Resolving the “ORA-12514: No TNS Listener” error with Oracle XE May 14, 2009
Posted by exertia in Software, Tech Tips, Technology.2 comments
I faced this particularly nagging error with a personal install of Oracle XE (Oracle Database 10g Express Edition) on my Windows XP laptop:
ORA-12514:No TNS Listener
The SQL Command prompt that came with Oracle XE would work but none of the other tools like Toad, SQL Plus or even the Oracle XE Database Homepage which would open in a browser window would work.
The final resolution after a lot of research seemed to be painfully simple:
- Run the LSNRCTL.EXE program from the BIN directory of your Oracle XE install (default: C:\oraclexe\app\oracle\product\10.2.0\server\BIN). You should even be able to run it from any command prompt since the BIN directory is generally added to your PATH environment variable by default.
- At the LSNRCTL> command prompt, issue the STOP command. It should say:
Connecting to (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=IPC)(KEY=EXTPROC_FOR_XE)))
The command completed successfully - Now, at the LSNRCTL> prompt, issue the START command. It should return:
Starting tnslsnr: please wait…
TNSLSNR for 32-bit Windows: Version 10.2.0.1.0 – Production
System parameter file is C:\oraclexe\app\oracle\product\10.2.0\server\NETWORK\AD
MIN\listener.ora
Log messages written to C:\oraclexe\app\oracle\product\10.2.0\server\network\log
\listener.log
Listening on: (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=ipc)(PIPENAME=\\.\pipe\EXTPROC_FOR
_XEipc)))
Listening on: (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=hostname)(PORT=port)))Connecting to (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=IPC)(KEY=EXTPROC_FOR_XE)))
STATUS of the LISTENER
————————
Alias LISTENER
Version TNSLSNR for 32-bit Windows: Version 10.2.0.1.0 – Produ
ction
Start Date 14-MAY-2009 01:24:49
Uptime 0 days 0 hr. 0 min. 5 sec
Trace Level off
Security ON: Local OS Authentication
SNMP OFF
Default Service XE
Listener Parameter File C:\oraclexe\app\oracle\product\10.2.0\server\NETWORK\ADMIN\listener.ora
Listener Log File C:\oraclexe\app\oracle\product\10.2.0\server\network\log\listener.log
Listening Endpoints Summary…
(DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=ipc)(PIPENAME=\\.\pipe\EXTPROC_FOR_XEipc)))
(DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=hostname)(PORT=port)))
Services Summary…
Service “CLRExtProc” has 1 instance(s).
Instance “CLRExtProc”, status UNKNOWN, has 1 handler(s) for this service…
Service “PLSExtProc” has 1 instance(s).
Instance “PLSExtProc”, status UNKNOWN, has 1 handler(s) for this service…
The command completed successfully
That’s it! That should resolve the problem. Verify by running “tnsping XE” or “tnsping dbname” at the command prompt. It should return OK.
All your tools like Toad, SQL Plus or Oracle SQL Developer should be able to connect to the database now!
Fixing the double-letterboxing effect in Windows Media Player… September 19, 2008
Posted by exertia in Media Players, Movies, Personal Computing, Software, TV, Tech Tips.add a comment
To resolve the double-letterboxing effect when playing a widescreen (16:9) movie encoded as fullscreen (4:3) on a widescreen laptop: use Videolan.
Videolan is a freeware, open-source media-player that can help to resolve this problem by providing zoom and crop features that are easily accessible with a right-click while playing the video. If you have an older version, check out the newly released 0.9.* (Grishenko) release – it’s really cool!
Upgrade issues with Norton Antivirus June 26, 2008
Posted by exertia in Software.add a comment
Here’s what to do if you’re trying to upgrade to Norton Antivirus 2008 and getting the dreaded error message: “Setup has detected that LiveUpdate or AutoLiveUpdate is running. Setup will now abort.”:
- There is no easy way to kill the LiveUpdate processes or services once started. The only way around this is to prevent them from starting in the first place.
- Go to Start > Run, type services.msc to bring up the Windows Services.
- Find all the services that start with “LiveUpdate…”, “AutoLiveUpdate…” or “Symantec…” and right-click on each one of them and go to “Properties”.
