size=10;Max Pool Size=50;Decr Pool Size=2;Connection Lifetime=1200;Connection Timeout=60;";
            try
            {
                dbDatabase = new OracleConnection(strConnection);
                dbDatabase.Open();
                blConnected = true;
            }
            catch
            {
                blConnected = false;
            }
            if (!Page.IsPostBack)
            {
                if (blConnected == true)
                {
                    lblInstructions.Text = "Select a date range and/or an employee ID from the list.";
                    strSQL = "SELECT DISTINCT" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  EMPLOYEE_ID" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "FROM" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  EMPLOYEE_ATTEND_TEST" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "ORDER BY" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  EMPLOYEE_ID";
                    comEmployeeID = new OracleCommand(strSQL, dbDatabase);
                    comEmployeeID.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
                    comEmployeeID.CommandTimeout = 30;
                    comEmployeeID.BindByName = false;


                    // Need to start at 30 days in the future so that cmdThisMonth does not generate an error
                    for (i = -30; i <= 1000; i++)
                    {
                        cboStartDate.Items.Add(DateTime.Today.AddDays(-i).ToShortDateString());
                        cboEndDate.Items.Add(DateTime.Today.AddDays(-i).ToShortDateString());
                    }
                    cboStartDate.Text = DateTime.Today.ToShortDateString();
                    cboEndDate.Text = DateTime.Today.ToShortDateString();


                    // Retrieve the employee ID list
                    cboEmployeeID.Items.Add("");
                    snpEmployeeID = comEmployeeID.ExecuteReader();
                    if (!snpEmployeeID.IsClosed)
                    {
                        while (snpEmployeeID.Read())
                        {
                            cboEmployeeID.Items.Add(snpEmployeeID["employee_id"].ToString());
                        }
                        snpEmployeeID.Close();
                    }
                }
            }
            else
            {
                // Not the first time the page is displayed
                if (blConnected == true)
                {
                    strSQL = "SELECT" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  EMPLOYEE_ID," + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  SHIFT_DATE," + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  INDIRECT_ID" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "FROM" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  EMPLOYEE_ATTEND_TEST" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "WHERE" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  SHIFT_DATE BETWEEN :1 AND :2" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "ORDER BY" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  EMPLOYEE_ID," + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  SHIFT_DATE";


                    comAttendanceSD = new OracleCommand(strSQL, dbDatabase);
                    comAttendanceSD.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
                    comAttendanceSD.CommandTimeout = 30;
                    comAttendanceSD.BindByName = false;
                    comAttendanceSD.Parameters.Add("start_date", OracleDbType.Date, 8, "", ParameterDirection.Input);
                    comAttendanceSD.Parameters.Add("end_date", OracleDbType.Date, 8, "", ParameterDirection.Input);


                    strSQL = "SELECT" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  EMPLOYEE_ID," + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  SHIFT_DATE," + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  INDIRECT_ID" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "FROM" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  EMPLOYEE_ATTEND_TEST" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "WHERE" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  EMPLOYEE_ID = :1" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "ORDER BY" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  EMPLOYEE_ID," + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  SHIFT_DATE";


                    comAttendanceEmp = new OracleCommand(strSQL, dbDatabase);
                    comAttendanceEmp.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
                    comAttendanceEmp.CommandTimeout = 30;
                    comAttendanceEmp.BindByName = false;
                    comAttendanceEmp.Parameters.Add("employee_id", OracleDbType.Varchar2, 15, "", ParameterDirection.Input);


                    strSQL = "SELECT" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  EMPLOYEE_ID," + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  SHIFT_DATE," + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  INDIRECT_ID" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "FROM" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  EMPLOYEE_ATTEND_TEST" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "WHERE" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  SHIFT_DATE BETWEEN :1 AND :2" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  AND EMPLOYEE_ID = :3" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "ORDER BY" + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  EMPLOYEE_ID," + "\n";
                    strSQL = strSQL + "  SHIFT_DATE";


                    comAttendanceSDEmp = new OracleCommand(strSQL, dbDatabase);
                    comAttendanceSDEmp.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
                    comAttendanceSDEmp.CommandTimeout = 30;
                    comAttendanceSDEmp.BindByName = false;
                    comAttendanceSDEmp.Parameters.Add("start_date", OracleDbType.Date, 8, "", ParameterDirection.Input);
                    comAttendanceSDEmp.Parameters.Add("end_date", OracleDbType.Date, 8, "", ParameterDirection.Input);
                    comAttendanceSDEmp.Parameters.Add("employee_id", OracleDbType.Varchar2, 15, "", ParameterDirection.Input);


                    if (cboEmployeeID.Text != "")
                    {
                        if (cboStartDate.Text != "")
                        {
                            // Employee ID and Start Date are specified
                            comAttendanceSDEmp.Parameters["start_date"].Value = DateTime.ParseExact(cboStartDate.Text, "d", ifpCulture);
                            comAttendanceSDEmp.Parameters["end_date"].Value = DateTime.ParseExact(cboEndDate.Text, "d", ifpCulture);
                            comAttendanceSDEmp.Parameters["employee_id"].Value = cboEmployeeID.Text;
                            snpAttendance = comAttendanceSDEmp.ExecuteReader();
                            snpAttendance.FetchSize = comAttendanceSDEmp.RowSize * 100;
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            // Employee ID is specified, Start Date is not specified
                            comAttendanceEmp.Parameters["employee_id"].Value = cboEmployeeID.Text;
                            snpAttendance = comAttendanceEmp.ExecuteReader();
                            snpAttendance.FetchSize = comAttendanceEmp.RowSize * 100;
                        }
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        // Employee ID is not specified, assume that the Start Date must be specified
                        comAttendanceSD.Parameters["start_date"].Value = DateTime.ParseExact(cboStartDate.Text, "d", ifpCulture);
                        comAttendanceSD.Parameters["end_date"].Value = DateTime.ParseExact(cboEndDate.Text, "d", ifpCulture);
                        snpAttendance = comAttendanceSD.ExecuteReader();
                        snpAttendance.FetchSize = comAttendanceSD.RowSize * 100;
                    }


                    if (!snpAttendance.IsClosed)
                    {
                        
                        
                        tblAttendance.DataSource = snpAttendance;
                        tblAttendance.DataBind();


                        // Web page does not show the correct information until the next postback?
                        
                        snpAttendance.Close();
                        
                    }
                
                }
            }


            if (blConnected == true)
            {
                // Disconnect from the database, because connection pooling is enabled, the connection might not actually close immediately
                try
                {
                    dbDatabase.Close();
                }
                catch { }
                blConnected = false;
            }


        }


Save All of the project, then press the F5 key to run the web page.  If the programming code is correct and complete, it should now be possible to select an Employee ID, click a button to select a date range, and then see a HTML rendered table in a scrollable viewport as shown below:


CWebPageInAction


Note that while developing this article I had a couple of issues where the iisexpress.exe webserver stopped responding, resulting in a completely blank page as shown below, with the never ending message “Waiting for localhost” appearing:


CWebServerEventuallyNotReponding


There probably is a good method to recover from this problem, but as of yet I have not found that method.  If you encounter this problem, find the IIS Express icon in the task tray, right-click that icon, and select Exit.  I found that I then had to close and reopen the project in Visual Studio Express.


CWebServerEventuallyNotReponding2


I will likely add additional information to this article in the next couple of days – it appears that I may have a way to post the HTML code that was removed by WordPress, and I will try to add additional explanation for the reasoning behind the C# code in the Page_Load procedure.


What is the challenge?  How might you improve this sample project to do something interesting with the project?

				

				

				
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				Categories : C#
			


		


		
			


				
Oracle DBA, IT Manager, or Something Else

				
					14
					02
					2016
				

				

					
February 14, 2016


In September 2014 I posted an article on this blog where I mentioned that I am the IT Manager and an Oracle Database administrator at a company that specializes in welding and machining very large metal parts – in the article I attempted a bit of humor while trying to explain a few items.  I have a small confession to make, I have been the only IT person at the company for the last 38 months.  As you might imagine, working 11+ hour days for six years (yes, six years is longer than 38 months) was nothing short of a never ending fun experience, and sometimes seemingly without an ending.


In the last month I put together a somewhat interesting document.  As some readers of this blog probably know, I have read a few books about Oracle Database, programming, Microsoft Exchange, server administration, and a few other topics (my personal technical book library six years ago), and have published a few articles about some of those topics on this blog.  My Oracle Database knowledge is reasonably good, I suppose (after probably reading roughly 30 books on the subject and contributing to another), but that is only one piece of a complex jigsaw puzzle of knowledge in the IT field.  So, what is the interesting document that I created as I neared by 16th anniversary with the company?

What are the skills required for the job of IT Manager and Oracle DBA, or what exactly does my job encompass (since it is easy to assume that I am just the person that hands out the printer ink cartridges when the change me light flashes 🙂 ).  I am not yet sure what exactly the interesting document will be used for, but it might be used for ISO documentation purposes.  I split the document into two sections: skills for the person who is able to sit upright in a chair, successfully breathe at regular intervals, and occasionally blink once for no, or blink twice for yes (Essential Skills); skills in addition to the essential skills that are actually needed for the person with the role of IT Manager and Oracle DBA at the company (Additional Skills).


Essential Skills:


    

  • Database: Oracle Database 11.2 management: emphasis on RMAN backup, RMAN recovery, RMAN cloning, Oracle specific SQL syntax including analytics (experience with Oracle Database 10.2, 11.1, or 12.1 should be sufficient)
    • 

  • Email: Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 management (Exchange Server 2007 or 2010 experience is helpful, but not sufficient unless the person is willing to read a couple of books)
    • 

  • Programming: Visual Basic 6.0 (MRP for Visual 6.5.2, touchscreen Windows 8.1 tablet projects, and many other custom programs were written in this language), VB.Net, C# (MRP for Visual 8.0.0 was written in C#), and Zebra ZPL (used for creating part labels for receiving, shipping, and moving)
    • 

  • ERP: Visual Manufacturing 6.5.2 support
    • 

  • Phone system: Mitel 5000 with digital, analog, VOIP circuits, paging, and fax reception (note that the Mitel 3000 series is significantly different, while the old Inter-Tel phone system shares similar programming configuration options). Person should know how to change phone programming to change names, reset passwords, reset voicemail boxes, punch down digital and analog phone circuits, proper phone system shut down procedure.
    • 

  • Barcode: Previously worked with or created code 3 of 9 barcodes, code 128 barcodes, and UPC barcodes. Experience with Symbol, Motorola, or Zebra mobile computers (primarily MC3090 and MC3190).
    • 

  • Microsoft Office: Experience with Microsoft Office versions 2007 and 2010 (experience with versions 2013 and 2016 recommended for future upgrades)
    • 

  • Server operating systems: Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2003 R2, Red Hat Linux, Fedora Core 22 Linux, BusyBox v1.16 (Synology NAS)
    • 

  • Desktop operating systems: Windows 10 Pro (for future rollout), Windows 8.1 Pro (tablets only), Windows 7 Pro (32 bit and 64 bit), Windows Vista Business (32 bit), Windows XP Pro (primarily shop floor computers, but also Burn Shop supervisor and UT inspector)
    • 

  • Printer support: Basic maintenance and troubleshooting of various Dell, Zebra, Canon, Ricoh/Lanier/Gestetner (advanced maintenance covered by printer repair company) printers, and Xerox (advanced maintenance covered by printer repair company) large format plotter/scanner.
    • 

  • Wiring: Cat 5e and Cat 6 network cable wiring and termination, serial cable wiring, phone wiring into model 66 blocks, fiber optic connections with pre-made cable.
    • 

  • Help Desk: Capable of translating complex computer terminology into common English, able to walk end users through procedures over the phone and in person, emphasis on customer service (speed of response and problem resolution).
    • 

  • Firewall and VPN: Familiar with SonicWall firewall and VPN configuration.
    • 

  • EDI: Experience with TrustedLink EDI and common EDI documents (810, 830, 850, 856, etc.).
    • 

  • Network: Experience managing gigabit network switches, wireless access points, and VLANs.
    • 



Additional Skills:


    

  • Database: Person has extensive Oracle performance tuning experience that is relevant to databases without the Tuning or Diagnostic packs. Person has achieved Oracle Certified Master status (Oracle Certified Professional is a very light-weight certification by comparison), person is a member of the OakTable Network, or person is an Oracle Ace Director.
    • 

  • Email: Person planned and executed an upgrade from Microsoft Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2007 or later, or Exchange 2007 to 2013 or 2016). Person has experience with spam filtering products such as SpamStopsHere or MessageLabs. Person has written programs to submit email using an SMTP interface.  Experience working with self-signed security certificates and third party certificates.
    • 

  • Programming: Experience writing Microsoft Office macros (Excel, Word, Power Point, Outlook, Access), experience writing VBScript (Visual Manufacturing macro language, AutoCAD macro language), experience writing GCODE (used by CNC machines), experience writing PowerShell scripts (used by Microsoft Exchange 2007 and later), experience writing HTML (used by Web Reports, Report Server, K&M website), experience writing Javascript and PHP (used by Web Reports, K&M website), experience writing Linux and DOS batch scripts (used by K&M website and backup software), experience creating ASP and ASP.Net websites (Web Reports), experience maintaining programs created by other software developers
    • 

  • ERP: Experience upgrading Visual Manufacturing, experience utilizing Infor’s COM Object and/or Infor’s API Toolkit (for programmatically creating transactions in Visual), experience with the underlying database object model used by Visual Manufacturing (knowledge of specific tables, columns, indexes, security model). Experience filing support requests with Infor.
    • 

  • Phone system: Experience with T1 DCS and T1 PRI circuits (type of T1 circuit currently used at K&M), extensive programming and diagnostic experience with a Mitel 5000 PBX including troubleshooting of offsite voice over IP phones that traverse firewalls. Experience creating and/or maintaining SMDR call logging through TCP/IP and/or serial connection.
    • 

  • Barcode: Experience troubleshooting Zebra barcode printers; experience troubleshooting barcode scanning problems; able to describe how code 3 of 9 barcodes are encoded and write a computer program to locate and decode a code 3 of 9 barcode on a scanned page; experience programming and backing up Symbol, Motorola, or Zebra mobile computers (primarily MC3090 and MC3190)
    • 

  • Common commercial programs: Able to troubleshoot, install, and configure license managers for a variety of primarily engineering focused programs. Programs include AutoCAD 2014, PTC Creo Parametric, MasterCAM, PC-DMIS, Vericut, Verisurf, Shadow Protect, Trend Micro Enterprise Security Suite, Sage Fixed Assets, TrustedLink EDI, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Standard Edition, Visual Manufacturing, Oracle Database
    • 

  • Servers: Extensive experience administering and configuring Windows servers; experience with group policy in Active Directory; experience with a variety of Linux based systems (primarily Red Hat derived); experience with Synology NAS units (configuring as domain members, network time sources, Windows SMB shares, FTP targets, Nagios network monitoring); experience with WordPress configuration, utilization and security (for the K&M website); experience with SSH (TelNet, TightVNC, Putty, Remote Desktop, GoToMyPC); experience specifying server hardware configurations (including RAM, RAID levels, operating systems, redundancy); experience diagnosing and repairing Dell server hardware. Experience maintaining four hour support contracts for servers. Experience configuring Fail2Ban, and software firewalls (iptables, firewalld, Windows firewall service).
    • 

  • Desktops: Extensive experience troubleshooting hardware problems (replace bad power supply, identify faulty motherboard, upgrade memory, replace other components including hard drives and DVD drives). Troubleshoot attached devices including check scanners, postage meters, printers, mice/keyboards, wedge barcode scanners. Clean computers of spyware and viruses with and without the assistance of virus/spyware scanning software (educate users about virus warning signs to avoid infection).
    • 

  • Printer support: Program printers for network connectivity, and install as network managed printers controlled by Windows Server 2012. Perform diagnostics and repair of printers, copiers, and all-in-one devices that are not under warranty (such as replacing the print head in Zebra printers or installing maintenance kit parts). Manage printer ink and toner supplies with predictive re-ordering of supplies.
    • 

  • Wiring: Understand when fiber optic and/or shielded cable must be used rather than typical Cat 5e or Cat 6 cable, with the ability to terminate fiber optic cables. Experience wiring and troubleshooting paging amplifiers, page delay units, and speakers.
    • 

  • Help Desk: Experience converting vague support requests into actionable assistance. Capable of providing precise and fluid written and verbal responses. Able to proactively train fellow employees. Able to write clear documentation for procedures and custom computer programs.
    • 

  • Firewall and VPN: Experience configuring and maintaining SonicWall NSA series firewalls: redundant Internet routes with fail-over, multiple static IP addresses per port, firewall log monitoring (to identify attempted hacking attacks and Internet stability issues), opening and restricting ports or IP addresses, etc. Experience configuring and maintaining SonicWall SSL VPN servers: authentication through Active Directory attached RADIUS server, creating client-side connection and disconnection scripts, establishing remote connection policies through Active Directory, troubleshooting remote connectivity of computers and IP phones.
    • 

  • EDI: Experience using Trusted Link EDI software to communicate with remote EDI servers using the SFTP protocol and WinSCP scripts. Experience creating and maintaining export and import functionality between Visual Manufacturing and the Trusted Link EDI software using map flat files, raw EDI, and custom developed software that reads and creates transactions in Visual Manufacturing. Experience scripting in Trusted Link EDI. Experience programmatically printing EDI documents to PDF files (using BlackIce print driver software) with filenames that are derived from the contents of the EDI printed documents.
    • 

  • Network: Experience diagnosing and resolving connectivity issues using Wireshark (or similar packet capture tool), experience with various command line diagnostic utilities (nslookup, netstat, nbtstat, dig, traceroute). Experience recommending and configuring core and remote network switches, as well as troubleshooting managed and unmanaged network switches and routers (HP, Dell, and Cisco-Linksys).  Experience ordering, configuring, and supporting Internet access delivered through fiber optic, cable TV providers, DSL providers, and wireless providers. Experience working with multimode fiber optic with GBIC and stand-alone fiber to RJ45 converters. Experience working with the Nagios network monitoring utility (compiled to run on Synology NAS units).
    • 

  • Inter-departmental support: Able to assist engineering with reconfiguring Fanuc and Tosnic CNC controls, and troubleshoot serial cable connections to support GCODE program transfers with CNC machines. Able to understand basic procedures of Quality, Engineering, Purchasing, and Accounting to facilitate process and efficiency improvements.
    • 



No, my job position does not require that I be an expert at everything that I touch, so long as I never make a mistake at anything that I touch…  ORA-00060: Deadlock Detected.

				

				

				
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				Categories : General Administration
			


		


		
			


				
See Sharp Objects, Run with Sharp Objects, Crash with Sharp Objects – Obscure and Incorrect Error Messages in Commercial Products

				
					15
					01
					2016
				

				

					
January 15, 2016


Since October 2015 I have been fighting with an application programming interface (API) that works with an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.  The API, with uses Microsoft .Net 4.0 or higher, is intended to simplify the process of automating the creation of various types of documents within the ERP system.  For example, the API could be used to quickly create 1,000 new part numbers in the ERP system, using an Excel spreadsheet as the source data (a custom program would need to read the Excel spreadsheet and plug that information into the formatting syntax expected by the API).  The API could also be used for creating work orders in the ERP system which would then be used to produce the parts, receive purchased parts into inventory, issue parts in inventory to work orders, receive completed parts into inventory, create shipping documents to send the parts to customers, generate invoice records to accept payment from customers, and a variety of other types of documents.  I have been using Microsoft C# 2015 to interface with the API, and the ERP company helpfully includes a standalone executable (.EXE) that is able to test the API to make certain that all is working well with the API communication to the Oracle database through the Oracle Managed Data Provider through .Net.  This API replaces an older API that exposed a COM interface, which I previously used extensively to automate the creation of various types of documents.


Why have I been fighting with the application programming interface for this ERP system?  To err is human, but two errors does not compute.  While trying to determine how to use the API, I copied a code sample from the API documentation into a new project in Microsoft C# 2015.  The documentation indicates that the methods for using the API are similar to those that I used in the older API that exposed a COM interface, so it appeared that the process would be relatively easy transition to the new API.  That was my thought, any way, until I attempted to run the program.


SeeSharp2FailedEnableConstraintsC


That cannot be good.  I suppose that it is possible that the database schema has non-enabled constraints, as it had just gone through a conversion from an earlier version of the ERP system to the latest version a couple of days prior.  Let’s check:


SELECT
  CONSTRAINT_NAME,
  CONSTRAINT_TYPE,
  TABLE_NAME,
  STATUS
FROM
  DBA_CONSTRAINTS
WHERE
  OWNER='SYSADM'
  AND STATUS<>'ENABLED';
 
no rows selected


I guess that is not the cause of the error.  Let’s take the code out of a try block, and run the program again (click the picture for a larger view):


SeeSharp2FailedEnableConstraintsCExcept


A System.Data.ConstraintException in LsaCore.dll, Failed to enable constraints.  One or more rows contain values violating non-null, unique, or foreign-key constraints error.  Ouch, what did I do wrong?  I was just trying to create a new part number in the database, and the exception was thrown before any part specifications were provided.  Maybe it is because I am trying to develop on a 64 bit computer, or maybe there is some missing Windows registry entry that I still need to create?


Let’s try the standalone executable (.EXE) that the ERP provider distributes to test the API – on a 32 bit computer that was used for a test deployment of the new version of the ERP system.  This computer was an otherwise fresh install of Windows 7 with all security updates installed prior to the deployment of the new version of the ERP system (click the picture for a larger view):


SeeSharp2FailedEnableConstraintsAPITest


That “Failed to enable constraints.  One or more rows contain values violating non-null, unique, or foreign-key constraints.” error message is a bit too familiar at this point.  I need a 10046 trace at level 12 to see what might be triggering the constraints error.  Logging into the database as the SYS user using SQL*Plus, I created an after logon trigger to enable a 10046 trace for my C# test program as well as the API test tool provided with the ERP system:


CREATE OR REPLACE TRIGGER LOGON_CAPTURE_10046 AFTER LOGON ON DATABASE
DECLARE
  SHOULD_EXECUTE INTEGER;
  TRACEFILE VARCHAR2(150);
BEGIN
  SELECT DECODE(SUBSTR(UPPER(PROGRAM),1,5),'VISUA',1,0)+DECODE(SUBSTR(UPPER(PROGRAM),1,5),'VMFGC',1,0) INTO SHOULD_EXECUTE FROM V$SESSION WHERE SID=(SELECT SID FROM V$MYSTAT WHERE ROWNUM=1);
  IF SHOULD_EXECUTE > 0 THEN
    TRACEFILE := 'ALTER SESSION SET TRACEFILE_IDENTIFIER = '''||USER||TO_CHAR(SYSDATE,'YYMMDDHH24MI')||'''';
    EXECUTE IMMEDIATE TRACEFILE;
    EXECUTE IMMEDIATE 'ALTER SESSION SET MAX_DUMP_FILE_SIZE=UNLIMITED';
    EXECUTE IMMEDIATE 'ALTER SESSION SET TIMED_STATISTICS=TRUE';
    EXECUTE IMMEDIATE 'ALTER SESSION SET EVENTS ''10046 TRACE NAME CONTEXT FOREVER, LEVEL 12''';
  END IF;
END;
/


Repeating the test with my C# test program, I found that a few 10046 trace files were created on the database server each time I ran the C# test program.  One of the 10046 trace files included:


PARSE ERROR #425887032:len=42 dep=0 uid=159 oct=3 lid=159 tim=2402951856734 err=904
SELECT DB_VERSION FROM APPLICATION_GLOBAL
WAIT #425887032: nam='SQL*Net break/reset to client' ela= 2 driver id=1413697536 break?=1 p3=0 obj#=-1 tim=2402951856800
WAIT #425887032: nam='SQL*Net break/reset to client' ela= 559 driver id=1413697536 break?=0 p3=0 obj#=-1 tim=2402951857369
WAIT #425887032: nam='SQL*Net message to client' ela= 1 driver id=1413697536 #bytes=1 p3=0 obj#=-1 tim=2402951857387


That is interesting.  There is no column named DB_VERSION in the APPLICATION_GLOBAL table, but there is a column named DBVERSION.  Maybe that is the cause of the Failed to enable constraints error?  After double-checking the table definition, the column is in fact supposed to be named DBVERSION, not DB_VERSION, so maybe the programmer that created the API DLLs made a typo?


Taking a look at another trace file, I found another potential problem:


PARSE ERROR #415492776:len=45 dep=0 uid=159 oct=3 lid=159 tim=2402951781868 err=942
SELECT DB_VERSION FROM VQ_APPLICATION_GLOBAL
WAIT #415492776: nam='SQL*Net break/reset to client' ela= 2 driver id=1413697536 break?=1 p3=0 obj#=-1 tim=2402951781960
WAIT #415492776: nam='SQL*Net break/reset to client' ela= 4892 driver id=1413697536 break?=0 p3=0 obj#=-1 tim=2402951786862
WAIT #415492776: nam='SQL*Net message to client' ela= 0 driver id=1413697536 #bytes=1 p3=0 obj#=-1 tim=2402951786911


There is no table in the database named VQ_APPLICATION_GLOBAL, and per the table creation script for the ERP system, that table probably should not exist.  Maybe the programmer that created the API DLLs made another typo?  Creating a virtual DB_VERSION column to see if there is any improvement:


ALTER TABLE APPLICATION_GLOBAL ADD (DB_VERSION NVARCHAR2(10) GENERATED ALWAYS AS (TRIM(DBVERSION)));


Well, that took care of the Failed to enable constraints error, but now I have a new problem when I run the C# test program:


SeeSharp2DataspaceNameVMFGC


What does “Dataspace name VMFG not found” mean?  Is that an improvement over the Failed to enable constraints error?   Let’s give the standalone executable (.EXE) that the ERP provider distributes to test the API a go on the 32 bit computer (click the picture for a larger view):


SeeSharp2DataspaceNameVMFGAPITest


“Dataspace name VMFG not found” – at least there is some level of consistency.


Switching back to the C# test program, I decided to enable a bit more of the options in the Exception Settings window (click the picture for a larger view):


SeeSharp2DataspaceNameVMFGCExcDetail


So, the “Dataspace name VMFG not found” error was thrown in the LsaDataLogic.TableDefinition.LoadTableDefinitions procedure in LsaCore.  That certainly is specific.  But, where is “VMFG” coming from, that is not the name of the database that I am trying to work with, although that is the name of a database that is frequently configured for this ERP system.  For fun I opened one of the API DLL files using Wordpad (click the picture for a larger view):


SeeSharpObjects2VMFGInDLLSource


I see VMFG. prefixing what appears to be every table that is in a SELECT type SQL statement within the DLL.  After checking with one of the most experienced ERP support people at the ERP company, the “Dataspace name VMFG not found” error was a complete mystery.  No one in support had ever seen that particular error message.  The “Failed to enable constraints.  One or more rows contain values violating non-null, unique, or foreign-key constraints.” error that I saw earlier was also a complete mystery at that line in the C# test code.


Taking another look at the multiple 10046 trace files that were created before I tried creating the virtual DB_VERSION column, I found that the API was actually sending at least four invalid SQL statements to the database:


SELECT DB_VERSION FROM APPLICATION_GLOBAL
 
SELECT DB_VERSION FROM VQ_APPLICATION_GLOBAL
 
SELECT DBVERSION , SITE_ID , COMPANY_MANAGER FROM APPLICATION_GLOBAL
 
SELECT APP_VERSION , PAY_HELP , HR_HELP FROM APPLICATION


The API was also using two different techniques to identify the name of the primary key column for a table – that table does not, and should not have a primary key per the table creation script for the ERP system:


SELECT COLS.COLUMN_NAME AS COLNAME , COLS.POSITION AS PKCOLSEQNUM FROM ALL_CONSTRAINTS CONS , ALL_CONS_COLUMNS COLS WHERE COLS.TABLE_NAME = 'APPLICATION_GLOBAL' AND CONS.CONSTRAINT_TYPE = 'P' AND CONS.CONSTRAINT_NAME = COLS.CONSTRAINT_NAME AND CONS.OWNER = COLS.OWNER ORDER BY COLS.TABLE_NAME , COLS.POSITION
 
SELECT I.INDEX_NAME AS INDEX_NAME FROM USER_INDEXES I WHERE I.TABLE_NAME = 'APPLICATION_GLOBAL' AND I.TABLE_OWNER = 'SYSADM' AND I.UNIQUENESS = 'UNIQUE' ORDER BY I.INDEX_NAME


Wow!  I asked the experienced ERP support person if any of the above makes sense.  I am not sure if I ever received a response to that question.


So, I enabled tracing for the Oracle Managed Data Provider for .Net driver used by the API with a modification to the MACHINE.CONFIG file found in the folder C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\Config.  Just before the end of the configSections section of the file (about ½ way through the file – just before the line </configSections>) I added the following line:


    <section name="oracle.manageddataaccess.client" type="OracleInternal.Common.ODPMSectionHandler, Oracle.ManagedDataAccess" />


Next, just before the </configuration> line at the end of the file I added the following lines (specify the correct location of the tnsname.ora file on the tns_admin line):


  <oracle.manageddataaccess.client>
    <version number="*">
       <settings>
          <setting name="tns_admin" value="C:\Oracle\product\11.2.0\client_1\network\admin\" />
          <setting name="TraceOption" value="1" />
          <setting name="TraceLevel" value="127" />
          <setting name="TraceFileLocation" value="C:\Trace\" />
       </settings>
    </version>
  </oracle.manageddataaccess.client>


I then created a folder named Trace in the root of the C: drive (note that if UAC (User Access Control) is enabled, it may be necessary to grant everyone full permissions to that folder if it is located in the root of the C: drive).  The generated trace files initially did not seem to provide any additional insight into the problem beyond what was found in the 10046 trace files.


Earlier this week the experienced ERP support person arranged for an cross-continent video conference call with several other people at the ERP company to help identify the source of the problems that I experienced with the API for the ERP system.  That video conference call lasted a bit over two and a half hours, with no solution, but the conference call included a demonstration that the API for the ERP system does work with the sample database that is used by the ERP company.  The support person even went so far as to record and send to me a Process Monitor trace of the successful test execution, and he also enabled a 10046 trace of the successful test execution.  We only spent a couple of minutes scanning through the 10046 trace files during the call.  Oddly enough, during the successful test execution, I noticed that the following two SQL statements appeared in his 10046 trace files with parse errors:


SELECT DB_VERSION FROM APPLICATION_GLOBAL
  
SELECT DB_VERSION FROM VQ_APPLICATION_GLOBAL


Interesting, and when I pointed out those two parse errors (again, along with the other two that I mentioned earlier) to the people on the video conference call, no one knew why those SQL statements were attempted to be executed.  Along with the Process Monitor trace, the senior support person sent a copy of their sample database to me, exported using Datapump, so that I could try to understand just what was corrupt on the essentially barebones Windows 7 32 bit computer.


After finding that the ERP company’s sample database worked fine with my essentially barebones Windows 7 32 bit computer, I made a somewhat important conclusion.  The “Dataspace name VMFG not found” error is bad news, essentially it means that the API does not think that it is accessing a Visual Manufacturing database.  The DB_VERSION queries against the APPLICATION_GLOBAL table and VQ_APPLICATION_GLOBAL are apparently supposed to fail!  But why could someone on that 2.5+ hour cross-continent video conference call not come to the same conclusion?  I know that two of the people on the conference call have been heavily involved with the ERP system development for well over 15 years, so the people are undoubtedly very knowledgeable about the subject.


After dropping the virtual column that I created, I then repeated the C# test program’s tests with the two databases.  Comparing the trace files for my company’s database and the ERP company’s sample database, I found a difference (see the picture below – click for a larger view).


SeeSharp2TraceCompare


Ah, I found a difference.  With the sample database, after the API’s DLL performed an OracleDataReader.Read() call, it executed an OracleDataReader.NextResult() call.  With my company’s database, after the OracleDataReader.Read() call, the API’s DLL performed an OracleDataReader.Fill() call followed by an OracleDataReader.Close() call.  Buy why?  Here is the SQL statement that appeared in the trace file just prior to the highlighted line:


SELECT ACTIVATION_KEY , ACTIVITY_UDF_LABELS , ALLOW_EMAIL_DOC , AUDIT_REPORT_TIMES , BARCODE_MULTI_JOB ,
 COMPANY_ADDR_1 , COMPANY_ADDR_2 , COMPANY_ADDR_3 , COMPANY_CITY , COMPANY_COUNTRY , COMPANY_NAME ,
 COMPANY_STATE , COMPANY_ZIPCODE , CONFIGURATION_KEY , CUST_PRICE_EFF_REQ , CUST_UDF_LABELS , DBVERSION ,
 DEF_OLDEST_INV_TYPE , DOC_UDF_LABELS , DOCUMENT_DIRECTORY , DRAWING_FILE_PATH , DRAWING_LOCATOR ,
 DRAWING_VIEWER , EURO_CURRENCY_ID , FILTER_AVAIL_TRACE , ID , INSTALL_DATE , LAST_CONVERT_DATE ,
 MAXIMUM_USERS , MFG_INTERFACE_USED , PART_UDF_LABELS , PLM_ENABLED , PLM_URL , PROGRAM_PATCH_LVL ,
 PROJ_UDF_LABELS , PURC_QUOTE_TYPE , SD_SUBGROUP_MIN , SERIAL_NO , SESSION_TIMELIMIT , SHOP_UDF_LABELS ,
 SQLBASE_DATABASE_VERSION , SSO_ENABLED , STORE_MACROS_IN_DB , TABLE_PATCH_LVL , TRIGGER_PATCH_LVL ,
 VALIDATE_LOOKUPS , VEND_UDF_LABELS , VISUAL_USER_GROUP , VQ_DBNAME , VQ_DIRECTORY , VQ_ENABLED ,
 VQ_QUERY_USE , VR_UPDATES , WFL_CMNT_PWD_REQ , WO_PRIORITY_PATH , XBAR_SUBGROUP_MIN 
FROM APPLICATION_GLOBAL APPLICATION_GLOBAL 
ORDER BY ID


The Oracle Managed Data Provider’s OracleCommand object for that SQL statement, when I executed it in another C# test program, indicated that the expected row length is 10,238 bytes.  A problem? After trying a couple of changes in my database’s APPLICATION_GLOBAL table, I noticed that the PART_UDF_LABELS, VEND_UDF_LABELS, and CUST_UDF_LABELS columns in the ERP company’s sample database were all set to NULL.  Below is the contents of the PART_UDF_LABELS column in my company’s APPLICATION_GLOBAL table:


 "% of Plate","Heat Code/Material","Customer ID","Gross Weight","Vendor","Price Each","Surcharge","Freight","EAU (Cpy to Planning Tab)","FAB/COMB"


What, a difference between a sample database and a production database (one with 20+ years of transaction history)?  🙂


I set the PART_UDF_LABELS, VEND_UDF_LABELS, and CUST_UDF_LABELS columns to all be NULL, as they are in the sample database.  All tests in API test program were successful with my company’s database with all three of those columns set to NULL.  For sake of completeness, I then copied only the original PART_UDF_LABELS column value from my company’s database to the sample database, and managed to cause the API test program to fail with the sample database.  Interesting…


I reported my findings to the senior support person at the ERP company.  While waiting for a follow up from him (he needs to be able to reproduce my results), I performed some additional testing.  The PART_UDF_LABELS, VEND_UDF_LABELS, and CUST_UDF_LABELS columns, as well as several other columns in that table, are defined as NVARCHAR2(250) data types, allowing up to 250 characters to be stored per row.  The PLM_URL column in that table is defined as NVARCHAR2(2000), allowing up to 2,000 characters to be stored per row.  I found that by putting the following value into the PART_UDF_LABELS column, the ERP company’s API test program would complete successfully:


"% of Plate","Heat Code/Material","Customer ID","Gross Weight"


Adding back a few more characters to that column value caused the ERP company’s API test program to fail the tests:


"% of Plate","Heat Code/Material","Customer ID","Gross Weight","Vendor"


I found that if the PART_UDF_LABELS, VEND_UDF_LABELS, and CUST_UDF_LABELS columns contained up to 64 characters, the ERP company’s API test program completed the tests successfully.  65 characters caused the API test program to fail the tests.  But, what about that column (PLM_URL) that permits up to 2,000 characters to be stored, surely that column cannot have a 64 character limit for companies that need to automate document creation through the ERP company’s API?  Yep, more than 64 characters in that column will also cause the API tests to fail.


To err is human, but two errors does not compute (or was it three errors identified in this article).

				

				

				
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				Categories : C#, General Technology
			


		


		
			


				
See Sharp Objects, Run with Sharp Objects, Crash with Sharp Objects – Nothing but .Net, C#, and ODP.NET – 1

				
					5
					12
					2015
				

				

					
December 5, 2015


I have been writing computer programs for a few years – the first more than 30 years ago, and have written programs in a variety of languages including C++, Cobol, Pascal, BASIC, Visual Basic, eVB, a couple of scripting languages (including JavaScript and VBScript), and a few others that are long forgotten (I could read some Fortran, but never had a need for the language).  I used Visual Basic for DOS years ago, and after toying with Visual Basic 2.0 for an hour, I wondered about the purpose of that “toy”, but interesting, programming language that allowed me to draw text boxes and drop-down lists on a form.  I bought and read cover to cover a number of books that described methods to utilize the quick development capabilities of Visual Basic to draw a user interface, and then jump out of the limited safety net of Visual Basic to harness the functionality provided by direct access to the Windows API.  The classic Visual Basic 6.0 is my favorite language so far, allowing for quick development, fast performance, and its ability to produce programs that are compatible with every Windows version from Windows NT 4.0 (and Windows 95) to Windows 10.


