Create an Oracle repository database

After you install DPA, you must create the repository database, which holds the performance data that DPA collects. Use this procedure to create an Oracle repository database.

To create a different type of repository database, see Create a SQL Server repository database, Create a MySQL repository database, or Create an Azure SQL repository database.

Oracle multitenant databases

You can create the DPA repository database on an Oracle pluggable database (PDB), but not a container database (CDB). If you create the repository on a PDB, the PDB can be moved:

• If the PDB is moved to another CDB on the same server, the connection string does not change. No action is required.

• If the PDB is moved to a CDB on a different server, the connection string changes. You must update the connection string in the repo.properties file in the following location: 

  <DPA_Install_Dir>\iwc\tomcat\ignite_config\iwc\repo.properties

Before you start

Before you run the Repository wizard:

	Make sure the repository database server meets the system requirements.
	Install a supported version of Oracle on the database server.
	If you run the wizard from a different computer (not the server where DPA was installed), make sure the required firewall port is open. By default, ports 8123 and 8124 must be open.
	The DPA server connects to the repository through a TCP/IP connection. Make sure that connection is not blocked by a firewall.
	Make sure you have credentials to a login with database administrator (DBA) privileges for the Oracle database instance.

Run the wizard

1. To open DPA, click the button on the installation confirmation dialog, or enter one of the following URLs in a web browser:

   • http:yourServer:8123
   • https:yourServer:8124

   The Repository wizard opens automatically if the repository database has not been created.

2. Click Create New Repository.

3. Complete the remaining wizard panels as described in the following table.

Panel	Instructions
Select Repository Database Instance Type	Select Oracle as the database type.
Enter Repository Connection Information	DPA requires a DBA user with privileges to create a DPA user with access to the repository. The DBA user is not used or stored after you complete the Repository Creation Wizard. DPA creates a new Oracle schema and populates it with tables, indexes, and initial data. Oracle database instances have three connection options: Direct Connect Enter the Service Name or System Identifier (SID), host name or IP address, and port. The default port is 1521. Enter DBA credentials. Do not use a critical production database. Transparent Network Substrate (TNS) Connect Descriptor The Connect Descriptor value contains everything after NAME= in the tnsnames.ora file. The beginning (DESCRIPTION= is necessary. For example: (DESCRIPTION = (ADDRESS_LIST = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = demo.confio.com)(PORT = 1521)))(CONNECT_DATA =(SERVICE_NAME = demo))) Enter DBA credentials. Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) or TNS Name To use this option, Oracle Name Resolution must be configured. For instructions, see Connect to Oracle using name resolution. After you configure Oracle Name Resolution, you can use the LDAP/TNS Name when registering additional monitored database instances. Enter DBA credentials.
Repository Database Server Warnings	If your repository database server meets the minimum requirements, the wizard skips this step. DPA shows a report of the current Oracle parameters with values below the recommended minimum. SolarWinds recommends correcting these parameters before continuing. You can continue without fixing these parameters, but parameter values below the recommend minimums may affect the performance of the repository. Minimum Oracle Parameters db_block_buffers (or db_cache_size) This is a critical parameter. > 100 MB per monitored database shared_pool_size > 50 MB sort_area_size > 4 MB log_buffer > 1 MB session_cached_cursors > 10 Redo Log Size (select min(bytes) from v$log) > 10 MB
Enter Repository Login	DPA can create the repository administrator account, or you can specify an existing account. To ensure that the account has the required permissions, SolarWinds recommends creating a new account. To create a new account: Next to Create New User, click Yes. Enter the user name and password. To specify an existing account: Next to Create New User, click No. Enter the user name and password.
Specify Tablespaces for the Repository	DPA stores the Oracle repository in tablespaces. Select a tablespace where DPA stores performance data. Select a temporary tablespace for the DPA repository user.
Contact Information	Enter your name and email. DPA sends database performance reports to this address.
Summary	Review the information and click Create Repository.
Finished Repository Creation	After the repository has been created, click Register Database Instance to start registering instances, or close the wizard and register instances later.