Oracle Application DBA Interview Questions for R12 and 11i

 Oracle Application DBA Interview Questions for R12 and 11i


Oracle Application DBA Interview Questions for R12 and 11i  
Oracle Application DBA Interview Questions for R12 and 11i part 1 
Oracle Application DBA Interview Questions for R12 and 11i part 2

1Q)What is your day to day activity as an Apps DBA?
Ans:
As an Apps DBA we monitor the system for different alerts (Entreprise Manager or third party tools used for configuring the Alerts) Tablespace Issues, CPU consuption
Database blocking sessions..etc
Regular maintanance activies like cloning,patching,custom code migrations (provided by developers)
Working with user isses.

2Q)How often Do you patch?
Ans: Usually for non-production the patching request comes aroung weekly 4-6 and the same patches will be applied to Production in the outage or maintanance window.
Production has weekly maintance window (Eg Sat 6PM to 9PM) where all the changes (patches) will applied on production.

3Q)How often Do you clone?
Ans: Cloning happens biweekly or monthly depending on the organization requierement.

4Q)What change control/management or CCB?
Ans: Every organization has change control process, Change control process is no change goes into production witout proir testing on non-production instance.
Eg: If a user encouters an issue in production instance and the fix for the issue is known, Still the fix should not be applied directly on production, as it is not tested.
The same fix need to be first applied on a non-prod instance where the similar issue is happening and test the issue and instance stability.
Once user is happy with the results the change or fix will be implemented to production with the approval from Change control Board, CCB is a managemant team who reviews all the changes being deployed to production,
Depending on the need and criticality and testing results they approve the change movement to production instance.

5Q)How much time does it take to upgrade, clone ?
Ans: Clone usually takes around 48hrs to copy and configure and upgrade depends on the database size and module involved.
upgrade from 11.5.9 to 11.5.10.2 will take around 3-4 days and 11i to R12 upgrade will take around 4-5 days.

6Q)What is the meaning QA,CRP,SIT,DEV,UAT,PRE-PROD,PROD Instance?
QA - Tesing Instance
CRP - Conference Room Pilot
SIT - System Integration Testing
DEV - Developement
UAT- User Acceptence Testing
STAGE - Pre-production Instance
Prod - Production/actuall instance where the business is running

7Q)What do we have in FND_NODES?
Ans:
FND_NODES table contains  information about node_names and services enabled on a node.
In multinode instance if you want to know which node is running what services, You can query the fnd_nodes and get that information.

8Q)when do we run FND_CONC_CLONE.SETUP_CLEAN ?
Ans:
FND_NODES table contains node information, If you have cloned test instance from production still the node information of production will be present after clone in the test instance.
we use FND_CONC_CLONE.SETUP_CLEAN to cleanup FND_NODES table in the target to clear source node information as part of cloning.
Below syntax to execute:
SQL> sho user
USER is "APPS"
SQL> EXEC FND_CONC_CLONE.SETUP_CLEAN;
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL> commit;
Commit complete.

This will delete all the entries in the fnd_nodes table, to populate it with target system node information, Run autoconfig on DB node and Applications node.

9Q)How verify the sysadmin password from command line?
Ans:
This utility can be used to verify the GUEST/ORACLE password
SQL>select fnd_web_sec.validate_login('SYSADMIN','<sysadmin_password>')from dual;
If it returns Y then sysadmin password is correct
If it returns N then sysadmin password that we are using
Eg:
SQL> select fnd_web_sec.validate_login('SYSADMIN','SYSADMIN123') from dual;
FND_WEB_SEC.VALIDATE_LOGIN('SYSADMIN','SYSADMIN123')
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N
SQL> select fnd_web_sec.validate_login('SYSADMIN','SYSADMIN') from dual;
FND_WEB_SEC.VALIDATE_LOGIN('SYSADMIN','SYSADMIN')
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Y

10Q)List out few Apps related tables ?
Ans:
CONCURRENT REQUEST/PROGRAM/MANAGERS
-------------------
FND_CONCURRENT_QUEUES
FND_CONCURRENT_PROGRAMS
FND_CONCURRENT_REQUESTS
FND_CONCURRENT_PROCESSES
FND_CONCURRENT_QUEUE_SIZE