In my opinion, Microsoft mutated the clean, quick development programming language in Visual Basic 6.0 with the release of VB.Net.  A decade ago I had to write a program that would run on a Symbol MC3090 handheld computer with built-in barcode scanner (Symbol was later acquired by Motorola, part of Motorola’s operations were acquired by Google, and apparently Zebra is the current owner of this technology).  The MC3090 supported programs that were written in the .Net languages, such as VB.Net and C#, but not the eVB language (language was similar to VB 6.0) that was supported on the earlier Symbol PDT8146.  After a bit of head scratching, I wrote the program in VB.Net 2005.  Not only did the VB.Net solution work, it was also significantly more stable than the eVB developed solution on the PDT8146 (the hardware change may be the primary reason for the change in stability).  I still found VB.Net’s language to be cumbersome to use compared to Visual Basic 6.0 (which is very similar to the macro language in Microsoft Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook) and VBScript (which is the macro language used by the ERP system where I work).


The earlier versions of the ERP system used where I work offered a COM interface to an API (application programming interface) that could be used for a variety of activities, such as creating inventory transactions, creating purchase orders, modifying customer orders, creating work orders to produce the parts ordered by the customers, and creating the shipping records when the completed parts ship to the customers.  I relied heavily on this COM interface API with Visual Basic 6.0 (or Excel, or the macro language in the ERP system) to automate many processes that previously required manual data entry into the ERP system.  Fast forward a decade, or so, and the most recent versions of the ERP system offers only a .Net compatible API to replace the COM API.  Not only is it a .Net compatible API, but it is also not compatible with Visual Studio 2005 (I thought that .Net was supposed to mark the end of DLL Hell?).  Great, another opportunity to be forced into not using VB 6.0 for development.


I am in the process of translating a MRP (material requirement planning) program that I created 10 to 12 years ago in VB 6.0 into C# to permit the use of the new .Net API.  The program has some fairly complex programming logic that uses recursive programming to drill into the multi-level BOMs (bill of materials) – in some simple cases the multi-level BOM is associated with a single work order, while in more complex cases the multi-level BOM is associated with child, grandchild, great-grandchild, and great-great-grandchild work orders.  The goal of the MRP program is to take the open customer orders in the ERP system, and to plan the top-level, child, grandchild, great-grandchild, and great-great-grandchild work orders and the associated purchased parts so that the purchased parts are available when needed by the work orders, the parts produced by the great-great-grandchild work orders are available when required by the great-grandchild work orders, the parts produced by the great-grandchild work orders are available when needed by the grandchild work orders, the parts produced by the grandchild work orders are available when required by the child work orders, the parts produced by the child work orders are available when required by the top-level work orders, and the parts produced by the top-level work orders are available on the dates specified in the customer order.  The ideal batch (lot) quantities, of course, could be different at each of the work order levels, and the quantity due to the customer on a given date will also typically fluctuate from one day to the next.


A simple illustration of the intended end-goal of the MRP program is shown in the picture below, which is the screen capture of another program that I wrote probably 15 years ago.  The customer orders (the demand) are shown on the left half of the screen capture, and the top-level work orders (the supply) are shown on the right half of the screen capture.  The quantity ordered by the customer for shipment on a given day is variable, but the work order batch (lot) sizes are standardized by part ID.  The intended goal is to permit the completion of the production of the ordered parts one weekday (Monday through Friday) earlier than the customer’s requested ship date (so that the part from a top-level work order could complete at 11:50 PM and then ship out to the customer at 5 AM the following morning).


seesharpobjectsoverview2


After using C# for a little while, for some reason the language reminds me of an odd, but very usable cross-pollination of Visual Basic 2.0 and Borland C++ that might have happened a bit over two decades ago.  Running with sharp objects is not so bad, although there are still exceptions.


—


After that long introduction, I will show a quick demonstration of accessing Oracle database using Visual Basic 6.0 and C# (I will use the 2005 version of C# – the newer versions provide some alternate syntax that saves a few keystrokes while programming).  The VB 6.0 sample program uses Microsoft ADO (ActiveX Data Objects) and the Oracle Provider for OLE DB (an optional feature installed with the Oracle client, see this article).  The C# sample program uses ODP.Net (Oracle Data Provider for .NET, an optional feature installed with the Oracle client, may also be installed later from a download).


Some general guidelines for programs that interact with Oracle databases:


    

  • Open a database connection, and keep it open for the duration of the program, if possible.
    • 

  • Use bind variables when possible, rather than specifying literals (constants) in the SQL statement that change from one execution to the next (there are a few exceptions to this rule).  Doing so helps to minimize the performance penalty of excessive hard parses.
    • 

  • Use a consistent format for all SQL statements submitted to the database – doing so maximizes the chances that a SQL statement will not need to be hard parsed when a similar SQL statement (possibly with just one extra space in the SQL statement) is already in Oracle’s library cache.
    • 

  • Perform tasks once, if possible, rather than over and over again.
    • 

  • Minimize the number of round trips to the database.  If an operation may be executed within a loop in your program, sending requests to the database for each iteration through the loop, think outside the loop to try to construct a single SQL statement that accomplishes the same task.  For instance, retrieve the required information into program variables either before or after the loop, or perform the processing within the database instance.
    • 



For this article, we will create a couple of tables and a sequence in the database for use in the program by using SQL*Plus:


CREATE TABLE PO(
  ORDER_ID VARCHAR2(15),
  VENDOR_ID VARCHAR2(15),
  ORDER_DATE DATE,
  SHIP_TO_ID NUMBER(4),
  PRIMARY KEY (ORDER_ID));
 
CREATE TABLE PO_LINE(
  ORDER_ID VARCHAR2(15),
  LINE_NO NUMBER(4),
  PART_ID VARCHAR2(30),
  QTY NUMBER(14,4),
  PRICE NUMBER(14,4),
  DUE_DATE DATE,
  PRIMARY KEY (ORDER_ID, LINE_NO));
 
CREATE TABLE PO_TRANS(
  TRANSACTION_ID NUMBER(14),
  VENDOR_ID VARCHAR2(15),
  PART_ID VARCHAR2(30),
  QTY NUMBER(14,4),
  DUE_DATE DATE,
  UNKNOWN NUMBER(14,4),
  PRIMARY KEY (TRANSACTION_ID));
 
CREATE SEQUENCE PO_TRANS_ID START WITH 1000;


The first step for VB 6.0 is to add a reference to one of the Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects Library versions.  To access this window, select References… from the Project menu:


SeeSharpObjectsDataAccessReferenceVB6-2


The first step for C# is to add a reference to Oracle.DataAccess.  To access this window, select Add Reference… from the Project menu:


SeeSharpObjectsDataAccessReferenceCS-2


C# also requires a couple of using entries to be added to the top of the program form and class code sections.  For example (the last two lines):


using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using Oracle.DataAccess.Client; // ODP.NET Oracle managed provider
using Oracle.DataAccess.Types; // ODP.NET Oracle managed provider


 


Since I only want to create a single connection to the database, and maintain that connection for potential use within a couple of program forms or code modules, in VB 6.0 I will create a module with a Global variable to maintain the database connection (note that I did not include the New keyword before ADODB, while I have not personally performed a comparison of the performance, a couple of books indicate that including the New keyword incurs a performance penalty with every access of that variable).


Global dbConnection As ADODB.Connection


In C# I would also want to have the ability to maintain that database connection for potential use within a couple of program forms or class modules, so in C# we will create a new class that I will name Global.  Inside the class module we will modify the class definition so that it is public, and create a public static variable named dbConnection that is of the type OracleConnection – the public static variable will be accessible from other code sections in the program without having to create an instance of the Global class.  The Global class should appear similar to what is seen below:


using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using Oracle.DataAccess.Client; // ODP.NET Oracle managed provider
using Oracle.DataAccess.Types; // ODP.NET Oracle managed provider
 
namespace SeeSharpObjectsSample
{
    public class Global
    {
        public static OracleConnection dbConnection;
    }
}


In VB 6.0 we will add some code to the Form_Load event procedure to connect to the database.  In VB 6.0, double-click the form’s background to open the code module for the Form_Load event procedure.  In the procedure we will declare a strSQL variable that will be used later in the Form_Load procedure and a strConnection variable.  On Error Resume Next will permit the program to recover gracefully if a command, such as the connection attempt, fails.  The code will connect to the or1212 database (most likely using the tnsnames.ora file to locate the database), connecting as the testuser user which also has a password of testuser, instruct the computer to set the array fetch size to 100 (to retrieve up to 100 rows with a single database fetch call), and to allow up to 40 seconds for the connection to complete.  If the connection fails, an error message is displayed on screen, and the program ends:


Private Sub Form_Load()
    Dim strSQL As String
    Dim strConnection As String
    
    On Error Resume Next
    
    strConnection = "Provider=OraOLEDB.Oracle;Data Source=or1212;User ID=testuser;Password=testuser;FetchSize=100;"
    
    Set dbConnection = New ADODB.Connection
    dbConnection.ConnectionTimeout = 40
    dbConnection.CursorLocation = adUseClient
    dbConnection.ConnectionString = strConnection
    
    dbConnection.Open
    
    If (dbConnection.State <> 1) Then
        MsgBox "Not connected to the database, program ending." & vbCrLf & Error
        End
    Else
        MsgBox "Connected"
    End If
End Sub


In C# we will add some code to the _Load event procedure to connect to the database.  In C#, double-click the form’s background to open the code module for the _Load event procedure.  In the procedure we will declare a strSQL variable that will be used later in the _Load procedure and a strConnection variable.  The try { } and catch { } blocks permit the program to recover gracefully if a command, such as the connection attempt, fails.  The code will connect to the or1212 database (most likely using the tnsnames.ora file to locate the database), connecting as the testuser user which also has a password of testuser, and to allow up to 40 seconds for the connection to complete.  In C# the array fetch size cannot be defaulted to 100, instead the array fetch size must be specified in the parameters of the individual OracleDataReader objects.  If the connection fails, an error message is displayed on screen, and the program ends:


private void frmSeeSharpObjects_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    string strSQL = "";
    string strConnection = "Data Source=or1212;User ID=testuser;Password=testuser;Connection Timeout=40;";
    
    try
    {
        Global.dbConnection = new OracleConnection(strConnection);
        
        Global.dbConnection.Open();
        MessageBox.Show("Connected");
    }
    catch (OracleException ex)
    {
        MessageBox.Show ("Not connected to the database, program ending." + "\n" + ex.Message.ToString() );
        Application.Exit();
    }
}


At this point, both of the programs should be able to run and connect to the database (Connected should appear in a window on the screen).  I happen to be using the 64 bit version of Windows for development, and need to use the 32 bit Oracle Client (and ODP.NET), so I encountered a few complications – Visual Studio added a reference to the 64 bit Oracle.DataAccess.dll.  As a result, I received an error similar to “Data provider internal error(-3000)”.  Completely fixing this issue required a little bit of work, and might require a different procedure on your computer.  First, I had to select projectname Properties from the Project menu and change the Platform target from Any CPU to x86:


SeeSharpObjectsPropertiesPlatform


I then saw the following warning in Visual Studio: “Assembly generation — Referenced assembly ‘Oracle.DataAccess.dll’ targets a different processor”.  The properties for the Oracle.DataAccess reference in the Solution Explorer showed that the Path property pointed to the 64 bit DLL.  In my case, the 32 bit DLL was in a different Oracle home, specifically located at C:\Oracle\product\11.2.0\client_1\ODP.NET\bin\2.x\Oracle.DataAccess.dll – I did not see any simple method to quickly reference the 32 bit DLL, rather than the 64 bit DLL.  So, I right-clicked Oracle.DataAccess in the References list and selected Remove from the menu.  To add the reference to the 32 bit DLL, I selected Add Reference… from the Project menu, selected the Browse tab, navigated to the C:\Oracle\product\11.2.0\client_1\ODP.NET\bin\2.x folder (the 32 bit ODP.NET driver may be in a different folder on your computer), selected the Oracle.DataAccess.dll file and then clicked OK:


SeeSharpObjectsBrowseReference


The above steps fixed the problems, and allowed the C# program to connect to the database (I thought that .Net was supposed to mark the end of DLL Hell?).  Moving on…


Next, I want to set up ADO Command objects in the VB 6.0 project and OracleCommand objects in the C# project to insert into the three test tables, and to execute a SELECT statement.  Since the routines for inserting into the tables and selecting the data could be called many times in the program, I only want to set up these command objects once, and then use those command objects multiple times.  In the General section of the VB 6.0 form code (above the Private Sub Form_Load() ) line, add the following to create four ADO command objects:


Dim comInsertPO As ADODB.Command
Dim comInsertPOLine As ADODB.Command
Dim comInsertPOTrans As ADODB.Command
Dim comSelectPO As ADODB.Command


In the C# form code, below the opening bracket of the line “public partial class frmSeeSharpObjects : Form“, add the following lines (note, frmSeeSharpObjects is the name of the form that I created for this project):


        OracleCommand comInsertPO;
        OracleCommand comInsertPOLine;
        OracleCommand comInsertPOTrans;
        OracleCommand comSelectPO;


In the VB 6.0 form code, just before the End Sub in the Form_Load() event procedure, we will add additional code to create and configure the four ADO command objects.  ADO uses ? characters as bind variable placeholders:


    Set comInsertPO = New ADODB.Command
    With comInsertPO
        strSQL = "INSERT INTO PO(" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ORDER_ID," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  VENDOR_ID," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ORDER_DATE," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  SHIP_TO_ID)" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "VALUES(" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ?," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ?," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ?," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ?)"
    
        .CommandText = strSQL
        .CommandType = adCmdText
        .CommandTimeout = 30


        .ActiveConnection = dbConnection


        'Add the bind variables
        .Parameters.Append .CreateParameter("order_id", adVarChar, adParamInput, 15, "12345678910")
        .Parameters.Append .CreateParameter("vendor_id", adVarChar, adParamInput, 15, "ABCDEFGHIJKLM")
        .Parameters.Append .CreateParameter("order_date", adDate, adParamInput, 8, Now)
        .Parameters.Append .CreateParameter("ship_to_id", adNumeric, adParamInput, 8, 0)
    End With
        
    Set comInsertPOLine = New ADODB.Command
    With comInsertPOLine
        strSQL = "INSERT INTO PO_LINE(" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ORDER_ID," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  LINE_NO," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  PART_ID," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  QTY," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  PRICE," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  DUE_DATE)" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "VALUES(" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ?," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ?," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ?," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ?," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ?," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ?)"
    
        .CommandText = strSQL
        .CommandType = adCmdText
        .CommandTimeout = 30


        .ActiveConnection = dbConnection


        'Add the bind variables
        .Parameters.Append .CreateParameter("order_id", adVarChar, adParamInput, 15, "12345678910")
        .Parameters.Append .CreateParameter("line_no", adNumeric, adParamInput, 8, 1)
        .Parameters.Append .CreateParameter("part_id", adVarChar, adParamInput, 15, "ABCDEFGHIJKLM")
        .Parameters.Append .CreateParameter("qty", adDouble, adParamInput, 15, 1)
        .Parameters.Append .CreateParameter("price", adDouble, adParamInput, 15, 1)
        .Parameters.Append .CreateParameter("due_date", adDate, adParamInput, 15)
    End With
    
    Set comInsertPOTrans = New ADODB.Command
    With comInsertPOTrans
        strSQL = "INSERT INTO PO_TRANS(" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  TRANSACTION_ID," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  VENDOR_ID," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  PART_ID," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  QTY," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  DUE_DATE," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  UNKNOWN)" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "VALUES(" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  PO_TRANS_ID.NEXTVAL," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ?," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ?," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ?," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ?," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  ?)"
   
        .CommandText = strSQL
        .CommandType = adCmdText
        .CommandTimeout = 30


        .ActiveConnection = dbConnection


        'Add the bind variables
        .Parameters.Append .CreateParameter("vendor_id", adVarChar, adParamInput, 15, "ABCDEFGHIJKLM")
        .Parameters.Append .CreateParameter("part_id", adVarChar, adParamInput, 15, "ABCDEFGHIJKLM")
        .Parameters.Append .CreateParameter("qty", adDouble, adParamInput, 15, 1)
        .Parameters.Append .CreateParameter("due_date", adDate, adParamInput, 15)
        .Parameters.Append .CreateParameter("unknown", adDouble, adParamInput, 15, 1)
    End With
    
    Set comSelectPO = New ADODB.Command
    With comSelectPO
        strSQL = "SELECT" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  P.VENDOR_ID," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  PL.PART_ID," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  PL.QTY," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  PL.DUE_DATE" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "FROM" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  PO P," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  PO_LINE PL" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "WHERE" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  P.ORDER_ID=PL.ORDER_ID" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  AND P.ORDER_DATE>=TRUNC(SYSDATE-30)" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "ORDER BY" & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  P.VENDOR_ID," & vbCrLf
        strSQL = strSQL & "  PL.PART_ID"
        
        .CommandText = strSQL
        .CommandType = adCmdText
        .CommandTimeout = 30


        .ActiveConnection = dbConnection
    End With


Now to add the equivalent code to the _Load event procedure code in C# just before the closing } of the procedure (ODP.NET uses : followed by an identifier as bind variable placeholders):


strSQL = "INSERT INTO PO(" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " ORDER_ID," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " VENDOR_ID," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " ORDER_DATE," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " SHIP_TO_ID)" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + "VALUES(" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " :1," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " :2," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " :3," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " :4)";
 
comInsertPO = new OracleCommand(strSQL, Global.dbConnection);
//comInsertPO.CommandText = strSQL;
comInsertPO.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
comInsertPO.CommandTimeout = 30;
comInsertPO.BindByName = false;
 
//Add the bind variables
comInsertPO.Parameters.Add("order_id", OracleDbType.Varchar2, 15, "12345678910", ParameterDirection.Input);
comInsertPO.Parameters.Add("vendor_id", OracleDbType.Varchar2, 15, "ABCDEFGHIJKLM", ParameterDirection.Input);
comInsertPO.Parameters.Add("order_date", OracleDbType.Date, 8, DateTime.Now, ParameterDirection.Input);
comInsertPO.Parameters.Add("ship_to_id", OracleDbType.Long, 8, 0, ParameterDirection.Input);
 
strSQL = "INSERT INTO PO_LINE(" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " ORDER_ID," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " LINE_NO," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " PART_ID," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " QTY," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " PRICE," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " DUE_DATE)" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + "VALUES(" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " :1," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " :2," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " :3," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " :4," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " :5," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " :6)";
 
comInsertPOLine = new OracleCommand(strSQL, Global.dbConnection);
//comInsertPOLine.CommandText = strSQL;
comInsertPOLine.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
comInsertPOLine.CommandTimeout = 30;
comInsertPOLine.BindByName = false;
 
//Add the bind variables
comInsertPOLine.Parameters.Add("order_id", OracleDbType.Varchar2, 15, "12345678910", ParameterDirection.Input);
comInsertPOLine.Parameters.Add("line_no", OracleDbType.Long, 8, 1, ParameterDirection.Input);
comInsertPOLine.Parameters.Add("part_id", OracleDbType.Varchar2, 15, "ABCDEFGHIJKLM", ParameterDirection.Input);
comInsertPOLine.Parameters.Add("qty", OracleDbType.Double, 15, 1, ParameterDirection.Input);
comInsertPOLine.Parameters.Add("price", OracleDbType.Double, 15, 1, ParameterDirection.Input);
comInsertPOLine.Parameters.Add("due_date", OracleDbType.Date, 15, ParameterDirection.Input);
 
strSQL = "INSERT INTO PO_TRANS(" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " TRANSACTION_ID," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " VENDOR_ID," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " PART_ID," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " QTY," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " DUE_DATE," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " UNKNOWN)" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + "VALUES(" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " PO_TRANS_ID.NEXTVAL," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " :1," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " :2," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " :3," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " :4," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " :5)";
 
comInsertPOTrans = new OracleCommand(strSQL, Global.dbConnection);
//comInsertPOTrans.CommandText = strSQL;
comInsertPOTrans.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
comInsertPOTrans.CommandTimeout = 30;
comInsertPOTrans.BindByName = false;
 
//Add the bind variables
comInsertPOTrans.Parameters.Add("vendor_id", OracleDbType.Varchar2, 15, "ABCDEFGHIJKLM", ParameterDirection.Input);
comInsertPOTrans.Parameters.Add("part_id", OracleDbType.Varchar2, 15, "ABCDEFGHIJKLM", ParameterDirection.Input);
comInsertPOTrans.Parameters.Add("qty", OracleDbType.Double, 15, 1, ParameterDirection.Input);
comInsertPOTrans.Parameters.Add("due_date", OracleDbType.Date, 15, ParameterDirection.Input);
comInsertPOTrans.Parameters.Add("unknown", OracleDbType.Double, 15, 1, ParameterDirection.Input);
 
strSQL = "SELECT" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " P.VENDOR_ID," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " PL.PART_ID," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " PL.QTY," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " PL.DUE_DATE" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + "FROM" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " PO P," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " PO_LINE PL" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + "WHERE" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " P.ORDER_ID=PL.ORDER_ID" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " AND P.ORDER_DATE>=TRUNC(SYSDATE-30)" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + "ORDER BY" + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " P.VENDOR_ID," + "\n";
strSQL = strSQL + " PL.PART_ID";
 
comSelectPO = new OracleCommand(strSQL, Global.dbConnection);
//comSelectPO.CommandText = strSQL;
comSelectPO.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
comSelectPO.CommandTimeout = 30;


It should be possible to run the program now without generating errors, but the program will not do much other than connect to the database at this point.  Now that the basic setup is out of the way, we will create a Command Button in VB 6.0 (a Button in C#) and set its name to cmdProcess.  In VB 6.0, double-click the command button to access the Click event code for the command button.  Add the following code, which will add a few rows to the PO and PO_LINE tables, select some of the rows from those tables with a join on the ORDER_ID column in each table, and then insert rows into the PO_TRANS table using the SELECT resultset.  Note that it is possible to generate a 10046 trace at level 4 (with bind variables) by removing the ‘ character on the line below the On Error Resume Next line.  Note too that it is only necessary to specify the value of bind variables if those values must change after each INSERT is executed:


Private Sub cmdProcess_Click()
    Dim snpData As ADODB.Recordset
    
    On Error Resume Next
    
    'dbConnection.Execute "ALTER SESSION SET EVENTS '10046 TRACE NAME CONTEXT FOREVER, LEVEL 4'"
    
    dbConnection.BeginTrans
    
    comInsertPO("order_id") = "A10000"
    comInsertPO("vendor_id") = "BUBBA GUMP"
    comInsertPO("order_date") = DateAdd("d", -62, Date)
    comInsertPO("ship_to_id") = 1
    comInsertPO.Execute
    
    comInsertPO("order_id") = "A10001"
    comInsertPO("order_date") = DateAdd("d", -25, Date)
    comInsertPO.Execute
    
    comInsertPO("order_id") = "A10002"
    comInsertPO("vendor_id") = "POPPA GUMP"
    comInsertPO("order_date") = DateAdd("d", -20, Date)
    comInsertPO("ship_to_id") = 1
    comInsertPO.Execute
    
    comInsertPO("order_id") = "A10003"
    comInsertPO("order_date") = DateAdd("d", -2, Date)
    comInsertPO("ship_to_id") = 1
    comInsertPO.Execute
    
    comInsertPO("order_id") = "A10004"
    comInsertPO("vendor_id") = "POPPA SMURF"
    comInsertPO("order_date") = DateAdd("d", -1, Date)
    comInsertPO("ship_to_id") = 1
    comInsertPO.Execute
    
    comInsertPOLine("order_id") = "A10000"
    comInsertPOLine("line_no") = 1
    comInsertPOLine("part_id") = "SPAM"
    comInsertPOLine("qty") = 5
    comInsertPOLine("price") = 10.25
    comInsertPOLine("due_date") = DateAdd("d", -1, Date)
    comInsertPOLine.Execute
    
    comInsertPOLine("line_no") = 2
    comInsertPOLine("due_date") = DateAdd("d", 3, Date)
    comInsertPOLine.Execute
    
    comInsertPOLine("line_no") = 3
    comInsertPOLine("due_date") = DateAdd("d", 6, Date)
    comInsertPOLine.Execute


    comInsertPOLine("order_id") = "A10001"
    comInsertPOLine("line_no") = 1
    comInsertPOLine("part_id") = "STEAK"
    comInsertPOLine("qty") = 3
    comInsertPOLine("price") = 21.85
    comInsertPOLine("due_date") = DateAdd("d", -20, Date)
    comInsertPOLine.Execute
    
    comInsertPOLine("line_no") = 2
    comInsertPOLine("qty") = 4
    comInsertPOLine("due_date") = DateAdd("d", 10, Date)
    comInsertPOLine.Execute
    
    comInsertPOLine("line_no") = 3
    comInsertPOLine("qty") = 3
    comInsertPOLine("due_date") = DateAdd("d", 15, Date)
    comInsertPOLine.Execute


    comInsertPOLine("order_id") = "A10002"
    comInsertPOLine("line_no") = 1
    comInsertPOLine("part_id") = "CHUCKBURGER"
    comInsertPOLine("qty") = 3
    comInsertPOLine("price") = 15.01
    comInsertPOLine("due_date") = DateAdd("d", 10, Date)
    comInsertPOLine.Execute
    
    comInsertPOLine("order_id") = "A10003"
    comInsertPOLine("line_no") = 1
    comInsertPOLine("part_id") = "BACON"
    comInsertPOLine("qty") = 3
    comInsertPOLine("price") = 16.49
    comInsertPOLine("due_date") = DateAdd("d", 9, Date)
    comInsertPOLine.Execute
    
    comInsertPOLine("line_no") = 2
    comInsertPOLine("part_id") = "EGGS"
    comInsertPOLine("qty") = 19
    comInsertPOLine("price") = 0.49
    comInsertPOLine("due_date") = DateAdd("d", 9, Date)
    comInsertPOLine.Execute
    
    comInsertPOLine("order_id") = "A10004"
    comInsertPOLine("line_no") = 1
    comInsertPOLine("part_id") = "ROASTBEEF"
    comInsertPOLine("qty") = 200
    comInsertPOLine("price") = 11.99
    comInsertPOLine("due_date") = DateAdd("d", 30, Date)
    comInsertPOLine.Execute


    Set snpData = comSelectPO.Execute
    
    If (snpData.State <> 1) Then
        MsgBox "SQL statement did not execute."
    Else
        If (snpData.EOF = True) Then
            MsgBox "No rows returned from the database."
        Else
            Do While Not (snpData.EOF)
                comInsertPOTrans("vendor_id") = snpData("vendor_id")
                comInsertPOTrans("part_id") = snpData("part_id")
                comInsertPOTrans("qty") = snpData("qty") * 1.5
                comInsertPOTrans("due_date") = DateAdd("m", -1, snpData("due_date"))
                comInsertPOTrans("unknown") = Rnd * 100
                comInsertPOTrans.Execute
                
                snpData.MoveNext
            Loop
        End If
        
        snpData.Close
    End If
    
    If Err = 0 Then
        dbConnection.CommitTrans
        
        MsgBox "Processing finished successfully."
    Else
        dbConnection.RollbackTrans
        
        MsgBox "Could not update the database due to an error." & vbCrLf & Error
    End If
End Sub


Now to add the nearly equivalent C# code – the only major difference is that the C# code jumps out of the try block to the catch block when the first error is encountered, while in the VB 6.0 code, due to the usage of the On Error Resume Next command, the processing simply continues when an error occurs.  Note that it is possible to generate a 10046 trace at level 4 (with bind variables) by removing the // characters on the two lines just after the try block begins:


private void cmdProcess_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    Random rndSequence = new Random();
    OracleDataReader snpData;
    OracleTransaction oraTransaction;
    oraTransaction = Global.dbConnection.BeginTransaction(IsolationLevel.ReadCommitted);
 
    try
    {
        //OracleCommand comTrace = new OracleCommand("ALTER SESSION SET EVENTS '10046 TRACE NAME CONTEXT FOREVER, LEVEL 4'", Global.dbConnection);
        //comTrace.ExecuteNonQuery();
        
        comInsertPO.Parameters["order_id"].Value = "A10000";
        comInsertPO.Parameters["vendor_id"].Value = "BUBBA GUMP";
        comInsertPO.Parameters["order_date"].Value = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-62);
        comInsertPO.Parameters["ship_to_id"].Value = 1;
        comInsertPO.ExecuteNonQuery();
        
        comInsertPO.Parameters["order_id"].Value = "A10001";
        comInsertPO.Parameters["order_date"].Value = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-25);
        comInsertPO.ExecuteNonQuery();
        
        comInsertPO.Parameters["order_id"].Value = "A10002";
        comInsertPO.Parameters["vendor_id"].Value = "POPPA GUMP";
        comInsertPO.Parameters["order_date"].Value = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-20);
        comInsertPO.Parameters["ship_to_id"].Value = 1;
        comInsertPO.ExecuteNonQuery();
        
        comInsertPO.Parameters["order_id"].Value = "A10003";
        comInsertPO.Parameters["order_date"].Value = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-2);
        comInsertPO.Parameters["ship_to_id"].Value = 1;
        comInsertPO.ExecuteNonQuery();
        
        comInsertPO.Parameters["order_id"].Value = "A10004";
        comInsertPO.Parameters["vendor_id"].Value = "POPPA SMURF";
        comInsertPO.Parameters["order_date"].Value = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-1);
        comInsertPO.Parameters["ship_to_id"].Value = 1;
        comInsertPO.ExecuteNonQuery();
        
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["order_id"].Value = "A10000";
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["line_no"].Value = 1;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["part_id"].Value = "SPAM";
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["qty"].Value = 5;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["price"].Value = 10.25;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["due_date"].Value = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-1);
        comInsertPOLine.ExecuteNonQuery();
        
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["line_no"].Value = 2;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["due_date"].Value = DateTime.Today.AddDays(3);
        comInsertPOLine.ExecuteNonQuery();
        
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["line_no"].Value = 3;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["due_date"].Value = DateTime.Today.AddDays(6);
        comInsertPOLine.ExecuteNonQuery();
        
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["order_id"].Value = "A10001";
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["line_no"].Value = 1;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["part_id"].Value = "STEAK";
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["qty"].Value = 3;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["price"].Value = 21.85;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["due_date"].Value = DateTime.Today.AddDays(-20);
        comInsertPOLine.ExecuteNonQuery();
        
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["line_no"].Value = 2;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["qty"].Value = 4;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["due_date"].Value = DateTime.Today.AddDays(10);
        comInsertPOLine.ExecuteNonQuery();
        
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["line_no"].Value = 3;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["qty"].Value = 3;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["due_date"].Value = DateTime.Today.AddDays(15);
        comInsertPOLine.ExecuteNonQuery();
        
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["order_id"].Value = "A10002";
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["line_no"].Value = 1;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["part_id"].Value = "CHUCKBURGER";
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["qty"].Value = 3;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["price"].Value = 15.01;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["due_date"].Value = DateTime.Today.AddDays(10);
        comInsertPOLine.ExecuteNonQuery();
        
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["order_id"].Value = "A10003";
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["line_no"].Value = 1;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["part_id"].Value = "BACON";
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["qty"].Value = 3;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["price"].Value = 16.49;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["due_date"].Value = DateTime.Today.AddDays(9);
        comInsertPOLine.ExecuteNonQuery();
        
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["line_no"].Value = 2;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["part_id"].Value = "EGGS";
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["qty"].Value = 19;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["price"].Value = 0.49;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["due_date"].Value = DateTime.Today.AddDays(9);
        comInsertPOLine.ExecuteNonQuery();
        
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["order_id"].Value = "A10004";
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["line_no"].Value = 1;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["part_id"].Value = "ROASTBEEF";
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["qty"].Value = 200;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["price"].Value = 11.99;
        comInsertPOLine.Parameters["due_date"].Value = DateTime.Today.AddDays(30);
        comInsertPOLine.ExecuteNonQuery();
        
        snpData = comSelectPO.ExecuteReader();
        if (snpData.IsClosed)
        {
            MessageBox.Show("SQL statement did not execute.");
        }
        else
        {
            if (!snpData.HasRows)
            {
                MessageBox.Show("No rows returned from the database.");
            }
            else
            {
                //snpData.FetchSize = comSelectPO.RowSize * 100;
                while (snpData.Read())
                {
                    comInsertPOTrans.Parameters["vendor_id"].Value = snpData["vendor_id"];
                    comInsertPOTrans.Parameters["part_id"].Value = snpData["part_id"];
                    comInsertPOTrans.Parameters["qty"].Value = Convert.ToDouble(snpData["qty"]) * 1.5;
                    comInsertPOTrans.Parameters["due_date"].Value = Convert.ToDateTime(snpData["due_date"]).AddMonths(-1);
                    comInsertPOTrans.Parameters["unknown"].Value = rndSequence.NextDouble() * 100
                    comInsertPOTrans.ExecuteNonQuery();
                 } //while (snpData.Read())
            } //else of if (!snpData.HasRows)
 
            snpData.Close();
        }
        oraTransaction.Commit();
        MessageBox.Show("Processing finished successfully.");
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        oraTransaction.Rollback();
        MessageBox.Show("Could not update the database due to an error." + "\n" + ex.Message.ToString());
    }
}


With the above code in place, it should be possible to run the program and click the command button on the form to insert rows into the PO, PO_LINE, and PO_TRANS tables.  Of course, it is only possible to click that command button once without an error appearing on screen in either the VB 6.0 or C# programs, respectively:

SeeSharpObjectsUniqueConstraintVB  SeeSharpObjectsUniqueConstraint


To re-execute the code in the command button’s Click event, the tables must first be cleared of rows using SQL*Plus:


TRUNCATE TABLE PO;
TRUNCATE TABLE PO_LINE;
TRUNCATE TABLE PO_TRANS;


As a test, I executed the cmdProcess button in VB 6.0, and then the following SQL statement in SQL*Plus to see what ended up in the PO_TRANS table:


SELECT
  *
FROM
  PO_TRANS
ORDER BY
  TRANSACTION_ID;


Here is the output that I received (notice, no SPAM) from the processing in VB 6.0:


TRANSACTION_ID VENDOR_ID       PART_ID            QTY DUE_DATE     UNKNOWN
-------------- --------------- ----------- ---------- --------- ----------
          1057 BUBBA GUMP      STEAK              4.5 15-OCT-15    70.5547
          1058 BUBBA GUMP      STEAK                6 15-NOV-15    53.3424
          1059 BUBBA GUMP      STEAK              4.5 20-NOV-15    57.9519
          1060 POPPA GUMP      BACON              4.5 14-NOV-15    28.9562
          1061 POPPA GUMP      CHUCKBURGER        4.5 15-NOV-15    30.1948
          1062 POPPA GUMP      EGGS              28.5 14-NOV-15     77.474
          1063 POPPA SMURF     ROASTBEEF          300 04-DEC-15     1.4018


I then truncated the three tables and executed the cmdProcess button in C#.  Here is the output of the above SQL statement after executing the cmdProcess button in C#:


TRANSACTION_ID VENDOR_ID       PART_ID            QTY DUE_DATE     UNKNOWN
-------------- --------------- ----------- ---------- --------- ----------
          1064 BUBBA GUMP      STEAK              4.5 15-OCT-15    55.5915
          1065 BUBBA GUMP      STEAK                6 15-NOV-15    65.7347
          1066 BUBBA GUMP      STEAK              4.5 20-NOV-15    83.0905
          1067 POPPA GUMP      BACON              4.5 14-NOV-15    19.0149
          1068 POPPA GUMP      CHUCKBURGER        4.5 15-NOV-15    73.2245
          1069 POPPA GUMP      EGGS              28.5 14-NOV-15    61.9526
          1070 POPPA SMURF     ROASTBEEF          300 04-DEC-15    93.9571


The output is identical, with the exception of the UNKNOWN column, which is a pseudo-random number between 0 and 99.9999.  A job well done, with one complication.  What is the complication?  Think about the code logic for a minute before scrolling down.


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Thought about the complication?  No, it is not that this blog article required approximately 11 hours to write (a large percentage of that time is due to WordPress’ auto-formatting of the article).  The code violates the fifth bullet point that is listed at the start of the article.  The insert into the PO_TRANS table could have been performed by sending a single SQL statement to the database, rather than using a while or Do While loop and performing an execution of the INSERT statement for each row in the resultset.


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If you would like to use a free version of C#, Microsoft offers the Express edition with no apparent licensing restrictions and a more powerful Community edition that carries licensing restrictions.  Both versions may be downloaded from Microsoft’s website.


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On a remotely related note, a week ago a Microsoft Windows technician called about a computer problem that I was having.  My first thought was, “how did he know I was translating a VB 6.0 program to C#?”  My second thought was, “which problem?”  Sadly, I immediately recognized this call as one of those “Microsoft” support scam calls, and decided that the person on the other end of the line was not equipped to walk with, let along run with, sharp objects.  As a result, I decided to terminate the call rather quickly:

“Microsoft” support scammer: I am calling about a problem with your computer.

Me: A computer? (in a concerned voice)

“Microsoft” support scammer: Yes, your laptop computer.

Me: I don’t have a laptop computer.

“Microsoft” support scammer: Oh, your Windows tower computer.

Me: I don’t have a computer.

“Microsoft” support scammer: (Click)


The scammer gave up a little too easily – I had planned to ask her if she knew how to troubleshoot sticky key problems on my typewriter.  That is the second Microsoft tech that gave up before we had a chance to troubleshoot the virtual machine.

				

				

				
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				Categories : C#, General Technology
			


		


		
			


				
Characterset Changes

				
					9
					10
					2015
				

				

					
October 9, 2015


In 2006 I did a bit of experimentation with an Oracle characterset that supports Unicode (AL32UTF8 if I remember correctly) using Oracle Database 10.2.0.2.  That test, performed on a desktop computer with a bit less than 1GB of RDRAM (Rambus) memory, was a huge failure, and not just because the computer did not have enough memory to meet the minimum requirements for Oracle Database 10.2.0.2.  Sure, the database access was slower with a characterset that sometimes used one byte to store a single character, two bytes for other characters, and three bytes to store each of the remaining characters.  There was another, more serious problem.  I put together this article mostly as a reminder to myself to recall what I tested 9.5 years ago.


