4 Managing Oracle Streams AQ

4.2.1 Oracle Streams AQ Security

Configuration information can be managed through procedures in the DBMS_AQADM package. Initially, only SYS and SYSTEM have execution privilege for the procedures in DBMS_AQADM and DBMS_AQ. Users who have been granted EXECUTE rights to these two packages are able to create, manage, and use queues in their own schemas. Users also need the MANAGE_ANY AQ system privilege to create and manage queues in other schemas.

Users of the Java Message Service (JMS) API need EXECUTE privileges on DBMS_AQJMS and DBMS_AQIN.

This section contains these topics:

• Administrator Role

• User Role

• Access to Oracle Streams AQ Object Types

4.2.2 Queue Security

Oracle Streams AQ administrators of Oracle Database can create 8.1-style or higher queues. All 8.1 security features are enabled for 8.1-style or higher queues. Oracle Streams AQ 8.1 security features work only with 8.1-style or higher queues. When you create queues, the default value of the compatible parameter in DBMS_AQADM.CREATE_QUEUE_TABLE is 8.1.3 if the database compatibility is less than 10.0. If database compatibility is 10.1, then the default value of the compatible parameter is also 10.0.

The AQ_ADMINISTRATOR_ROLE role is supported for 8.1-style or higher queues. To enqueue/dequeue on 8.1-style or higher queues, users need EXECUTE rights on DBMS_AQ and either enqueue/dequeue privileges on target queues or ENQUEUE_ANY/DEQUEUE_ANY system privileges.

4.2.3 Queue Privileges and Access Control

You can grant or revoke privileges at the object level on 8.1- compatible or higher queues. You can also grant or revoke various system-level privileges. Table 4-1 lists all common Oracle Streams AQ operations and the privileges needed to perform these operations for an 8.1-style or higher queue.

4.2.4 OCI Applications and Queue Access

For an Oracle Call Interface (OCI) application to access an 8.1-style or higher queue, the session user must be granted either the object privilege of the queue he intends to access or the ENQUEUE ANY QUEUE or DEQUEUE ANY QUEUE system privileges. The EXECUTE right of DBMS_AQ is not checked against the session user's rights if the queue he intends to access is an 8.1-style or higher queue.

4.2.5 Security Required for Propagation

Oracle Streams AQ propagates messages through database links. The propagation driver dequeues from the source queue as owner of the source queue; hence, no explicit access rights need be granted on the source queue. At the destination, the login user in the database link should either be granted ENQUEUE ANY QUEUE privilege or be granted the right to enqueue to the destination queue. However, if the login user in the database link also owns the queue tables at the destination, then no explicit Oracle Streams AQ privileges must be granted.

4.3.1 Exporting Queue Table Data

The export of queues entails the export of the underlying queue tables and related dictionary tables. Export of queues can only be accomplished at queue-table granularity.

Exporting Queue Tables with Multiple Recipients

A queue table that supports multiple recipients is associated with the following tables:

• Dequeue index-organized table (IOT)

• Time-management index-organized table

• Subscriber table (for 8.1-compatible and higher queue tables)

• A history index-organized table (for 8.1-compatible and higher queue tables)

These tables are exported automatically during full database mode and user mode exports, but not during table mode export. See "Export Modes".

Because the metadata tables contain ROWIDs of some rows in the queue table, the import process generates a note about the ROWIDs being made obsolete when importing the metadata tables. This message can be ignored, because the queuing system automatically corrects the obsolete ROWIDs as a part of the import operation. However, if another problem is encountered while doing the import (such as running out of rollback segment space), then you should correct the problem and repeat the import.

Export Modes

Exporting operates in full database mode, user mode, and table mode. Incremental exports on queue tables are not supported.

In full database mode, queue tables, all related tables, system-level grants, and primary and secondary object grants are exported automatically.

In user mode, queue tables, all related tables, and primary object grants are exported automatically. However, doing a user-level export from one schema to another using the FROMUSER TOUSER clause is not supported.