FND/AOL Tables
--------------
FND_APPL_TOPS
FND_LOGINS
FND_USER
FND_DM_NODES
FND_TNS_ALIASES
FND_NODES
FND_RESPONSIBILITY
FND_DATABASES
FND_UNSUCCESSFUL_LOGINS
FND_LANGUAGES
FND_APPLICATION
FND_PROFILE_OPTION_VALUES

AD/Patches
-------------
AD_APPLIED_PATCHES
AD_PATCH_DRIVERS
AD_BUGS
AD_INSTALL_PROCESSES
AD_SESSIONS
AD_APPL_TOPS

11Q) How To find the latest application version
select ARU_RELEASE_NAME||'.'||MINOR_VERSION||'.'||TAPE_VERSION version, START_DATE_ACTIVE updated,ROW_SOURCE_COMMENTS "how it is done",BASE_RELEASE_FLAG "Base version" FROM AD_RELEASES where END_DATE_ACTIVE IS NULL

12Q) How to find out if any patch except localisation patch is applied or not, if applied, that what all drivers it contain and time of it's application
select A.APPLIED_PATCH_ID, A.PATCH_NAME, A.PATCH_TYPE, B.PATCH_DRVIER_ID, B.DRIVER_FILE_NAME, B.ORIG_PATCH_NAME, B.CREATION_DATE, B.PLATFORM, B.SOURCE_CODE, B.CREATIONG_DATE, B.FILE_SIZE, B.MERGED_DRIVER_FLAG, B.MERGE_DATE from AD_APPLIED_PATCHES A, AD_PATCH_DRIVERS B where A.APPLIED_PATCH_ID = B.APPLIED_PATCH_ID and A.PATCH_NAME = ''

13Q) How to know that if the patch is applied successfully, applied on both node or not, start time of patch application and end time of patch application, patch top location , session id ... patch run id */
select D.PATCH_NAME, B.APPLICATIONS_SYSTEM_NAME, B.INSTANCE_NAME, B.NAME, C.DRIVER_FILE_NAME, A.PATCH_DRIVER_ID, A.PATCH_RUN_ID, A.SESSION_ID, A.PATCH_TOP, A.START_DATE, A.END_DATE, A.SUCCESS_FLAG, A.FAILURE_COMMENTS from AD_PATCH_RUNS A, AD_APPL_TOPS B, AD_PATCH_DRVIERS C, AD_APPLIED_PATCHES D where A.APPL_TOP_ID = B.APPL_TOP_ID AND A.PATCH_DRIVER_ID = C.PATCH_DRIVER_ID and C.APPLIED_PATCH_ID = D.APPLIED_PATCH_ID and A.PATCH_DRIVER_ID in (select PATCH_DRIVER_ID from AD_PATCH_DRIVERS where APPLIED_PATCH_ID in (select APPLIED_PATCH_ID from AD_APPLIED_PATCHES where PATCH_NAME = '')) ORDER BY 3;

14Q) Howto find the base application version
select ARU_RELEASE_NAME||'.'||MINOR_VERSION||'.'||TAPE_VERSION version, START_DATE_ACTIVE when updated, ROW_SOURCE_COMMENTS "how it is done" from AD_RELEASES where BASE_RELEASE_FLAG = 'Y'

15Q) How To find all available application version
select ARU_RELEASE_NAME||'.'||MINOR_VERSION||'.'||TAPE_VERSION version, START_DATE_ACTIVE when updated, END_DATE_ACTIVE "when lasted", CASE WHEN BASE_RELEASE_FLAG = 'Y' Then 'BASE VERSION' ELSE 'Upgrade' END "BASE/UPGRADE", ROW_SOURCE_COMMENTS "how it is done" from AD_RELEASES

16Q) How To get file version of any application file which is changed through patch application
select A.FILE_ID, A.APP_SHORT_NAME, A.SUBDIR, A.FILENAME, max(B.VERSION) from AD_FILES A, AD_FILE_VERSIONS B where A.FILE_ID = B.FILE_ID and B.FILE_ID = 86291 group by A.FILE_ID, A.APP_SHORT_NAME, A.SUBDIR, A.FILENAME

17Q) How To get information related to how many time driver file is applied for bugs
select * from AD_PATCH_RUN_BUGS where BUG_ID in (select BUG_ID from AD_BUGS where BUG_NUMBER = ''