I am in the process of testing an upgrade to the most recent version of the ERP package used by the company where I work – in addition to being an Oracle DBA for the company, I am also the IT Manager and in-house expert for the ERP system.  Reading through the ERP installation documentation, I found the following:


“It is highly recommended that you perform the upgrade procedures in a test environment before you upgrade your production environment. The upgrade procedure potentially involves deleting your existing database instance. Make sure you understand the ramifications of deleting the database instance before you upgrade your production environment…  If you intend to use the same database instance name with your 8.0.0 installation as you did with your previous VISUAL installation, delete your existing database instance. Do not delete your existing instance until after you have verified that the data has been exported properly…”


“Create a new Oracle Instance. In 8.0.0, the AL32UTF8 character set and the Al16UTF16 universal national character set are used. You must create a new Oracle instance to specify these character sets.”


So, the ERP company would like for me to export the production WE8MSWIN1252 characterset (AL16UTF16 national characterset) database using Datapump, DROP DATABASE, create a new database with the AL32UTF8 characterset (AL16UTF16 national characterset), import the database using Datapump, and then start the ERP upgrade conversion utility.  The statement “you must create a new Oracle instance to specify these character sets,” was a bit of a red flag.  Something is not right with that statement.


If I followed those directions, something would certainly take a bite out of some of the data in a few critical tables:


SELECT
  *
FROM
  NLS_DATABASE_PARAMETERS
ORDER BY
  PARAMETER;
 
PARAMETER                VALUE
------------------------ ----------------------------
NLS_CALENDAR             GREGORIAN
NLS_CHARACTERSET         WE8MSWIN1252
NLS_COMP                 BINARY
NLS_CURRENCY             $
NLS_DATE_FORMAT          DD-MON-RR
NLS_DATE_LANGUAGE        AMERICAN
NLS_DUAL_CURRENCY        $
NLS_ISO_CURRENCY         AMERICA
NLS_LANGUAGE             AMERICAN
NLS_LENGTH_SEMANTICS     BYTE
NLS_NCHAR_CHARACTERSET   AL16UTF16
NLS_NCHAR_CONV_EXCP      FALSE
NLS_NUMERIC_CHARACTERS   .,
NLS_RDBMS_VERSION        11.2.0.2.0
NLS_SORT                 BINARY
NLS_TERRITORY            AMERICA
NLS_TIMESTAMP_FORMAT     DD-MON-RR HH.MI.SSXFF AM
NLS_TIMESTAMP_TZ_FORMAT  DD-MON-RR HH.MI.SSXFF AM TZR
NLS_TIME_FORMAT          HH.MI.SSXFF AM
NLS_TIME_TZ_FORMAT       HH.MI.SSXFF AM TZR


NLS_LENGTH_SEMANTICS: BYTE – so why is that a problem?


In this particular ERP system, which is designed for use by manufacturers, one of the critical tables in the database is named PART – there are quite a number of defined foreign keys in the database that point back to this particular table.  What do the columns in this table look like before the conversion?


SQL> DESC PART
 Name                    Null?    Type
 ----------------------- -------- ------------
 ID                      NOT NULL VARCHAR2(30)
 DESCRIPTION                      VARCHAR2(40)
 STOCK_UM                NOT NULL VARCHAR2(15)
 PLANNING_LEADTIME       NOT NULL NUMBER
 ORDER_POLICY            NOT NULL CHAR(1)
 ORDER_POINT                      NUMBER(14,4)
 SAFETY_STOCK_QTY                 NUMBER(14,4)
 FIXED_ORDER_QTY                  NUMBER(14,4)
...


Where is the potential problem with exporting everything, dropping the database, creating a new database with a different characterset, and then importing the data.  When I tested the procedure in 2006 I found that one or two rows would not re-import into the PART table due to the values of some columns being too long.  Too long?  Funny things (or not so funny things) happen when the foreign keys are created after the table data import if one or two rows referenced by other tables are not in the PART table.  It took me a couple of minutes to recreate the SQL statement that I set up in 2006 to see what caused the import problem – that SQL statement is shown below:


SELECT
  ID,
  DESCRIPTION,
  LENGTHB(DESCRIPTION) CUR_BYTE_LEN,
  LENGTHB(CONVERT(DESCRIPTION, 'AL32UTF8', 'WE8MSWIN1252')) NEW_BYTE_LEN
FROM
  PART
WHERE
  LENGTHB(CONVERT(DESCRIPTION, 'AL32UTF8', 'WE8MSWIN1252'))>LENGTHB(DESCRIPTION);


The above SQL statement instructs Oracle Database to take a database column’s values (DESCRIPTION), consider the text stored in that column to be in the WE8MSWIN1252 characterset, translate the column values to the AL32UTF8 characterset, and then compare the byte lengths of the translated column values with the byte lengths of the original column.  If there are differences, the primary key value (ID), DESCRIPTION, and column lengths of the DESCRIPTION column before and after conversion are output.  The output was slightly different using Oracle SQL Developer, SQL*Plus on a Windows client, and SQL*Plus on a Synology NAS connected by a Windows Telnet session, so I thought that I would show screen captures of the output from all three utilities.


Oracle SQL Developer:

CharactersetsSQLDeveloper


SQL*Plus on a Windows client:

CharactersetsWindowsSQLPlus


SQL*Plus on a Synology NAS connected by a Windows Telnet session:

CharactersetsSynologySQLPlus


The DESCRIPTION column output of Oracle SQL Developer matches what appears in the ERP system.  The degree character (°), center line/diameter character (Ø – might also be considered the empty set character), and registered trademark character (®) require a single byte for storage in the WE8MSWIN1252 characterset, but two bytes for storage in the AL32UTF8 characterset.  Once translated to the AL32UTF8 characterset, the description for part ID LINED021274 will be too long to fit into the maximum 40 byte long DESCRIPTION column.  Several utilities exist for scanning a database to identify similar characterset conversion issues.


The Oracle Database 11.2 documentation lists three ways to change the characterset of the database:


    

  • Migrating Character Data Using a Full Export and Import
    • 

  • Migrating a Character Set Using the CSALTER Script
    • 

  • Migrating Character Data Using the CSALTER Script and Selective Imports
    • 



—


I started wondering if it really was necessary, in this case, to change the database characterset?  I examined the table creation script that the ERP system installer would use to create a new database – below is a portion of the script to create the PART table:


CREATE TABLE PART(
 ID NVARCHAR2(30) NOT NULL,
 DESCRIPTION NVARCHAR2(40),
 STOCK_UM NVARCHAR2(15) NOT NULL,
 PLANNING_LEADTIME INTEGER DEFAULT 0  NOT NULL,
 ORDER_POLICY NCHAR(1) DEFAULT ' '  NOT NULL,
 ORDER_POINT NUMBER(14,4),
 ORDER_UP_TO_QTY NUMBER (14, 4),
 SAFETY_STOCK_QTY NUMBER(14,4),
 FIXED_ORDER_QTY NUMBER(14,4),
...


Well, that table creation script would generate a bit different table when compared with the DESC PART output that I posted above – the VARCHAR2 columns would be created as NVARCHAR2, and the CHAR columns would be created as NCHAR.  So, the new version of the ERP system will be working with NVARCHAR2 and NCHAR columns, which are already setup to use the AL16UTF16 national characterset.


I setup a test version of the database using the same Oracle Database version, and instructed the ERP conversion software to upgrade from version 6.5.2 to version 8.0 (temporarily passing the ERP database through versions 6.5.3, 6.5.4, 7.0, 7.1.1, and 7.1.2).  I measured the amount of redo generated to make certain that I would not run out of disk space in the fast (flash) recovery area during the production database upgrade (because I still had the test database in noarchivelog mode, I simply checked the redo size statistic in V$SYSSTAT at various points during the conversion).


The redo generated to upgrade from version 6.5.2 through version 7.1.2 was about 1.75 times the byte size of the tables and indexes in the ERP schema in the database.  The redo generated to upgrade from version 7.1.2 to 8.0 (the next version) required approximately 27.06 times the byte size of the tables and indexes in the ERP schema in the database!  To put those numbers in perspective with simple numbers, assume that the byte size of the tables and indexes in the ERP schema in the database is about 100GB.  The upgrade from version 6.5.2 to 7.1.2 will generate approximately 175GB of redo, so there must be at least that much space in the fast (flash) recovery area for the archived redo logs generated, if that is where the archived redo logs are placed.  The first RMAN backup might also backup the archived redo logs, and if those backups are also stored in the fast (flash) recovery area there will be a need for at least an additional 175GB in the fast (flash) recovery area.  For the upgrade from version 7.1.2 to 8.0 approximately 2706GB of redo would be generated, and again the first RMAN backup might also include those archived redo logs.


What is happening during the 7.1.2 to 8.0 upgrade?  The 7.1.2 to 8.0 upgrade finds all of the CHAR and VARCHAR2 columns in all SYSADM (schema owner) tables, and for each table, sorts those columns alphabetically, creates a new column for one of those columns (with a _NEW suffix in the column name) that is defined as NCHAR or NVARCHAR2, executes a SQL statement to set the new column value to be the same as the original column value, drops the original column, and renames the new column so that it matches the old column name.  This process is then repeated for each of the CHAR and VARCHAR2 columns in the table, before moving onto the next table.  This is likely NOT the ideal way to change the column data types as this method generates enormous amounts of redo due to the number of times each data block is modified (and also likely leads to a lot of row chaining), which if you are correctly running the database in archived redo log mode, could very well completely fill your fast (flash) recovery area several times over with the archived redo logs.  The approach implemented also causes the tables’ primary key columns to be scattered though the table definition – with Oracle Database it is faster to access the primary key columns during a full table scan if those columns are the first columns in the table definition (reference and the follow up article).


There are two other methods that I can think of right now that might have been used to reduce the amount of redo generated and preserve the column order in the tables during the 7.1.2 to 8.0 upgrade (I wonder if the ERP vendor would be willing to modify their approach?).  They could have done something like this to simply change all of the column definitions for a single table all at once in a single ALTER TABLE command:


ALTER TABLE MYCUSTOM.AUDIT_SHEET MODIFY(
  WORKORDER_TYPE NCHAR(1),
  WORKORDER_BASE_ID NVARCHAR2(30),
  WORKORDER_LOT_ID NVARCHAR2(3),
  WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID NVARCHAR2(3),
  WORKORDER_SUB_ID NVARCHAR2(3),
  PART_ID NVARCHAR2(30),
  CUSTOMER_ID NVARCHAR2(15)
  ...);


A second option is to create a new table (with a _NEW suffix in the name) with all of the columns from the original table (just with CHAR changed to NCHAR and VARCHAR2 changed to NVARCHAR2), perform a statement such as INSERT INTO PART_NEW SELECT * FROM PART;, DROP PURGE the old table, then rename the new table as the old table.


Due to the method implemented, the converted PART table after the upgrade to version 8.0 appears something like this, where the primary key column (ID) is now the 68th column in the table definition:


SQL> DESC PART
 Name                      Null?    Type
 ------------------------- -------- --------------
 PLANNING_LEADTIME         NOT NULL NUMBER
 ORDER_POINT                        NUMBER(14,4)
 SAFETY_STOCK_QTY                   NUMBER(14,4)
 FIXED_ORDER_QTY                    NUMBER(14,4)
 DAYS_OF_SUPPLY                     NUMBER
...
 DEF_SLS_TAX_GRP_ID                 NVARCHAR2(15)
 DEMAND_HISTORY            NOT NULL NCHAR(1)
 DESCRIPTION                        NVARCHAR2(40)
 DETAIL_ONLY               NOT NULL NCHAR(1)
 DIMENSIONS_UM                      NVARCHAR2(15)
...
 HTS_CODE                           NVARCHAR2(20)
 ID                        NOT NULL NVARCHAR2(30)
 INSPECTION_REQD           NOT NULL NCHAR(1)


Other tables, such as the OPERATION table, have composite primary keys that are composed of character and number columns – after the conversion to 8.0 the numeric column (the last column in the composite primary key – WORKORDER_TYPE, WORKORDER_BASE_ID, WORKORDER_LOT_ID, WORKORDER_SPLIT_ID, WORKORDER_SUB_ID, SEQUENCE_NO) is listed first in the table definition, with the other columns of the primary key scattered by alphabetic order after the numeric and date columns.


—


Thoughts and opinions about the above?  Am I being overly critical?  I did not mention that it took about five or six tries for a successful ERP upgrade – two tries failed due to a bug in the conversion utility, and the other failed attempts were caused by the conversion utility stumbling over extensions (mostly logging triggers) that I added to the database over the years (but disabled before the ERP upgrade).


–


This blog is currently at 1,001,992 views, having crossed the 1,000,000 mark a couple of days ago.  I would like to take this time to say thanks to the readers of the blog for visiting, and thanks to the ERP vendor for giving me something a bit different to think about, even if it was something that I thought about almost a decade ago.

				

				

				
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				Categories : General Administration
			


		


		
			


				
Web Pages Not Databases – Part 2: Fail2ban, Apache, IP Addresses, Linux, SELinux

				
					23
					08
					2015
				

				

					
August 23, 2015 (Modified August 31, 2015, September 14, 2015)


(Back to the Previous Article in this Series)


I started using Linux in 1999, specifically Red Hat Linux 6.0, and I recall upgrading to Red Hat Linux 6.1 after downloading the files over a 56k modem – the good old days.  I was a little more wise when I upgraded to another release a couple of months later – I found a site on the Internet that offered Red Hat Linux CD sets for a couple of dollars.  In late 2001/early 2002 I picked up a very good book about creating Linux-based IPTables firewalls, so I set up a dual firewall setup (with a DMZ in between) using a couple of spare computers.  That setup worked great in a corporate environment for several years – I even upgraded the hardware in 2006 to inexpensive Dell PowerEdge servers and installed the latest version of Red Hat Linux (I believe Fedora 5).  I was excited about the potential capabilities of this free operating system, even going so far in 2004 to use it as the operating system for the primary file servers (Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3, if I remember correctly) in an effort to save a few thousand dollars in Microsoft licensing fees (it almost worked too).


F.A.I.L.S.?  I must have put those keywords in the blog article title for a reason, or maybe not.  In 2003 I tried setting up the Frees/wan VPN server on a spare Linux computer as an alternative to having to use a 28k/33k dial up modem connection.  It was around that time that I learned the dark side of Linux and the “free” software that could be installed.  I found an old message thread that I posted in 2003 related to Frees/wan where I mentioned that I spent in excess of 2.5 months trying to make this free VPN solution work correctly.  There were several how-to articles returned by a Google search, some of which were written for other Linux variants, others did not use X.509 certificates, and others almost worked.  Making matters worse, the Red Hat Linux kernel at the time did not support X.509 certificates, so I eventually ended up installing the Working Overloaded Linux Kernel.  I recall desperately looking for a program called Setup.exe that would just take care of the problem, but no such program was found.  A couple of months after I had Frees/wan working, a security compromise was reported in all products like Frees/wan, and the Frees/wan development had been abandoned.  I learned a very important lesson that “free” software may not be free software when you consider the time that it takes to implement and maintain the free software.  I also learned another important lesson – Linux how-to articles that are more than a couple of months old may be misleading or nearly useless; Linux articles that are written for one of the other 790 Linux Distributions may be just as misleading or useless; and not everything on the Internet in a hot-to article is true/correct (this article is no exception).


With that long introduction out of the way, I thought that I would share a couple of notes that I collected along the way when I setup Fedora 22 Linux as a server for a website that uses Apache and WordPress.  I have the headache inspiring SELinux enabled on the server, as well as the latest version of Fail2ban to temporarily block IP addresses used by the clowns on the Internet that want to make the Linux server running WordPress their new best friend.  So far, Fail2ban is working great, once the how-to articles that apply to Fedora 21 or Fedora 20 are ignored, although the current version does output apparently incorrect error messages when certain commands are executed:


[fedora 22]# fail2ban-client reload wordpress-login


ERROR  NOK: ('Cannot change database when there are jails present',)


—


Protecting Fedora 22 Linux with a Firewall


In one of the recent 17 Fedora releases, there was a transition from directly calling iptables commands in a script to using a command called firewall-cmd to accomplish the same task.  So, on Fedora 22 you should no longer execute commands like this:


iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -i $INET_INTERFACE -p esp -j DNAT --to $VPN_IPADDR
 
iptables -A FORWARD -i $INET_INTERFACE -o $DMZ_INTERFACE -p udp --sport 4500 --dport 4500 -d $VPN_IPADDR -j ACCEPT
 
iptables -A FORWARD -i $INET_INTERFACE -o $DMZ_INTERFACE -p esp -j ACCEPT


Instead, with Fedora 22 the commands that are used to control the firewall have an entirely different syntax (allow access to port http 80, https port 443, ssh port 22, and ftp ports 20/21, remove access to FTP ports 20/21, and then reload and activate the changed rules):


firewall-cmd --set-default-zone=public 
 
firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-service=http 
 
firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-service=https 
 
firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-service=ssh
 
firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-service=ftp
 
firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --remove-service=ftp
 
firewall-cmd --reload


The changes do not take effect until the reload command is executed.  If you are planning to setup a publically accessible website, and you do not want the server to respond to ping requests and similar icmp requests, you might add a couple of additional firewall rules:


firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-icmp-block=destination-unreachable
firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-icmp-block=echo-reply
firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-icmp-block=echo-request
firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-icmp-block=parameter-problem
firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-icmp-block=redirect
firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-icmp-block=router-advertisement
firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-icmp-block=router-solicitation
firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-icmp-block=source-quench
firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-icmp-block=time-exceeded
firewall-cmd --reload


You might also decide to block certain web content spiders that mercilessly drain your server’s Internet bandwidth without returning any benefit to your website.  I noticed that the Baiduspider web crawler is a frequent offender, using several ranges of IP addresses.  I put an end to a large portion of the bandwidth drain from this web content spider with a simple firewall rule that blocks the IP address range 180.76.15.1 through 180.76.15.254 (don’t forget to reload after):


firewall-cmd --permanent --add-rich-rule="rule family='ipv4' source address='180.76.15.0/24' reject"


Note that you may see a message similar to the following when attempting to execute the reload command:


Error: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'query_rule'


If you see the above error message when trying to reload the firewall rules, just shout “free Linux software” five times and execute this command to restart the firewall – this command should have the same end effect as the reload command, except that this command works:


systemctl restart firewalld


Now, assume that you have setup Fail2ban’s ssh jail.  After a couple of hours you have received over 200 emails from Fail2ban telling you that it has blocked 200+ computers wanting to be best ssh friends with your server.  Obviously, you skipped the step of setting up a different port for ssh.  Modify the sshd config file (if you forgot the basic vi commands: press i to be able to make changes in the file, Esc ZZ to save the changes and exit, Esc :q! to quit without saving changes):


vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config


Assume that you want to change the ssh port from 22 to 1492 (something about sailing the ocean blue?).  Below the #Port 22 heading, add:


Port 1492


Then save the file and exit vi.  Since SELinux is enabled, we need to instruct SELinux to behave correctly when an ssh client attaches to port 1492:


semanage port -a -t ssh_port_t -p tcp 1492


Note: Using the semanage command requires another package to be installed first:


dnf install policycoreutils-python


Note 2: If you think that SELinux is blocking something that should not be blocked, SELinux may be temporarily disabled with this command:


setenforce 0


To re-enable SELinux, either reboot the server or execute this command:


setenforce 1




Next, we need to add a firewall rule to permit connections on port 1492, and reload the firewall rules (note that I am using the command to restart the firewall daemon instead due to the error that appeared with the reload command):


firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public  --add-port=1492/tcp
systemctl restart firewalld


As a final verification, make certain that the Linux firewall and SELinux recognize the new port:


firewall-cmd --list-ports
semanage port -l | grep ssh


If there are no apparent problems with the above output, restart the ssh daemon:


systemctl reload sshd.service


You may also wish to confirm which services are enabled for the Linux firewall:


firewall-cmd --list-services


—


Beating on a Linux box that lacks a monitor and keyboard is only so much fun (that old reboot joke, I guess).  If you have a Windows computer handy, the free Putty program will allow access to the ssh interface on the Linux server.  WinSCP is a helpful utility that provides Windows Explorer-like views through the ssh interface on the Linux server.


Protecting Fedora 22 Linux with Fail2ban


Fail2ban is a utility that monitors various log files on the server, looking for unexpected activity that typically originates from another computer on the network or on the Internet.  Fail2ban may be setup to take various actions when a problem is noticed, such as the same IP address failing to connect to SSH 10 times in 15 minutes.  The action may be to send an email to an administrator and/or to configure a firewall rule that temporarily blocks the offender’s IP address.  There are a few how-to articles found through Google searches that describe how to install and configure Fail2ban.  Shockingly (not really), some of those articles are more than a couple of months old (so the articles may not work with Fedora 22) and/or instruct people to modify files that explicitly state in the header:


# YOU SHOULD NOT MODIFY THIS FILE.


What to do?  What to do?


If you have not done so recently, make certain that the installed Fedora packages are up to date (dfn… another new command, what happened to the rpm command?):


dnf update


If the Apache web server is running on the server, there is a good chance that you execute commands similar to the following at some time in the past:


dnf install httpd
systemctl start httpd.service
systemctl enable httpd.service


Fail2ban is able to send emails using Sendmail, so if Sendmail is not installed, consider installing it:


dnf install sendmail
systemctl start sendmail
systemctl enable sendmail


While not directly applying to Fail2ban, SELinux, by default, blocks Apache from using Sendmail.  It is possible to verify that this is the case, and remove the restriction with these two commands:


sestatus -b | grep -i sendmail
setsebool -P httpd_can_sendmail 1


With Sendmail installed and running, we are able to proceed with the Fail2ban installation and configuration:


dnf install fail2ban ipset
dnf install whois fail2ban-sendmail
systemctl start fail2ban
systemctl enable fail2ban


The configuration file for Fail2ban that should be modified is /etc/fail2ban/jail.d/local.conf – but that file does not exist after installation.  The local.conf file references files in the /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/ directory that tell Fail2ban how to read the various log files and recognize problems using regular expressions (they look pretty irregular to me, but then I have not done much with regular expressions since that Turbo Pascal programming class years ago).  A starting point for the local.conf file with Fedora 22 and Sendmail, blocking ssh connection requests after a few incorrect login attempts from the same IP address within an hour, would look like the following (replace my.IP.address.here with your IP address so that Fail2ban will ignore your incorrect login attempts):


[DEFAULT]
bantime = 2592000
banaction = firewallcmd-ipset
backend = systemd
sender = emailaddress1@mydomain.com
destemail = emailaddress2@mydomain.com
action = %(action_mwl)s
ignoreip = 127.0.0.1 my.IP.address.here
 
[sshd]
enabled = true
findtime = 3600


The settings listed under the [DEFAULT] heading apply to all of the other sections in this file, unless those settings are also mentioned in the other sections of the file.  For example, the bantime (number of seconds to block an IP address) applies to the [sshd] section, as does the backend = systemd setting.  If we want Fail2ban to help protect WordPress, we will want Fail2ban to monitor a variety of log files, which cannot be done with the backend = systemd setting, so that setting will need to be modified in other sections for the file.  [sshd] describes the sshd jail, so we will need to select logical names for the sections of the file that will be added later.  The sshd jail was not defined (actually, not enabled – it is defined in another configuration file) when Fail2ban was first started, so we need to let Fail2ban know that it should load/reload the sshd jail configuration, and then verify that the jail is functional:


fail2ban-client reload sshd
fail2ban-client status sshd


If you wait a couple of minutes between executing the first of the above and second of the above commands, you may see output similar to this, which indicates that some candidates for blocking were identified and blocked, and a notification email was sent to the email address specified by the destemail setting:


Status for the jail: sshd
|- Filter
|  |- Currently failed: 0
|  |- Total failed:     0
|  `- Journal matches:  _SYSTEMD_UNIT=sshd.service + _COMM=sshd
`- Actions
   |- Currently banned: 307
   |- Total banned:     307
   `- Banned IP list:   1.215.253.186 101.78.2.106 103.15.61.138 103.224.105.7 103.248.234.3 103.253.211.244 ...


Protecting WordPress running on Fedora 22 with Fail2ban.


When an attempt is made to access the password protected /wp-admin section of a WordPress site, and a bad password is entered, by default WordPress silently destroys that failed connection attempt, so Fail2ban is not able to help by blocking repeat offenders.  A partial solution that I found on several websites is to add the following code near the start of the WordPress theme’s functions.php file:


add_action('wp_login_failed', 'log_wp_login_fail'); // hook failed login
function log_wp_login_fail($username) {
        error_log("WP login failed for username: $username");


Once that code is in place, some of the bad login attempts will be written to either the /var/log/httpd/error_log or /var/log/httpd/ssl_error_log file.  You might then start seeing errors such as these buried in those files:


[Thu Aug 13 10:17:43.578391 2015] [auth_basic:error] [pid 30933] [client 75.145.nnn.nnn:50683] AH01618: user admin not found: /wp-admin/css/login.min.css, referer: http://www.websitehere.com/wp-login.php
[Thu Aug 13 19:12:53.054913 2015] [:error] [pid 2060] [client 50.62.136.183:33789] WP login failed for username: k-mm
[Thu Aug 13 20:13:02.316777 2015] [:error] [pid 1873] [client 50.62.136.183:42677] WP login failed for username: k-mm
[Thu Aug 13 21:13:12.012160 2015] [:error] [pid 15701] [client 50.62.136.183:52432] WP login failed for username: k-mm.com
[Thu Aug 13 21:28:32.073261 2015] [:error] [pid 15697] [client 50.62.136.183:58571] WP login failed for username: k-mm.com
[Thu Aug 13 21:58:43.118303 2015] [:error] [pid 21245] [client 50.62.136.183:52059] WP login failed for username: k-mm.com
[Thu Aug 13 22:03:49.150456 2015] [:error] [pid 21244] [client 50.62.136.183:60540] WP login failed for username: k-mm.com
[Thu Aug 13 22:23:28.348351 2015] [:error] [pid 15688] [client 50.62.136.183:52911] WP login failed for username: k-mm.com
[Thu Aug 13 23:14:14.453002 2015] [:error] [pid 19632] [client 50.62.136.183:37700] WP login failed for username: admin
[Fri Aug 14 01:14:15.455095 2015] [:error] [pid 5085] [client 50.62.136.183:45656] WP login failed for username: administrator
[Fri Aug 14 02:14:16.478660 2015] [:error] [pid 4114] [client 50.62.136.183:53068] WP login failed for username: administrator


In the above, note the behavior of the computer at IP address 50.62.136.183 – that computer is slowly hitting the server with different username and password combination – slow so as not to set off blocking utilities like Fail2ban that might be configured to start blocking when there have been, for instance, five bad password attempt in an hour.  Note that I stated that the addition to the theme’s functions.php file would help to identify some of the bad login attempts – to see the others, the /var/log/httpd/access_log and /var/log/httpd/ssl_access_log files must also be monitored.  In those files you may see patterns such as these where a single IP address will try to rapidly and repeatedly post to the /wp-login.php file for more than eight hours straight:


85.97.41.164 - - [12/Aug/2015:17:17:34 -0400] "POST /wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 200 1628 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; Trident/7.0; rv:11.0) like Gecko"
85.97.41.164 - - [12/Aug/2015:17:17:35 -0400] "POST /wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 200 1628 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; Trident/7.0; rv:11.0) like Gecko"
85.97.41.164 - - [12/Aug/2015:17:17:36 -0400] "POST /wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 200 1628 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; Trident/7.0; rv:11.0) like Gecko"
85.97.41.164 - - [12/Aug/2015:17:17:37 -0400] "POST /wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 200 1628 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; Trident/7.0; rv:11.0) like Gecko"
85.97.41.164 - - [12/Aug/2015:17:17:38 -0400] "POST /wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 200 1628 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; Trident/7.0; rv:11.0) like Gecko"
85.97.41.164 - - [12/Aug/2015:17:17:38 -0400] "POST /wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 200 1628 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; Trident/7.0; rv:11.0) like Gecko"
85.97.41.164 - - [12/Aug/2015:17:17:40 -0400] "POST /wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 200 1628 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; Trident/7.0; rv:11.0) like Gecko"
85.97.41.164 - - [12/Aug/2015:17:17:42 -0400] "POST /wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 200 1628 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; Trident/7.0; rv:11.0) like Gecko"
85.97.41.164 - - [12/Aug/2015:17:17:43 -0400] "POST /wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 200 1628 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; Trident/7.0; rv:11.0) like Gecko"
...
109.228.0.250 - - [13/Aug/2015:01:42:43 -0400] "POST /wp-login.php HTTP/1.0" 403 3030 "-" "-"
109.228.0.250 - - [13/Aug/2015:01:42:48 -0400] "POST /wp-login.php HTTP/1.0" 403 3030 "-" "-"
109.228.0.250 - - [13/Aug/2015:01:42:49 -0400] "POST /wp-login.php HTTP/1.0" 403 3030 "-" "-"
109.228.0.250 - - [13/Aug/2015:01:42:50 -0400] "POST /wp-login.php HTTP/1.0" 403 3030 "-" "-"
109.228.0.250 - - [13/Aug/2015:01:42:56 -0400] "POST /wp-login.php HTTP/1.0" 403 3030 "-" "-"
109.228.0.250 - - [13/Aug/2015:01:42:56 -0400] "POST /wp-login.php HTTP/1.0" 403 3030 "-" "-"


Obviously, the computers at those IP addresses were up to no good, and should also be blocked.  Another interesting pattern that might be seen in the access_log or ssl_access_log files is an attacker trying to retrieve the login of the first author username in WordPress, working slowly to try logging into the website so as not to trip protection utilities like Fail2ban that identify multiple failed logins from the same IP address in a short period of time:


185.93.187.69 - - [20/Aug/2015:00:38:16 -0400] "GET /?author=1 HTTP/1.1" 302 -
185.93.187.69 - - [20/Aug/2015:00:38:20 -0400] "GET /wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 403 221
185.93.187.69 - - [20/Aug/2015:00:58:35 -0400] "GET /?author=1 HTTP/1.1" 302 -
185.93.187.69 - - [20/Aug/2015:00:58:37 -0400] "GET /wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 403 221
185.93.187.69 - - [20/Aug/2015:01:19:20 -0400] "GET /?author=1 HTTP/1.1" 302 -
185.93.187.69 - - [20/Aug/2015:01:19:22 -0400] "GET /wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 403 221
185.93.187.69 - - [20/Aug/2015:01:39:45 -0400] "GET /?author=1 HTTP/1.1" 302 -
185.93.187.69 - - [20/Aug/2015:01:39:46 -0400] "GET /wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 403 221
185.93.187.69 - - [20/Aug/2015:01:59:59 -0400] "GET /?author=1 HTTP/1.1" 302 -
185.93.187.69 - - [20/Aug/2015:02:00:00 -0400] "GET /wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 403 221


You might also see something like this in the access_log or ssl_access_log file:


220.163.10.250 - - [17/Aug/2015:21:03:43 -0400] "DELETE / HTTP/1.1" 400 226


I strongly suspect that the computer at IP address 220.163.10.250 had other uses in mind for my website.  From the documentation:


“The DELETE method requests that the origin server delete the resource identified by the Request-URI. This method MAY be overridden by human intervention (or other means) on the origin server. The client cannot be guaranteed that the operation has been carried out, even if the status code returned from the origin server indicates that the action has been completed successfully. However, the server SHOULD NOT indicate success unless, at the time the response is given, it intends to delete the resource or move it to an inaccessible location. “


A quick method to determine if a potential attacker tried to use the above DELETE request is to use the grep command to search within the ssl_access_log and access_log files:


grep "DELETE" /var/log/httpd/ssl_access_log*
grep "DELETE" /var/log/httpd/access_log*


Another set of attempted compromises that is not directed at WordPress sites are also visible in the ssl_access_log and access_log files:


162.246.61.20 - - [29/Jul/2015:02:13:11 -0400] "GET /cgi-bin/php HTTP/1.1" 404 209 "-" "-"
162.246.61.20 - - [29/Jul/2015:02:13:11 -0400] "GET /cgi-bin/php5 HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
162.246.61.20 - - [29/Jul/2015:02:13:11 -0400] "GET /cgi-bin/php-cgi HTTP/1.1" 404 213 "-" "-"
162.246.61.20 - - [29/Jul/2015:02:13:11 -0400] "GET /cgi-bin/php.cgi HTTP/1.1" 404 213 "-" "-"
162.246.61.20 - - [29/Jul/2015:02:13:11 -0400] "GET /cgi-bin/php4 HTTP/1.1" 404 210 "-" "-"
195.145.157.189 - - [30/Jul/2015:12:07:38 -0400] "GET /cgi-bin/test-cgi HTTP/1.1" 404 214 "-" "the beast"
37.144.20.31 - - [01/Aug/2015:09:34:10 -0400] "GET /tmUnblock.cgi HTTP/1.1" 400 226 "-" "-"
69.64.46.86 - - [03/Aug/2015:01:48:28 -0400] "GET /cgi-bin/rtpd.cgi HTTP/1.0" 404 214 "-" "-"
69.64.46.86 - - [14/Aug/2015:01:24:35 -0400] "GET /cgi-bin/rtpd.cgi HTTP/1.0" 404 214 "-" "-"
23:46.148.18.122 - - [16/Aug/2015:20:30:17 -0400] "GET /tmUnblock.cgi HTTP/1.1" 403 - "-" "-"
23:46.148.18.122 - - [16/Aug/2015:20:30:17 -0400] "GET /hndUnblock.cgi HTTP/1.1" 403 - "-" "-"
88.202.224.162 - - [23/Aug/2015:07:05:15 -0400] "GET //cgi-bin/webcm?getpage=../html/menus/menu2.html&var:lang=%26%20allcfgconv%20-C%20voip%20-c%20-o%20-%20../../../../../var/tmp/voip.cfg%20%2 HTTP/1.1" 404 211
80.82.65.186 - - [01/Aug/2015:08:42:51 -0400] "GET //cgi-bin/webcm?getpage=../html/menus/menu2.html&var:lang=%26%20allcfgconv%20-C%20voip%20-c%20-o%20-%20../../../../../var/tmp/voip.cfg%20%26 HTTP/1.1" 404 211
46.165.220.215 - - [16/Aug/2015:20:51:51 -0400] "GET /cgi-bin/webcm?getpage=../html/menus/menu2.html&var:lang=%26%20allcfgconv%20-C%20voip%20-c%20-o%20-%20../../../../../var/tmp/voip.cfg%20%26 HTTP/1.1" 404 211
46.165.220.215 - - [17/Aug/2015:03:09:59 -0400] "GET /cgi-bin/webcm?getpage=../html/menus/menu2.html&var:lang=%26%20allcfgconv%20-C%20voip%20-c%20-o%20-%20../../../../../var/tmp/voip.cfg%20%26 HTTP/1.1" 404 211


If any of the above appear to be interesting, you might try a Google search to see what the remote computers were attempting to compromise.


Far less obnoxious are entries that show your Nagios monitoring utility checking the website availability:


50.196.nnn.nnn - - [19/Aug/2015:09:30:54 -0400] "GET / HTTP/1.1" 200 57465 "-" "check_http/v1.4.16 (nagios-plugins 1.4.16)"
50.196.nnn.nnn - - [19/Aug/2015:09:31:07 -0400] "GET / HTTP/1.1" 200 57465 "-" "check_http/v1.4.16 (nagios-plugins 1.4.16)"
50.196.nnn.nnn - - [19/Aug/2015:09:31:42 -0400] "GET / HTTP/1.1" 200 57465 "-" "check_http/v1.4.16 (nagios-plugins 1.4.16)"
50.196.nnn.nnn - - [19/Aug/2015:09:31:47 -0400] "GET / HTTP/1.1" 200 57465 "-" "check_http/v1.4.16 (nagios-plugins 1.4.16)"


As well as random computers trying to download a file named wpad.dat (in the webserver root directory execute touch wpad.dat to create a zero byte file for that name – this is important if your client computers should not be trying to retrieve such a file and you have a custom error page configured for the website that is a feature rich web page).  There is a chance that your client computers could be searching for this file due to a specific configuration setting:


WebNotDatabaseWPAD


Example output, showing repeated requests, is shown below:


76.29.115.160 - - [20/Aug/2015:02:07:40 -0400] "GET /wpad.dat HTTP/1.1" 200 - "-" "-"
76.29.115.160 - - [20/Aug/2015:02:07:46 -0400] "GET /wpad.dat HTTP/1.1" 200 - "-" "-"
76.29.115.160 - - [20/Aug/2015:02:08:03 -0400] "GET /wpad.dat HTTP/1.1" 200 - "-" "-"
76.29.115.160 - - [20/Aug/2015:02:08:14 -0400] "GET /wpad.dat HTTP/1.1" 200 - "-" "-"


—


Regular Expression Building Assistance:





If we intend to have Fail2ban help protect WordPress running on Apache on Fedora 22 Linux, we need to first create “filter” files that contain the regular expressions needed to recognize bad guy attempted access.  The filter files are located in the /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/ directory and all end with .conf, although the .conf portion of the filename is not specified in the /etc/fail2ban/jail.d/local.conf file that we created earlier.  I will create separate filter files for ssl and non-ssl log files, although that is not required.  The first filter file is apache-wp-login.conf:


vi /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/apache-wp-login.conf


I set that file to have four regular expressions to recognize a bad guy’s attempted access (one or two of the regular expressions below may be incorrect because I have not had enough recent practice at writing regular expressions):


[Definition]
failregex = [[]client <HOST>[]] WP login failed.*
            [[]client <HOST>[]] client denied.*wp-login.php
            .*\[auth_basic:error\] \[pid.*\] \[client <HOST>.*?
            .*\[:error\] \[pid.*\] \[client .*?(?P<host>\S+):\d+\] WP login failed.*
ignoreregex =


Save the file and exit vi.  Verification of the regular expression syntax is important.  The fail2ban-regex utility will process a Linux log file of your choice using one of the regular expression filters that you create in the /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/ directory.  For example, to test the filter than was created above, execute the following command:


fail2ban-regex --print-all-matched /var/log/httpd/error_log /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/apache-wp-login.conf


Your output may be similar to what appears below (note that I processed an error_log from a previous week:


Running tests
=============
 
Use   failregex filter file : apache-wp-login, basedir: /etc/fail2ban
Use         log file : /var/log/httpd/error_log-20150816
Use         encoding : UTF-8
 
 
Results
=======
 
Failregex: 40 total
|-  #) [# of hits] regular expression
|   3) [26] .*\[auth_basic:error\] \[pid.*\] \[client <HOST>.*?
|   4) [14] .*\[:error\] \[pid.*\] \[client .*?(?P<host>\S+):\d+\] WP login failed.*
`-
 
Ignoreregex: 0 total
 
Date template hits:
|- [# of hits] date format
|  [140] (?:DAY )?MON Day 24hour:Minute:Second(?:\.Microseconds)?(?: Year)?
`-
 
Lines: 144 lines, 0 ignored, 40 matched, 104 missed [processed in 0.24 sec]
|- Matched line(s):
...
|  [Thu Aug 13 22:03:49.150456 2015] [:error] [pid 21244] [client 50.62.136.183:60540] WP login failed for username: k-mm.com
|  [Thu Aug 13 22:23:28.348351 2015] [:error] [pid 15688] [client 50.62.136.183:52911] WP login failed for username: k-mm.com
|  [Thu Aug 13 23:14:14.453002 2015] [:error] [pid 19632] [client 50.62.136.183:37700] WP login failed for username: admin
|  [Fri Aug 14 01:14:15.455095 2015] [:error] [pid 5085] [client 50.62.136.183:45656] WP login failed for username: administrator
|  [Fri Aug 14 02:14:16.478660 2015] [:error] [pid 4114] [client 50.62.136.183:53068] WP login failed for username: administrator
|  [Fri Aug 14 13:02:10.181252 2015] [auth_basic:error] [pid 30239] [client 75.145.nnn.nnn:54787] AH01618: user test not found: /wp-admin/css/login.min.css, referer: http://www.mydomain.com/wp-login.php
|  [Fri Aug 14 13:02:12.819515 2015] [auth_basic:error] [pid 30239] [client 75.145.nnn.nnn:54787] AH01618: user test not found: /wp-admin/css/login.min.css, referer: http://www.mydomain.com/wp-login.php
|  [Fri Aug 14 13:02:14.880515 2015] [auth_basic:error] [pid 30239] [client 75.145.nnn.nnn:54787] AH01618: user test not found: /wp-admin/css/login.min.css, referer: http://www.mydomain.com/wp-login.php
|  [Fri Aug 14 13:02:29.497034 2015] [:error] [pid 3357] [client 75.145.nnn.nnn:54798] WP login failed for username: k-mm, referer: http://www.mydomain.com/wp-login.php
|  [Fri Aug 14 13:02:29.531482 2015] [auth_basic:error] [pid 3357] [client 75.145.nnn.nnn:54798] AH01618: user test not found: /wp-admin/css/login.min.css, referer: http://www.mydomain.com/wp-login.php
...