Oracle does not recommend table mode. If you must export a queue table in table mode, then you must export all related objects that belong to that queue table. For example, when exporting an 8.1-compatible or higher multiconsumer queue table named MCQ, you must also export the following tables:

• AQ$_queue_table_I (the dequeue IOT)

• AQ$_queue_table_T (the time-management IOT)

• AQ$_queue_table_S (the subscriber table)

• AQ$_queue_table_H (the history IOT)

4.3.2 Importing Queue Table Data

Similar to exporting queues, importing queues entails importing the underlying queue tables and related dictionary data. After the queue table data is imported, the import utility executes the PL/SQL anonymous blocks in the dump file to write the metadata to the data dictionary.

Importing Queue Tables with Multiple Recipients

A queue table that supports multiple recipients is associated with the following tables:

• A dequeue IOT

• A time-management IOT

• A subscriber table (for 8.1-compatible or higher queue tables)

• A history IOT (for 8.1-compatible or higher queue tables)

These tables must be imported as well as the queue table itself.

Import IGNORE Parameter

You must not import queue data into a queue table that already contains data. The IGNORE parameter of the import utility must always be set to NO when importing queue tables. If the IGNORE parameter is set to YES, and the queue table that already exists is compatible with the table definition in the dump file, then the rows are loaded from the dump file into the existing table. At the same time, the old queue table definition is lost and re-created. Queue table definition prior to the import is lost and duplicate rows appear in the queue table.

4.3.3 Data Pump Export and Import

The Data Pump replace and skip modes are supported for queue tables. In the replace mode an existing queue table is dropped and replaced by the new queue table from the export dump file. In the skip mode, a queue table that already exists is not imported.

The truncate and append modes are not supported for queue tables. The behavior in this case is the same as the replace mode.

4.6.1 Subscribers

You cannot have more than 1,000 local subscribers for each queue. Also, only 32 remote subscribers are allowed for each remote destination database.

4.6.2 DML Not Supported on Queue Tables or Associated IOTs

Oracle Streams AQ does not support data manipulation language (DML) operations on queue tables or associated index-organized tables (IOTs), if any. The only supported means of modifying queue tables is through the supplied APIs. Queue tables and IOTs can become inconsistent and therefore effectively ruined, if DML operations are performed on them.

4.6.3 Propagation from Object Queues with REF Payload Attributes

Oracle Streams AQ does not support propagation from object queues that have REF attributes in the payload.

4.6.4 Collection Types in Message Payloads

You cannot construct a message payload using a VARRAY that is not itself contained within an object. You also cannot currently use a NESTED Table even as an embedded object within a message payload. However, you can create an object type that contains one or more VARRAYs, and create a queue table that is founded on this object type, as shown in Example 4-1.

CREATE TYPE number_varray AS VARRAY(32) OF NUMBER; 
CREATE TYPE embedded_varray AS OBJECT (col1 number_varray);
EXECUTE DBMS_AQADM.CREATE_QUEUE_TABLE( 
  queue_table           =>     'QT', 
  queue_payload_type    =>     'embedded_varray'); 

4.6.5 Synonyms on Queue Tables and Queues

No Oracle Streams AQ PL/SQL calls resolve synonyms on queues and queue tables. Although you can create synonyms, you should not apply them to the Oracle Streams AQ interface.

4.6.6 Synonyms on Object Types

If you have created synonyms on object types, you cannot use them in DBMS_AQADM.CREATE_QUEUE_TABLE. Error ORA-24015 results.

4.6.7 Tablespace Point-in-Time Recovery

Oracle Streams AQ currently does not support tablespace point-in-time recovery. Creating a queue table in a tablespace disables that particular tablespace for point-in-time recovery. Oracle Streams AQ does support regular point-in-time recovery.

4.6.8 Virtual Private Database

You can use Oracle Streams AQ with Virtual Private Database by specifying a security policy with Oracle Streams AQ queue tables. While dequeuing, use the dequeue condition (deq_cond) or the correlation identifier for the policy to be applied. You can use "1=1" as the dequeue condition. If you do not use a dequeue condition or correlation ID, then the dequeue results in an error.