18Q) How To find latest patchset level for module installed
select APP_SHORT_NAME, max(PATCH_LEVEL) from AD_PATCH_DRIVER_MINIPKS GROUP BY APP_SHORT_NAME

19Q) How To find what is being done by the patch
select A.BUG_NUMBER "Patch Number", B. PATCh_RUN_BUG_ID "Run Id",D.APP_SHORT_NAME appl_top, D.SUBDIR, D.FILENAME, max(F.VERSION) latest, E.ACTION_CODE action from AD_BUGS A, AD_PATCH_RUN_BUGS B, AD_PATCH_RUN_BUG_ACTIONS C, AD_FILES D, AD_PATCH_COMMON_ACTIONS E, AD_FILE_VERSIONS F where A.BUG_ID = B.BUG_ID and B.PATCH_RUN_BUG_ID = C.PATCH_RUN_BUG_ID and C.FILE_ID = D.FILE_ID and E.COMMON_ACTION_ID = C.COMMON_ACTION_ID and D.FILE_ID = F.FILE_ID and A.BUG_NUMBER = '' and B.PATCH_RUN_BUG_ID = ' < > ' and C.EXECUTED_FLAG = 'Y' GROUP BY A.BUG_NUMBER, B.PATCH_RUN_BUG_ID, D. APP_SHORT_NAME, D>SUBDIR, D.FILENAME, E.ACTION_CODE

20Q) How To find Merged patch Information from database in Oracle Applications
select bug_number from ad_bugs where bug_id in ( select bug_id from ad_comprising_patches where patch_driver_id =(select patch_driver_id from ad_patch_drivers where applied_patch_id =&n) );

21Q) How toto know, what all has been done during application of PATCH
Select J.PATCh_NAME, H.APPLICATIONS_SYSTEM_NAME Instance_Name, H.NAME, I.DRIVER_FILE_NAME, D.APP_SHORT_NAME appl_top,D.SUBDIR, D.FILENAME, max(F.VERSION) latest, E.ACTION_CODE action from AD_BUGS A, AD_PATCH_RUN_BUGS B,AD_PATCH_RUN_BUG_ACTIONS C, AD_FILES D, AD_PATCH_COMMON_ACTIONS E, AD_FILE_VERSIONS F, AD_PATCH_RUNS G,
AD_APPL_TOPS H, AD_PATCH_DRIVERS I, AD_APPLIED_PATCHES J where A.BUG_ID = B.BUG_ID and
B.PATCH_RUN_BUG_ID = C.PATCH_RUN_BUG_ID and C.FILE_ID = D.FILE_ID and E.COMMON_ACTION_ID = C.COMMON_ACTION_ID
and D.FILE_ID = F.FILE_ID and G.APPL_TOP_ID = H.APPL_TOP_ID and G.PATCH_DRIVER_ID = I.PATCH_DRIVER_ID and
I.APPLIED_PATCH_ID = J.APPLIED_PATCH_ID and B.PATCH_RUN_ID = G.PATCH_RUN_ID and C.EXECUTED_FLAG = 'Y' and
G.PATCH_DRIVER_ID in (select PATCH_DRIVER_ID from AD_PATCH_DRIVERS where APPLIED_PATCH_ID
in (select APPLIED_PATCH_ID from AD_APPLIED_PATCHES where PATCH_NAME = 'merged'))
GROUP BY J.PATCH_NAME, H.APPLICATIONS_SYSTEM_NAME, H.NAME, I.DRIVER_FILE_NAME, D.APP_SHORT_NAME, D.SUBDIR,
D.FILENAME, E.ACTION_CODE

22Q) How to find out Patch level of mini Pack
Select product_version,patch_level from FND_PROUDCT_INSTALLATIONS where patch_level like '%&shortname%';
Replace short name by name of Oracle Apps Minipack for which you want to find out Patch level . ex.
AD - for Applications DBA
GL - for General Ledger
PO - Purchase Order