The /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/apache-wp-login-ssl.conf filter file that I created is identical to the /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/apache-wp-login.conf file:


[Definition]
failregex = [[]client <HOST>[]] WP login failed.*
            [[]client <HOST>[]] client denied.*wp-login.php
            .*\[auth_basic:error\] \[pid.*\] \[client <HOST>.*?
            .*\[:error\] \[pid.*\] \[client .*?(?P<host>\S+):\d+\] WP login failed.*
ignoreregex =


After saving the file and exiting vi, we are able to test the filter:


fail2ban-regex --print-all-matched /var/log/httpd/ssl_error_log /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/apache-wp-login-ssl.conf


The wordpress-login.conf and wordpress-login-ssl.conf filter files will be used to examine the /var/log/httpd/access_log and /var/log/httpd/ssl_access_log files, respectively.


The /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/wordpress-login.conf file (note once again that one or two of the regular expressions used for matching may need to be adjusted):


[Definition]
failregex = ^<HOST> .* "POST .*\/wp-login.php HTTP/1.0" 403 .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "POST .*\/wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 403 .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "POST .*wp-login.php HTTP.1.*" 403
            ^<HOST> .* "POST .*wp-login.php HTTP.1.*" 200
            ^<HOST> .* "GET .*wp-login.php HTTP/1.*" 403 221
            ^<HOST> .* "GET ..author=1 HTTP/1.*" 302 -
ignoreregex =


The /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/wordpress-login-ssl.conf file:


[Definition]
failregex = ^<HOST> .* "POST .*\/wp-login.php HTTP/1.0" 403 .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "POST .*\/wp-login.php HTTP/1.1" 403 .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "POST .*wp-login.php HTTP.1.*" 403
            ^<HOST> .* "POST .*wp-login.php HTTP.1.*" 200
            ^<HOST> .* "GET .*wp-login.php HTTP/1.*" 403 221
            ^<HOST> .* "GET ..author=1 HTTP/1.*" 302 -
ignoreregex =


To test those two filters, use these commands:


fail2ban-regex --print-all-matched /var/log/httpd/access_log /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/wordpress-login.conf
fail2ban-regex --print-all-matched /var/log/httpd/ssl_access_log /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/wordpress-login-ssl.conf


—


Added August 31, 2015:


I have found that a couple of computers on the Internet are trying to access a variety of *.cgi files in rapid fashion, resulting in entries such as these being written to the /var/log/httpd/error_log file:


[Sun Aug 30 20:38:08.187093 2015] [cgi:error] [pid 6426] [client 64.15.155.177:53122] AH02811: script not found or unable to stat: /var/www/cgi-bin/webmap.cgi
[Sun Aug 30 20:38:08.271430 2015] [cgi:error] [pid 6230] [client 64.15.155.177:53316] AH02811: script not found or unable to stat: /var/www/cgi-bin/whois.cgi
[Sun Aug 30 20:38:08.599455 2015] [cgi:error] [pid 6094] [client 64.15.155.177:54035] AH02811: script not found or unable to stat: /var/www/cgi-bin/register.cgi
[Sun Aug 30 20:38:08.733852 2015] [cgi:error] [pid 6453] [client 64.15.155.177:54213] AH02811: script not found or unable to stat: /var/www/cgi-bin/download.cgi
[Sun Aug 30 20:38:09.048479 2015] [cgi:error] [pid 5353] [client 64.15.155.177:54516] AH02811: script not found or unable to stat: /var/www/cgi-bin/shop.cgi
[Sun Aug 30 20:38:09.533326 2015] [cgi:error] [pid 5673] [client 64.15.155.177:56107] AH02811: script not found or unable to stat: /var/www/cgi-bin/profile.cgi
[Sun Aug 30 20:38:09.736446 2015] [cgi:error] [pid 6455] [client 64.15.155.177:56274] AH02811: script not found or unable to stat: /var/www/cgi-bin/about_us.cgi
[Sun Aug 30 20:38:09.830315 2015] [cgi:error] [pid 6456] [client 64.15.155.177:56734] AH02811: script not found or unable to stat: /var/www/cgi-bin/php.fcgi
[Sun Aug 30 20:38:09.918823 2015] [cgi:error] [pid 4232] [client 64.15.155.177:56923] AH02811: script not found or unable to stat: /var/www/cgi-bin/calendar.cgi
[Sun Aug 30 20:38:10.013162 2015] [cgi:error] [pid 6423] [client 64.15.155.177:57115] AH02811: script not found or unable to stat: /var/www/cgi-bin/download.cgi
[Sun Aug 30 20:38:10.106597 2015] [cgi:error] [pid 6425] [client 64.15.155.177:57399] AH02811: script not found or unable to stat: /var/www/cgi-bin/light_board.cgi
[Sun Aug 30 20:38:10.193901 2015] [cgi:error] [pid 6426] [client 64.15.155.177:57574] AH02811: script not found or unable to stat: /var/www/cgi-bin/main.cgi
[Sun Aug 30 20:38:10.288724 2015] [cgi:error] [pid 6230] [client 64.15.155.177:57754] AH02811: script not found or unable to stat: /var/www/cgi-bin/search.cgi
[Sun Aug 30 20:38:10.516842 2015] [cgi:error] [pid 5349] [client 64.15.155.177:57949] AH02811: script not found or unable to stat: /var/www/cgi-bin/test.cgi
[Sun Aug 30 20:38:10.601953 2015] [cgi:error] [pid 6094] [client 64.15.155.177:58409] AH02811: script not found or unable to stat: /var/www/cgi-bin/file_up.cgi


If you have Fail2ban running on the webserver, and you are seeing entries like the above in the error_log file, consider creating a file named /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/apache-cgi-bin.conf with the following contents:


[Definition]
failregex   = ^.*\[cgi:error\] \[pid.*\] \[client .*?(?P<host>\S+):\d+\] AH02811: script not found or unable to stat: \/var\/www\/cgi-bin.*$
ignoreregex =


To test the above filter definition, execute this command:


fail2ban-regex --print-all-matched /var/log/httpd/error_log /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/apache-cgi-bin.conf


(Note that the steps that follow assume that the local.conf file has already been created, see the steps below.)  To set up the jail that uses the above filter, in the /etc/fail2ban/jail.d/local.conf file, you would then add the following lines, which will setup blocking when a search locates five or more matching entries from the same IP address within two days:


[apache-cgi-bin]
enabled  = true
filter   = apache-cgi-bin
logpath  = /var/log/httpd/error_log
bantime  = 2592000
findtime = 172800
port     = http,https
maxretry = 5
backend  = polling
journalmatch =


To activate the jail, execute:


fail2ban-client reload apache-cgi-bin


To see the jail status, execute:


fail2ban-client status apache-cgi-bin


Below is sample output for the above command:


Status for the jail: apache-cgi-bin
|- Filter
|  |- Currently failed: 1
|  |- Total failed:     111
|  `- File list:        /var/log/httpd/error_log
`- Actions
   |- Currently banned: 4
   |- Total banned:     4
   `- Banned IP list:   118.219.233.133 27.254.67.157 118.163.223.214 64.15.155.177


—


Added September 14, 2015:


I noticed a couple of additional suspicious access entries in the access_log file.  The first set of entries appears to be from a computer looking for a wide range of web server vulnerabilities:


185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:57:49 -0400] "GET /wp-content/uploads/samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:57:50 -0400] "GET /wp-content/uploads/samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:57:55 -0400] "POST /uploadify/uploadify.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "http://k-mm.com/uploadify/uploadify.php" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; Windows NT 5.1; en-US) Firefox/3.5.0"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:57:58 -0400] "GET /samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:57:59 -0400] "GET /samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:02 -0400] "POST /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php HTTP/1.1" 200 1 "http://k-mm.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; Windows NT 5.1; en-US) Firefox/3.5.0"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:06 -0400] "GET /wp-content/plugins/revslider/temp/update_extract/samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:06 -0400] "GET /wp-content/plugins/revslider/temp/update_extract/samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:09 -0400] "POST /php-ofc-library/ofc_upload_image.php?name=sample.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "/php-ofc-library/ofc_upload_image.php?name=sample.php" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; Windows NT 5.1; en-US) Firefox/3.5.0"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:12 -0400] "GET /tmp-upload-images/samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:13 -0400] "GET /tmp-upload-images/samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:13 -0400] "GET /large-machining-fabricating-capabilities/ HTTP/1.1" 200 50109 "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:17 -0400] "POST /components/com_creativecontactform/fileupload/index.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "/components/com_creativecontactform/fileupload/index.php" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; Windows NT 5.1; en-US) Firefox/3.5.0"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:20 -0400] "GET /components/com_creativecontactform/fileupload/files/samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:21 -0400] "GET /components/com_creativecontactform/fileupload/files/samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:27 -0400] "GET /wp-content/uploads/samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:28 -0400] "GET /wp-content/uploads/samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:31 -0400] "HEAD /plugins/editor.zoho/agent/save_zoho.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "-"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:32 -0400] "HEAD /sites/all/libraries/elfinder/elfinder.html HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "-"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:33 -0400] "POST /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?page=pmxi-admin-settings&action=upload&name=samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 200 1 "/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?page=pmxi-admin-settings&action=upload&name=samplc.php" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; Windows NT 5.1; en-US) Firefox/3.5.0"
@
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:27 -0400] "GET /wp-content/uploads/samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:28 -0400] "GET /wp-content/uploads/samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:31 -0400] "HEAD /plugins/editor.zoho/agent/save_zoho.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "-"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:32 -0400] "HEAD /sites/all/libraries/elfinder/elfinder.html HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "-"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:33 -0400] "POST /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?page=pmxi-admin-settings&action=upload&name=samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 200 1 "/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?page=pmxi-admin-settings&action=upload&name=samplc.php" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; Windows NT 5.1; en-US) Firefox/3.5.0"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:34 -0400] "GET /wp-content/plugins/wpallimport/samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:35 -0400] "GET /wp-content/plugins/wpallimport/samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:38 -0400] "POST /server/php/ HTTP/1.1" 301 - "/server/php/" "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; Windows NT 5.1; en-US) Firefox/3.5.0"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:41 -0400] "GET /server/php/files/samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"
185.25.48.89 - - [13/Sep/2015:22:58:42 -0400] "GET /server/php/files/samplc.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; Win32; WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5)"


The second set of entries appear to be from two different computers that are apparently trying to take advantage of a SQL injection attempt to deface a website, or something similar:


122.154.24.254 - - [14/Sep/2015:03:29:38 -0400] "GET /phpMyAdmin/scripts/setup.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "-"
122.154.24.254 - - [14/Sep/2015:03:29:41 -0400] "GET /pma/scripts/setup.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "-"
122.154.24.254 - - [14/Sep/2015:03:29:45 -0400] "GET /myadmin/scripts/setup.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "-"
122.155.190.132 - - [14/Sep/2015:07:52:22 -0400] "GET /phpMyAdmin/scripts/setup.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "-"
122.155.190.132 - - [14/Sep/2015:07:52:27 -0400] "GET /pma/scripts/setup.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "-"
122.155.190.132 - - [14/Sep/2015:07:52:33 -0400] "GET /myadmin/scripts/setup.php HTTP/1.1" 301 - "-" "-"


While the hacking attempts were unsuccessful, I decided that there is little point in wasting the server’s resources with similar attempts.  I created a new Fail2ban filter with the filename /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/apache-block-misc-php.conf and added the following lines to recognize the above entries in the Apache access_log file:


[Definition]
failregex = ^<HOST> .* "POST .*uploadify.php HTTP.1.*" .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "HEAD .*uploadify.php HTTP.1.*" .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "POST .*ofc_upload_image.php.*" .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "POST .*fileupload.index.php .*" .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "HEAD .*save_zoho.php .*" .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "POST .*save_zoho.php .*" .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "HEAD .*elfinder.html .*" .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "POST .*elfinder.html .*" .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET .*scripts.setup.php .*" .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "POST .*scripts.setup.php .*" .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET .*\/samplc.php .*" .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET .*\/?author=.*" .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET .*abdullkarem.*" .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET .*\/uploadify.php.*" .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET .*\/bin\/perl .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET .*wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php .*" .*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET <title>phpMyAdmin HTTP.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/phpmyadmin.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/phpMyAdmin.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/PMA\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/pma\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/admin\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/dbadmin\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/mysql\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/myadmin\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/sqlmanager\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/mysqlmanager\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/wcd\/top.xml.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/wcd\/system_device.xml.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/wcd\/system.xml.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/openurgencevaccin\/index.php.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/zeuscms\/index.php.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/phpcoin\/license.php.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/authadmin\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/backup\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/backups\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/bak\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/cbi-bin\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/ccard\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/ccards\/license.php.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/cd-cgi\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/cfide\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET \/cgi\/.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "POST .*\/fileupload\/index.php.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "POST .*\/php\/index.php.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "GET .*wp-config.php.*$
            ^<HOST> .* "POST .*\/examples\/upload.php.*$
ignoreregex =


Once the new filter file is created, test the filter to see if it allows Fail2ban to find any matching lines in the access_log:


fail2ban-regex --print-all-matched /var/log/httpd/access_log /etc/fail2ban/filter.d/apache-block-misc-php.conf


If it appears that the filter is finding matching lines, add a new jail definition in the /etc/fail2ban/jail.d/local.conf file (note that maxretry is set to 2):


[apache-block-misc-php]
enabled = true
filter   = apache-block-misc-php
logpath  = /var/log/httpd/access_log
bantime = 2592000
findtime = 86400
port    = http,https
maxretry = 2
backend = polling
journalmatch =


To activate the new jail, execute the reload command:


fail2ban-client reload apache-block-misc-php


To check the status of the new jail, execute the status command:


fail2ban-client status apache-block-misc-php


Sample output is shown below:


Status for the jail: apache-block-misc-php
|- Filter
|  |- Currently failed: 0
|  |- Total failed:     30
|  `- File list:        /var/log/httpd/access_log
`- Actions
   |- Currently banned: 4
   |- Total banned:     4
   `- Banned IP list:   114.27.9.31 122.154.24.254 122.155.190.132 185.25.48.89


—


For Fail2ban to use the filters that were just created, we must add additional lines (jail descriptions) to the /etc/fail2ban/jail.d/local.conf file:


vi /etc/fail2ban/jail.d/local.conf


At the end of the file add the following four jail definitions (note that without the backend and journalmatch lines the jails will not work due to the settings in the [DEFAULT] section of this file):


[apache-wp-login]
enabled = true
filter   = apache-wp-login
logpath  = /var/log/httpd/error_log
bantime  = 2592000
findtime = 3600
port    = http,https
maxretry = 5
backend  = polling
journalmatch =
 
[apache-wp-login-ssl]
enabled = true
filter   = apache-wp-login-ssl
logpath  = /var/log/httpd/ssl_error_log
bantime  = 2592000
findtime = 3600
port    = http,https
maxretry = 5
backend  = polling
journalmatch =
  
[wordpress-login]
enabled = true
filter   = wordpress-login
logpath  = /var/log/httpd/access_log
bantime = 345600
findtime = 86400
port    = http,https
maxretry = 6
backend = polling
journalmatch =
 
[wordpress-login-ssl]
enabled = true
filter   = wordpress-login-ssl
logpath  = /var/log/httpd/ssl_access_log
bantime = 345600
findtime = 86400
port    = http,https
maxretry = 6
backend = polling
journalmatch =


Save the file and exit vi.  Next we need to instruct Fail2ban to recognize the four new jails:


fail2ban-client reload apache-wp-login
fail2ban-client reload apache-wp-login-ssl
fail2ban-client reload wordpress-login
fail2ban-client reload wordpress-login-ssl


As an alternative to the above, we could just restart Fail2ban, which will restart all of the jails, and potentially spam your inbox with ssh blocking notifications:


systemctl restart fail2ban.service


Checking the status of the jails is quite simple to accomplish:


fail2ban-client status apache-wp-login
fail2ban-client status apache-wp-login-ssl
fail2ban-client status wordpress-login
fail2ban-client status wordpress-login-ssl


You might be curious about the emails that Fail2ban sends.  Below is a portion of an actual email that I received from Fail2ban recently:


Hi,


The IP 46.119.117.47 has just been banned by Fail2Ban after

12 attempts against wordpress-login.


Here is more information about 46.119.117.47:


[Querying whois.ripe.net]

[whois.ripe.net]

% This is the RIPE Database query service.

% The objects are in RPSL format.

%

% The RIPE Database is subject to Terms and Conditions.

% See http://www.ripe.net/db/support/db-terms-conditions.pdf


% Note: this output has been filtered.

%       To receive output for a database update, use the “-B” flag.


% Information related to ‘46.118.0.0 – 46.119.255.255’


% Abuse contact for ‘46.118.0.0 – 46.119.255.255’ is ‘abuse@kyivstar.net’


inetnum:        46.118.0.0 – 46.119.255.255

descr:          Golden Telecom LLC

netname:        UA-SVITONLINE-20100517

org:            ORG-SOGT1-RIPE

country:        UA

admin-c:        GTUA-RIPE

tech-c:         GTUA-RIPE

status:         ALLOCATED PA

mnt-by:         RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT

mnt-lower:      GTUA-MNT

mnt-lower:      GTUA-WO-MNT

mnt-domains:    GTUA-ZONE-MNT

mnt-domains:    GTUA-MNT

mnt-routes:     GTUA-RT-MNT

mnt-routes:     GTUA-MNT

created:        2010-05-17T08:47:45Z

last-modified:  2011-08-04T15:58:57Z

source:         RIPE # Filtered


organisation:   ORG-SOGT1-RIPE

org-name:       Golden Telecom LLC

org-type:       LIR

address:        15/15/6 V. Khvojki str.

address:        04080

address:        Kiev

address:        UKRAINE

phone:          +380444900000

fax-no:         +380444900048

admin-c:        AEL17-RIPE

admin-c:        NP1533-RIPE

mnt-ref:        RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT

mnt-ref:        GTUA-MNT

mnt-by:         RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT

abuse-c:        GTL6-RIPE

created:        2004-04-17T12:09:58Z

last-modified:  2015-07-17T13:48:48Z

source:         RIPE # Filtered


role:           Golden Telecom Ukraine NOC

address:        Golden Telecom

address:        4 Lepse blvr

address:        Kiev, 03067, Ukraine

phone:          +380 44 4900000

fax-no:         +380 44 4900048

remarks:        All abuse notifications have to be sent on:

abuse-mailbox:  abuse@kyivstar.net

admin-c:        AEL17-RIPE

admin-c:        NP1533-RIPE

nic-hdl:        GTUA-RIPE

mnt-by:         GTUA-MNT

created:        2007-07-25T09:02:04Z

last-modified:  2014-06-17T08:24:26Z

source:         RIPE # Filtered


% Information related to ‘46.119.112.0/20AS15895’


route:          46.119.112.0/20

descr:          Kyivstar GSM, Kiev, Ukraine

origin:         AS15895

mnt-by:         GTUA-MNT

created:        2012-03-21T09:29:14Z

last-modified:  2012-03-21T09:29:14Z

source:         RIPE # Filtered


% This query was served by the RIPE Database Query Service version 1.80.1 (DB-2)

Lines containing IP:46.119.117.47 in /var/log/httpd/access_log


I am not sure why, but this particular email did not list the lines from the access_log that matched the filter rule.


Protecting WordPress running on Fedora 22 with .htaccess Files


One step that you may want to take is to password protect the /wp-admin directory on your web server.  To do that, you would create a new Linux user with a username and password that are difficult to guess based on your website name and WordPress users – the password should be at least eight characters long with upper and lower case letters, numbers, and punctuation marks.  Then, using tips from the last post in this message thread, create a file name .htaccess in the /wp-admin directory.  Inside that file, add the following lines (replace /full/path/to/your/wp-admin with the directory where you will later create a .htpasswd file):


AuthName "Admin Area"
AuthType Basic
AuthUserFile /full/path/to/your/wp-admin/.htpasswd
require valid-user
 
<Files admin-ajax.php>
    Order allow,deny
    Allow from all
    Satisfy any
</Files>


Next use the htpasswd generator website to create an encrypted version of the password for the Linux username.  For example, if you created the Linux user hillbillyforpresident with a password of GreatScott1TrumpIsAhead? the htpasswd website would instruct you to create a .htpasswd file with the following contents:


hillbillyforpresident:$apr1$gAgbX0SU$YjtXg5pAvXrD6i.F2lh6z1


Make certain that the .htaccess file (and possibly the .htpasswd file also) have read/write access for the owner, read access for the group in which Apache runs (the Apache user should not own the files), and that the files are not world readable.  For example:


chmod 640 /var/www/html/wp-admin/.htaccess


The wp-config.php file should also be protected with similar file permissions:


chmod 640 /var/www/html/wp-config.php


The .htaccess file in the web server’s root directory should also be adjusted to control which files may be accessed.  Below the # END WordPress line in the file, consider adding the following (once you understand what the lines accomplish – note that the entry containing 123\.123\.123\.123 should allow the IP address 123.123.123.123 to access the wp-login.php file):


# Block access to files.
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^wp-admin/includes/ - [F,L]
RewriteRule !^wp-includes/ - [S=3]
RewriteRule ^wp-includes/[^/]+\.php$ - [F,L]
RewriteRule ^wp-includes/js/tinymce/langs/.+\.php - [F,L]
RewriteRule ^wp-includes/theme-compat/ - [F,L]
 
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^(.*)?wp-login\.php(.*)$ [OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^(.*)?wp-admin$
RewriteCond %{REMOTE_ADDR} !^123\.123\.123\.123$
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ - [R=403,L]
</IfModule>
 
<files wp-config.php>
order allow,deny
deny from all
</files>
 
<Files .htaccess>
 order allow,deny
 deny from all
</Files>
 
# Stop Apache from serving .ht* files
<Files ~ "^\.ht">
Order allow,deny
Deny from all
</Files>
 
Options -Indexes


WordPress and SELinux – a Headache Waiting to Attack


From what I understand, everything in the webserver’s root directory is set by default to the httpd_sys_content_t SELinux context – and sometimes that context is not present when files are copied into various subdirectories that are accessible to Apache.  The following command resets the SELinux context to the default context:


chcon -R -v -t httpd_sys_content_t /var/www/


Using FTP integrated with WordPress to install updated plugins or new WordPress versions is a bit of a nightmare because different SELinux contexts are required for the different directories – I never did find a combination that worked.  As a result, I added the following line to the wp-config.php file so that FTP integration is not necessary:


define( 'FS_METHOD', 'direct');


Of course the WordPress upload directory must have the httpd_sys_rw_content_t SELinux context, so at some point the following command would need to be executed:


chcon -R -v -t httpd_sys_rw_content_t /var/www/html/wp-content/uploads/


The same command may also need to be executed for the WordPress plugins and upgrade directories (and probably a tempfiles directory) so that it is possible to install and update plugins using the WordPress interface.  Right now I do not permit WordPress to auto-update when a new version is released (this is due to the file system permissions that I use that only allow the apache user to read the files, not change the files).  I previously created a download directory in the /var directory.  Whenever I need to upgrade WordPress to a new version I use a script with the following contents (note that the script was pieced together based on what the WordPress release notes stated needed to be updated):


cd /var/downloads
rm -rf /var/downloads/wordpress
rm /var/downloads/wordpress.tar.gz
wget https://wordpress.org/latest.tar.gz
mv latest.tar.gz wordpress.tar.gz
tar -xzf wordpress.tar.gz
chcon -R -v -t httpd_sys_content_t /var/downloads/wordpress/
chown -R FileOwnerHere:ApacheGroupHere /var/downloads/wordpress/
find /var/downloads/wordpress/ -type d -exec chmod 2755 {} +
find /var/downloads/wordpress/ -type f -exec chmod 2644 {} +
cp -av /var/downloads/wordpress/wp-admin/* /var/www/html/wp-admin/
cp -av /var/downloads/wordpress/wp-includes/* /var/www/html/wp-includes/
cp -v /var/downloads/wordpress/wp-content/* /var/www/html/wp-content/
cp /var/downloads/wordpress/*.php /var/www/html/
cp /var/downloads/wordpress/*.txt /var/www/html/
cp /var/downloads/wordpress/*.html /var/www/html/


—


The above information is consolidated from weeks, maybe months, of hammering on a seemingly simple problem – 12 years later (OK, maybe 16 years later) and I am still in search of the Linux program named Setup.exe that configures everything that needs to be configured to get a job done quickly.  Oh, going out on a limb here, let’s ask for a GUI interface too that works with Putty.  Or, even further out on a limb, let’s ask for consistency of file paths, filenames, and commands across the 790+ Linux distributions and versions within each distribution so that a how-to article created two years ago is still valid today.  Stepping off the soap box… or SOAP box.


If any readers have comments or suggestions that improve upon the above information (or gently correct), please feel free to add a comment below.  Maybe someone else will find some of the above information useful to avoid putting a couple of extra dents in the top surface of their desk.

				

				

				
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				Categories : General Technology, Linux
			


		


		
			


				
Hyper-Extended Oracle Performance Monitor 7.0 Beta

				
					16
					08
					2015
				

				

					
August 16, 2015


Three and a half years ago I offered the Hyper-Extended Oracle Performance 6.0 Beta for download – that Beta version expired a year later.  This program has been somewhat of a pet project for the last 13 years (almost 10 years at the time of the previous Beta offering), so I was excited to read some of the feedback about the 6.0 Beta.  The minimal feedback had me wondering for a while, then the pet project was pushed to a dark corner for roughly three years.  I taught the pet a few new tricks on Windows 10, so I thought that I make the latest version available.  Unlike the previous Beta, Beta 7.0 does not have an expiration date.


NOTE August 17, 2015: The first two download links are working now – Wordpress was blocking the downloads.  Note that the first two downloads are actually compressed .zip files with a .doc extension – inside those .zip files are the files that are of interest.  Right-click the files, save the files to your computer, then rename the files to end with .zip.


    

  1. Program download (right-click Save As, then change the .doc extension to .zip): Hyper-ExtendedOraclePerformanceMonitor7.zip
    2. 

  2. Documentation download (right-click Save As, then change the .doc extension to .zip – still incomplete, see old docs): Hyper-Extended Oracle Performance Monitor7.doc
    3. 

  3. Old Documentation download: Hyper-Extended Oracle Performance Monitor3.doc
    4. 

  4. Update August 20, 2015: If you have an old computer, you may need to put the MSCOMCTL.OCX file in your C:\Windows\SysWOW64 folder (on 64 bit Windows, or C:\Windows\System32 on 32 bit Windows).  You will then need to register (process) the file with REGSVR32 – see the command in the instructions below.  A recent version of MSCOMCTL.OCX may be downloaded here: MSCOMCTL.OCX (save the file, then rename the file as MSCOMCTL.OCX).
    5. 



Requirements:


Windows 2000 through Windows 10, 32 bit Oracle Client, MDAC/ADO 2.8 (or greater – preinstalled starting with Windows XP), connection to the Oracle database by database SID (tnsnames.ora) using Oracle’s Oracle Provider for OLE DB (Oracle’s Oracle ODBC Driver is required for connections that are initiated by SYS – primarily for access to the Advanced Init Parameter functionality), Excel 2000-2013, Microsoft Grid control (provided in the download – put into the program’s folder), TIMED_STATISTICS set to TRUE. Most features require DBA permissions (SYSADM or SYS), or specific grants to views or packages. For example, sessions that use the DBMS Xplan and Trace functionality must have permission to execute ALTER SESSION, have execute permission on the DBMS_XPLAN package, and select permissions on V$SQL, V$SQL_PLAN, and V$SQL_PLAN_STATISTICS.  Configuring session tracing requires execute permission on the DBMS_SYSTEM package and/or the DBMS_MONITOR package.


Description:


The Hyper-Extended Oracle Performance Monitor provides a variety of functions to simplify working with and performance monitoring Oracle databases. Various types of simple data dictionary and database instance related reports may be generated in Excel by simply putting a check in a box on the program’s main window, and clicking the Report button. Generating DBMS Xplan output (using the raw information from a 10046 level 4/12 trace) with optional 10046/10053/other traces, creating data change logging triggers using the data dictionary, peeking at the hidden and non-hidden initialization parameters, and access to a quick Oracle keyword search are also a click away on the program’s main window. Performance monitoring and tracing tools for checking a cross-reference of the time model and wait event statistics (at the system and session levels), checking a cross-reference of the system statistics and wait event statistics (with drill-down to the session level), reviewing potentially high-load SQL statements and their execution plans, cross-referencing the current session waits with enqueues, and enabling various types of Oracle traces are also a click away on the program’s main window. Permanently recording of performance monitoring statistics in a Microsoft Access compatible database (Microsoft Access is not required) is also a click away on the program’s main window.


General Command Line Parameters:


    

  • -D   The Database instance SID to which the program should connect.
    • 

  • -U   The user name to be used for connecting to the database instance.
    • 

  • -P   The password to be used for connecting to the database instance.
    • 



Logging-Specific Command Line Parameters:


    

  • -LC 20   Specifies Force a Log Capture when CPU Usage Exceeds value to 20%
    • 

  • -LI 30   Specifies Force a Log Capture if No Log Captured in Minutes value to 30 minutes
    • 

  • -LB   Specifies the Force a Log Capture when a Blocking Lock is Detected value to checked
    • 

  • -LW  Specifies the Force a Log Capture when a Wait Reason is Detected value to checked
    • 

  • -LR  Specifies the Capture SQL Execution Statistics for Wait Reasons value to checked
    • 

  • -LD   Specifies the Capture Segment Change Statistics value to checked
    • 

  • -LO   Specifies the Capture Operating System and Time Model Statistics value to checked
    • 

  • -LH   Specifies the Capture High Load SQL Statement Statistics value to checked
    • 

  • -LT   Specifies the Capture High Load SQL Statement Text value to checked
    • 

  • -LP   Specifies the Capture High Load SQL Statement Plan value to checked
    • 

  • -LHC 60   Species the minimum CPU time that is considered high load to 60 seconds accum.
    • 

  • -LHE 90   Species the minimum elapsed time that is considered high load to 90 seconds accum.
    • 

  • -LS   Specifies that Smart Logging should begin as soon as the login completes
    • 

  • -LE 240   Specifies that Smart Logging should end after 240 minutes
    • 

  • -LQ   Specifies that the program should quit (end) when logging ends
    • 



Using the above command line parameters, you could create a program shortcut for each of the databases that you administer.  For example, create a shortcut, and set its Target to (assuming that the program is on the root of the F: drive, the Oracle SID is OR1122P, the username is myuser, the password for that account is pword, and the smart logging should default to logging when 10% of CPU utilization is observed):


"F:\Hyper-Extended Oracle Performance Monitor.exe" -D OR1122P -U myname -p pword -LC 10


What’s New:


The Hyper-Extended Oracle Performance Monitor runs on Windows 10, even though the touchpad on the Sony laptop sometimes stops working until the computer is put to sleep and then awoken.  The program should also work with Oracle Database 12c (and might still be compatible with Oracle Database 8i, although the Time Model Viewer will not work).


Hyper7HyperExtendedMainScreen


The Time Model Viewer main window is still essentially the same, showing the hierarchy of the time model statistics, with color-coded session-level time model statistics (color ranges from yellow to red to indicate the percentage of the total represented by the session).  The bottom of the window shows the system-wide wait events, and the sessions that contributed to those system level wait events:


Hyper7TimeModelViewer


When the Time Model Viewer is active, an Excel spreadsheet is created that shows the graphic history of the statistics for the 20 most recent time capture periods – if you find this view helpful, you might want to widen the DB Time and CPU chart:


Hyper7TimeModelViewerExcelCharts


The statistics also appear in numerical form on the Statistics tab in the Excel spreadsheet:


Hyper7TimeModelViewerExcelStatistics


The Real-Time Monitor is also essentially the same as in previous Beta versions:


Hyper7RealTimeMonitor


Like the Time Model Viewer, an Excel spreadsheet is created showing the graphical history of the statistics.  Which statistics?  Click a wait event or one of the white statistics boxes to add that statistic to the list for which charts are created:


Hyper7RealTimeMonitorExcelCharts


Previous Beta versions of the program wrote out a tab delimited file containing the statistic deltas after every 30 time capture periods (this version also creates such a file).  The Beta for version 7 writes those statistics to Excel after each time capture period to facilitate the chart creation:


Hyper7RealTimeMonitorExcelStatistics


Oracle’s OLEDB provider is used for connectivity, see this article for a description of how to fix the bug in the Oracle Database 11.2.0.3 Client installer that is related to the OLEDB provider (the problem may have been corrected in later releases).  I have not yet found a method for SYS to login using Oracle’s OLEDB provider when “AS SYSDBA” must be specified for the login to complete.  As such, Oracle’s ODBC driver is used when SYS tries to login and the login attempt using the OLEDB provider fails.  Oracle’s ODBC driver is also used when viewing the normally hidden parameters using the SYS login.  Because there could be multiple Oracle homes, you must create a 32 bit ODBC System DSN using the Oracle ODBC driver – name that DSN HYPEREXTEND:


Hyper7Login


Hyper7ODBC1


Hyper7ODBC2


Hyper7ODBC3


The ODBC connection driver information is used to login as the SYS user (AS SYSDBA) to view the Advanced Initialization Parameters:


Hyper7AdvancedInitParameters


Hyper-Extended Oracle Performance Monitor 7.0 Beta is also more compliant with restrictions placed on the computer by User Account Control (User Access Control), which prohibits programs from create folders in the root of the C:\ drive and writing files into that folder.  Version 7 instead creates the OracleLog folder in the current user’s profile (typically C:\Users\username\OracleLog\), and separates the files created by database.  The picture below shows a couple of Microsoft Access compatible logging database that were created, as well as some of the tab-delimited statistic files, and various other generated files:


Hyper7LoggingFolder


As mentioned above, the documentation is still incomplete, with several pages of the documentation containing nothing but pictures.  It takes a lot of effort and time  to put the documentation together, so I will try to piece it together over the next couple of months.  You might be able to refer to the older documentation if the pictures are not self-explanatory.  If you find the program useful, please leave a note.  If you need help understanding a program window or the generated output, leave a comment attached to this blog article and I will try to help.


Hyper7b3.zip (Save with a .zip extension, not a .doc extension.)

				

				

				
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				Categories : General Administration
			


		


		
			


				
On the Topic of Technology… 8 – First 48 hours with Windows 10

				
					3
					08
					2015
				

				

					
August 3, 2015 (Updated August 5, 2015, August 10, 2015, August 29, 2015)


(Back to the Previous Post in the Series)


I have been testing Windows 10 under the Windows Insider Program for several months using an old Dell Precision Core 2 Extreme computer (with NVidia graphics card) that was retired from engineering service a couple of years ago. I had some issues upgrading from one preview version to the next, such as the new Start menu failing to display – forcing a format and reinstall of the operating system. One version that automatically installed over the top of build 10074 caused the computer to continuously reboot. Odd, I thought, that a Windows update could cause that problem. I traced that issue back to disabling data execution protection (DEP) several years earlier on the engineering computer to keep some of the software from spontaneously crashing – turning DEP back on in the BIOS immediately resolved the reboot loop. I was still seeing occasional Start menu display glitches a week or so before the official release date for Windows 10 (July 29, 2015), but those problems were diminished with the application of Windows updates as the official release date neared.