4.7.1 EXECUTE Privileges Required for Propagation

Propagation jobs are owned by SYS, but the propagation occurs in the security context of the queue table owner. Previously propagation jobs were owned by the user scheduling propagation, and propagation occurred in the security context of the user setting up the propagation schedule. The queue table owner must be granted EXECUTE privileges on the DBMS_AQADM package. Otherwise, the Oracle Database snapshot processes do not propagate and generate trace files with the error identifier SYS.DBMS_AQADM not defined. Private database links owned by the queue table owner can be used for propagation. The username specified in the connection string must have EXECUTE access on the DBMS_AQ and DBMS_AQADM packages on the remote database.

4.7.2 Number of Job Queue Processes

The scheduling algorithm places the restriction that at least two job queue processes be available for propagation. If there are jobs unrelated to propagation, then more job queue processes are needed. If heavily loaded conditions (a large number of active schedules, all of which have messages to be propagated) are expected, then you should start a larger number of job queue processes and keep in mind the need for other jobs as well. In a system that only has propagation jobs, two job queue processes can handle all schedules. However, with more job queue processes, messages are propagated faster. Because one job queue process can propagate messages from multiple schedules, it is not necessary to have the number of job queue processes equal to the number of schedules.

4.7.3 Optimizing Propagation

In setting the number of JOB_QUEUE_PROCESSES, DBAs should be aware that this number is determined by the number of queues from which the messages must be propagated and the number of destinations (rather than queues) to which messages must be propagated.

A scheduling algorithm handles propagation. The algorithm optimizes available job queue processes and minimizes the time it takes for a message to show up at a destination after it has been enqueued into the source queue, thereby providing near-OLTP action. The algorithm can handle an unlimited number of schedules and various types of failures. While propagation tries to make the optimal use of the available job queue processes, the number of job queue processes to be started also depends on the existence of jobs unrelated to propagation, such as replication jobs. Hence, it is important to use the following guidelines to get the best results from the scheduling algorithm.

The scheduling algorithm uses the job queue processes as follows (for this discussion, an active schedule is one that has a valid current window):

• If the number of active schedules is fewer than half the number of job queue processes, then the number of job queue processes acquired corresponds to the number of active schedules.

• If the number of active schedules is more than half the number of job queue processes, after acquiring half the number of job queue processes, then multiple active schedules are assigned to an acquired job queue process.

• If the system is overloaded (all schedules are busy propagating), depending on availability, then additional job queue processes are acquired up to one fewer than the total number of job queue processes.

• If none of the active schedules handled by a process has messages to be propagated, then that job queue process is released.

• The algorithm performs automatic load balancing by transferring schedules from a heavily loaded process to a lightly load process such that no process is excessively loaded.

Handling Failures in Propagation

The scheduling algorithm has robust support for handling failures. Common failures that prevent message propagation include the following:

• Database link failed

• Remote database is not available

• Remote queue does not exist

• Remote queue was not started

• Security violation while trying to enqueue messages into remote queue

Under all these circumstances the appropriate error messages are reported in the DBA_QUEUE_SCHEDULES view.

When an error occurs in a schedule, propagation of messages in that schedule is attempted again after a retry period of 30*(number of failures) seconds, with an upper bound of ten minutes. After sixteen consecutive retries, the schedule is disabled.

If the problem causing the error is fixed and the schedule is enabled, then the error fields that indicate the last error date, time, and message continue to show the error information. These fields are reset only when messages are successfully propagated in that schedule.

4.7.4 Message States During Client Requests for Enqueue

Client requests for enqueue, send and publish requests, use the following methods:

• AQXmlSend—to enqueue to a single-consumer queue

• AQXmlPublish—to enqueue to multiconsumer queues/topics

In message_header, the message_state attribute represents the state of the message filled in automatically during dequeue, as follows:

• 0 (the message is ready to be processed)

• 1 (the message delay has not yet been reached)

• 2 (the message has been processed and is retained)

• 3 (the message has been moved to the exception queue)

4.7.5 Propagation from Object Queues

Propagation from object queues with BFILE objects is supported in Oracle Database 10g. To be able to propagate object queues with BFILE objects, the source queue owner must have read privileges on the directory object corresponding to the directory in which the BFILE is stored. The database link user must have write privileges on the directory object corresponding to the directory of the BFILE at the destination database.