23Q)List out Profile Options Useful for Oracle Apps DBA?
Here is the list of few profile options which Apps DBA use frequently.
**It is not necessary that you as Apps DBA must know all profile options**
Applications Help Web Agent
Applications Servlet Agent
Applications Web Agent
Concurrent: Active Request Limit
Concurrent: Hold Requests
Concurrent: Multiple Time Zones
Concurrent: Report Access Level
Concurrent: Report Copies
Concurrent: Request priority
Database Instance
Enable Security Group
FND: Debug Log Filename
FND: Debug Log Level
Forms Runtime Parameters
Gateway User ID
ICX: Discoverer Launcher
ICX: Forms Launcher
ICX: Report Launcher
ICX: Limit Connect
ICX: Limit time
ICX: Session Timeout
MO Operating Unit
Node Trust Level
RRA: Delete Temporary Files
RRA: Enabled
RRA: Service Prefix
RRA: Maximum Transfer Size
Self Service Personal Home Page Mode
Sign-On: Audit Level
Signon Password Failure Limit
Signon Password Hard to Guess
Signon Password Length
Signon Password No Reuse
Site Name
Socket Listener Port
TCF: Host
TCF: Port
TWO TASK
Viewer: Text


24Q)I am applying a patch , can I open another session and run adadmin ?
Ans:
Yes, unless you are running a process where workers are involved

25Q)I am applying a patch , can I open another session in another node and run adpatch?
Ans:
No

The Following are the few of Apps DBA 11i interview question
=====================================================
1. How to determine Oracle Apps 11i Version ?
Ans : select RELEASE_NAME from fnd_product_groups;
You should see output like
RELEASE_NAME-----------------------11.5.10.2
2. How to find Database version ?
Ans :
SQL> select * from v$version;
The command returns the release information, such as the following:Oracle9i Enterprise Edition Release 9.2.0.7.0 - ProductionPL/SQL Release 9.2.0.7.0 - ProductionCORE 9.2.0.7.0 ProductionTNS for 32-bit Windows: Version 9.2.0.7.0 - ProductionNLSRTL Version 9.2.0.7.0 - Production
3. How to find opatch Version ?
Ans : opatch is utility to apply database patch , In order to find opatch version execute"$ORACLE_HOME/OPatch/opatch version"
4. How to find out invalid objects in the database
Ans : select count(*) from dba_objects where status ='INVALID'
5. How you will see hidden files in linux/solaris?
Ans : ls -la
6. How to find that the database is 64-bit/32-bit?
Ans : $RDBMS_ORACLE_HOME/bin/file oracle
7. What is top command?
Ans : top is a operating system command, it will display top 10 processes which are taking high cpu and memory.
8. What is a patch?
Ans : A patch can be a solution for a bug/it can be a new feature.

9. What are the different types of patches?
Ans : oneoff, mini packs, family packs, maintanance packs, rollup pathches, colsolidated patches.
i) What is a oneoff patch?
Ans : An oneoff patch is a small patch of (20-90K size) without any pre-req’s
ii). What is a mini pack ?
Ans : A mini pack is one which will upgrade any product patchset level to next level like AD.H to AD.I
10. What is Family pack ?
Ans : A Family pack is one which will upgade the patchset level of all the products in that family to perticular patchsetlevel.
11. What is Maintanance pack ?
Ans : A maintanance pack will upgrade applications from one version to another like 11.5.8 to 11.5.9
12. What is a Rollup patch?
Ans : A rollup patch is one which will deliver bug fixes identified after the release of any major application versions like 11.5.8/11.5.9
13. What is consilidated patch?
Ans: Consolidated patches will come into pictures after upgrades from one version of applications to anoter, all post upgrade patches will a consolidated and given as consolidated patch.
14. How u will find whether a patch is applied/not?
Ans : Query ad_bugs.

15. What is the other table where u can query what are the patches applied?
Ans : Ad_applied_patches
16. What is the difference between ad_bugs and ad_applied_patches?
Ans: A patch can deliver solution for more than one bug, so ad_applied_patches may not give u the perfect information as in case of ad_bugs.
17. How u apply a patch?
Ans : adpatch