—–


Quick note on August 12, 2015: I came across an article on Spiceworks that lead me down an interesting path since I am fighting driver issues on a Sony Vaio laptop.  In short, if you have a Sony computer, don’t expect Windows 10 compatible drivers for a while.  How long?  October or November 2015.


Windows10SonyWarning


In a related article, the following statement appears, apparently quoting an unconfirmed Sony source:


“In a message to Sony laptop owners, the firm has pleaded for patience when it comes to installing the new operating system (OS) due to the real risk of software or driver corruption that could result in a catastrophic data loss.


Sony’s advice goes on to say that if customers don’t wait for the test results then there is a chance that their computer “may no longer work as intended.” This can mean anything from the system crashing, becoming unresponsive or suffering from hardware damage. The bottom line is that tapping Sony to service your PC following any of these issues could result in “losing all of the data” on your computer.”


—–


A couple of years ago I bought a Sony SVE14AE13L (SVE14A27CXH) touch screen laptop as an incentive to learn how to use and troubleshoot Windows 8. With a Core i7 processor and 8GB of memory, I anticipated having an easy time working through Windows 8, and after watching several hours of how-to videos I was reasonably comfortable with Windows 8 – for someone who has worked with computers since the early 1980s it was a bit of a struggle, but not as bad as some people claimed (I also thought that Windows Vista was reasonably good before the release of Windows 7). That said, this computer was updated to Windows 8.1 on the day that the new version became available. This Sony laptop computer, however, had a couple of annoying behaviors. It would randomly wake up in the middle of the night, the touchpad would occasionally stop working, Internet Explorer on the computer was occasionally slow, and the touchpad would send random zoom in/out messages to the current application.


Windows 8.1 worked reasonably well on the Sony laptop, but I went ahead and reserved a copy of Windows 10 for the computer to get some experience with the release version of Windows 10. The first 48 hours of Windows 10 began this past Saturday. I grew tired of waiting for Microsoft to tell me that my copy of Windows 10 was available for installation, so I opened a Windows command line and executed this command: wuauclt.exe /updatenow – that seemed to kick start the upgrade, but it failed to install once roughly 3.5GB of installer files were downloaded. Another search of the Internet indicated that I should have first deleted everything in the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder. After downloading another 3.5GB copy of the Windows 10 installer, I found that this attempt also failed after I clicked the Continue (or whatever that button showed) button in the Windows Update window. I started wondering what I was doing wrong, so I downloaded the ISO DVD image for Windows 10 from Microsoft.  Progress – writing the ISO DVD image to a DVD permitted the Windows 10 installer to start with a simple double-click.


Five or six hours in now, roughly 10.5GB downloaded from the Internet (I sure am happy that I no longer have the Internet connection with the 6GB monthly limit), and the Windows 10 installer is showing a message “Your PC will restart several times. Sit back and relax.” Don’t worry, be happy (click the picture for a larger view).


Windows10-95PercentComputerMayRestart


The install completed… with an error message, “The installation failed in the FIRST_BOOT phase with an error during MIGRATE_DATA operation.” Fantastic, at least the installer brought back the previous Windows 8.1 (click the picture for a larger view).


Windows10CouldNotInstallErrorFailedFirstBootMigrateData


That sure is an obscure error message. Google searches seemed to indicate that the problem could be caused by a corrupt profile, or a half dozen other issues.


I made another attempt at the upgrade, this time telling the installer NOT to install any Windows updates during the initial install. Perhaps eight or nine hours in, success – the Windows 10 Pro logon window is a keyboard tap away (note that the picture below was taken the following day).


Windows10FirstLogin


Great, Windows updates are automatically downloading and installing. Five minutes later, the laptop is apparently unhappy with Windows 10, a frown on a blue screen of death with the message “If you’d like to know more, you can search online later for this error: INTERNAL_POWER_ERROR”


Windows10BlueScreenInternalPowerError


E-Moe-Gee! (emoji). Sure, collect your error info and restart. Recalling the message from the earlier picture: “Your PC will restart several times. Sit back and relax.” And thus started an automatic reboot loop, sometimes lasting just long enough to log into Windows 10 and display the Device Manager. In this case, that INTERNAL_POWER_ERROR message means that Windows 10 does not like the AMD Radeon HD 7600M series graphics card. Congratulations Microsoft and AMD, I have not had this level of difficulty with video card drivers since 1999 when I set up a triple boot on a computer with the latest NVidia graphics card, booting into Windows 98 (drivers easy to find), Windows NT 4.0 (a little more challenging), and Red Hat Linux with the Gnome X-Window desktop (on par with Windows 10 on this Sony laptop).


A couple of tips at this point. Pressing F8 during the initial Windows boot apparently does not display the old Windows 95 style boot menu that allows the computer to start in Safe Mode with limited functionality. If the computer is able to boot to the logon screen, there is a power button at the bottom-right of that screen. Hold down the Shift key on the keyboard, click the power button, and select Restart – if you continue to hold down the Shift key, you will have the option to Troubleshoot the computer. If you select Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, then Startup Settings, you will be able to select to start the computer in Safe Mode. Shutting off the computer when it is booting into Windows will often result in the next boot attempt taking the computer to the screen that allows selecting Troubleshoot, and eventually the option to start in Safe Mode. Once in Windows 10, holding the Windows flag key and pressing the X key on the keyboard has the same effect as right-clicking the Start button. A menu will appear permitting quick access to the Device Manager, Computer Management, Task Manager, and a variety of other computer administration tasks.


One of the tips that I found online for dealing with the INTERNAL_POWER_ERROR message was to quickly navigate to the Device Manager, and delete the Windows installed AMD Radeon HD 7600M item under the Display adapters heading. I tried that without success, and even tried deleting the Intel HD Graphics 4000 item under the Display adapters heading without success. Instructing Windows to scan for new devices resulted in two “Microsoft Basic Display Adapter” items being added under the Display adapters heading, leading to another blue screen after a couple of minutes.


Windows10DeviceManager1


Booting the computer to Safe Mode with Networking to do some troubleshooting, Windows 10 was stable. A web search using a different computer suggested that I needed to download the latest video card drivers for the AMD video card to fix the blue screen. I found that the new Edge web browser, which is the new default web browser on Windows 10, cannot start in Safe Mode, resulting in a message stating “This app can’t open. Microsoft Edge can’t be opened using the Built-in Administrator account. Sign in with a different account and try again.”  I was logged into the computer using my personal account, not the Built-In Administrator account, but I guess that detail did not matter.


Windows10CannotStartEdgeInSafeMode


Where did Microsoft hide Internet Explorer on Windows 10? Hold down the Windows key and press R. Type iexplore.exe and press the Enter key. Now, if only the wireless network worked in Safe Mode with Network Support! Trying again with the laptop connected by Cat 5e cable to a network switch, I managed to download the correct drivers. Sorry, cannot install AMD video card drivers in Safe Mode, “Failed to load detection driver.” Clicking OK caused the installer to hang at 100% complete. The previously registered Microsoft Word 2010 claimed that it could not verify that I was running an authentic version of Word 2010 while in Safe Mode, so the problem is not just with AMD when in Safe Mode.


Windows10CannotInstallATIDriversInSafeMode


Now what? Tell the computer to try reinstalling Windows 10 without installing updates – tried that, only to be greeted with a near instantaneous frowny face (a blue screen of death) upon completion. It took roughly 10 attempts to make it into the BIOS setup on the laptop (F2 did not work at the start of the boot) – I eventually found that applying about 200 pounds of pressure to the pink Assist button while powering on the Sony laptop allowed access to the BIOS setup. I found an option titled “Discrete Graphics Adapter” that was set to Enabled, so I changed that to Disabled, saved the changes, and managed to log into a stable copy of Windows 10… about 30 to 36 hours after the first download of Windows 10 initiated.


Windows10BIOSDisableDiscrete


After verifying that the computer worked fine with the Discrete Graphics Adapter disabled, I re-enabled that setting and made another attempt with the AMD graphics card.  The AMD graphics drivers installed without issue in Windows 10, but again resulted in a continuous reboot blue screen loop. I found that by quickly navigating to Device Manager after logon, I was able to set the AMD graphics device to Disabled before the computer would blue screen – once again Windows 10 was stable (and Microsoft Word 2010 worked OK too). Windows 10 installed various Windows updates, but simply refused to install the video driver for the Intel HD Graphics 4000 device.


Windows10WindowsUpdateCannotInstallIntelDrivers


As a result, Device Manager still shows a “Microsoft Basic Display Adapter” in Device Manager. Instructing Device Manager to update the drivers also failed.


Windows10DeviceManagerCannotInstallVideo


Even though the correct video card drivers are not installed, Windows 10 seems to work OK. Unfortunately, the problem where the touchpad would send random zoom in/out messages is still present – note the size of the zoomed icons in the desktop background in the following picture. I have yet to find a logical way to send the zoom back to normal on the desktop. The right side of the below picture shows the notification Action Center that is displayed by clicking the icon near the clock at the bottom-right of the screen.


Windows10VideoPlaybackNotifications2


The following picture shows that the Windows 8 new style apps are now able to appear on the desktop with regular Windows applications. I was shocked to see that Windows 8 would not permit overlapped windows for the new style apps – I think that the original release of Windows had the same problem, even though the Commodore Amiga from the same time period (mid to late 1980s) supported windows arranged on top of other windows. Cortana is shown at the left of the window in the picture below – apparently Cortana lost an argument with the Internet shortly before this screen capture was saved (Cortana is a bit evasive when asked “who are your programmers”). The Windows 10 scientific calculator appears at top-center, Microsoft Edge at bottom-center, Paint.Net at top-right, and the Microsoft Solitaire Collection app at the bottom right.


Windows10NewOldAppsNoInternet


As I stated above, overlapping Windows 8 apps are supported, and Cortana sent me to a web page about Easter Eggs – I thought that maybe that would be a good way to learn more about Cortana’s programmers. The speech input recognition seems to work very well in Cortana – as long as the Internet connection is not down.


Windows10OverlappingWindows


The picture below shows the new Start menu at the left – it is possible to stretch or narrow the Start menu to show more or less of the Windows 8 style live tiles on the Start menu. Changing settings is still a little confusing – for some settings it is necessary to click All Settings in the Action Center (the gray background window at the top-right), and in other cases it is necessary to use the Windows Vista style Control Panel (the white background window at the bottom-right).


Windows10StartMenuControlPanelAllSettings


The task view trick that was introduced with Windows Vista (Windows key and Tab key) still works, but has changed for the better. The Task View may also be opened by clicking the Task View button on the task bar at the bottom of the screen.


Windows10TaskView


The location of important settings seems to change with just about every new release of Windows. It would be nice if (almost) all settings could be found within a single interface. A trick that worked with older versions of Windows also works with Windows 10. Right-click the desktop (or inside any folder) and select New – Folder. Give that folder the following name:


GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}


Double-clicking that folder to open it gives you just what you need (until the touchpad starts randomly sending zoom in/out messages).


Windows10GodMode1

Windows10GodMode2

Windows10GodMode3

Windows10GodMode4


Oh, it appears that the Oracle Database 11.2.0.3 database instance survived all of the upgrading nonsense, although it did take an exceptionally long time to start SQL Plus.


I have been working with computers for a long time – started back in the early 1980s. My new boss (almost five months now) at work for some reason thinks that I am a programmer… just a programmer? Last week I casually mentioned to him that I had read 30+ books about Oracle Database, and hinted that I co-authored another. I wonder if he has a clue about the books that I read about network administration (including a couple of CNE books in the late 1990s), operating systems, Microsoft Exchange (two for Exchange 2013, and other for previous versions), computer hardware troubleshooting, and a variety of other computer related skills. Well, at least he thinks that I am a programmer, and not just one who fixes computers (not that there is anything wrong with fixing computers, right Microsoft/Sony/AMD?).


As a suggestion, before you attempt a Windows 10 upgrade on a computer with an AMD video card, ask yourself if you have 24+ hours to spare and how much you like seeing frowns on blue screens. If the above is not enough of a warning, consider the before and after webcam photos captured by the Sony laptop’s webcam that follow.


Before picture: staring down Windows 8.1, trying to figure out why the window zoom keeps randomly changing:


Windows10Before


After Windows 10 is installed picture: note that more than the background changed.  I think that Cortana is stalking me now (why do I have a purple square target on my head?).  Just what is she doing in the middle of the night when the computer spontaneously turns on from a deep sleep?:


Windows10After


—


Humor aside, like Windows NT 4.0, once you get through the blue screens of death during the driver installs, Windows 10 will likely be rock solid stable.  I am already liking it more than Windows 8.1, even if it is not as fast on the same hardware.


—


Update August 4, 2015:


Below is a possible fix for the random zoom in/zoom out problem if your computer has a Synaptics touchpad.  This solution will probably work on Windows 8/8.1 also.  Near the bottom right of the screen, click the up pointing arrow to show all of the tray program icons.  There may be a tray icon named Synaptics Pointing Device that looks like a rectangle with two smaller rectangles below – click that tray icon, and then click Pointing Device Properties from the menu.  Note that if you also want to turn off the potentially annoying left-clicks due to touching the touchpad with a bit too much force, click the Tap to Click menu item to remove the checkmark in front of that item.


aWindows10FixUnintentionalZoom1


On the Device Settings tab, click the Settings button.  Remove the checkmark in front of Pinch Zoom, click the OK button, and then click the OK button in the Mouse Properties window.  This random zoom behavior has plagued the laptop for some time, but only became beyond bearable when the randomly activating feature affected the desktop icons in Windows 10.


Windows10FixUnintentionalZoom2


—


Update August 5, 2015:


If your desktop icons are super-sized as shown below (icons are shown at actual size) due to random zoom-in/zoom-out messages from your touchpad, there is a simple quick-fix (after shutting off this feature using the instructions above).  Right-click an open area of the desktop, select View and then Medium icons.


Windows10FixOverZoomedDesktopIcons


—


Microsoft released the first cumulative update KB3081424 for Windows 10 64 bit computers within the last hour – that update is being rolled out and installed automatically on all Windows 10 64 bit computers (Windows 10 computers that are joined to a domain may or may not automatically install this update).  After the update installed, I told the computer to go ahead and reboot.  After rebooting the computer, the Windows Start menu would not appear, Cortana would not respond, and the Action Center would not display.  I saw this same behavior when testing the automatic updates in the various Technical Preview versions – in those cases I had to format the hard drive and reinstall Windows to recover.  Fortunately, in this case the functionality was restored by simply rebooting the computer (if this problem happens to you, there is no obvious way to tell Windows to reboot – just hold down Ctrl, then Alt, and press the Delete key once – a power option should appear near the bottom right of the screen to permit you to restart the computer).  This Start menu, Cortana, and Action Center functionality loss, if permanent and widespread, could cause a bit of havoc.


Windows10UpdateKillsStartMenu


Note that I am still fighting the Intel and AMD video card driver issues (Intel driver will not install, AMD driver installs with a blue screen).  I might have found a solution for the computer waking up unexpectedly in the middle of the night, but I will wait to post what I found until I confirm that the fix works.


—


Update 2 August 5, 2015:


Fixing the issue where the Intel HD Graphics 4000 device is listed as “Microsoft Basic Display Adapter” in Device Manager and Windows returns an error when installing the correct driver through Windows Update and Device Manager is a bit of a hassle.  The actual error message is not displayed when the driver fails to install.  If you experience this problem, immediately navigate to the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\Install folder, and locate a file that ends with .inf.  Right-click that file and select Install.  If Windows returns an error “There is no driver selected for the device information set or element.” that likely means that the company that set up the driver’s .inf file made an error in the file.


Windows10WindowsUpdateCannotInstallIntelDrivers2


The short-term solution for this problem is to download the Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 graphics driver package from the Intel website.  After a bit of searching, I found a suitable driver for the Intel HD Graphics 4000 device here.  After the installer completed, the computer had to restart – Device Manager then showed the HD Graphics 4000 device in place of the “Microsoft Basic Display Adapter” in Device Manager.  After the driver installation Windows Update still shows that the Windows 10 driver for the Intel graphics device fails to install, so there is still an issue that Microsoft/Intel need to rectify with the driver update.


Windows10FixIntel4000Driver


Now to tackle the blue screen of death caused by the AMD Radeon video driver…


—


Update August 10, 2015:


Peer-to-peer Windows Updates – potentially OK if the computer is connected to a trusted network, and the default Windows Update settings are adjusted; potentially dangerous at the default setting.  The default settings for Windows Updates essentially make your computer part of a world-wide Windows Update torrent.   If your computer is connected to a pay-as-you-go Internet provider, or if your Internet provider charges substantial fees for exceeding a certain monthly data cap (6GB per month, for instance), you should definitely modify the default update settings.  If you are concerned about your computer retrieving and automatically installing Windows updates from computers that have no association with Microsoft, other than the computers are running Windows 10, you should definitely modify the default update settings.  I was made aware of this particular issue when discussing Windows 10 with a relative who is an IT expert.  I also read a couple of articles today that described the torrent-like behavior of Windows 10 updates.


To fix the default setting, select Settings from the Start menu, then click Update & security.  Click Advanced options, then click Choose how updates are delivered.


Windows10DisableWindowsUpdateSharing1\


If your computer is always connected to a trusted network (never taken to a coffee shop, hotel, LAN party, etc.), consider changing the default setting to PCs on my local network – this setting could be beneficial if you have a pay-as-you-go or monthly capped Internet connection.  If you ever connect the computer to an untrusted network, consider changing the default On setting to Off.


Windows10DisableWindowsUpdateSharing2


—


Update August 29, 2015:


On August 5, 2015 I stated, ” I might have found a solution for the computer waking up unexpectedly in the middle of the night, but I will wait to post what I found until I confirm that the fix works.”  The fix that I implemented seems to have corrected this problem that has plagued the laptop for quite some time (possibly since new, nearly three years ago).  If your computer wakes up unexpectedly in the middle of the night, and you would like to end that behavior, click the Windows 10 Start Menu, then click Control Panel.  In the search box at the right type power and then click Edit power plan at the left.


Windows10DisableWakeUp1


In blue lettering near the top of the window you should see the words “Change settings for the plan: ” followed by the selected power plan name (High performance in the picture below) – make note of the selected power plan name.  Click Change advanced power settings.


Windows10DisableWakeUp2


Check to make certain that the same power plan appears selected in the list – if not, select the power plan that appeared in the previous window.  Click the + next to Sleep, then the + next to Allow wake timers.  Change both the On battery and Plugged in settings to Disable.  Finally, click OK to save the changed settings.  Note: it may be necessary to click the Change settings that are currently disabled link prior to making these changes.


Windows10DisableWakeUp3


I have now upgraded a computer from Windows 8.1 Pro (Ultimate?) to Windows 10 Pro (Sony laptop), another from Windows 8.1 Home to Windows 10 Home, another from Windows 7 Ultimate to Windows 10 Pro, and a fourth (and fifth) from Windows 7 Home to Windows 10 Home.  The Sony laptop has at least twice had a panic attack a couple of minutes after coming out of sleep.  During the panic attack the fan ramps up to maximum speed, the touch pad and keyboard stop responding, and the power button must be held in for 10 second to shut the computer off (the laptop does not go to sleep with a quick press of the power button).  The Sony computer has also crashed a couple of times with an irql_not_less_or_equal blue screen at least once in the last week.  The computer that was upgraded from Windows 7 Pro to Windows 10 Pro has spontaneously rebooted three times (twice within 30 minutes) while building Windows large icon thumbnails for a number of Apple Quicktime .mov video files.  The computer is connected to a true sign wave UPS, so I know that the reboot is not caused by a power problem (I was next to the computer each time the reboot happened, no blue screen, no notification entries in the Windows event logs except that the previous shut down was unexpected).  One of the computers upgraded from Windows 7 Home to Windows 10 Home is a Dell laptop where the G and H keys did not work correctly before or after the upgrade (some people have reported that this is a known intermittent problem with this particular Dell laptop model) – BIOS upgrades for the laptop refused to install following the upgrade to Windows 10 Home.  I do not yet have a status update from the other two upgraded computers.

				

				

				
				Comments : 7 Comments »
				

				
				

				Categories : General Technology
			


		


		
			


				
To N or Not to N, is SYS_OP_C2C the Question; Oracle NVARCHAR Slow?

				
					8
					02
					2015
				

				

					
February 8, 2015


I was recently contacted about an odd performance issue with a software product named TDM, where certain SQL statements submitted to an Oracle 9.2.x database required roughly 30 seconds to execute when a nearly instantaneous response was expected.  The person who reported the issue to me provided a sample SQL statement that appeared something similar to the following:


SELECT
  DATA
FROM 
  MVIS_DATA 
WHERE 
  TOOLID = N'112' 
  AND DATATYPE = 0 
  AND COMMISSIONID IS NULL 
  AND OPERATIONID IS NULL 
  AND COMMISSIONLISTPOS IS NULL;


In the SQL statement, notice the N character that is immediately before ‘112’ in the SQL statement.  The person indicated that the SQL statement executed quickly if that N character were removed from the SQL statement.  At this time the developer of that application is unwilling to release a bug fix to remove the N character from this (and likely other) SQL statements.


I did not initially have the table datatype descriptions (retrieved with DESC MVIS_DATA), so I made a couple of guesses about the datatypes.  What if the TOOLID column was defined as a number, and is it the primary key column for the table (indicating that there must be an index on that column)?  It might be the case that the developer of the application decided that in all SQL statements that are submitted with literal values (rather than using bind variables), that all numbers would be submitted in single quotes.  I created a testing table for a mock up in Oracle Database 11.2.0.2:


CREATE TABLE MVIS_DATA_NUM (
  TOOLID NUMBER,
  DATATYPE NUMBER,
  COMMISSIONID NUMBER,
  OPERATIONID NUMBER,
  COMMISSIONLISTPOS NUMBER,
  DATA VARCHAR2(100),
  PRIMARY KEY (TOOLID));
 
INSERT INTO
  MVIS_DATA_NUM
SELECT
  ROWNUM TOOLID,
  MOD(ROWNUM,2) DATATYPE,
  NULL COMMISSIONID,
  DECODE(MOD(ROWNUM,2),0,NULL,MOD(ROWNUM,2)) OPERATIONID,
  DECODE(MOD(ROWNUM,2),0,NULL,MOD(ROWNUM,2)) COMMISSIONLISTPOS,
  LPAD('A',100,'A') DATA
FROM
  DUAL
CONNECT BY
  LEVEL<=100000;
 
COMMIT;
 
EXEC DBMS_STATS.GATHER_TABLE_STATS(OWNNAME=>USER,TABNAME=>'MVIS_DATA_NUM',CASCADE=>TRUE,NO_INVALIDATE=>FALSE)


With the testing table created with 100,000 rows, and statistics gathered for the table and primary key index, I then tried executing a query and retrieving the execution plan for that query so that I could determine if the Predicate Information section of the execution plan provided any clues.  I executed the following, the first SQL statement retrieved one row, and the second SQL statement retrieved the execution plan for the first SQL statement:


SET LINESIZE 140
SET PAGESIZE 1000
 
SELECT
  DATA
FROM 
  MVIS_DATA_NUM
WHERE 
  TOOLID = N'112' 
  AND DATATYPE = 0 
  AND COMMISSIONID IS NULL 
  AND OPERATIONID IS NULL 
  AND COMMISSIONLISTPOS IS NULL;
 
SELECT * FROM TABLE(DBMS_XPLAN.DISPLAY_CURSOR(NULL,NULL,'TYPICAL'));


The execution plan output is as follows:


SQL_ID  gzzrppktqkbmu, child number 0
-------------------------------------
SELECT   DATA FROM   MVIS_DATA_NUM WHERE   TOOLID = N'112'   AND
DATATYPE = 0   AND COMMISSIONID IS NULL   AND OPERATIONID IS NULL   AND
COMMISSIONLISTPOS IS NULL
 
Plan hash value: 1080991
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Id  | Operation                   | Name          | Rows  | Bytes | Cost (%CPU)| Time     |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|   0 | SELECT STATEMENT            |               |       |       |     2 (100)|          |
|*  1 |  TABLE ACCESS BY INDEX ROWID| MVIS_DATA_NUM |     1 |   113 |     2   (0)| 00:00:01 |
|*  2 |   INDEX UNIQUE SCAN         | SYS_C0050817  |     1 |       |     1   (0)| 00:00:01 |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Predicate Information (identified by operation id):
---------------------------------------------------
   1 - filter(("OPERATIONID" IS NULL AND "COMMISSIONLISTPOS" IS NULL AND
              "DATATYPE"=0 AND "COMMISSIONID" IS NULL))
   2 - access("TOOLID"=112)


Nothing too unusual in the above execution plan, the N’112′ portion of the SQL statement was simply changed by the query optimizer to the number 112, which permitted the use of the table’s primary key index.  Obviously, Oracle Database 11.2.0.2 contains a few optimizations that are not available in Oracle Database 9.2.x, so maybe the outcome would be different in Oracle Database 9.2.x.  However, when a number value is compared to a character (for example VARCHAR2) value, Oracle Database will attempt to implicitly convert the character value to a number value when performing the comparison, so the outcome should be the same on Oracle Database 9.2.x.


What if that TOOLID column were defined as VARCHAR?  Below is another test table with that column defined as VARCHAR2:


CREATE TABLE MVIS_DATA (
  TOOLID VARCHAR2(15),
  DATATYPE NUMBER,
  COMMISSIONID NUMBER,
  OPERATIONID NUMBER,
  COMMISSIONLISTPOS NUMBER,
  DATA VARCHAR2(100),
  PRIMARY KEY (TOOLID));
 
INSERT INTO
  MVIS_DATA
SELECT
  TO_CHAR(ROWNUM) TOOLID,
  MOD(ROWNUM,2) DATATYPE,
  NULL COMMISSIONID,
  DECODE(MOD(ROWNUM,2),0,NULL,MOD(ROWNUM,2)) OPERATIONID,
  DECODE(MOD(ROWNUM,2),0,NULL,MOD(ROWNUM,2)) COMMISSIONLISTPOS,
  LPAD('A',100,'A') DATA
FROM
  DUAL
CONNECT BY
  LEVEL<=100000;
 
COMMIT;


EXEC DBMS_STATS.GATHER_TABLE_STATS(OWNNAME=>USER,TABNAME=>'MVIS_DATA',CASCADE=>TRUE,NO_INVALIDATE=>FALSE)


With the new test table created, let’s try the SQL statement again.  A 10053 trace file will be enabled in the event that you are interested in examining any potential automatic transformations of the SQL statement:


SET LINESIZE 140
SET PAGESIZE 1000
 
ALTER SESSION SET TRACEFILE_IDENTIFIER = 'SQL_10053V';
ALTER SESSION SET EVENTS '10053 TRACE NAME CONTEXT FOREVER, LEVEL 1';
 
SELECT
  DATA
FROM 
  MVIS_DATA 
WHERE 
  TOOLID = N'112' 
  AND DATATYPE = 0 
  AND COMMISSIONID IS NULL 
  AND OPERATIONID IS NULL 
  AND COMMISSIONLISTPOS IS NULL;
 
SELECT * FROM TABLE(DBMS_XPLAN.DISPLAY_CURSOR(NULL,NULL,'TYPICAL'));
 
ALTER SESSION SET EVENTS '10053 TRACE NAME CONTEXT OFF';


The first of the above SQL statements output one row.  Here is the execution plan that was output:


SQL_ID  5pkwzs079jwu2, child number 0
-------------------------------------
SELECT   DATA FROM   MVIS_DATA WHERE   TOOLID = N'112'   AND DATATYPE =
0   AND COMMISSIONID IS NULL   AND OPERATIONID IS NULL   AND
COMMISSIONLISTPOS IS NULL
 
Plan hash value: 353063534
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Id  | Operation         | Name      | Rows  | Bytes | Cost (%CPU)| Time     |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|   0 | SELECT STATEMENT  |           |       |       |   227 (100)|          |
|*  1 |  TABLE ACCESS FULL| MVIS_DATA |   122 | 13908 |   227   (3)| 00:00:01 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Predicate Information (identified by operation id):
---------------------------------------------------
   1 - filter(("OPERATIONID" IS NULL AND "COMMISSIONLISTPOS" IS NULL
              AND "DATATYPE"=0 AND SYS_OP_C2C("TOOLID")=U'112' AND "COMMISSIONID" IS
              NULL))


Notice the SYS_OP_C2C function in the Predicate Information section of the execution plan, that is a clue that there might be a performance problem lurking.  Also notice that the INDEX UNIQUE SCAN operation was replaced with a TABLE ACCESS FULL operation, that is also a clue that a performance problem may be lurking.  This section of the execution plan also indicates that the N’112′ portion of the SQL statement was changed to U’112′.  Consulting the 10053 trace file indicates that the query optimizer rewrote the submitted SQL statement to the following:


SELECT
  "MVIS_DATA"."DATA" "DATA"
FROM
  "TESTUSER"."MVIS_DATA" "MVIS_DATA"
WHERE
  SYS_OP_C2C("MVIS_DATA"."TOOLID")=U'112'
  AND "MVIS_DATA"."DATATYPE"=0
  AND "MVIS_DATA"."COMMISSIONID" IS NULL
  AND "MVIS_DATA"."OPERATIONID" IS NULL
  AND "MVIS_DATA"."COMMISSIONLISTPOS" IS NULL


SYS_OP_C2C is an internal characterset conversion function.


What happens to the execution plan if the N character is removed from the SQL statement?


SELECT
  DATA
FROM 
  MVIS_DATA 
WHERE 
  TOOLID = '112' 
  AND DATATYPE = 0 
  AND COMMISSIONID IS NULL 
  AND OPERATIONID IS NULL 
  AND COMMISSIONLISTPOS IS NULL;
 
SELECT * FROM TABLE(DBMS_XPLAN.DISPLAY_CURSOR(NULL,NULL,'TYPICAL'));


Below is the execution plan that was output:


SQL_ID  d70jxj3ypy60g, child number 0
-------------------------------------
SELECT   DATA FROM   MVIS_DATA WHERE   TOOLID = '112'   AND DATATYPE =
0   AND COMMISSIONID IS NULL   AND OPERATIONID IS NULL   AND
COMMISSIONLISTPOS IS NULL
 
Plan hash value: 1051843381
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Id  | Operation                   | Name         | Rows  | Bytes | Cost (%CPU)| Time     |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|   0 | SELECT STATEMENT            |              |       |       |     2 (100)|          |
|*  1 |  TABLE ACCESS BY INDEX ROWID| MVIS_DATA    |     1 |   114 |     2   (0)| 00:00:01 |
|*  2 |   INDEX UNIQUE SCAN         | SYS_C0050814 |     1 |       |     1   (0)| 00:00:01 |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Predicate Information (identified by operation id):
---------------------------------------------------
   1 - filter(("OPERATIONID" IS NULL AND "COMMISSIONLISTPOS" IS NULL AND
              "DATATYPE"=0 AND "COMMISSIONID" IS NULL))
   2 - access("TOOLID"='112')


Notice that the SYS_OP_C2C function does not appear in the Predicate Information section of the execution plan this time, and that the primary key index is used, rather than requiring a full table scan.  Unfortunately, the DBMS_XPLAN.DISPLAY_CURSOR function does not exist in Oracle Database 9.2.0.x, otherwise the reason for the performance problem may have been much more readily apparent to the person who reported the issue to me.


So, what is the purpose of that N character in the SQL statement?  I recall seeing SQL statements similar to this one in the past, which converts a character string to a date:


SELECT DATE'2015-02-08' FROM DUAL;
 
DATE'2015
---------
08-FEB-15


After a fair amount of digging through the Oracle documentation, I located the following note about that N character:


“The TO_NCHAR function converts the data at run time, while the N function converts the data at compilation time.”


Interesting.  That quote suggests that the author of the SQL statement may have been trying to convert ‘112’ to a NVARCHAR2 (or NCHAR).  Time for another test, the below script creates a table with the TOOLID column defined as NVARCHAR2, populates the table with 100,000 rows, and then collects statistics on the table and its primary key index:


CREATE TABLE MVIS_DATA_N (
  TOOLID NVARCHAR2(15),
  DATATYPE NUMBER,
  COMMISSIONID NUMBER,
  OPERATIONID NUMBER,
  COMMISSIONLISTPOS NUMBER,
  DATA VARCHAR2(100),
  PRIMARY KEY (TOOLID));
 
INSERT INTO
  MVIS_DATA_N
SELECT
  TO_CHAR(ROWNUM) TOOLID,
  MOD(ROWNUM,2) DATATYPE,
  NULL COMMISSIONID,
  DECODE(MOD(ROWNUM,2),0,NULL,MOD(ROWNUM,2)) OPERATIONID,
  DECODE(MOD(ROWNUM,2),0,NULL,MOD(ROWNUM,2)) COMMISSIONLISTPOS,
  LPAD('A',100,'A') DATA
FROM
  DUAL
CONNECT BY
  LEVEL<=100000;
 
COMMIT;
 
EXEC DBMS_STATS.GATHER_TABLE_STATS(OWNNAME=>USER,TABNAME=>'MVIS_DATA_N',CASCADE=>TRUE,NO_INVALIDATE=>FALSE)


Executing the query against this table also returns one row:


SELECT
  DATA
FROM 
  MVIS_DATA_N 
WHERE 
  TOOLID = N'112' 
  AND DATATYPE = 0 
  AND COMMISSIONID IS NULL 
  AND OPERATIONID IS NULL 
  AND COMMISSIONLISTPOS IS NULL;


SELECT * FROM TABLE(DBMS_XPLAN.DISPLAY_CURSOR(NULL,NULL,'TYPICAL'));


The execution plan follows:


SQL_ID  1yuzz9rqkvnpv, child number 0
-------------------------------------
SELECT   DATA FROM   MVIS_DATA_N WHERE   TOOLID = N'112'   AND DATATYPE
= 0   AND COMMISSIONID IS NULL   AND OPERATIONID IS NULL   AND
COMMISSIONLISTPOS IS NULL
 
Plan hash value: 1044325464
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Id  | Operation                   | Name         | Rows  | Bytes | Cost (%CPU)| Time     |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|   0 | SELECT STATEMENT            |              |       |       |     2 (100)|          |
|*  1 |  TABLE ACCESS BY INDEX ROWID| MVIS_DATA_N  |     1 |   119 |     2   (0)| 00:00:01 |
|*  2 |   INDEX UNIQUE SCAN         | SYS_C0050815 |     1 |       |     1   (0)| 00:00:01 |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Predicate Information (identified by operation id):
---------------------------------------------------
   1 - filter(("OPERATIONID" IS NULL AND "COMMISSIONLISTPOS" IS NULL AND
              "DATATYPE"=0 AND "COMMISSIONID" IS NULL))
   2 - access("TOOLID"=U'112')


Notice in the above Predicate Information section that the SYS_OP_C2C function does not appear, and the N’112′ portion of the SQL statement was still changed to U’112′.  The execution plan also shows that the primary key index was used, while a full table scan was required when the TOOLID column was defined as a VARCHAR2.


The person who reported the issue to me later provide the output of DESC MVIS_DATA, which indicated that the TOOLID column was in fact defined as a VARCHAR2 column.  If this person were running a more recent version of Oracle Database, he might be able to create a function based index that uses the SYS_OP_C2C function on the TOOLID column.  Such an index might look something like this:


CREATE INDEX IND_TOOLID_FIX ON MVIS_DATA (SYS_OP_C2C("TOOLID"));


Gathering statistics on the table and its indexes, executing the original SQL statement, and outputting the execution plan:


EXEC DBMS_STATS.GATHER_TABLE_STATS(OWNNAME=>USER,TABNAME=>'MVIS_DATA',CASCADE=>TRUE,NO_INVALIDATE=>FALSE)
 
SELECT
  DATA
FROM 
  MVIS_DATA 
WHERE 
  TOOLID = N'112' 
  AND DATATYPE = 0 
  AND COMMISSIONID IS NULL 
  AND OPERATIONID IS NULL 
  AND COMMISSIONLISTPOS IS NULL;
 
SELECT * FROM TABLE(DBMS_XPLAN.DISPLAY_CURSOR(NULL,NULL,'TYPICAL'));


The first of the above queries output the expected one row, while the second query output the following execution plan:


SQL_ID  5pkwzs079jwu2, child number 1
-------------------------------------
SELECT   DATA FROM   MVIS_DATA WHERE   TOOLID = N'112'   AND DATATYPE =
0   AND COMMISSIONID IS NULL   AND OPERATIONID IS NULL   AND
COMMISSIONLISTPOS IS NULL
 
Plan hash value: 1497912695
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Id  | Operation                   | Name           | Rows  | Bytes | Cost (%CPU)| Time     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|   0 | SELECT STATEMENT            |                |       |       |     2 (100)|          |
|*  1 |  TABLE ACCESS BY INDEX ROWID| MVIS_DATA      |     1 |   125 |     2   (0)| 00:00:01 |
|*  2 |   INDEX RANGE SCAN          | IND_TOOLID_FIX |     1 |       |     1   (0)| 00:00:01 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Predicate Information (identified by operation id):
---------------------------------------------------
   1 - filter(("OPERATIONID" IS NULL AND "COMMISSIONLISTPOS" IS NULL AND "DATATYPE"=0
              AND "COMMISSIONID" IS NULL))
   2 - access("MVIS_DATA"."SYS_NC00007$"=U'112')


In the Predicate Information section of the execution plan, notice the absence of the SYS_OP_C2C function on the TOOLID column – those values are pre-computed in the virtual column (SYS_NC00007$) created for the function based index.  An index range scan is reported in the execution plan, rather than an index unique scan (the function based index, when created, was not declared as unique), so the SQL statement should execute much faster than the roughly 30 seconds required by the SQL statement without the function based index.


So, what are the options that were mentioned above?