4.7.6 Debugging Oracle Streams AQ Propagation Problems

4.8.1 Migrating To and From 8.0-Style

To upgrade a 8.0-compatible queue table to an 8.1-compatible or higher queue table or to downgrade a 8.1-compatible or higher queue table to an 8.0-compatible queue table, use DBMS_AQADM.MIGRATE_QUEUE_TABLE.

4.8.2 Importing and Exporting with 8.0-Style Queues

Because the metadata tables contain ROWIDs of some rows in the queue table, the import and export processes generate a note about the ROWIDs being obsoleted when importing the metadata tables. This message can be ignored, because the queuing system automatically corrects the obsolete ROWIDs as a part of the import operation. However, if another problem is encountered while doing the import or export (such as running out of rollback segment space), then you should correct the problem and repeat the import or export.

4.8.3 Roles in 8.0-Style Queues

Access to Oracle Streams AQ operations in Oracle8 was granted to users through roles that provided execution privileges on the Oracle Streams AQ procedures. The fact that there was no control at the database object level when using Oracle8 meant that a user with the AQ_USER_ROLE could enqueue and dequeue to any queue in the system. For finer-grained access control, use 8.1-compatible or higher queue tables in an 8.1- compatible or higher database.

Oracle Streams AQ administrators of an 8.1-compatible or higher database can create 8.0-style queues. These queues are protected by the 8.0-compatible security features.

If you want to use 8.1 security features on a queue originally created in an 8.0 database, then the queue table must be converted to 8.1-compatible or higher by running DBMS_AQADM.MIGRATE_QUEUE_TABLE on the queue table.

If a database downgrade is necessary, then all 8.1-compatible or higher queue tables must be either converted back to 8.0 compatibility or dropped before the database downgrade can be carried out. During the conversion, all 8.1-compatible security features on the queues, like the object privileges, are dropped. When a queue is converted to 8.0-style, the 8.0-compatible security model applies to the queue, and only 8.0-compatible security features are supported.

4.8.4 Security with 8.0-Style Queues

The following Oracle Streams AQ security features and privilege equivalences are supported with 8.0-style queues:

• AQ_USER_ROLE

  The grantee is given the EXECUTE right of DBMS_AQ through the role.

• AQ_ADMINISTRATOR_ROLE

• EXECUTE right on DBMS_AQ

  EXECUTE right on DBMS_AQ should be granted to developers who write Oracle Streams AQ applications in PL/SQL.

4.8.5 Access to Oracle Streams AQ Object Types

The procedure GRANT_TYPE_ACCESS was made obsolete in release 8.1.5 for 8.0-style queues.

4.8.6 OCI Application Access to 8.0-Style Queues

For an OCI application to access an 8.0-style queue, the session user must be granted EXECUTE privileges on DBMS_AQ.

4.8.7 Pluggable Tablespaces and 8.0-Style Multiconsumer Queues

A tablespace that contains 8.0-compatible multiconsumer queue tables should not be transported using the pluggable tablespace mechanism. The mechanism does work, however, with tablespaces that contain only single-consumer queues as well as 8.1 compatible or higher multiconsumer queues. Before you can export a tablespace in pluggable mode, you must alter the tablespace to read-only mode. If you try to import a read-only tablespace that contains 8.0-style multiconsumer queues, then you get an Oracle Streams AQ error indicating that you cannot update the queue table index at import time.

4.8.8 Autocommit Features in the DBMS_AQADM Package

The autocommit parameters in the CREATE_QUEUE_TABLE, DROP_QUEUE_TABLE, CREATE_QUEUE, DROP_QUEUE, and ALTER_QUEUE calls of the DBMS_AQADM package are deprecated for 8.1.5 and subsequent releases. Oracle continues to support this parameter in the interface for backward compatibility.