18. What inputs you need to apply a patch other than driver name and etc?
Ans : apps and system passwords

19. What are the table u r adpatch will create and when?
Ans : Adpatch will create FND_INSTALL_PROCESSES and AD_DEFERRED_JOBS table when it will apply d,g and u drivers
20. What is the significance of FND_INSTALL_PROCESSES and AD_DEFERRED_JOBS table?
Ans: FND_INSTALL_PROCESSES table will store the worker information like what job is assigned to which worker and its status. AD_DEFERRED_JOBS will come into picture when some worker is failed, it will be moved to AD_DEFERRED_JOBS table, from where again adpatch will take that job and try to resign, after doing this 3 times if still that worker is failing, then adpatch will stop patching and throw the error that perticular worker has failed. We need to trouble shoot and restrart the worker.
21. If it is a multinode installation which driver we need to apply on which node?
Ans: c,d,g on concurrent node and c, g on web node. If it is u-driver we need to apply on all nodes.
22.While applying a application patch is that necessary that u r database and listener should be up?
Ans: Yes . why because adpatch will connect to database and update so many tables etc…..
23. While applying a patch if that patch is failing because of a pre-req then how you will apply that pre-req patch and resume with the current patch?
Ans: We need to take the backup of FND_INSTALL_PROCESSES and AD_DEFERRED_JOBS tables and restart directory at APPL_TOP/amdin/SID and then use adctrl to quit all the workers. Then apply the pre-req patch , after that rename u r restart directory to its original name and create FND_INSTALL_PROCESSES and AD_DEFERRED_JOBS tables from the bcakup tables. Start adpatch session and take the options want to continue previous session.
24. What is adctrl?
Ans: Adctrl is one of the adutilities, which is used to check the status of workers and to manage the workers.
25. Can u name some of the menu options in adctrl?
Ans: Check the status of workers, tell manager that worker has quited, restart a failed worker etc….
26. How to skip a worker and why?
Ans: We can skip a worker using option 8 in adctrl which is hidden. We will go for skipping a worker when we have executed the job which the worker is supposed to do.
27. How adpatch knows what are the pre-req’s for the patch which it is applying?
Ans: With every patch a file called b.ldt file will be delivered which contain the pre-req information. adpatch load this into databse using FNDLOAD and check , whether those pre-req patches were applied or not.


28. What is FNDLOAD ?
Ans: FNDLOAD is a utility which is similar to sqlloder but loads code objects into database, where as SQLLOADER loads data objects into database.
29. What c-driver will do?
Ans:
C-drive copies the files from patch unzipped directory to required location in u r application file system. Before copying it will check the file version of the existing file at the file system with the file version of the file in the patch. If the patch file version is higher than what it is at file system level then only c-driver will copy that files.
30. How adpatch will know the file versions of the patch delivered files?
Ans:
With each patch a file with name f.ldt is delivered , which contain the file versions of the files dilivered with the patch. Adpatch will use this file to compare the file versions of files its delivering with the file on file system.


31. What is the adpatch log file location?
Ans : APPL_TOP/admin/SID/log
32. What is the worker log file name and its location?
Ans : adwork01,adwork02…… and location is APPL_TOP/admin/SID/log
33. How u will know what are the files the patch is going to change just my unzipping the patch?
Ans:
When u unzip a patch it will keep all the files related to a particular product under that directory inside u r patch directory for example if the patch delivering files related to FND product then it will create a sub directory under the patch directory with the name FND in which it will put all related files to that product
34. What is the significance of backup directory under u r patch directory?
Ans:
When we apply a patch it will keep the copy of the files which its going to change in file system.
35. What are the different modes you can run your adpatch?
Ans :
1.Interactive – default mode
2.Non interactive – Use defaults files to store prompt values
(adpatch defaultsfile= interactive=no)
3. Test – Without actually applying a patch just to check what doing.(adpatch apply=no)
4. Pre-install – (adpatch preinstall=y)
This mode will be usefull to discrease upgrade downtime as its applies bus fixes without running SQL,EXEC and generate portion of patch.
36. How u will monitor u r applications as well as database?
Ans:
We have our custom scripts which is sheduled to run at a specific time which will monitor whether applications and databases are up/not. And it will mail us if some processes is not running. And we have one script which will check database alert log for ORA errors and mails it to us . Based on this we will react.
37. What are the latest ORA errors u have encountered?
Ans:
Useually we will get the ORA errors like unable to extend the tablespace by so and so size. And we will check those tablespaces for space, if space is not there we will resize the datafile and add one more datafile.
38. Which table u will query to check the tablespace space issues?
Ans : bytes column in dba_free_spaces and dba_data_files
39. Which table u will query to check the temp tablespace space issues?
Ans : dba_temp_files
40. What is temp tablespace? And what is the size of temp tablespace in u r instances?
Ans : Temp tablespace is used by so many application programs for sorting and other stuff. Its size is between 3 to 10 GB.
41. What is autoconfig?
Ans : Autoconfig is an adutility which is used to main application environment and configuration files.
42. What are the parameter autoconfig will ask for?
Ans : Context file name and apps password
43. What is context file?
Ans : Context file is a central repositary, which stores all application configuration information. The name is like _ .xml