    

  • Have the application programmer fix the SQL statements.
    • 

  • Upgrade to a version of Oracle Database (if that version is supported by the application) that supports the SYS_OP_C2C function, and create a function based index using that function.
    • 

  • If the TOOLID column only contains numbers, that column should be defined as NUMBER, rather than VARCHAR2.  Consider redefining that column as a NUMBER datatype.
    • 

  • If that N character is always used when this column is referenced, that column probably should be defined as NVARCHAR2 rather than VARCHAR2.  Consider redefining that column as a NVARCHAR2 datatype.
    • 

  • Consider that the application is working as designed, and that it is nice to receive 30 second breaks every now and then.
    • 

  • Take a DUMP and share it with the application developer.  On second thought, such an approach may have limited success in helping to solve this problem.
    • 



Here is a little experiment with the DUMP function, which reveals Oracle’s internal representation of data – refer to the Internal datatypes and datatype codes in the Oracle documentation for help in decoding the Typ= values.


SELECT DUMP(112) A FROM DUAL;
 
A
---------------------
Typ=2 Len=3: 194,2,13
 
/* ------------------- */
SELECT DUMP(TO_CHAR(112)) A FROM DUAL;
 
A
---------------------
Typ=1 Len=3: 49,49,50
 
/* ------------------- */
SELECT DUMP('112') A FROM DUAL;
 
A
----------------------
Typ=96 Len=3: 49,49,50
 
/* ------------------- */
SELECT DUMP(N'112') A FROM DUAL;
 
A
----------------------------
Typ=96 Len=6: 0,49,0,49,0,50
 
/* ------------------- */
SELECT DUMP(SYS_OP_C2C('112'))  A FROM DUAL;
 
A
----------------------------
Typ=96 Len=6: 0,49,0,49,0,50
 
/* ------------------- */
SELECT DUMP(TO_NCHAR('112')) A FROM DUAL;
 
A
---------------------------
Typ=1 Len=6: 0,49,0,49,0,50


It is possibly interesting to note that the internal representation for N’112′ is CHAR (or NCHAR), while the internal representation for TO_NCHAR(‘112’) (and TO_NCHAR(112)) is VARCHAR2 (or NVARCHAR2).


—


This blog’s statistics indicate that the search engine search term Oracle NVARCHAR slow resulted in two page views of this blog yesterday.  I can’t help but wonder if the person who performed that search might have been helped by some of the above analysis.

				

				

				
				Comments : 3 Comments »
				

				
				

				Categories : Performance, SQL
			


		


		
			


				
Install Nagios on a Synology DiskStation DS415+ (Plex Support Also Added)

				
					24
					12
					2014
				

				

					
December 24, 2014 (Modified December 29, 2014 – Added Plex Support Section, January 11, 2015 – Added Nagios Web Status and Fixed Status Logging, April 5, 2015 – Added Plex/Nagios/Wordpress Stress Test, May 25, 2015 – current Plex download supports CPU in DS415+)


(Back to the Previous Post in the Series)


This article describes how to compile and run Nagios 4.0.8 (with 2.0.3 plugins) on a Synology DiskStation DS415+ (64 bit), which utilizes an Intel Atom Avoton processor (cat /proc/cpuinfo indicates that the unit is using a 2.40GHz Atom C2538, and utilizes the DSM 5.1-5021 (the latest version as of December 24, 2014) operating system.  Nagios is a very useful network monitoring (and even Oracle Database monitoring with plugins) utility that uses email or other communication means to report device or service outages.  Not all Synology DiskStation NAS devices use Intel based CPUs – some of the less expensive DiskStations use ARM type processors (see this link to determine the type of CPU installed in a specific DiskStation).  It may be possible to produce a working version of Nagios on NAS devices that do not have Intel 32 bit or 64 bit processors (such as the DS212+), but I have not yet fully tested the procedure with many different NAS units.  Note that the even though the DS415+ and DS1813+ both use Intel CPUs running a 64 bit DSM version, the installation steps are a bit different (I tried various unsuccessful approaches over the last two months, and finally found a working combination).


Warning: A lot of what follows is based on experimentation, with the end goal of having Nagios running on a Synology DiskStation having the ability to ping devices on the network or the Internet, with an email sent to an administrator when a device stops responding to ping requests, and to send a second email when the device resumes responding to ping requests.  This functionality represents a small fraction of Nagios’ capabilities through the use of plugins (see my article that describes setting up the Oracle client on a Diskstation to permit Oracle Database monitoring).  File paths vary from one Linux distribution to the next, so that adds a bit of challenge to make certain that the files are placed in the required directory.  Copying a file to the wrong directory may temporarily disable the DiskStation and require the reinstallation of the Synology DSM operating system.  The directions below are not final, and quite likely do not represent the most efficient approaches to accomplish the end goal (note that the steps are more efficient than those for the DS1813+ and DS412+) – but the directions will hopefully be “close enough to correct” to allow the average reader of this blog to ping and send email alerts from a DiskStation.


I have relied on the free Nagios network monitoring solution since 2002 to provide an early warning of problems associated with network attached equipment including servers, production floor computers, switches, printers, wireless access points, IP cameras, website accessibility, Internet connection stability, etc.  While I rely on Nagios’ alerting system, I am not an expert at configuring the Nagios network monitoring system; the Nagios configuration documentation may be downloaded here.


First, make certain that the Telnet Service (or SSH Service if that is preferred) is enabled on the DiskStation.  In the DiskStation’s Control Panel, click Terminal & SNMP.


nagiosds415_enable telnet1


Then put a checkmark next to Enable Telnet service, and click the Apply button.


nagiosds415_enable_telnet2


Verify that the computer that you intend to use has a Telnet client.  For Windows 7, access the Programs link in the Control Panel, and then click the Turn Windows features on or off link.  Make certain that there is a checkmark next to Telnet Client, then click the OK button.


nagiosds415_enable telnet_computer


Open a command line (in Windows, Start – Run – type  cmd  and press the Enter key).  On the command line, type telnet followed by either the name of the DiskStation or the IP address of the DiskStation, then press the Enter key.  When prompted for a username, type root and press the Enter key.  Type the admin user’s password (that is used to access the DSM interface in a web browser) and press the Enter key  For example, if the DiskStation has an IP address of 192.168.1.55, the screen would appear similar to the following just before pressing the enter key:.


nagiosds415_telnet_to_diskstation


The command line on the DiskStation is very similar to the command line on a Unix or Linux computer, and is somewhat similar to a Windows command line or MS-DOS command line (use / rather than \, use ls rather than dir, use vi rather than edit):


nagiosds415_telnet_to_diskstation_command_test


—


We first need to add ipkg support to the DiskStation, detailed directions may be viewed at this link.  The exact directions may be different for other DiskStation models, but the following directions work for the DS415+, DS1813+ and DS412+ (note that all files downloaded from the Internet will be placed on volume1 in a new downloads directory – copy and paste the lines to the Telnet session, one line at a time – simply right-click inside the telnet window to paste, if you are using Windows 7/8’s telnet client):


cd /volume1
mkdir downloads
cd downloads
wget http://ipkg.nslu2-linux.org/feeds/optware/syno-i686/cross/unstable/syno-i686-bootstrap_1.2-7_i686.xsh
chmod +x syno-i686-bootstrap_1.2-7_i686.xsh
sh syno-i686-bootstrap_1.2-7_i686.xsh


The vi editor is used on the DiskStation to modify files; that vi editor is a bit challenging to use at first sight, so you may need help with a couple of basic commands (see this quick reference for other commands).  The commands in vi are case sensitive (i is not the same as I).  When a file is opened, press the i key on the keyboard to allow making changes to the file (such as typing commands, or deleting commands).  When finished making changes to the file press the Esc key.  Once the Esc key is pressed, type ZZ to save the changed file and quit, or :q! to quit without saving the changes.


Next, we must modify the file that establishes the environment for the root user, when that user connects to the DiskStation.  This change is needed as part of the ipkg installation.  Edit the .profile file used by the root user:


vi /root/.profile


Press the i key to switch to insert mode, place a # character in front of the two lines that contain the word PATH, and save the file (press the Esc key then type ZZ):


nagiosds415_comment_out_path


Reboot the DiskStation using the Synology interface by clicking the Options button (the head shaped icon) near the top-right, and then click Restart and confirm that the DiskStation should be restarted:


nagiosds415_restart diskstation


Once the Synology reboots, reconnect a telnet session to the Synology.  Update ipkg support and install some ipkg items that will be either directly used by Nagios, or during the installation of Nagios.  When installing the optware-devel package, an error may appear stating that there is an incompatibility between wget and wget-ssl – simply ignore that error.  An error will also appear when installing Apache – that problem will be fixed in the step that follows.


ipkg update
ipkg list
ipkg update wget-ssl
ipkg install optware-devel
ipkg install gcc
ipkg install libtool
ipkg install MySQL
ipkg install openssl
ipkg install openssl-dev
ipkg install sendmail
ipkg install inetutils
ipkg install apache


The ipkg install apache command will likely result in an error related to ext_filter_module.  Edit /opt/etc/apache2/httpd.conf using vi, and put a # character in front of the line LoadModule ext_filter_module libexec/mod_ext_filter.so :


nagiosds415_comment_out ext_filter_module


Save the file, and re-execute the ipkg install apache command.


ipkg install apache


Download the compilers for the Avoton CPU, which is installed in the DS415+ (the second compiler downloaded below will be used with the Nagios install – the first compiler typically resulted in errors (ex: ../lib/libnagios.a: could not read symbols: Archive has no index; run ranlib to add one) when compiling the Nagios program):


cd /volume1/downloads
wget http://sourceforge.net/projects/dsgpl/files/DSM%205.1%20Tool%20Chains/Intel%20x86%20Linux%203.2.40%20%28Avoton%29/gcc473_glibc217_x86_64_avoton-GPL.tgz
tar zxpf gcc473_glibc217_x86_64_avoton-GPL.tgz -C /usr/local/
wget http://sourceforge.net/projects/dsgpl/files/DSM%205.1%20Tool%20Chains/Intel%20x86%20Linux%203.2.40%20%28Avoton%29/gcc463_glibc213_i686_avoton-GPL.tgz 
tar zxpf gcc463_glibc213_i686_avoton-GPL.tgz -C /usr/local/


The above command will create two directory structures named x86_64-pc-linux-gnu and i686-pc-linux-gnu in the /usr/local directory.  Edit the .profile file to remove the # character that was earlier added in front of the lines containing the word PATH, save the file, then reboot the Synology (see the earlier provided screen captures for the lines that need to be modified, and the process for rebooting the Synology):


vi /root/.profile


Reconnect to the DiskStation using Telnet after the Synology reboots, and compile libltdl – note that the PATH modification below seems to be necessary to avoid an ldconfig: command not found error or a message about Perl not being found:


PATH=$PATH:/opt/bin/
cd /opt/share/libtool/libltdl/


env CC=/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/bin/i686-pc-linux-gnu-gcc \
LD=/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/bin/i686-pc-linux-gnu-ld \
RANLIB=/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/bin/i686-pc-linux-gnu-ranlib \
CFLAGS="-I/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/include" \
LDFLAGS="-L/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/lib" \
./configure --host=i686-pc-linux-gnu --target=i686-pc-linux-gnu --build=i686-pc-linux-gnu -–prefix=/opt
 
make all
make install


Note that the following message may appear later when we attempt to verify that Nagios compiled correctly:


/opt/bin/nagios: error while loading shared libraries: libltdl.so.3: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory


To avoid that error, execute the following commands to copy a couple of files to the correct locations (if the files do not already exist in those locations):


cp /opt/lib/libltdl.so.3 /opt/local/lib/libltdl.so.3
cp /opt/lib/libltdl.so.3 /usr/lib/libltdl.so.3
cp /opt/lib/libltdl.so /usr/lib/libltdl.so


Using the DiskStation’s Control Panel, click Group, and create a nagios group – the group does not require any special DiskStation permissions.


nagiosds415_create_nagios_group


Using the DiskStation’s Control Panel, click User and create a nagios user and add that user to the nagios group. The nagios user does not require any specific DiskStation permissions.


Next, switch back to the telnet session, download the Nagios source code, and compile the source code (note that if a mistake is made, and the nagios-4.0.8 directory must be removed, change to the /volume1/downloads directory and use this command to remove the directory, then re-execite the tar command: rm -rf nagios-4.0.8 ):


cd /volume1/downloads
wget http://sourceforge.net/projects/nagios/files/nagios-4.x/nagios-4.0.8/nagios-4.0.8.tar.gz
tar xzf nagios-4.0.8.tar.gz
cd nagios-4.0.8
 
env CC=/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/bin/i686-pc-linux-gnu-gcc \
LD=/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/bin/i686-pc-linux-gnu-ld \
RANLIB=/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/bin/i686-pc-linux-gnu-ranlib \
CFLAGS="-I/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/include" \
LDFLAGS="-L/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/lib" \
./configure --host=i686-pc-linux-gnu --target=i686-pc-linux-gnu --build=i686-pc-linux-gnu -–prefix=/opt --with-command-group=nagios
 
make all
make install
make install-init
make install-config
make install-commandmode



Try running the Nagios verify command by executing the command on the following line (a Segmentation fault (core dumped) error message is bad news, which may indicate that the wrong compiler was used):


/opt/bin/nagios -v /opt/etc/nagios.cfg


If the compile process worked correctly, the telnet session should appear similar to below when the above verify command is executed:


nagiosds415_verify_ok


If the above command was successful, copy the Nagios startup script to the correct location so that Nagios will automatically start when the DiskStation is rebooted:


cp /usr/local/etc/rc.d/nagios /opt/etc/init.d/S81nagios


Verify that the ownership of the nagios directory is set correctly:


chown nagios:nagios /opt/bin/nagios -R


In addition to the main /opt/etc/nagios.cfg Nagios file, there are several other configuration files that are potentially used by Nagios (defined in the nagios.cfg file) – we will take a look at those files later:


/opt/etc/objects/commands.cfg
/opt/etc/objects/contacts.cfg
/opt/etc/objects/timeperiods.cfg
/opt/etc/objects/templates.cfg
/opt/etc/objects/localhost.cfg
/opt/etc/objects/windows.cfg
/opt/etc/objects/server.cfg
/opt/etc/objects/switch.cfg
/opt/etc/objects/printer.cfg


We need to make a couple of adjustments in the  /opt/etc/objects/commands.cfg file.


vi /opt/etc/objects/commands.cfg


Change the ‘notify-host-by-email’ command definition section as follows:


define command{
    command_name notify-host-by-email
    command_line /usr/bin/printf "%b" "Subject: $NOTIFICATIONTYPE$ Host Alert: $HOSTNAME$ is $HOSTSTATE$\n\n***** Nagios *****\n\nNotification Type: $NOTIFICATIONTYPE$\nHost: $HOSTNAME$\nState: $HOSTSTATE$\nAddress: $HOSTADDRESS$\nInfo: $HOSTOUTPUT$\n\nDate/Time: $LONGDATETIME$\n" | /opt/sbin/sendmail -vt $CONTACTEMAIL$
    }


Change the ‘notify-service-by-email’ command definition section as follows:


define command{
    command_name notify-service-by-email
    command_line /usr/bin/printf "%b" "Subject: $NOTIFICATIONTYPE$ Service Alert: $HOSTALIAS$/$SERVICEDESC$ is $SERVICESTATE$\n\n***** Nagios *****\n\nNotification Type: $NOTIFICATIONTYPE$\n\nService: $SERVICEDESC$\nHost: $HOSTALIAS$\nAddress: $HOSTADDRESS$\nState: $SERVICESTATE$\n\nDate/Time: $LONGDATETIME$\n\nAdditional Info:\n\n$SERVICEOUTPUT$\n" | /opt/sbin/sendmail -vt $CONTACTEMAIL$
    }


Change the ‘check_ping’ command definition section as follows (feel free to read the documentation for check_ping and specify different values):


define command{
        command_name    check_ping
        command_line    $USER1$/check_ping -H $HOSTADDRESS$ -w 3000,25% -c 5000,90% -p 3 
        }


Save the file and exit vi.


(This part still needs some fine tuning to make the web interface work with Nagios.)  Edit the Nagios Makefile and change the line beginning with HTTPD_CONF to show HTTPD_CONF=/opt/etc/apache2/conf.d  Then save the file.


cd /volume1/downloads/nagios-4.0.8
vi Makefile


nagiosds415_change_httpd_conf


Execute the following command:


make install-webconf


Create a nagiosadmin user for the web administration, and specify a password when prompted (edit: January 11, 2015: the file location specified by the command below is incorrect if you plan to use the Nagios monitoring web pages – if you intend to use the Nagios monitoring web pages, execute the command as shown below, and we will later recreate the file in the correct location):


htpasswd -c /usr/local/etc/htpasswd.users nagiosadmin


—


Next, we need to start setting up the plugins for Nagios.  First the net-snmp source code is downloaded and extracted:


cd /volume1/downloads
wget http://sourceforge.net/projects/net-snmp/files/net-snmp/5.7.2/net-snmp-5.7.2.tar.gz
tar xzf net-snmp-5.7.2.tar.gz
cd net-snmp-5.7.2


Execute the following to compile the net-snmp source (note that this command uses the second compiler that was downloaded):


env CC=/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/bin/i686-pc-linux-gnu-gcc \
LD=/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/bin/i686-pc-linux-gnu-ld \
RANLIB=/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/bin/i686-pc-linux-gnu-ranlib \
CFLAGS="-I/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/include" \
LDFLAGS="-L/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/lib" \
./configure --host=i686-pc-linux-gnu --target=i686-pc-linux-gnu --build=i686-pc-linux-gnu -–prefix=/opt


Several prompts will appear on the screen when the command is executed.  I entered the following for the prompts:


Default version of SNMP to use (3): 3

System Contact Information: (Enter)

System Location (Unknown): (Enter)

Location to write logfile (/var/log/snmpd.log): /opt/var/snmpd.log

Location to write persistent information (/var/net-snmp): (Enter)


Two additional commands to execute:


make -i
make install -i


Now we need to download the source code for the Nagios plugins (check_apt, check_breeze, check_by_ssh, check_clamd, check_cluster, check_dhcp, check_disk, check_disk_smb, check_dns, check_dummy, check_file_age, check_flexlm, check_ftp, check_http, check_icmp, check_ide_smart, check_ifoperstatup, check_ifstatus, check_imap, check_ircd, check_jabber, check_ldap, check_ldaps, check_load, check_log, check_mailq, check_mrtg, check_mrtgtraf, check_mysql, check_mysql_query, check_nagios, check_nntp, check_nntps, check_nt, check_ntp, check_ntp_peer, check_ntp_time, check_nwstat, check_oracle, check_overcr, check_ping, check_pop, check_procs, check_real, check_rpc, check_sensors, check_simap, check_smtp, check_snmp, check_spop, check_ssh, check_ssmtp, check_swap, check_tcp, check_time, check_udp, check_ups, check_users, check_wave) that allow Nagios to perform various monitoring tasks:


cd /volume1/downloads
wget https://www.nagios-plugins.org/download/nagios-plugins-2.0.3.tar.gz
tar xzf nagios-plugins-2.0.3.tar.gz
cd nagios-plugins-2.0.3
PATH=$PATH:/opt/bin/


Now compile the Nagios plugins:


env CC=/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/bin/i686-pc-linux-gnu-gcc \
LD=/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/bin/i686-pc-linux-gnu-ld \
RANLIB=/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/bin/i686-pc-linux-gnu-ranlib \
CFLAGS="-I/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/include" \
LDFLAGS="-L/usr/local/i686-pc-linux-gnu/lib" \
./configure --with-openssl=/usr/syno/bin/openssl --with-nagios-user=nagios --with-nagios-group=nagios --with-ping-command="/opt/bin/ping -c %d %s" --psdir=/bin --with-ps-varlist="&procpid,&procppid,&procvsz,&procrss,procprog,&pos" --with-ps-cols=6 --with-ps-format="%d %d %d %d %s %n" --with-ps-command="/bin/ps -w"  --host=i686-pc-linux-gnu --target=i686-pc-linux-gnu --build=i686-pc-linux-gnu -–prefix=/opt
 
make -i
make install -i


At this point, the Nagios network monitoring utility will likely experience an error similar to the following when attempting to send an alert email:


output=collect: Cannot write ./dfr6BFFPC7027203 (bfcommit, uid=1026, gid=25): Permission denied


Execute the following commands, which should fix the above problem:


chmod g+w /opt/var/spool/clientmqueue
chmod 444 /opt/etc/mail/*.cf
chmod 7555 /opt/sbin/sendmail


We will need to use su to test the execution of various commands as the nagios user. Without the following fix (described here), you might see the following error message when attempting to execute a command as the nagios user:


su: warning: cannot change directory to /var/services/homes/nagios: No such file or directory su: /sbin/nologin: No such file or directory


Enter the following commands:


mkdir /var/services/homes
mkdir /var/services/homes/nagios
chown nagios:nagios /var/services/homes/nagios -R
vi /etc/passwd


Locate the line in the passwd file for the Nagios user.  Near the end of the line, /sbin/nologin should appear.  Replace that text with /bin/ash then save and exit vi.


Verify that the Nagios user is able to execute the check_ping plugin.  Replace MyDeviceHere with either an IP address or a network device name (such as localhost) that is on your network:


su - nagios -c "/opt/libexec/check_ping -H MyDeviceHere -w 5000,80% -c 5000,80% -p 5"


If there were no problems, then something similar to the following should appear (a Segmentation fault (core dumped) error message is bad news, which may indicate that the wrong compiler was used):


nagiosds415_check_ping_test


—


If the ping command (called by check_ping) is not able to resolve a network device name, and the fully qualified DNS name was not specified (MyDeviceHere.MyDomainHere.com), edit the /etc/resolv.conf file:


vi /etc/resolv.conf


On a new line in the file, add the following line (replacing MyDomainHere.com with your DNS domain name for the network):


search MyDomainHere.com


—


Verify that sendmail works for the Nagios user.  At the prompt that appears, type a short message, press the Enter key, type a period, then press the Enter key again – replace MyEmailAddressHere@MyDomainHere.com with your email address):


su - nagios -c "/opt/sbin/sendmail -vt MyEmailAddressHere@MyDomainHere.com"


If you see the following message, then there are two problems:


/opt/etc/mail/sendmail.cf: line 73: fileclass: cannot open '/opt/etc/mail/local-host-names': Group writable directory
WARNING: local host name (DS415) is not qualified; see cf/README: WHO AM I?


To fix the second problem (the warning), edit the /etc/hosts file using vi. Locate the line with the Synology’s IP address and the Synology’s name (for example DS415).  Between those two entries add the Synology’s name followed by a period and the domain name.  For example, the line may look like the following once edited.  Save the file and exit vi:


192.168.1.55   DS415.MyDomainHere.com DS415


To fix the “cannot open… Group writable directory” error, try the following (note that it is possible that only the first line is necessary, so try the sendmail test ago after executing just the first line below):


chmod 555 /opt/etc
chmod 755 /opt/etc/mail
chmod 444 /opt/etc/mail/local-host-names


Then repeat the email test by executing:


su - nagios -c "/opt/sbin/sendmail -vt MyEmailAddressHere@MyDomainHere.com"


—-


As a general tip, it is important to always verify the Nagios configuration before starting (or restarting after a configuration change) Nagios.  To verify the Nagios configuration type the following:


/opt/bin/nagios -v /opt/etc/nagios.cfg


Once the monitoring target devices are defined, it is possible to start Nagios as a background task (daemon) by executing the following:


/opt/bin/nagios -d /opt/etc/nagios.cfg


To stop Nagios that is executing as a background task, use the ps command to locate the Nagios process, find the lowest process ID (PID) for the line that includes nagios.cfg (17346 in this case), then kill the process that is associated with that PID:


ps | grep 'nagios'


nagiosds415_stop_nagios_daemon


—


At this point, Nagios will hopefully run as a background task, and it should be able to ping and send email alerts.  However, if you were following the above directions, we have not yet instructed Nagios which devices to monitor, and to whom the alert emails should be sent.  The next step is to define the email contacts by modifying the /opt/etc/objects/contacts.cfg file (see the documentation for assistance):


vi /opt/etc/objects/contacts.cfg


After setting up the contacts, we should probably tell Nagios which devices to monitor.  If there are a lot of devices on your network to be monitored, you might find that using Microsoft Excel rather than vi to create the object definitions makes the task more manageable.  See the previous article for the steps to use Microsoft Excel.


If you decided to use some of the non-standard Nagios group names (as I did), those non-standard group names must be defined in the /opt/etc/objects/templates.cfg file:


vi /opt/etc/objects/templates.cfg


A portion of the additional entries that I made in this file include the following:


define host{
       name                    ap      ; The name of this host template
       use                     generic-host    ; Inherit default values from the generic-host temp
       check_period            24x7            ; By default, access points are monitored round t
       check_interval          5               ; Actively check the access point every 5 minutes
       retry_interval          1               ; Schedule host check retries at 1 minute intervals
       max_check_attempts      10              ; Check each access point 10 times (max)
       check_command           check_ping      ; Default command to check if access points are "alive"
       notification_period     24x7            ; Send notification out at any time - day or night
       notification_interval   30              ; Resend notifications every 30 minutes
       notification_options    d,r             ; Only send notifications for specific host states
       contact_groups          admins          ; Notifications get sent to the admins by default
       hostgroups              ap ; Host groups that access points should be a member of
       register                0               ; DONT REGISTER THIS - ITS JUST A TEMPLATE
       }

define host{
       name                    camera  ; The name of this host template
       use                     generic-host    ; Inherit default values from the generic-host temp
       check_period            24x7            ; By default, cameras are monitored round t
       check_interval          60              ; Actively check the device every 60 minutes
       retry_interval          1               ; Schedule host check retries at 1 minute intervals
       max_check_attempts      10              ; Check each device 10 times (max)
       check_command           check_ping      ; Default command to check if device are "alive"
       notification_period     24x7            ; Send notification out at any time - day or night
       notification_interval   240             ; Resend notifications every 240 minutes
       notification_options    d,r             ; Only send notifications for specific host states
       contact_groups          admins          ; Notifications get sent to the admins by default
       hostgroups              camera ; Host groups that cameras should be a member of
       register                0               ; DONT REGISTER THIS - ITS JUST A TEMPLATE
       }


Nagios will not know that it should read the additional configuration files until it is told to do so by modifying the /opt/etc/nagios.cfg file.


vi /opt/etc/nagios.cfg


If you have selected to use any of the custom files that were created based on my previous article, instruct Nagios to read the associated file by adding entries to the nagios.cfg file:


# Charles Hooper's object types
cfg_file=/opt/etc/objects/ap.cfg
cfg_file=/opt/etc/objects/camera.cfg
cfg_file=/opt/etc/objects/computer.cfg
cfg_file=/opt/etc/objects/external.cfg
cfg_file=/opt/etc/objects/other.cfg
cfg_file=/opt/etc/objects/printer.cfg
cfg_file=/opt/etc/objects/server.cfg
cfg_file=/opt/etc/objects/switch.cfg


A large number of changes were likely made to the Nagios configuration files, so it is important to verify that there are no errors in the configuration:


/opt/bin/nagios -v /opt/etc/nagios.cfg


If no errors are found in the configuration, terminate (kill) nagios and then restart Nagios as described above.


—-


(Added January 11, 2015)


While trying to find a way to allow the Nagios status web pages to work on the DS415+, I discovered that Nagios was not running in daemon mode once I had made entries into the various configuration files to specify the devices to be monitored.  Taking a look at my previous article, I quickly found the solution for the daemon mode problem.  In a telnet session enter the following:


mkdir /opt/var/nagios
mkdir /opt/var/nagios/archives
mkdir /opt/var/nagios/spool
mkdir /opt/var/nagios/spool/checkresults
mkdir /opt/var/nagios/rw/
chown nagios:nagios /opt/var/nagios -R
chmod g+rwx /opt/var/nagios/rw
chmod g+s /opt/var/nagios/rw
vi /opt/etc/nagios.cfg


In the nagios.cfg file, I made the following changes:


log_file=/opt/var/nagios/nagios.log
object_cache_file=/opt/var/nagios/objects.cache
precached_object_file=/opt/var/nagios/objects.precache
status_file=/opt/var/nagios/status.dat
command_file=/opt/var/nagios/rw/nagios.cmd
lock_file=/opt/var/nagios/nagios.lock
temp_file=/opt/var/nagios/nagios.tmp
log_archive_path=/opt/var/nagios/archives
check_result_path=/opt/var/nagios/spool/checkresults
state_retention_file=/opt/var/nagios/retention.dat
debug_file=/opt/var/nagios/nagios.debug


Save and exit vi.  If the Nagios daemon is running in the background, find the process and kill it (replace 24532 with the process ID of the first line that contains /opt/bin/nagios -d /opt/etc/nagios.cfg):


ps | grep 'nagios'
kill 24532


Verify the Nagios configuration, and if there were no problems, then start Nagios in daemon mode:


/opt/bin/nagios -v /opt/etc/nagios.cfg
/opt/bin/nagios -d /opt/etc/nagios.cfg


Check the Nagios log file for problems, displaying just the last 100 lines:


tail -n 100 /opt/var/nagios/nagios.log


—


I never bothered to determine how to make the Nagios monitoring status web pages work with the Synology DS412+, DS1813+, and DS212+.  I thought that I would see what steps would be required to make that functionality work on a Synology DS415+ (note that the following steps may work exactly the same on the Synology DS412+, DS1813+, and DS212+). The Synology DSM operating system utilizes port 5000 for web traffic.  If you add the WordPress package to the Synology, that package uses the standard port 80 for web traffic.  If you followed the above steps for installing Nagios, you installed a second copy of the Apache web server on the Synology that uses port 8000 for web traffic.  If your Synology has an IP address of 192.168.1.60, then you would use the following website address to access the second web server on the Synology: http://192.168.1.60:8000/nagios/


The Nagios monitoring status web pages, once set up, will appear as a directory of that second web server, as shown below:


nagiosds415_web_status


The value of the Nagios monitoring status web pages becomes apparent fairly quickly by reviewing the above screen capture.  The above Tactical Overview shows that there are 18 monitored devices that are up, one monitored device that is down, and another device that is in the process of being checked.  The links at the left provide additional information about the monitored devices.  Let’s configure the second copy of Apache on the Synology to support the Nagios monitoring status web pages.


The second copy of Apache uses the configuration file /opt/etc/apache2/httpd.conf.  Edit that file:


vi /opt/etc/apache2/httpd.conf


Add the following directly below the # Supplemental configuration heading, which is near the end of the file:


# Added by per Charles Hooper's Nagios installation guide for Synology DS415+
Include etc/apache2/conf.d/nagios.conf
Include etc/apache2/conf.d/php.conf


Save the file and exit vi.  Next, we need to create the htpasswd.users file in the correct location.  In the above steps, we executed the following command:


/opt/sbin/htpasswd -c /usr/local/etc/htpasswd.users nagiosadmin


That htpasswd.users file is expected to be in the /opt/etc directory.  Execute the following command to create the file in the correct directory (you will be prompted for a password for the nagiosadmin user):


/opt/sbin/htpasswd -c /opt/etc/htpasswd.users nagiosadmin


The Nagios monitoring status web pages require PHP support to be added to the second Apache installation.  Execute the following commands to install PHP:


/opt/bin/ipkg update
/opt/bin/ipkg list
/opt/bin/ipkg install php
/opt/bin/ipkg install php-apache


Next, we need to modify the /opt/etc/apache2/conf.d/nagios.conf file that was created during the Nagios installation.


vi /opt/etc/apache2/conf.d/nagios.conf


Below the heading <Directory “/opt/share”> add the following line:


   DirectoryIndex index.php


Save the file and exit vi.  Next, we need to adjust the php.ini file on the Synology:


vi /opt/etc/php.ini


In the file (near line 108), locate the following line:


output_buffering = Off


Change that line to show:


output_buffering = 8192


Locate the following line (near line 248) in the file:


memory_limit = 8M


Change that line to show:


memory_limit = 128M


There may be a second php.ini file located in the /etc/php directory, make the same change to that file, then save the file and exit vi:


vi /etc/php/php.ini


Perform a graceful restart of the second copy of Apache:


/opt/sbin/apachectl -k graceful


Try to access the Nagios status monitoring pages in a web browser (replace 192.168.1.60 with the IP address of your Synology)  http://192.168.1.60:8000/nagios/ 


You should be prompted to enter a username and password.  Enter nagiosadmin for the username, and enter the password for that user that you created when executing the /opt/sbin/htpasswd command earlier.  If the web page does not display, take a look at the last 100 lines of the Apache error log to see if any clues are provided:


tail -n 100 /opt/var/apache2/log/error_log


Some of the interesting error messages that I experienced including the following:


[Sun Jan 04 14:07:55 2015] [error] [client 192.168.1.218] (2)No such file or directory: Could not open password file: /opt/etc/htpasswd.users
 
[Sun Jan 04 14:23:04 2015] [error] [client 192.168.1.218] Directory index forbidden by Options directive: /opt/share/
 
[Sun Jan 04 15:07:09 2015] [error] [client 192.168.1.218] File does not exist: /opt/share/<, referer: http://192.168.1.60:8000/nagios/
 
[Sun Jan 04 17:53:06 2015] [notice] child pid 15126 exit signal Segmentation fault (11)
 
[Sun Jan 11 09:41:57 2015] [error] [client 192.168.1.213] script not found or unable to stat: /opt/sbin/statusmap.cgi, referer: http://192.168.1.60:8000/nagios/side.php


The last of the above errors still remains, the file /opt/sbin/statusmap.cgi does not exist.  For now, I will let someone else find a solution for that problem.


If you find that a monitored device is down, using the web interface it is possible to disable future checking of the device, as well as alter a number of other notification options.  Unfortunately, clicking any of the options under the Host Commands heading will result in a permission error.


nagiosds415_change_notifications


To fix the permission error:


Using the Synology Control Panel interface, create a new group named www – this group requires no specific Synology permissions.  Next, using the Synology Control Panel interface, create a user named apache – make this user a member of the nagios, users, and www groups.  This user requires no specific Synology permissions.  Then change the username and group under which Apache executes:


vi /opt/etc/apache2/httpd.conf


In the httpd.conf file, locate the following two lines:


User nobody
Group #-1


Change those lines to appears as follows:


User apache
Group www


Save the file and exit vi.  Gracefully restart the second copy of Apache:


/opt/sbin/apachectl -k graceful


Refresh the Nagios monitoring status web page – the options under the Host Commands heading should no longer return an error.


—-




Adding Plex Support (Added December 29, 2014)


Note: Some of these steps may use utilities that were installed during the Nagios install.  Plex does not yet support the CPU type in the DS415+, so it is necessary to modify a configuration file during the install.  (Note May 25, 2015: The Plex download version 0.9.12.1.1079 natively supports the DS415+’s CPU, so after downloading the file it is possible to skip to adjusting the Trust Level setting step in the Synology Package Center.)


Connect to the DS415+ using a telnet session and the root username and password (see the directions above, if the steps are not clear).  Change to the downloads directory that was created above, and use the wget command to download what is as of today the current version of Plex:


cd /volume1/downloads/
wget https://downloads.plex.tv/plex-media-server/0.9.11.7.803-87d0708/PlexMediaServer-0.9.11.7.803-87d0708-x86.spk


Create a directory, extract the downloaded PlexMediaServer-0.9.11.7.803-87d0708-x86.spk file to the just created directory, then switch to that directory:


mkdir PlexMediaServer-0.9.11.7.803-87d0708-x86
tar -xvf PlexMediaServer-0.9.11.7.803-87d0708-x86.spk -C /volume1/downloads/PlexMediaServer-0.9.11.7.803-87d0708-x86
cd PlexMediaServer-0.9.11.7.803-87d0708-x86


Next, we need to edit the INFO file to add support for the CPU that is installed in the DS415+:


vi INFO


If you are not familiar with using vi to edit files, you will need to switch vi to edit mode by typing i on the keyboard (note that is a lowercase i) before attempting to make any changes to the file.  When you are finished making changes, press the Esc key on the keyboard, then type ZZ to save and exit (note that is uppercase ZZ).


In the file, change the line:


arch="x86 cedarview bromolow evansport"


to:


arch="x86 cedarview bromolow evansport avoton"


When finished with the edit, the file should appear as below.  Save the file and exit vi.


plexds415_modify_arch


Next, we need to create a new spk file that includes the modified INFO file, and copy that file to a shared folder (mysharedfolder in this example) that was previously created on the DS415+ that is accessible from a computer that has access to the DS415+’s DSM interface.


tar -cvf /volume1/downloads/PlexMediaServerMod-0.9.11.7.803-87d0708-x86.spk *
cd ..
cp PlexMediaServerMod-0.9.11.7.803-87d0708-x86.spk /volume1/mysharedfolder/PlexMediaServerMod-0.9.11.7.803-87d0708-x86.spk


Now on the computer that has access to the DS415+’s DSM interface, click Package Center, then click Settings.  Under the Trust Level heading, change the setting from Synology Inc. to “Any publisher“, then click OK.


plexds415_modify_package_settings


Next, install Plex using the Manual Install feature.  Click the Manual Install button, then click the Browse button.  Switch to the shared folder where the spk file was copied (mysharedfolder in the above example), and select to open the PlexMediaServerMod-0.9.11.7.803-87d0708-x86.spk file.  Click the Next button to complete the install of Plex.


plexds415_manual_install


I have only just started experimenting with Plex, so I do not have a full grasp of its capabilities yet.  There are several “channels” that can be added to watch certain types of recorded video.  After experimenting with a couple of the easily accessible channels, I stumbled across this page, which described how to add several additional “unsupported” channels.  The following steps seem to work to install the additional channels from a telnet session connected to the DS415+.  Download and extract the unsupported channels:


cd /volume1/downloads/
wget https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15227710/UnSupportedAppstore.bundle.zip
mkdir plexunsupported
unzip UnSupportedAppstore.bundle.zip -d ./plexunsupported/


Change to the directory where the Plex plugins are stored, create a directory for the new plugin that was just downloaded and extracted, copy the downloaded plugin files to the directory that was just created, then change the ownership of the downloaded and extracted files to the plex user:


cd /volume1/Plex/Library/Application\ Support/Plex\ Media\ Server/Plug-ins/
mkdir UnSupportedAppstore.bundle
cp -r /volume1/downloads/plexunsupported/UnSupportedAppstore.bundle/* ./UnSupportedAppstore.bundle
chown -R plex:users ./UnSupportedAppstore.bundle


As far as I could determine, the unsupported channels will only appear when the Plex package is stopped and then started again.  In the Package Center’s Installed list click Plex Media Server.  Click the down arrow to the right of Action, then click Stop.  Wait 30 seconds, then click the down arrow again and select Run.


plexds415_restart_plex


If the DS415+ is named ds415, the it should be possible to access Plex on the Synology using this link http://ds415:32400/web/index.html (replace ds415 with the unit’s IP address if the unit’s network name is not known).  Clicking the Channels link at the left should show the Unsupported AppStore (the black icon below with the white border)


plexds415_after_restart_unsupported1


Clicking the Unsupported AppStore icon should then display a list of categories at the left.  The New category contains quite a few channels, as shown below.  To add the channel, click the channel, then click the Install link.


plexds415_after_restart_unsupported2


I am sure that there is much more to Plex than just offering an alternative to a Roku player or the streaming video options of some Blu-Ray players and network capable TVs (which are also able to retrieve the channels from Plex), but I have not had much time to experiment yet.  I understand that Plex is very good at transcoding video streams for different media consumption devices, such as tablets, but I am not sure that I have a use for that functionality yet.