- Set the “Startup Type” to Disabled.
- Restart your computer and the upgrade should go smoothly this time.
If you find a better way to do this, be sure to post it here for everyone’s benefit!
Google launches new Shakespeare site June 15, 2006
Posted by exertia in Books, Search.add a comment
Google has launched Google Shakespeare – a site that allows readers to browse / read all 37 of the Bard's plays. Readers can even plug in words, such as "to be or not to be" from Hamlet, and immediately be taken to that part of the play.
Google Book Search, the Google product which houses the Shakespeare site, allows users to view books or parts of books through their Web browsers if the copyright has expired or a publisher has given permission to do so.
Google’s latest tool syncs your browser settings and favorites June 12, 2006
Posted by exertia in Internet, News.add a comment
The newest addition to Google Labs – Google Browser Sync – allows you to sync your browser favorites, cookies, passwords and more between different machines. This is one tool I personally have been looking forward to for a long time…
Unfortunately for IE users, GBS currently works only on Firefox. It offers various options to restrict the data you want to share and can also encrypt it if needed. Go check it out and while you're there, check out the other cool stuff they have for Mozilla Firefox users!
Google Spreadsheets: taking aim at MS Office June 6, 2006
Posted by exertia in Internet, News.add a comment
After offering an online alternative to Word by acquiring the online word processor Writely, Google has now launched Google Spreadsheets as an online rival to Excel. NYTimes reports:
- It would make it possible for as many as 10 people to simultaneously edit a spreadsheet document online and chat about it using Google’s instant messaging program.
- The new service will be able to handle several hundred formulas used to manipulate data in Excel, but not more complex functions like macros.
- The ability for many people to collaborate was quite different from the standard method of e-mailing files back and forth.
It allows uploads of existing Excel or Comma-separated values (CSV) files and your work can be exported into Excel, CSV or HTML formats. The service currently lacks charts functionality but one can imagine a creative mind at Google linking up the Spreadsheets with Google Gapminder (covered in an earlier post) to create professional charts.
These tools can really open up the vistas for online collaborative working especially between people in different locations / countries. Also, the startup costs and installation efforts are minimal (zero!) enabling mass adoption in developing economies.
Online page design tips May 29, 2006
Posted by exertia in Blogging, Internet.add a comment
Eyetrack has some interesting research findings and tips on Article-Level Page Design:
- When readers encountered a story with an introductory paragraph, 95 percent of them read all or part of the introductory paragraph.
- Those who spent time carefully reading the introductory paragraph of a story on article-level pages typically spent little time with the full story. Those who gave the intro paragraphs little time usually spent even less time with the story text.
- Shorter paragraphs encouraged testers to continue reading.
- Story text in one-column format was read more extensively than story text presented in a “newspaper-like” multiple-column format.
- Subheads in online stories had little affect on how much of the first or top portion of the story was read when the reader’s interest was strongest. However, subheads increased reading for “skimmers” and for those whose attention in a story was beginning to wane.
- When readers got to an article-level page, they seemed to be there to view the text. Overall, participants’ eyes fixated on the story or other text elements before the accompanying image.
They also have detailed results on everything from eye-viewing patterns to headlines and font size. Useful resource!
Enabling ICT for Rural India May 26, 2006
Posted by exertia in Economics, India, Technology.1 comment so far
While looking at the proceedings of FIRe (Future in Review), found the web-page for Rafiq Dossani who is doing ground-breaking research on IT as it relates to South Asia, and India in particular. Here is an excerpt from the Executive Summary of the project Enabling ICT for Rural India:
Some findings from the review were expected, such as poor infrastructure, high deployment and maintenance costs and the lack of content for eGovernance. Some less expected findings are that eGovernance services are overwhelmingly the most needed; that content is largely irrelevant to needs (itself indicative of wider problems of user and operator capabilities); but that user interest rises significantly when services can be delivered regularly and efficiently; that NGOs play a key role in understanding user needs and increasing awareness; and, finally, that rural capacity is not being enhanced through ICT.