44. How you will find autoconfig is enabled/not for u r applications?
Ans: 1. Open any env / configuration files, the first few lines will tell u that this files are maintained by autoconfig.2. If contextname.xml file is there in APPL_TOP/admin


45. How autoconfig will create env and configuration files?
Ans: Autoconfig will go to each and every top template directory take the templates from there and fill the values from xml file and create the required files.
46. In how many phases autoconfig will run?
Ans : Autoconfig will run in 3 phases.
1.INIT – Instantiate the drivers and templates
2.SETUP – Fill the templated with values from xml and create files
3.PROFILE – Update the profile values in database.
47. What is the location of adconfig log file?
Ans : APPL_TOP/admin//log/


48. Is it possiable to restore a autoconfig run?
Ans :
Partially. Adconfig will create a restore.sh script at $APPL_TOP/admin//out/. This restore.sh will copy the backed up files before autoconfig run to its original locations. But the profile values updated in the database can’t be restored back.


49. How to run autoconfig in test mode?
Ans :
adchkcfg.sh script at AD_TOP/bin. This script will run autoconfig in test mode and create the difference file which tells us what is going to change , when u actually run autoconfig.
50. How to find autoconfig is enabled or not for database?
Ans:
If we have appsutil directory under RDBMS_ORACLE_HOME
51. When a patch delivers java files what extra file u will get when u unzip the patch, other then u r dirver and readme files?
Ans : j.zip52.
52.What is apps.zip/appsbrog2.zip file?
Ans : apps.zip/appsbrog2.zip is the patchable archive of all java class files required for oracle application.Apps.zip was used to old application version, but from 11.5.8 onwards its appsbrog2.zip
53. What is the location of apps.zip/appsbrog2.zip?
Ans : AU_TOP/java and JAVA_TOP
54. What is for “validating apps schema” option in adadmin?
Ans: It will check for the corrupted objects in apps schema
55. What is “compile apps schema” option in adadmin?
Ans : It will compile the invalid database objects.
56. How to find invalid objects in database?
Ans : select count(*) from dba_objects where status=’INVALID’;
57. How to find MRC is enabled or not?
Ans: In adadmin if covert to MRC options is there , then MRC is not enabled,If maintain MRC options is there , then MRC is enabled.

58. How to find Multi-Org is enabled or not?
Ans : In adadmin if covert to Multi org option is there, then Multi-org is not enabled. If maintain multi-org options is there, then Multi-org is enabled.
59. What is mean by MRC?
Ans: MRC stands for Multiple reporting Currency, this should be enabled to see the reports in different currencies like (rupees,yaans etc).
60. What is Multi-Org?
Ans: If this is enabled we can store multiple organization information in a single oracle application instance.
61. What is the configuration file for adutilities (like adadmin,adconfig etc)?
Ans: adconfig.txt @APPL_TOP/admin
62. What is adrelink?
Ans : adrelink will relink the executables with the libraries. Generally we will go for adrelink when some patch delivers some library files, or when executables were corrupted.
63. How to find the version of a file?
Ans : 1. adident Header 2. strings -a filename grep Header


64. What is adodfcmp utility?
Ans : This utility is used to recreate/repair corrupted database objects from odf(object defination files) files.
65. How you will change apps password?
Ans: FNDCPASS 0 y apps/ system/ SYSTEM APPLSYS


66. What if apps password is changed with alter command?
Ans : Applications won’t work.
66. What is the difference between alter and FNDCPASS in changing apps password?
Ans : FNDCPASS will update some fnd tables other than standard tables.
67. Where the FNDCPASS utility is located?
Ans : Concurrent node @FND_TOP/bin
68. How to find out what component of u r oracle applications were installed on which node?
Ans : Xml file (context file)

                                                                                                                         Next>>


You are welcome to leave a comment.