—-




Plex/Nagios/Wordpress Stress Test (Added April 5, 2014)


A question was asked on the Synology forums whether or not I had any evidence that replacing the pre-installed 2GB of memory with an 8GB Crucial memory card made a measurable difference in the Synology DS415+’s performance.  That is a very difficult question to answer – the answer will depend largely on how the DS415+ is used.  If the DiskStation is only used to receive 10+ GB files from a single client, the additional memory probably will make no difference in the performance of the DS415+.


When the DS415+ was first released there were several discussion threads on the Synology forums indicating that the Synology DS415+ was not powerful enough to handle 1080p video for clients wishing to play back that video on various streaming devices, while the less powerful DS415Play could support 1080P playback for clients because it had additional coprocessors to support video transcoding.  So, I thought that I would try a quick test with the DS415+.  The DS415+ is running Nagios to monitor several devices, including 15+ high definition security cameras, as well as acting as the FTP target for those security cameras.  The DS415+ is also running WordPress, although WordPress has not seen much action lately on the unit.  Plex is occasionally used on the DS415+, but had not been used in the last 10 to 12 hours.  The DS415+ with 8 GB of memory installed showed the following memory statistics in its Resource Monitor: Reserved: 217.6 MB, Used: 741.9 MB,  Buffer: 151.7 MB, Cached: 6.8 GB, Free: 166.5 MB.  So, most of the additional 6 GB of memory was used for file caching, which helps speed up the apparent write speed of files, and the read speed of frequently accessed files.


So, I opened the WordPress website on the DS415+ and viewed a couple of pages.  I then went to the Plex website hosted on the DS415+ using a Window 8.1 tablet and requested the playback of a 1080P movie – the tablet supports 1080P video.  The DS415+ still had a bit of CPU capacity left, and the video was playing back smoothly on the tablet.  Just for fun I then used a Sony Blu-Ray player to request a different 1080P movie from the DS415+ while the first movie was still streaming to the tablet.  Below is a screen capture of a portion of the DSM interface on the DS415+ while both video streams were playing back (with occasional buffering):


plexds415_plex_playback_2_clients


I still cannot say for certain if the additional memory helped in this particular stress test.  However, for the current cost of the 8GB memory card ($55 USD), the additional memory could prove to be helpful depending on how the DS415+ is used – all that it would take in this case is for a WordPress cache optimizer to consume 400 MB of additional memory to push the DS415+ over 2 GB of total memory consumption.


July 19, 2013 (Modified July 27, 2013, July 28, 2013, November 19, 2013)


(Forward to the Next Post in the Series)


—-


Update July 27, 2013:


    

  • I now have Nagios running on an ARM based Synology DiskStation DS212+.  Most of the steps are the same as outlined below, however there are a few additional errors that must be addressed (see below additional steps).
    • 

  • All of the ./configure commands should have included –prefix=/opt (rather than –prefix=/usr/local or completely omitting that parameter).  That change eliminates the need to copy the Nagios plugins to the correct location.  Possibly related, the -i parameter was unnecessary for the snmp and Nagios plugins make and make install commands when the ./configure command included the –prefix=/opt prefix.
    • 

  • The wget http://sourceforge.net/projects/dsgpl/files/DSM%204.1%20Tool%20Chains/Intel%20×86%20Linux%203.2.11&#8230; download step for the gcc compiler is apparently unnecessary, at least on the Synology DiskStation DS212+ (see below).
    • 



—-


This article describes how to compile and run Nagios on a Synology DiskStation DS1813+ (64 bit) or Synology DiskStation DS412+ (32 bit, the 32 bit steps should also apply to the DS1812+) NAS, both of which utilize Intel Atom processors (cat /proc/cpuinfo indicates that the DS412+ is using a 2.13GHz Atom D2700, while the DS1813+ is using a 2.13GHz Atom D2701), and utilize the DSM 4.2 operating system.  Not all Synology DiskStation NAS devices use Intel based CPUs – some of the less expensive DiskStations use ARM type processors (see this link to determine the type of CPU installed in a specific DiskStation).  It may be possible to produce a working version of Nagios on NAS devices that do not have Intel 32 bit or 64 bit processors, but I have not yet fully tested the procedure.


Warning: A lot of what follows is based on experimentation, with the end goal of having Nagios running on a Synology DiskStation having the ability to ping devices on the network or the Internet, with an email sent to an administrator when a device stops responding to ping requests, and to send a second email when the device resumes responding to ping requests.  This functionality represents a small fraction of Nagios’ capabilities through the use of plugins.  File paths vary from one Linux distribution to the next, so that adds a bit of challenge to make certain that the files are placed in the required directory.  Copying a file to the wrong directory may temporarily disable the DiskStation and require the reinstallation of the Synology DSM operating system.  The directions below are not final, and quite likely do not represent the most efficient approaches to accomplish the end goal – but the directions will hopefully be “close enough to correct” to allow the average reader of this blog to ping and send email alerts from a DiskStation.


I have relied on the free Nagios network monitoring solution since 2002 to provide an early warning of problems associated with network attached equipment including servers, production floor computers, switches, printers, wireless access points, IP cameras, Internet connection stability, etc.  While I rely on Nagios’ alerting system, I am not an expert at configuring the Nagios network monitoring system; the Nagios configuration documentation may be downloaded here.


First, make certain that the Telnet Service (or SSH Service if that is preferred) is enabled on the DiskStation.  In the DiskStation’s Control Panel, click Terminal.


InstallNagiosDiskStation1


Place a checkmark next to Enable Telnet service (if the item is not already checked), and then click the Apply button.


InstallNagiosDiskStation2


Verify that the computer that you intend to use has a Telnet client.  For Windows 7, access the Programs link in the Control Panel, and then click the Turn Windows features on or off link.  Make certain that there is a checkmark next to Telnet Client, then click the OK button.


InstallNagiosDiskStation3


Open a command line (in Windows, Start – Run – type  cmd  and press the Enter key).  On the command line, type telnet followed by either the name of the DiskStation or the IP address of the DiskStation, then press the Enter key.  When prompted for a username, type root and press the Enter key.  Type the admin user’s password (that is used to access the DSM interface in a web browser) and press the Enter key.


InstallNagiosDiskStation4


The command line on the DiskStation is very similar to the command line on a Unix or Linux computer, and is somewhat similar to a Windows command line or MS-DOS command line (use / rather than \, use ls rather than dir, use vi rather than edit):


InstallNagiosDiskStation5


—


We first need to add ipkg support to the DiskStation, detailed directions may be viewed at this link.  The exact directions may be different for other DiskStation models, but the following directions work for both the DS1813+ and DS412+ (note that all files downloaded from the Internet will be placed on volume1 in the downloads directory – copy and paste the lines to the Telnet session, one line at a time):


cd /volume1
mkdir downloads
cd downloads
wget http://ipkg.nslu2-linux.org/feeds/optware/syno-i686/cross/unstable/syno-i686-bootstrap_1.2-7_i686.xsh
chmod +x syno-i686-bootstrap_1.2-7_i686.xsh
sh syno-i686-bootstrap_1.2-7_i686.xsh


The vi editor is used on the DiskStation to modify files; that vi editor is a bit challenging to use at first sight, so you may need help with a couple of basic commands (see this quick reference for other commands).  The commands in vi are case sensitive (i is not the same as I).  When a file is opened, press the i key on the keyboard to allow making changes to the file (such as typing commands, or deleting commands).  When finished making changes to the file press the Esc key.  Once the Esc key is pressed, type ZZ to save the changed file and quit, or :q! to quit without saving the changes.


Next, we must modify the file that establishes the environment for the root user, when that user connects to the DiskStation.  This change is needed as part of the ipkg installation.  Edit the .profile file used by the root user:


vi /root/.profile


Add a # character in front of the two lines that contain the word PATH, then save the file (see the brief directions above to switch between command and insert mode in vi):


InstallNagiosDiskStation6


Next, reboot the DiskStation by clicking the Restart button in the Synology DSM interface (note: it should be possible to type reboot in the Telnet interface, however the DiskStation locked up the one time I attempted to execute that command).


InstallNagiosDiskStation7


Once the DiskStation reboots, reconnect to the DiskStation using Telnet, connecting as the root user, just as was done earlier.


The ipkg command should now work on the command line.  First, request that an updated list of available packages is downloaded, then display that list of packages:


ipkg update
ipkg list


Next, download a couple of packages that will be used by the Nagios network monitoring tool.  Note that using ipkg to install packages is a lot easier than compiling source code, so have fun with the ipkg utility.  When installing the optware-devel package, an error may appear stating that there is an incompatibility between wget and wget-ssl – just ignore that error for now.


ipkg update wget-ssl
ipkg install optware-devel
ipkg install gcc
ipkg install libtool
ipkg install mysql


Next, we need to compile a file and copy a couple of files:


cd /opt/share/libtool/libltdl/
./configure --prefix=/opt
make all
make install

cp /usr/syno/apache/modules/mod_ext_filter.so /opt/libexec/mod_ext_filter.so
cp /usr/syno/apache/modules/*.* /opt/libexec/


Now, install the Apache package:


ipkg install apache


—


If an error message is displayed on screen about mod_ext_filter.so, then modify the /opt/etc/apache2/httpd.conf file and add a # in front of the line LoadModule ext_filter_module libexec/mod_ext_filter.so and save the file.  Re-execute the ipkg install apache command (note that the up arrow on the keyboard may be pressed to quickly retype one of the previously executed commands).


InstallNagiosDiskStation8


—


Using the DiskStation’s Control Panel, create a nagios group and a nagcmd group (the nagcmd group probably will not be used for anything specific).  These groups do not require any special DiskStation permissions.


InstallNagiosDiskStation9


Using the DiskStation’s Control Panel, create a nagios user and add that user to the nagios and nagcmd groups.  The nagios user does not require any specific DiskStation permissions.


Next, switch back to the Telnet session, download the Nagios source code, and compile the source code:


DiskStation DS212+ Notes:


The following ./configure call was used on the DS212+:


./configure --prefix=/opt --with-command-group=nagios --disable-nanosleep --enable-nanosleep=no


The ./configure aborted with the following error message:


checking for pthread_create in -lpthread... no
checking for pthread_mutex_init in -lpthread... no
checking for pthread_create in -lpthreads... no
checking for pthread_create in -llthread... no
checking if we need -pthread for threads... no
checking for library containing nanosleep... no
Error: nanosleep() needed for timing operations.


The test that threw the error is located roughly 63% of the way through the configure file (on roughly line 5635).  If the exit 1 line in the configure file is commented out, then the configure step will complete.  However, the make all command will then fail with the following error messages:


/volume1/downloads/nagios/base/nebmods.c:363: undefined reference to `dlclose'
nebmods.o: In function `neb_load_module':
/volume1/downloads/nagios/base/nebmods.c:218: undefined reference to `dlopen'
/volume1/downloads/nagios/base/nebmods.c:249: undefined reference to `dlsym'
/volume1/downloads/nagios/base/nebmods.c:266: undefined reference to `dlsym'
/volume1/downloads/nagios/base/nebmods.c:299: undefined reference to `dlsym'
/volume1/downloads/nagios/base/nebmods.c:225: undefined reference to `dlerror'
/opt/lib/gcc/arm-none-linux-gnueabi/4.2.3/../../../../arm-none-linux-gnueabi/lib/libpthread.so: undefined reference to `__default_sa_restorer_v2@GLIBC_PRIVATE'
/opt/lib/gcc/arm-none-linux-gnueabi/4.2.3/../../../../arm-none-linux-gnueabi/lib/libpthread.so: undefined reference to `__default_rt_sa_restorer_v2@GLIBC_PRIVAT
E'
/opt/lib/gcc/arm-none-linux-gnueabi/4.2.3/../../../../arm-none-linux-gnueabi/lib/libpthread.so: undefined reference to `__default_rt_sa_restorer_v1@GLIBC_PRIVAT
E'
/opt/lib/gcc/arm-none-linux-gnueabi/4.2.3/../../../../arm-none-linux-gnueabi/lib/libpthread.so: undefined reference to `__default_sa_restorer_v1@GLIBC_PRIVATE'
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
make[1]: *** [nagios] Error 1
make[1]: Leaving directory `/volume1/downloads/nagios/base'
make: *** [all] Error 2


After a bit of searching on the Internet, I found a page that suggested making the following changes (note that I unsuccessfully tried a couple of other steps that may have also partially corrected the issue):


mkdir /opt/arm-none-linux-gnueabi/lib_disabled
mv /opt/arm-none-linux-gnueabi/lib/libpthread* /opt/arm-none-linux-gnueabi/lib_disabled

cp /lib/libpthread.so.0 /opt/arm-none-linux-gnueabi/lib/
cd /opt/arm-none-linux-gnueabi/lib/
ln -s libpthread.so.0 libpthread.so
ln -s libpthread.so.0 libpthread-2.5.so


After making the above changes, I was able to run the configure and make all commands without receiving an error.


cd /volume1/downloads
wget http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/nagios/nagios-3.5.0.tar.gz
tar xzf nagios-3.5.0.tar.gz
cd nagios
./configure --prefix=/opt --with-command-group=nagios
make all
make install
make install-init
make install-config
make install-commandmode


We apparently need to copy a couple of files to different locations at this point:


cp /opt/lib/libltdl.so.3 /opt/local/lib/libltdl.so.3
cp /opt/lib/libltdl.so.3 /usr/lib/libltdl.so.3
cp /opt/lib/libltdl.so /usr/lib/


Undo the changes that were earlier made to the /root/.profile file, where # characters were added in front of any line that contained the word PATH.  Remove those # characters and save the file:


vi /root/.profile


(This part still needs some fine tuning to make the web interface work with Nagios.)  Edit the Nagios Makefile and change the line beginning with HTTPD_CONF to show HTTPD_CONF=/opt/etc/apache2/conf.d  Then save the file.


cd /volume1/downloads/nagios
vi Makefile


InstallNagiosDiskStation10


Execute the following command:


make install-webconf


Create a nagiosadmin user for the web administration, specify a password when prompted:


htpasswd -c /usr/local/etc/htpasswd.users nagiosadmin


Update November 19, 2013:


GabrielM reported in a comment below that it may be necessary to specify the full path to the htpasswd program:


/usr/syno/apache/bin/htpasswd -c /usr/local/etc/htpasswd.users nagiosadmin




Install a couple of additional ipkg packages that will be used by Nagios (the last package adds a ping utility that may be used by Nagios – the security permissions on the DiskStation prevent non-root users from using the built-in ping utility):


ipkg install openssl
ipkg install openssl-dev
ipkg install sendmail
ipkg install inetutils


—


A step that may or may not be required is to download a functioning C++ compiler (some of the commands below point to files provided with the C++ compiler) – it appears that there should already be a compiler on the DiskStation at this point (in /opt/bin), so the successful completion of this task of downloading a usable C++ compiler might not be required.


DiskStation DS212+ Notes:


These wget and tar steps were completely skipped on the DS212+


For the DiskStation DS1813+ 64 bit:


cd /volume1/downloads
wget http://sourceforge.net/projects/dsgpl/files/DSM%204.1%20Tool%20Chains/Intel%20x86%20Linux%203.2.11%20%28Cedarview%29/gcc420_glibc236_x64_cedarview-GPL.tgz
tar zxpf gcc420_glibc236_x64_cedarview-GPL.tgz -C /usr/local/


For the DiskStation DS412+ 32 bit:




cd /volume1/downloads
wget http://sourceforge.net/projects/dsgpl/files/DSM%204.2%20Tool%20Chains/Intel%20x86%20Linux%203.2.11%20%28Bromolow%29/gcc421_glibc236_x86_bromolow-GPL.tgz
tar zxpf gcc421_glibc236_x86_bromolow-GPL.tgz -C /usr/local/




—


Now the net-snmp source code is downloaded and extracted:


DiskStation DS212+ Notes:


The ./configure call on the DS212 (might also work on the other DiskStation models):


./configure –prefix=/opt


The make call threw several errors, including:


/bin/sh: arm-none-linux-gnueabi-ld: not found
make[2]: *** [../blib/arch/auto/NetSNMP/default_store/default_store.so] Error 127


Before running the make command on the DS212+, execute the following command:


ln -s /opt/bin/ld /opt/bin/arm-none-linux-gnueabi-ld


The -i parameter may be omitted when running the make and make install commands.


cd /volume1/downloads
wget http://sourceforge.net/projects/net-snmp/files/net-snmp/5.7.2/net-snmp-5.7.2.tar.gz
tar xzf net-snmp-5.7.2.tar.gz
cd net-snmp-5.7.2


For the DiskStation DS1813+ 64 bit, execute the following to compile the net-snmp source (note that this command uses the compiler that was downloaded):


env CC=/usr/local/x86_64-linux-gnu/bin/x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc \
LD=/usr/local/x86_64-linux-gnu/bin/x86_64-linux-gnu-ld \
RANLIB=/usr/local/x86_64-linux-gnu/bin/x86_64-linux-gnu-ranlib \
CFLAGS="-I/usr/local/x86_64-linux-gnu/include" \
LDFLAGS="-L/usr/local/x86_64-linux-gnu/lib" \
./configure --host=x86_64-linux-gnu --target=x86_64-linux-gnu --build=x86_64-pc-linux --prefix=/usr/local


For the DiskStation DS412+ 32 bit, execute the following to compile the net-snmp source (note: I could not use any of the different compilers that I tried downloading due to the compilers crashing with one of two error messages, so this command uses the compiler in /opt/bin):


env CC=/opt/bin/i686-linux-gnu-gcc \
LD=/usr/local/i686-linux-gnu/bin/i686-linux-gnu-ld \
RANLIB=/usr/local/i686-linux-gnu/bin/i686-linux-gnu-ranlib \
CFLAGS="-I/usr/local/i686-linux-gnu/include" \
LDFLAGS="-L/usr/local/i686-linux-gnu/lib" \
./configure --host=i686-linux-gnu --target=i686-linux-gnu --build=i686-linux-gnu --prefix=/usr/local


Several prompts will appear on the screen when either of the two commands is executed.  I entered the following for the prompts:


Default version of SNMP to use (3): 3

 System Contact Information: (Enter)

System Location (Unknown): (Enter)

Location to write logfile (/var/log/snmpd.log): /opt/var/snmpd.log

 Location to write persistent information (/var/net-snmp): (Enter)


Two additional commands to execute:


make -i
make install -i


Now we need to download the source code for the Nagios plugins (check_apt, check_breeze, check_by_ssh, check_clamd, check_cluster, check_dhcp, check_disk, check_disk_smb, check_dns, check_dummy, check_file_age, check_flexlm, check_ftp, check_http, check_icmp, check_ide_smart, check_ifoperstatup, check_ifstatus, check_imap, check_ircd, check_jabber, check_ldap, check_ldaps, check_load, check_log, check_mailq, check_mrtg, check_mrtgtraf, check_mysql, check_mysql_query, check_nagios, check_nntp, check_nntps, check_nt, check_ntp, check_ntp_peer, check_ntp_time, check_nwstat, check_oracle, check_overcr, check_ping, check_pop, check_procs, check_real, check_rpc, check_sensors, check_simap, check_smtp, check_snmp, check_spop, check_ssh, check_ssmtp, check_swap, check_tcp, check_time, check_udp, check_ups, check_users, check_wave) that allow Nagios to perform various monitoring tasks:


cd /volume1/downloads
wget http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/nagiosplug/nagios-plugins-1.4.16.tar.gz
tar xzf nagios-plugins-1.4.16.tar.gz
cd nagios-plugins-1.4.16/


Update November 19, 2013:


GabrielM reported in a comment below that the occasionally changing “current version” of the Nagios plugins makes it difficult to download the plugins from the source shown above.  If you open the http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/nagiosplug/ web page in a web browser, the web browser will be redirected to http://sourceforge.net/projects/nagiosplug/files/ which contains the following statement:


“The Nagios Plugins are no longer distributed via SourceForge. For downloads and other information, please visit: https://www.nagios-plugins.org/

Source: README.md, updated 2013-10-01″


If you follow that link and then click the Download heading at the top of the page, there should be a link on the page that allows access to the current version of the Nagios plugins.  That link is currently: https://www.nagios-plugins.org/download/nagios-plugins-1.5.tar.gz


The command that GabrielM provided should work:


wget https://www.nagios-plugins.org/download/nagios-plugins-1.5.tar.gz




—


DiskStation DS212+ Notes:


The following configure, make, and make install commands were used:


./configure --prefix=/opt --with-openssl=/usr/syno/bin/openssl --with-nagios-user=nagios --with-nagios-group=nagios --with-ping-command="/opt/bin/ping -c %d %s" --psdir=/bin --with-ps-varlist="&procpid,&procppid,&procvsz,&procrss,procprog,&pos" --with-ps-cols=6 --with-ps-format="%d %d %d %d %s %n" --with-ps-command="/bin/ps -w"
make
make install




For the DiskStation DS1813+ 64 bit:


./configure --with-openssl=/usr/syno/bin/openssl --with-nagios-user=nagios --with-nagios-group=nagios --with-ping-command="/opt/bin/ping -c %d %s" --psdir=/bin --with-ps-varlist="&procpid,&procppid,&procvsz,&procrss,procprog,&pos" --with-ps-cols=6 --with-ps-format="%d %d %d %d %s %n" --with-ps-command="/bin/ps -w" --host=x86_64-linux-gnu --target=x86_64-linux-gnu --build=x86_64-pc-linux
make -i 
make install -i


For the DiskStation DS412+ 32 bit:


./configure --with-openssl=/usr/syno/bin/openssl --with-nagios-user=nagios --with-nagios-group=nagios --with-ping-command="/opt/bin/ping -c %d %s" --psdir=/bin --with-ps-varlist="&procpid,&procppid,&procvsz,&procrss,procprog,&pos" --with-ps-cols=6 --with-ps-format="%d %d %d %d %s %n" --with-ps-command="/bin/ps -w" --host=i686-linux-gnu --target=i686-linux-gnu --build=i686-linux-gnu --prefix=/usr/local
make -i 
make install -i


Copy the Nagios plugins to the location expected by Nagios:


DiskStation DS212+ Notes:


The plugins were installed in the correct location on the DS212+


cp /usr/local/nagios/libexec/*.* /opt/libexec
cp /usr/local/nagios/libexec/* /opt/libexec
cp /usr/local/libexec/check_* /opt/libexec


Update November 19, 2013:


GabrielM reported in a comment below that the third command above may fail.  Depending on the compile options used, the first two commands or the third command may fail.  The first two commands are intended to accomplish the same task as the third command; the first two commands or the last command are expected to fail, but all three commands should not fail.  I should have explained this potential area of concern better.


Copy the Nagios startup script to the correct location so that Nagios will automatically start when the DiskStation is rebooted:


cp /usr/local/etc/rc.d/nagios /opt/etc/init.d/S81nagios


Verify that the ownership of the nagios directory is set correctly:


DiskStation DS212+ Notes:


The file is actually in the /opt/bin directory, so use this command instead:


chown nagios:nagios /opt/bin/nagios/nagios -R




chown nagios:nagios /usr/local/nagios -R


In addition to the main /opt/etc/nagios.cfg Nagios file, there are several other configuration files that are potentially used by Nagios (defined in the nagios.cfg file):


/opt/etc/objects/commands.cfg
/opt/etc/objects/contacts.cfg
/opt/etc/objects/timeperiods.cfg
/opt/etc/objects/templates.cfg
/opt/etc/objects/localhost.cfg
/opt/etc/objects/windows.cfg
/opt/etc/objects/server.cfg
/opt/etc/objects/switch.cfg
/opt/etc/objects/printer.cfg


We need to make a couple of adjustments in the  /opt/etc/objects/commands.cfg file.


vi /opt/etc/objects/commands.cfg


Change the ‘notify-host-by-email’ command definition section as follows:


define command{
    command_name notify-host-by-email
    command_line /usr/bin/printf "%b" "Subject: $NOTIFICATIONTYPE$ Host Alert: $HOSTNAME$ is $HOSTSTATE$\n\n***** Nagios *****\n\nNotification Type: $NOTIFICATIONTYPE$\nHost: $HOSTNAME$\nState: $HOSTSTATE$\nAddress: $HOSTADDRESS$\nInfo: $HOSTOUTPUT$\n\nDate/Time: $LONGDATETIME$\n" | /opt/sbin/sendmail -vt $CONTACTEMAIL$
    }


Change the ‘notify-service-by-email’ command definition section as follows:


define command{
    command_name notify-service-by-email
    command_line /usr/bin/printf "%b" "Subject: $NOTIFICATIONTYPE$ Service Alert: $HOSTALIAS$/$SERVICEDESC$ is $SERVICESTATE$\n\n***** Nagios *****\n\nNotification Type: $NOTIFICATIONTYPE$\n\nService: $SERVICEDESC$\nHost: $HOSTALIAS$\nAddress: $HOSTADDRESS$\nState: $SERVICESTATE$\n\nDate/Time: $LONGDATETIME$\n\nAdditional Info:\n\n$SERVICEOUTPUT$\n" | /opt/sbin/sendmail -vt $CONTACTEMAIL$
    }


Change the ‘check_ping’ command definition section as follows (feel free to read the documentation for check_ping and specify different values):


define command{
        command_name    check_ping
        command_line    $USER1$/check_ping -H $HOSTADDRESS$ -w 3000,25% -c 5000,90% -p 3 
        }


Save the file and exit vi.


At this point, the Nagios network monitoring utility will likely experience an error similar to the following when attempting to send an alert email:


output=collect: Cannot write ./dfr6BFFPC7027203 (bfcommit, uid=1026, gid=25): Permission denied


Execute the following commands, which should fix the above problem:


chmod g+w /opt/var/spool/clientmqueue
chmod 444 /opt/etc/mail/*.cf
chmod 7555 /opt/sbin/sendmail


We will need to use su to test the execution of various commands as the nagios user.  Without this fix (described here), you might see the following error message:


su: warning: cannot change directory to /var/services/homes/nagios: No such file or directory su: /sbin/nologin: No such file or directory


Enter the following commands:


mkdir /var/services/homes
mkdir /var/services/homes/nagios
chown nagios:nagios /var/services/homes/nagios -R
vi /etc/passwd


Locate the line in the passwd file for the Nagios user.  Near the end of the line, /sbin/nologin should appear.  Replace that text with /bin/ash then save and exit vi.


Verify that the Nagios user is able to execute the check_ping plugin.  Replace MyDeviceHere with either an IP address or a network device name that is on your network:


su - nagios -c "/opt/libexec/check_ping -H MyDeviceHere -w 5000,80% -c 5000,80% -p 5"


—


If the ping command (called by check_ping) is not able to resolve a network device name, and the fully qualified dns name was not specified (MyDeviceHere.MyDomainHere.com), edit the /etc/resolv.conf file:


vi /etc/resolv.conf


On a new line in the file, add the following line (replacing MyDomainHere.com with your dns domain name for the network):


search MyDomainHere.com


—


Verify that sendmail works for the Nagios user.  At the prompt that appears, type a short message, press the Enter key, type a period, then press the Enter key again – replace MyEmailAddressHere@MyDomainHere.com with your email address):


su - nagios -c "/opt/sbin/sendmail -vt MyEmailAddressHere@MyDomainHere.com"


—-


It is important to always verify the Nagios configuration before starting (or restarting after a configuration change) Nagios.  To verify the configuration type the following:


/opt/bin/nagios -v /opt/etc/nagios.cfg


To start up Nagios as a background task (daemon), execute the following:


/opt/bin/nagios -d /opt/etc/nagios.cfg


To stop Nagios that is executing as a background task, type:


ps


InstallNagiosDiskStation11


Then search though the list of processes for the first line that shows /opt/bin/nagios -d /opt/etc/nagios.cfg.  The number at the left of that line, 31152 in this case, is used to stop Nagios.  To stop Nagios, type the following (replace 31152 with the number shown on your screen):


kill 31152


—


Side note: I tried installing quite a few different C++ compilers that supposedly work with the Synology DSM (see here).  As such, I had to find a way to remove a directory, that directory’s subdirectories, and files.  The following command will completely remove the /usr/local/i686-linux-gnu directory, should the need arise:


rm -rf /usr/local/i686-linux-gnu


—


At this point, Nagios will hopefully run as a background task, and it should be able to ping and send email alerts.  However, if you were following the above directions, we have not yet instructed Nagios which devices to monitor, and to whom the alert emails should be sent.  The next step is to define the email contacts by modifying the /opt/etc/objects/contacts.cfg file (see the documentation for assistance):


vi /opt/etc/objects/contacts.cfg


After setting up the contacts, we should probably tell Nagios which devices to monitor.  If there are a lot of devices on your network to be monitored, you might find that using Microsoft Excel rather than vi to create the object definitions makes the task more manageable.  Set up a simple worksheet with four columns.  Column A will be used to specify the short host_name for the object to be monitored.  Column B will be used to specify the alias (long description for the object).  Column C will be used to either specify the IP address for the device or the network name for the device.  Column D will be used to identify the group to which the object belongs and the file name to which the definition is saved (the Excel macro supports the following groups: ap, camera, computer, external, other, printer, server, switch).


InstallNagiosDiskStation13


The Excel macro is set up to read a tab delimited file, rather than reading the object description directly from the Excel worksheet.  Highlight all of the rows in the worksheet except for the top header row, and press Ctrl C (or edit – Copy) to copy the definitions to the Windows clipboard in tab delimited format.  Start Notepad (Start – Run – Notepad), and then press Ctrl V (or edit – Paste) to paste the tab delimited object descriptions into Notepad.  The Excel macro code expects the text file to be saved as nagioshosts.txt.


The Excel macro code follows (I image that not many computers still have a second floppy drive installed, so change the B:\Hardware Documentation\Synology\ path as appropriate for your environment):


Private Sub cmdProcessText_Click()
    Dim intFileNumRead As Integer
    Dim intFileNumAP As Integer
    Dim intFileNumCamera As Integer
    Dim intFileNumComputer As Integer
    Dim intFileNumExternal As Integer
    Dim intFileNumOther As Integer
    Dim intFileNumPrinter As Integer
    Dim intFileNumServer As Integer
    Dim intFileNumSwitch As Integer
    Dim intFileNumWrite As Integer

    Dim strLine As String
    Dim strItem() As String

    intFileNumRead = FreeFile
    Open "B:\Hardware Documentation\Synology\nagioshosts.txt" For Input As #intFileNumRead

    intFileNumAP = FreeFile
    Open "B:\Hardware Documentation\Synology\ap.cfg" For Output As intFileNumAP
    Print #intFileNumAP, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumAP, "# ap.cfg - lists the wireless access points to be monitored"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumAP, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumAP, "# Last Modified: "; Now; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumAP, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumAP, "#"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumAP, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumAP, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumAP, "# HOST GROUP DEFINITIONS"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumAP, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumAP, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumAP, "#"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumAP, "define hostgroup{"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumAP, "        hostgroup_name  ap                      ; The name of the hostgroup"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumAP, "        alias           Local Access Points       ; Long name of the group"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumAP, "        }"; Chr(10); Chr(10); Chr(10);

    intFileNumCamera = FreeFile
    Open "B:\Hardware Documentation\Synology\camera.cfg" For Output As intFileNumCamera
    Print #intFileNumCamera, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumCamera, "# camera.cfg - lists the IP cameras to be monitored"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumCamera, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumCamera, "# Last Modified: "; Now; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumCamera, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumCamera, "#"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumCamera, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumCamera, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumCamera, "# HOST GROUP DEFINITIONS"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumCamera, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumCamera, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumCamera, "#"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumCamera, "define hostgroup{"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumCamera, "        hostgroup_name  camera                  ; The name of the hostgroup"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumCamera, "        alias           Local IP Cameras          ; Long name of the group"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumCamera, "        }"; Chr(10); Chr(10); Chr(10);

    intFileNumComputer = FreeFile
    Open "B:\Hardware Documentation\Synology\computer.cfg" For Output As intFileNumComputer
    Print #intFileNumComputer, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumComputer, "# computer.cfg - lists the shop floor computers to be monitored"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumComputer, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumComputer, "# Last Modified: "; Now; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumComputer, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumComputer, "#"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumComputer, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumComputer, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumComputer, "# HOST GROUP DEFINITIONS"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumComputer, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumComputer, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumComputer, "#"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumComputer, "define hostgroup{"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumComputer, "        hostgroup_name  computer               ; The name of the hostgroup"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumComputer, "        alias           Domain Computers          ; Long name of the group"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumComputer, "        }"; Chr(10); Chr(10); Chr(10);

    intFileNumExternal = FreeFile
    Open "B:\Hardware Documentation\Synology\external.cfg" For Output As intFileNumExternal
    Print #intFileNumExternal, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumExternal, "# external.cfg - lists the devices external to the LAN network to be monitored"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumExternal, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumExternal, "# Last Modified: "; Now; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumExternal, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumExternal, "#"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumExternal, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumExternal, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumExternal, "# HOST GROUP DEFINITIONS"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumExternal, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumExternal, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumExternal, "#"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumExternal, "define hostgroup{"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumExternal, "        hostgroup_name  external               ; The name of the hostgroup"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumExternal, "        alias           Monitored devices External to the Network ; Long name of the group"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumExternal, "        }"; Chr(10); Chr(10); Chr(10);

    intFileNumOther = FreeFile
    Open "B:\Hardware Documentation\Synology\other.cfg" For Output As intFileNumOther
    Print #intFileNumOther, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumOther, "# other.cfg - lists the miscellaneous devices to be monitored"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumOther, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumOther, "# Last Modified: "; Now; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumOther, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumOther, "#"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumOther, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumOther, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumOther, "# HOST GROUP DEFINITIONS"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumOther, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumOther, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumOther, "#"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumOther, "define hostgroup{"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumOther, "        hostgroup_name  other                 ; The name of the hostgroup"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumOther, "        alias           Miscellaneous Devices ; Long name of the group"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumOther, "        }"; Chr(10); Chr(10); Chr(10);

    intFileNumPrinter = FreeFile
    Open "B:\Hardware Documentation\Synology\printer.cfg" For Output As intFileNumPrinter
    Print #intFileNumPrinter, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumPrinter, "# printer.cfg - lists the printer devices to be monitored"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumPrinter, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumPrinter, "# Last Modified: "; Now; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumPrinter, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumPrinter, "#"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumPrinter, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumPrinter, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumPrinter, "# HOST GROUP DEFINITIONS"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumPrinter, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumPrinter, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumPrinter, "#"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumPrinter, "define hostgroup{"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumPrinter, "        hostgroup_name  printer               ; The name of the hostgroup"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumPrinter, "        alias           Printers and Copiers  ; Long name of the group"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumPrinter, "        }"; Chr(10); Chr(10); Chr(10);

    intFileNumServer = FreeFile
    Open "B:\Hardware Documentation\Synology\server.cfg" For Output As intFileNumServer
    Print #intFileNumServer, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumServer, "# server.cfg - lists the servers to be monitored"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumServer, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumServer, "# Last Modified: "; Now; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumServer, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumServer, "#"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumServer, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumServer, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumServer, "# HOST GROUP DEFINITIONS"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumServer, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumServer, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumServer, "#"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumServer, "define hostgroup{"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumServer, "        hostgroup_name  server               ; The name of the hostgroup"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumServer, "        alias           Server and Similar Devices ; Long name of the group"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumServer, "        }"; Chr(10); Chr(10); Chr(10);

    intFileNumSwitch = FreeFile
    Open "B:\Hardware Documentation\Synology\switch.cfg" For Output As intFileNumSwitch
    Print #intFileNumSwitch, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumSwitch, "# switch.cfg - lists the network equipment type devices to be monitored"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumSwitch, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumSwitch, "# Last Modified: "; Now; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumSwitch, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumSwitch, "#"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumSwitch, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumSwitch, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumSwitch, "# HOST GROUP DEFINITIONS"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumSwitch, "#"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumSwitch, "###############################################################################"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumSwitch, "#"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumSwitch, "define hostgroup{"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumSwitch, "        hostgroup_name  switch               ; The name of the hostgroup"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumSwitch, "        alias           Switche and Similar Devices ; Long name of the group"; Chr(10);
    Print #intFileNumSwitch, "        }"; Chr(10); Chr(10); Chr(10);

    Do While Not (EOF(intFileNumRead))
        Line Input #intFileNumRead, strLine
        strItem = Split(strLine, vbTab)
        'strItem(0) = host_name
        'strItem(1) = alias
        'strItem(2) = address
        'strItem(3) = hostgroups
        Select Case strItem(3)
            Case "ap"
                intFileNumWrite = intFileNumAP
            Case "camera"
                intFileNumWrite = intFileNumCamera
            Case "computer"
                intFileNumWrite = intFileNumComputer
            Case "external"
                intFileNumWrite = intFileNumExternal
            Case "other"
                intFileNumWrite = intFileNumOther
            Case "printer"
                intFileNumWrite = intFileNumPrinter
            Case "server"
                intFileNumWrite = intFileNumServer
            Case "switch"
                intFileNumWrite = intFileNumSwitch
        End Select

        Print #intFileNumWrite, "define host{"; Chr(10);
        Select Case strItem(3)
            Case "ap"
                Print #intFileNumWrite, "        use             ap              ; Inherit default values from a template"; Chr(10);
            Case "camera"
                Print #intFileNumWrite, "        use             camera          ; Inherit default values from a template"; Chr(10);
            Case "computer"
                Print #intFileNumWrite, "        use             computer        ; Inherit default values from a template"; Chr(10);
            Case "external"
                Print #intFileNumWrite, "        use             external        ; Inherit default values from a template"; Chr(10);
            Case "other"
                Print #intFileNumWrite, "        use             other           ; Inherit default values from a template"; Chr(10);
            Case "printer"
                Print #intFileNumWrite, "        use             printer         ; Inherit default values from a template"; Chr(10);
            Case "server"
                Print #intFileNumWrite, "        use             server          ; Inherit default values from a template"; Chr(10);
            Case "switch"
                Print #intFileNumWrite, "        use             switch          ; Inherit default values from a template"; Chr(10);
        End Select
        Print #intFileNumWrite, "        host_name       "; strItem(0); "         ; The name we're giving to this device"; Chr(10);
        Print #intFileNumWrite, "        alias           "; strItem(1); "         ; A longer name associated with the device"; Chr(10);
        Print #intFileNumWrite, "        address         "; strItem(2); "         ; IP address of the device"; Chr(10);
        Print #intFileNumWrite, "        hostgroups      "; strItem(3); "         ; Host groups this device is associated with"; Chr(10);
        Print #intFileNumWrite, "        }"; Chr(10); Chr(10);

        Print #intFileNumWrite, "define service{"; Chr(10);
        Print #intFileNumWrite, "        use                     generic-service ; Inherit values from a template"; Chr(10);
        Print #intFileNumWrite, "        host_name               "; strItem(0); "        ; The name of the host the service is associated with"; Chr(10);
        Print #intFileNumWrite, "        service_description     PING            ; The service description"; Chr(10);
        Print #intFileNumWrite, "        check_command           check_ping!3000,25%!5000,90%    ; The command used to monitor the service"; Chr(10);
        Print #intFileNumWrite, "        normal_check_interval   5               ; Check the service every 5 minutes under normal conditions"; Chr(10);
        Print #intFileNumWrite, "        retry_check_interval    1               ; Re-check the service every minute until its final/hard state is determined"; Chr(10);
        Print #intFileNumWrite, "        }"; Chr(10); Chr(10);
    Loop

    Close #intFileNumRead
    Close #intFileNumAP
    Close #intFileNumCamera
    Close #intFileNumComputer
    Close #intFileNumExternal
    Close #intFileNumOther
    Close #intFileNumPrinter
    Close #intFileNumServer
    Close #intFileNumSwitch
End Sub


The files that are created use Unix/Linux standard line feed end of line marker characters, rather than the Windows standard carriage return/line feed combination characters.  As such, opening the generated files using Notepad is not advised.  Copy the generated files back to the /opt/etc/objects/ path on the DiskStation (copy the files to a Shared Folder on the DiskStation, then use the cp command to copy the files from the share location to /opt/etc/objects/ – the Shared Folders are typically created as a subdirectory in the /volume1/ directory).