Some problems exist because the strengths of the different stakeholders are not being used optimally. Thus, NGOs, which are strongest in understanding user needs and in increasing awareness, have diverted considerable resources to accessing bandwidth and paying for kiosk infrastructure. Organizations that are village-focused have missed the opportunity of maximizing coverage through Internet-based provision. All providers must deal with infrastructure problems outside their control, such as power problems. Partnerships in content provision are rare though greatly needed.
Our proposal for a new ICT model is based on separating the infrastructure from content provision and recommending that deployment of the infrastructure upto the block level be provided by technology specialists using universal service obligation (USO) funds. We also recommend the establishment of a data center at the state level in order to use content more efficiently. These approaches recognize the public-good character of the technology infrastructure. The Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Institutions should create a framework of rules to enable state management of this process.
Finance outsourcing in the high-tech and electronics industries May 24, 2006
Posted by exertia in Finance, Outsourcing, Research, Technology.add a comment
Key Findings of an Accenture-sponsored survey conducted by the EIU looking into trends, risks and opportunities associated with finance outsourcing in the high-tech and electronics industries:
- Finance is among the most outsourced functions.
- Finance being outsourced by small and large firms at differing rates.
- Executives are satisfied with outsourcing arrangements.
- Barriers to increased finance outsourcing exist.
What are the primary benefits / objectives of outsourcing the Finance function?
- sharper focus on core competencies
- lower costs.
If you do not outsource finance and accounting functions but you do outsource in other areas of your business, please indicate why the finance function has not yet shifted to this model.
The finance functions are considered too critical tobe outsourced (54%)
What will be the primary drivers behind the increasing use of finance outsourcing in your industry?
- Improved quality of service from outsourcing providers (46%)
- Pressure on costs (49%)
In your own organisation, what are the barriers that stand in the way of a decision to outsource finance functions?
- Desire for greater direct control of finance functions (68%)
- Cultural resistance to change (42%)
In your view, what are the 3 primary risks associated with finance outsourcing?
- Risk that quality of service is inadequate (63%)
- Risk that in-house knowledge and expertise erodes beyond repair (42%)
- Risk of breaches of data security (41%)
Shaping digital convergence through mergers & acquisitions May 24, 2006
Posted by exertia in Management, Research, Technology.add a comment
Useful EIU / PwC survey findings and report on the opportunities and the pitfalls involved in digital convergence and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). This is an exhaustive survey of 149 executives supplemented with over 30 in-depth interviews of industry veterans. Key takeaways:
- According to Dow Jones CEO Richard Zannino, “I’ve done 20 or 30 M&A deals, and one thing I’ve learned is never to rely on revenue synergies, because they never seem to materialise. No matter how great the brands, no matter how great the match, you’re going to lose some revenue in the process.” For this reason, says Zannino, “I put more weight on cost synergies, and that’s what makes up for the lost revenue.”
- Many executives prefer partnerships and alliances as a less risky way to explore unfamiliar terrain. But there are shortcomings, including an inability to control relationships, either with customers or even with other parties in the alliance or partnership. And risk aside, alliances and partnerships may also move too slowly to capitalise on fast-moving opportunities. By failing to place a significant bet, executives realise, their companies may fail to maximise the convergence payoff.
- But for those organisations choosing the M&A path, the warnings from the research are clear. Be certain you’re pursuing a realistic strategy-and then compare the value of that strategy versus the acquisition price. Markets today are heating up and few if any strategies in the history of business have been pursued successfully at any price.
- Which sectors do technology, media and telecom executives believe will become the overall winners in digital convergence?
- Entertainment content developers (42% respondents)
- Consumer electronics manufacturers (36%)
- Wireless operators and related service providers (30%)
- As for the role of mergers and acquisitions amid the many likely success stories, the last word goes to a CFO from a large, US-based high-technology company: “We know a lot of companies are going to stumble badly, but a lot more are going to do really well. I’d have to say strategy is important, but in the end, it’s all in the execution. A great strategy, poorly executed, is a waste of everyone’s time and cash. But a decent acquisition, well executed, with loads of cost synergies, can generate enormous returns. So in M&A, all you need is a good idea-not even a great idea but a good one-coupled with great execution and you can achieve amazing results.”
Also, a useful side-bar on “How to make a strategic alliance work” on pg.21.