If you decided to use some of the non-standard Nagios group names (as I did), those non-standard group names must be defined in the /opt/etc/objects/templates.cfg file:


vi /opt/etc/objects/templates.cfg


A portion of the additional entries that I made in this file include the following:


define host{
       name                    ap      ; The name of this host template
       use                     generic-host    ; Inherit default values from the generic-host temp
       check_period            24x7            ; By default, access points are monitored round t
       check_interval          5               ; Actively check the access point every 5 minutes
       retry_interval          1               ; Schedule host check retries at 1 minute intervals
       max_check_attempts      10              ; Check each access point 10 times (max)
       check_command           check_ping      ; Default command to check if access points are "alive"
       notification_period     24x7            ; Send notification out at any time - day or night
       notification_interval   30              ; Resend notifications every 30 minutes
       notification_options    d,r             ; Only send notifications for specific host states
       contact_groups          admins          ; Notifications get sent to the admins by default
       hostgroups              ap ; Host groups that access points should be a member of
       register                0               ; DONT REGISTER THIS - ITS JUST A TEMPLATE
       }

define host{
       name                    camera  ; The name of this host template
       use                     generic-host    ; Inherit default values from the generic-host temp
       check_period            24x7            ; By default, cameras are monitored round t
       check_interval          60              ; Actively check the device every 60 minutes
       retry_interval          1               ; Schedule host check retries at 1 minute intervals
       max_check_attempts      10              ; Check each device 10 times (max)
       check_command           check_ping      ; Default command to check if device are "alive"
       notification_period     24x7            ; Send notification out at any time - day or night
       notification_interval   240             ; Resend notifications every 240 minutes
       notification_options    d,r             ; Only send notifications for specific host states
       contact_groups          admins          ; Notifications get sent to the admins by default
       hostgroups              camera ; Host groups that cameras should be a member of
       register                0               ; DONT REGISTER THIS - ITS JUST A TEMPLATE
       }


Nagios will not know that it should read the additional configuration files until it is told to do so by modifying the /opt/etc/nagios.cfg file.


vi /opt/etc/nagios.cfg


Add the following lines to the nagios.cfg file:


# Charles Hooper's object types
cfg_file=/opt/etc/objects/ap.cfg
cfg_file=/opt/etc/objects/camera.cfg
cfg_file=/opt/etc/objects/computer.cfg
cfg_file=/opt/etc/objects/external.cfg
cfg_file=/opt/etc/objects/other.cfg
cfg_file=/opt/etc/objects/printer.cfg
cfg_file=/opt/etc/objects/server.cfg
cfg_file=/opt/etc/objects/switch.cfg


—


We have made a large number of changes to the configuration files, so it is important to verify that there are no errors in the configuration:


/opt/bin/nagios -v /opt/etc/nagios.cfg


If no errors are found in the configuration, terminate (kill) nagios and then restart as described above.


—-


Update July 28, 2013:


When attempting to start Nagios in daemon mode (/opt/bin/nagios -d /opt/etc/nagios.cfg) I encountered a couple of problems related to permissions for the Nagios user.  The nagios process was not listed when I used the ps command.  I then tried executing the following commands:


touch /opt/var/nagios.log
chown nagios:nagios /opt/var/nagios.log


Nagios was then able to start in daemon mode, but wrote messages similar to the following in the /opt/var/nagios.log file:


[1375058364] Warning: Could not open object cache file ‘/opt/var/objects.cache’ for writing!

[1375058364] Failed to obtain lock on file /opt/var/nagios.lock: Permission denied

[1375058364] Bailing out due to errors encountered while attempting to daemonize… (PID=11451)

[1375058656] Nagios 3.5.0 starting… (PID=12936)

[1375058656] Local time is Sun Jul 28 20:44:16 EDT 2013

[1375058656] LOG VERSION: 2.0

[1375058656] Warning: Could not open object cache file ‘/opt/var/objects.cache’ for writing!

[1375058656] Failed to obtain lock on file /opt/var/nagios.lock: Permission denied

[1375058656] Bailing out due to errors encountered while attempting to daemonize… (PID=12936)

[1375060107] Error: Unable to create temp file for writing status data: Permission denied

[1375060117] Error: Unable to create temp file for writing status data: Permission denied

[1375060127] Error: Unable to create temp file for writing status data: Permission denied

[1375060137] Error: Unable to create temp file for writing status data: Permission denied

[1375060147] Error: Unable to create temp file for writing status data: Permission denied

[1375060157] Error: Unable to create temp file for writing status data: Permission denied


I tried to set the permissions for a couple of other files, only to find another long list of Permission denied messages:


touch /opt/var/objects.cache
touch /opt/var/nagios.lock
touch /opt/var/nagios.tmp
chown nagios:nagios /opt/var/objects.cache
chown nagios:nagios /opt/var/nagios.lock
chown nagios:nagios /opt/var/nagios.tmp


I then recalled that I had seen similar messages on the DiskStation DS412+.  I then tried a different approach, creating a nagios directory in the /opt/var directory, creating a couple of subdirectories in that directory, and then assigning nagios as the owner of that directory structure:


mkdir /opt/var/nagios
mkdir /opt/var/nagios/archives
mkdir /opt/var/nagios/spool
mkdir /opt/var/nagios/spool/checkresults
chown nagios:nagios /opt/var/nagios -R
vi /opt/etc/nagios.cfg


In the nagios.cfg file, I made the following changes:


log_file=/opt/var/nagios/nagios.log
status_file=/opt/var/nagios/status.dat
lock_file=/opt/var/nagios/nagios.lock
temp_file=/opt/var/nagios/nagios.tmp
log_archive_path=/opt/var/nagios/archives
check_result_path=/opt/var/nagios/spool/checkresults
state_retention_file=/opt/var/nagios/retention.dat
debug_file=/opt/var/nagios/nagios.debug


After saving the file and exiting vi, I restarted Nagios in daemon mode.  Reading the last 100 lines of the Nagios log file is now accomplished with this command:


tail -n 100 /opt/var/nagios/nagios.log




—-


There are a lot of seemingly interesting Nagios plugins, including check_oracle (I believe that this plugin requires the Oracle client to be installed – good luck with that install).  On one of the DiskStations the check_snmp plugin did not compile, while on the other DiskStation the check_http plugin did not compile.


It might be interesting to see what solutions readers are able to develop from the above starting point.  The above information is the result of many hours of experimentation as well as a couple minutes reading through sections of the Nagios documentation (it reads like the Oracle Database documentation, so it should be an easy read once I am in the right mood) and hopelessly scanning the ‘net for information about obscure error messages.  Have fun, and try not to put the DiskStation out of service due to a mistaken file copy.


Update November 19, 2013:


Installing an updated version of the Synology DSM operating system may temporarily disable Nagios.  Make backups of all Nagios confirguration files (copying the files with the cp command to a directory in /volume1 is generally safe) before installing different versions of the Synology DSM operating system.


The DSM 4.3 operating system installation apparently removed the /var/services/homes directory.  That directory removal makes it impossible for the Nagios user to login to run various commands.  I assume that the removal of the homes directory is intentional, so a work around for that problem:


mkdir /var/services/home
mkdir /var/services/home/nagios
chown nagios:nagios /var/services/home/nagios -R
vi /etc/passwd


In the /etc/passwd file, change all /homes/ entries to /home/ then save and exit vi.


—


The installation of the different DSM version (including versions before 4.3) will likely also replace/remove the libltdl.* files located in /opt/local/lib and /usr/lib, so we need to copy those files back into the correct directories:


cp /opt/lib/libltdl.so.3 /opt/local/lib/libltdl.so.3
cp /opt/lib/libltdl.so.3 /usr/lib/libltdl.so.3
cp /opt/lib/libltdl.so /usr/lib/


Once the above items are copied, try executing the check_ping command as the nagios user (replace MyDeviceHere with either an IP address or the name of a device on your network).


su - nagios -c "/opt/libexec/check_ping -H MyDeviceHere -w 5000,80% -c 5000,80% -p 5"


If the DiskStation reports that the check_ping command was not found, then copy that file back to the /opt/libexec/ directory.  If the above command was successful, try verifying the Nagios configuration:


/opt/bin/nagios -v /opt/etc/nagios.cfg


If the verification was successful, start Nagios as a daemon:


/opt/bin/nagios -d /opt/etc/nagios.cfg


Execute the ps command and verify that the above command is listed in the running processes:


ps


Finally, verify that Nagios is still set to start automatically as a daemon:


ls /opt/etc/init.d/S81nagios


If a file is listed when the above command is executed, then Nagios should now be fully repaired.


–


Update August 11, 2015:


You may at some point need to verify that a http web server is online.  If you execute the following command (replace http://www.mydomain.com with an actual web server for a domain to be monitored):


/opt/libexec/check_http -H www.mydomain.com


You may see one of the following errors:


/opt/libexec/check_http: error while loading shared libraries: libssl.so.0.9.8: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory


/opt/libexec/check_http: error while loading shared libraries: libcrypto.so.0.9.8: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory


The problem is likely caused by two missing symbolic links.  The following commands worked on the DS415+ (and also both the DS1813+ and the DS412+):


ln -s /usr/lib/libssl.so.1.0.0 /usr/lib/libssl.so.0.9.8
ln -s /lib/libcrypto.so.1.0.0 /usr/lib/libcrypto.so.0.9.8

				

				

				
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				Categories : General Technology, Linux
			


		


		
			


				
Review of Synology DS415+, How to Add Memory to the DS415+, Web Pages Not Databases

				
					19
					12
					2014
				

				

					
December 19, 2014


As frequent readers of this blog likely know, I have not posted very many articles recently.  It seems that lately I struggle to find time to post interesting items to the blog, which is mostly focused on Oracle Database notes, so this is a three in one off-topic post.  I have been busy with a lot of items that are completely unrelated to Oracle Database.  One of those busy (non) work items is setting up a Synology DiskStation DS415+ NAS with four 6TB hard drives.


Part 1: Reviewing the Synology DS415+


Below is my review of that NAS, as posted on Amazon:




http://www.amazon.com/Synology-America-Station-Attached-DS415/dp/B00IKTSSIO/ 


I have previously purchased and implemented Synology Diskstation DS1813+, DS412+, DS214+, DS212+, DS213j, and DS112j units, so Synology network attached storage (NAS) devices are not entirely new to me (I also have experience with administering various Linux and Windows servers). Most of the Synology NAS units are configured primarily as FTP destinations, although the units also provide one or more Windows shares to network computers using either Active Directory integration or Synology Diskstation internal user accounts, as well as offering network time protocol (NTP) services (to security cameras, Active Directory, and/or a PBX system), and Nagios network monitoring.


For the most part, the Synology NAS units have been very reliable. That said I have experienced occasional problems with most of the NAS units that provide FTP services to security cameras. Eventually, all of the permitted client connections become “in use” due to the Synology sometimes remembering FTP connections long after the security cameras have forgotten about those connections. This connection “remembering” issue causes a situation where client computers attempting to connect for Windows file sharing are denied access to the server, but the problem also affects the web-based access to the Synology DSM operating system. There have been issues with the DiskStation DS412+ locking up roughly 90% of the time that a reboot is attempted through the web-based DSM, resulting in a blue flashing light on the front console that could only be fixed by pulling the electrical power cord (note that it is usually possible to kill phantom connections from the DSM interface, if that interface will display, so that a reboot is typically not required to recover from the “remembered” connections). None of the other DiskStations have experienced lockups during an attempted reboot (or any other lockups that I am able to recall).


The DS415+ was bought to take the place of a DS212+, whose CPU simply cannot keep pace with 15+ high definition security cameras feeding the NAS with motion triggered video clips via FTP. I had considered purchasing the new version of the DS1813+ (possibly called a DS1815+), but that model has not been released yet, probably would have the same Intel CPU model as the DS415+ (the DS1812+, 1813+, and DS412+ all have essentially the same CPU model), and likely would have had a higher electric wattage consumption compared to the DS415+ if I filled all drive bays. So, I selected the DS415+ as a device that had some known compromises, but with also some power efficiency benefits that are not present in the DS1813+ and DS412+.


The DS415+ ships with 2GB of memory in a regular memory slot, rather than being soldered to the system board as is the case for the DS412+, opening the possibility for future memory expansion. With two gigabit network ports, two USB 3 ports (one USB 2), and one eSATA port , the Synology DiskStation DS415+ offers decent storage expansion options, although those options are more limited than what is offered by the DS1813+. The DS415+ internally supports up to four hard drives in one of several software RAID levels (SHR, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, and RAID 10). Drive installs are potentially performed without using a screwdriver, although screws are provided to hold the drives in place if the screw-less arrangement seems too flimsy. Unlike the DS1813+, the drive carriages are held in place by a thumb-release locking clip, rather than a flimsy lock and key mechanism. The DiskStation DS415+ more than triples in weight with four typical hard drives installed – the light weight construction seems to be typical of the various Synology NAS units (at least those that support eight or fewer drives).


The DS415+ ships without an installed operating system, so the first task after powering on the DS415+ with the hard drives installed involves installing the latest DSM operating system. The process for installing the operating system is fairly simple, unless there is another DiskStation NAS on the same LAN (the directions provided in the printed quick start guide caused the DSM web page for another already set up Synology NAS to appear, rather than the operating system installation page for the DS415+ – the old Synology setup program that used to ship on CD with the NAS units probably would have helped in this situation). Once the NAS has nearly automatically downloaded the latest version of the operating system, the operating system installation should complete in a couple of minutes without a lot of issues.


The Synology DSM operating system offers a fantastic graphical user interface which implements HTML5 and CSS, displaying the interface in a web browser. Unfortunately, Synology tends to rearrange the location of various settings with each DSM version (and change the shape/color of icons), which makes it a little confusing when managing different Synology NAS units. Much like Windows Explorer, the File Station utility that is built into the DSM operating system supports context sensitive drag and drop, and well as right mouse button popup menus. The File Station utility that is included in the latest DSM version supports displaying more than 300 files in a paged view – that 300 file limit was an irritation when attempting to copy, move, or delete several thousand security camera videos on a daily basis through the GUI using older DSM versions. Like the other DSM models, the DS415+ supports telnet sessions, which allow access to the Linux command line and the configuration of scheduled script execution through the modification of the /etc/crontab file (side note: I have had issues with only the DS112j automatically resetting the contents of the /etc/crontab file when the DiskStation was power cycled – I believe that problem was caused by the use of spaces rather than tabs as field delimiters in the file).


A plain vanilla install of the DSM 5.0-4528 (as of today at update 1) offers support for network shares (Windows, MAC, and NFS), iSCSI, Active Directory Integration, FTP (standard FTP, anonymous FTP, FTPS, SFTP, TFTP), website hosting, WebDAV, SNMP, network time protocol (NTP), remote command line with telnet or SSH, integrated firewall, VPN client, USB printer sharing, and a handful of other capabilities. The DSM operating system’s native functionality is easily expanded through the download of free software packages from the Package Center. The packages extend the DS415+’s capabilities to include antivirus, Asterisk IP phone server, Internet radio rebroadcasting to networked computers, DNS server functionality, iTunes Server, VPN server, RADIUS server, email server, CRM and ERP packages, WordPress, IP camera monitoring (now includes a license for two IP cameras, additional licenses are roughly $50 per camera), and a variety of other features. Additionally, ipkg support permits the installation of more than 900 additional applications, including C++ compilers – which in theory suggests that the source for the Nagios network monitoring utility can be downloaded and compiled on the DS415+ (I was able to compile Nagios on a DS1813+, DS412+, and DS212+, and am close to having Nagios working on the DS415+).


I installed four new Western Digital Red 6TB drives, configured in a software RAID 10 array (DSM offered to automatically configure the drives in a SHR array during the initial setup, but did not offer a RAID 10 configuration at that time, so configuring the drives for RAID 10, to reduce recovery time in the event of a drive failure, requires a couple of additional mouse clicks). Peak single network link data transfer speeds so far have been impressive, at close to the maximum possible transfer rate for a gigabit network (achieving roughly 112-115MB/s ~ 919Mb/s), which is virtually identical to the speed seen with the DS1813+ that was using four 3TB Western Digital Red drives, and significantly faster than the DS212+ which has a much slower non-Intel CPU and two Western Digital Green 2TB drives. Pushing approximately 41.6GB of large files to the DS415+ from a client computer consumed between 9% and 11% of the DS415+’s CPU (for comparison, this test consumed 20% of the DS1813+ CPU capacity).


I did not test the DiskStation’s IEEE 802.3ad dynamic link aggregation – there was no apparent benefit when I tested the feature with the DS1813+, an HP 4208vl switch, and two client computers. The gigabit switch to which the DS415+ is attached does not support IEEE 802.3ad dynamic link aggregation, so it would have been a very bad idea to connect both of the supplied network cables to the switch.


Power Consumption of the DS415+(based on the output of a Kill-A-Watt meter):

* 1.1 watts when powered off

* 16 watts with no drives installed and unit is sitting idle

* 44 watts with four Western Digital Red 6TB drives while the unit is receiving files at a rate of 112-115MB/s (for comparison, this test required 46 watts with the DS1813+ when outfitted with four Western Digital Red 3TB drives)

* 39 watts with four Western Digital Red 6TB drives installed while the unit is sitting idle for a couple of minutes (identical to the value measured for the DS1813+)

* 14.5 watts with four Western Digital Red 6TB drives hibernating


Even though the throughput and CPU of the DS415+ with software based RAID are no match for the performance and capacity of a high end Windows or Linux server, the Synology NAS units consume far less electrical power, are competitively priced (even though these units are expensive once four 6TB drives are added), should yield a lower total cost of ownership (TCO), and are likely easier to configure and maintain for their intended purpose than either a Windows or Linux server. Like the DS1813+, the DS415+ supports up to 512 concurrent remote connections from other devices (a computer with five mapped drives pointing to the DS415+ consumes five of those 512 concurrent connections). The 512 connection count may not be the hard upper limit on the Synology NAS units – I have encountered some problems with the DS112J blocking connection attempts long before its 64 concurrent limit is reached – I do not yet know if this issue affects any of the other Synology device models. The lack of an available redundant power supply is a shortcoming of the DS1813+ and other less expensive Synology NAS units, but the power supply for the DS415+ (and the DS412+) is external, so it should be easier to obtain and install replacement power supplies for the DS415+ should the need arise (the power supply may not have a standardized connection, which would permit a replacement power supply to be purchased from a third party supplier).


Synology offers a group of customer support forums. However, those forums are apparently not actively monitored by Synology support staff. So far, other than whether or not Plex on the DS415+ is able to transcode 1080P videos, there has been no significant negative comments about the DS415+ on the Synology forums.


The Synology DiskStation DS212+ has served its role surprisingly well for the last two and a half years, even when equipped with slow Western Digital Green drives in a software RAID 1 array. While that NAS was able to support 15+ cameras that potentially simultaneously send video clips via FTP, concurrently allowing a Windows client to connect to the share for the purpose of reviewing the video clips was often just a bit too much of a load for the less powerful DS212+. I am expecting few problems from the DS415+ when serving in a similar role along with supporting a couple of optional packages such as the Media Server, Audio Station, Nagios (currently receiving a Segmentation fault (core dumped) error message when executing the check_ping test command found in my “Install Nagios on a Synology DiskStation DS1813+ or DS412+” blog article), and possibly Plex. Most of the optional Synology packages appear to be decent. However, the Synology Surveillance Station, while possibly useful, still seems to be an overly fragile, overly expensive, experimental package that tends to tax the wireless and wired network much more than the FTP solution that I use with my cameras (your experience with that package may be different than mine).




Part 2: Voiding the Warranty on the Synology DS415+ (Upgrading the Memory to 8GB)


The DS415+ ships with 2GB of DDR3 1600 MT/s (PC3-12800) CL11 SODIMM memory pre-installed, and from what I am able to determine, Synology does not and will not offer memory upgrades for the DS415+.  The memory is installed in a laptop style memory socket, so… I installed a Crucial 8GB memory card into the DS415+.  The greatest difficulty in the memory upgrade, other than the concern for destroying a $630 device, was breaking into the DS415+ case without destroying the plastic clips that hold the two halves of the case together.  I posted the upgrade process to one of the Synology forum threads, but I thought that I would also post the process in this blog article so that it is easier to find the steps for the process later (the pictures do not fully display in the Synology forum thread).


If you have never disassembled a desktop or laptop computer, consider just being happy with the installed 2GB of memory to avoid damaging the Synology. If you have never removed a memory card from a laptop, consider just being happy with the installed 2GB of memory to avoid damaging the Synology. Upgrading the memory will likely void the warranty – there was a label on the installed memory card indicating that the warranty was void if the label was removed from the memory – the label is still attached to my old memory card (so, maybe my warranty is still in effect 😉 ).


—


Step 1, unplug the Synology and attach labels to each of the hard drives. Write the numbers 1 through 4 on the labels to indicate the ordered position of the drives in the NAS. Release the latch, and remove the drives. Make certain that you ground yourself by touching a large metal object before attempting to open the NAS. When working on the NAS, do not touch any of the contacts inside the NAS or on the memory card (click for a larger view of the picture):


OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA


There are three screws on the back of the Synology that will need to be removed using a #1 Phillips screw driver. Wait to remove the screw that is pointed to by the screw driver in this picture until you have successfully separated the two halves of the NAS case:


OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA


There are plastic clips permanently attached to the smaller half of the NAS case. Use a flat blade screw driver to gently pry up on the larger section of the case at the top-back of the case near the seam between the two sections of the case. A popping sound should be heard when the latch releases. When the first latch releases, move the screw driver to the position of the next latch and gently pry up to again slightly raise the larger section of the case at the seam until the next latch releases. Continue working to release the remaining latches along the seam. Once all of the latches on the top are released, it should be possible to pivot the larger portion of the case so that the bottom latches release. Separate the two halves, being careful not to damage the retaining clips that normally hold the hard drives in place:


OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA


There are four screws on each side of the drive cage – four of the screws are long, and four are short. Remove the screws using the #1 Phillips screw driver. Make note of where the longer screws were installed. Remove the third screw from the back of the NAS if it was not already removed:


OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA


Gently lift the drive cage straight up and then set it aside. Note that there are two slots pointed to by the arrows in the picture below – when it is time to re-assemble the NAS, the gold colored ends of the two circuit boards must be reinserted into those slots. There are two fan connectors circled in the picture – if the fan connectors are carefully removed from the sockets, it is possible to move the drive cage out of the way. The circuit board holding the memory card is below the metal plate – that metal plate should lift straight out of the enclosure, although there may still be some wires that attach it to the enclosure


OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA


There is a metal clip at each end of the pre-installed memory card. Gently push the left clip to the left, and the right clip to the right until the memory card releases. When removing the memory card, make note of the location of the cut out section of the slot, so that the replacement memory card may be installed in the same orientation:


OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA


Slide the replacement memory card into the slot, and gently tilt it down until the two clips lock the memory card in location.


OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA


Reverse the order of the steps to reassemble the NAS. Reinsert the drives in the correct order by referring to the labels. Plug in the NAS – the blue light on the front of the unit may flash for a minute or two.


If all goes well, the Resource Monitor in the Synology interface should show 8GB of memory installed:


dsm51-8gb


After a day or so, the NAS may show in Resource Monitor that it is using 6.9GB (or 7.0GB) of memory for the file cache, as shown below.


DSM51-8GB-2


—


Why install additional memory in the DS415+?  The 2GB of memory should be sufficient for most tasks that are typically assigned to a NAS.  I was mostly just curious after seeing a couple of questions on Amazon about memory upgrades, as well as on the Synology forums, without a clear description of the upgrade process, and only a passing mention of the memory specifications in a review of the DS415+.  There were a handful of discussion threads on the Synology forums were people were trying various memory modules in their DS1815+ units, and mostly failing to locate compatible memory modules (the Crucial memory module that I used was reported to not work in the DS1815+’s easily accessible memory slot).  So, I bought the memory, tried to figure out how to break into the DS415+ case, and took pictures as I put the unit back together (I thought that there was little point in me taking pictures while disassembling the NAS, especially if I destroyed the NAS during the upgrade attempt, but doing so while disassembling the unit is probably a good idea).


How does the DS415+ utilize the additional memory?  Mostly for the file cache (the NAS runs Linux at its core) – a day after the upgrade I checked the Resource Monitor and found that the Cached statistic increased from 670.5MB to roughly 7GB.  If there is an interest in running various background packages on the NAS (for instance, Nagios, Plex, WordPress, etc.), then the additional memory could have a significant positive impact on performance.  My installation directions for installing Nagios on a Synology DS412+, DS1813+, and DS212+ almost work with the DS415+.  I receive a Segmentation Fault, Core Dumped error message when trying to run Nagios or the Nagios check_ping plugin – I seem to recall seeing similar error messages when trying to find a compiler that would work on the DS412+ and DS1813+, so maybe there is still hope for Nagios on the DS415+ if I try downloading a different compiler (the ToolChain library for the DS415+ was released roughly a week ago, so there may be a solution – I was able to compile Nagios once and it executed without a Segmentation Fault error, but I could not reproduce the result a second time).


Part 3: Web Pages Not Databases


While I have had this blog on wordpress.com for a bit over five years, I had never tried using the standalone version of WordPress.  An opportunity developed recently to use the standalone version of WordPress.  The website for the company were I work has been in the process of being redesigned since roughly June by an outside web development company.  That web development company was making very slow progress on the website, selected to use the standalone version of WordPress as the development environment, and somehow was apparently given the task of designing the website so that it looked great on an Apple iPad, Apple iPhone, and even a now extinct Motorola Xoom tablet – any compatibility with Windows desktop computers using Internet Explorer seemed to be purely accidental, but the website apparently appeared fine on the developer’s Mac.  (Hint for developers: Test what you create using equipment that is similar to your target audience’s equipment.)


I became involved in the new website development a couple of weeks ago, trying to refocus the web development company on what the target viewers of the website will likely be using to view and interact with the new website – chances are that a too-large-to-ignore percentage of those target viewers are still running Windows Vista or Windows XP, and will be accessing the site using some version of Internet Explorer other than the latest version (some websites still are not compatible with Internet Explorer 11, so the potential target viewer may still be forced to run Internet Explorer 8 or 9 – Internet Explorer 8 is the last version supported on Windows XP, and Internet Explorer 10 is the last version supported on Windows Vista).  Ability to Print?  No, people have no need to print the website’s contents (especially not using a PDF virtual printer from Adobe or BlackIce, where all of the text from the new website was replaced by odd symbols) and have it appear on the printed page anything like what appears on-screen.  Viewing the website in a non-maximized window – who would be so silly to do such a thing?  Hamburgers are not on the menu – they are the menu, or it seems that is the official name for the three parallel white lines that sometimes appear on screen and sometimes in the printed copy.  Developers are full of fun surprises some days.


A week ago (now two weeks ago) the web development company was told to stop development on the website for a variety of reasons.  A lost six months of development, or an opportunity to beat one’s head on the table and hammer out a solution for the issues that still existed with the website?  I installed the WordPress package on a Synology DS213j NAS and on the Synology DS415+ NAS and had a go at fixing the issues with the website without affecting what the web development company had done to date.  I picked up the development process reasonably quickly (the five years of blogging on WordPress helped), but found that I was repeatedly flipping back and forth between WordPress’ Visual editor and the Text editor while trying to fix the issues and add additional text information to the pages.  Additionally, the path to files (and web pages) on the Synology must also include /wordpress (when working in a Telnet session, the actual path is /volume1/web/wordpress).  My HTML and cascading style sheet (CSS) skills were very rusty, so tasks that are incredibly easy in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word, such as manipulating tables, took quite a bit of Google search skill, for instance determing how to right align or center certain columns in a table without altering the HTML TD attributes of each table cell in the column when composing the table using the WordPress Text editor.  The WordPress pages appeared acceptable on the Synology NAS units, so the same changes were applied to the web development company’s best efforts – hopefully this is not true, but I think that I made about as much progress on the website in three days time as did the web development company in the last three months.  Since then I have been fixing other minor issues, such as the search box disappearing when the website is viewed using a Windows 8.1 tablet that lacks a keyboard and mouse, and improving the website appearance.  I learned, or relearned a couple of skills along the way, so this process definitely was not a wasted effort.


The VP of Manufacturing at the company where I work has become somewhat of an expert recently at creating video and composing written content for the website, so the newly redesigned website is a good platform for his many years of manufacturing experience.  If you feel so inclined, take a look at the new company website, and leave a message here to let me know what you think about the website.  The website development company didn’t like my green highlight when the mouse pointer passed over links – I guess that explains one reason why I am not a graphics artist.


For future reference, this is the CSS code that I constructed to format some of the tables that appear on the website.  In the HTML code, I assigned the table to have a class of km_equipment_table, and then added the following to the style sheet’s CSS:


Handle general formatting of the table:


.km_equipment_table { width:100%; border:1px solid; padding:8px;  }
.km_equipment_table td { padding:8px; border:1px solid; }
.km_equipment_table th {background: #0072BC;}


Alternate between two colors for all but the header row of the table – note that this code is ignored by Internet Explorer 8.0:


.km_equipment_table tr:nth-child(even) { /*(even) or (2n 0)*/
 background: #F1F1F1; border:1px solid;
}
.km_equipment_table.tr:nth-child(odd) { /*(odd) or (2n 1)*/
 background: #FFFFFF; border:1px solid;
}


Set the column alignment of all tables that were assigned the class of km_equipment_table – the first column is number 1 (not 0) – note that this code is ignored by Internet Explorer 8.0:


.km_equipment_table td:nth-child(1) {
    text-align: left;
}
.km_equipment_table td:nth-child(2) {
    text-align: center;
}
.km_equipment_table td:nth-child(3) {
    text-align: right;
}
.km_equipment_table td:nth-child(4) {
    text-align: right;
}
.km_equipment_table td:nth-child(5) {
    text-align: right;
}
.km_equipment_table td:nth-child(6) {
    text-align: right;
}
.km_equipment_table td:nth-child(7) {
    text-align: right;
}


To keep the printed copy of the page appearing correct, I had to specify @media screen for several of the style sheets.  As such, a special style sheet, print.css, was previously set up to handle formatting when printing.  Among other adjustments in that print.css style sheet, I added the following so that the column alignment worked correctly in the printed copy of the web pages (note that this code did not work on Internet Explorer 8.0):


.km_equipment_table {
    border:solid #000 !important;
    border-width:1px 0 0 1px !important;
}
.km_equipment_table.th, .km_equipment_table.td {
    border:solid #000 !important;
    border-width:0 1px 1px 0 !important;
}
.km_equipment_table td:nth-child(1) {
    text-align: left;
}
.km_equipment_table td:nth-child(2) {
    text-align: center;
}
.km_equipment_table td:nth-child(3) {
    text-align: right;
}
.km_equipment_table td:nth-child(4) {
    text-align: right;
}
.km_equipment_table td:nth-child(5) {
    text-align: right;
}
.km_equipment_table td:nth-child(6) {
    text-align: right;
}
.km_equipment_table td:nth-child(7) {
    text-align: right;
}


In the WordPress Text editor for the page containing the table, I constructed the HTML code for the table to begin as follows – the style and border specifications probably could have been handled in the style sheet, but the printed output was not ideal without these changes:


<table class="km_equipment_table" style="border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" width="100%">


To handle cases where the filenames on the old web server had to be redirected to the correct page on the new web server, adjustments had to be made to the .htaccess file – .htaccess files found in parent directories will apply to child directories also.  I spent a couple of days trying unsuccessfully to make the page redirections work, and then stumbled on a solution, again using the WordPress package on a Synology NAS as a test bed.  The old website had a number of web page addresses that contained ? characters, such as this one:


/page.php?menu_id=10


To send requests for that page to the WordPress permalinks naming convention that uses the article titles as the web page address, I added the following to the .htaccess file (R=301 indicates that this is a permanent redirect, while L indicates that this is the last rule that should be processed):


RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} menu_id=10
RewriteRule (.*) /industries/? [R=301,L]


To redirect a web page found on the old server that was named large_machining.htm to the appropriate page in WordPress, I added the following to the .htaccess file:


RewriteRule ^large_machining.htm/?$ /large-machining/ [R=301,L]


Those rewrite rules must be wrapped in the file, so a portion of the file may appear as follows – note that if there were a page on the old server with a menu_id=100, that entry must appear before the entry for menu_id=10, and the entry for menu_id=10 (and menu_id=11) must appear before the entry for menu_id=1 – otherwise the person attempting to visit the website from a saved bookmark (favorite) may be sent to the wrong web page:


<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    RewriteBase /
     
    # industries
    RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} menu_id=10
    RewriteRule (.*) /industries/? [R=301,L]
     
    # careers
    RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} menu_id=12
    RewriteRule (.*) /careers/? [R=301,L]
     
    # ... many more
    RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} menu_id=1
    RewriteRule (.*) /about/? [R=301,L]
    
    # Misc. redirects
    RewriteRule ^ABOUT.HTM/?$ /about/ [R=301,L]
    
    RewriteRule ^large_machining.htm/?$ /large-machining/ [R=301,L]
</IfModule>
    
# BEGIN WordPress
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    
    # ... Standard WordPress entries here
</IfModule>
# END WordPress


Part 4: Idle Thoughts (Yes, this was supposed to be a three part article)


So, I was becoming impatient while waiting for the web development company to finally push the new version of the website over to the publically accessible website (I expected this process to happen a week ago, last Friday, but it did not go live until midnight today).  This past Monday I was beginning to think that this task was too much for the web development company.  So, I set out to learn a bit about Amazon’s AWS hosting options.  It turns out that Amazon offers a t2.micro hosting solution that is free for a year.  At the time I was almost completely unfamiliar with Amazon’s hosting offerings, so I signed up for a free account.  After puttering around for a bit, I managed to create an instance on AWS, figured out that I needed to assign an elastic IP address to the instance, determined how to connect to the instance using Putty, installed LAMP in the t2.micro instance, set up an FTP server in the instance, installed WordPress in the instance, imported the new website’s contents, changed the domain’s global DNS settings, and had a fully functional website in probably five or six hours – not too bad for having so little experience with those items. The website in the t2.micro instance crashed three times on me this past Tuesday during final testing due to consuming the full 1GB of memory that is allocated to those types of instances, but at least I think that I was able to demonstrate that the web development company was either seriously dragging this project out longer than necessary, or there is a problem with their method of assigning priority to projects.  The new website went live this morning with a couple of minor issues: 1) No one onsite at my company could view the website because the development company insisted on removing the www. portion of the website address (at companies that use an Active Directory internal domain, that causes the DNS name resolution to point to the web server on one of the internal domain controllers – none of those domain controllers has web server software installed); 2) The .htaccess file that I spent a couple of days creating was overwritten by a file written by the developer – that file either redirected most of the traffic to the wrong page (see my notes above about why the order of entries in that file is important), or sent the person to a 404 error page (page not found) for all historic web page filenames; 3) College was spelled as Collage.  Oh, well.  Close counts in website development, just as it does with horse shoes and hand grenades.

				

				

				
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