Informix Machine Notes
Here you find actual Machine Notes to Informix Products that we prepared for you.
=================================
MACHINE SPECIFIC NOTES
FOR
IBM Informix Database Server 12.10.FC4 PRODUCT RELEASE
ON SOLARIS 64bit
DATE: 04 Jun 2014
=================================
OS Information : Built on Solaris 10 release update 8.
Certified on Solaris 11.
System Requirements
===================
1. This product was built on Solaris 10 using the following compilers
from Oracle Solaris Studio 12.2:
Sun C 5.11 SunOS_sparc 2010/08/13
Sun C++ 5.11 SunOS_sparc 2010/08/13
2. IBM Informix Database Server is supported to work with and without Zones
on Solaris 10. Read the following document for more information:
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/data/informix/ids/IDS-SunSPARC-reqs.pdf
3. The UNIX graphical tools provided with this release require 64-bit
X Windows System X11R6 and Motif 2.1 or later runtime libraries.
If these tools cannot find the location of the X and Motif shared
libraries, set the environment variable LD_LIBRARY_PATH to include
these locations: /usr/openwin/lib/sparcv9 and /usr/dt/lib/sparcv9.
4. The High Performance Loader utilities, onpload and ipload, require a
minimum of 35 MB of memory and 70 MB of swap space in order to run.
5. IBM Informix Database Server uses the libraries and utilities provided by
the IBM Global Security Kit (GSKit) for data encryption and Secure Sockets
Layer (SSL) communication. The GSKit is bundled with the server and will
be installed on your machine as part of the server installation process.
Here are more details on the GSKit:
a. The GSKit is also bundled with other IBM products and might
already be present on your machine. If GSKit8 is not
installed, Informix server will install GSKit in /opt/ibm/gsk8_64
directory on your machine.
b. The GSKit installation directory must have 35 MB of free disk space.
Check the following web site for the latest Solaris system requirements
for IBM Informix Database Server:
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=630&uid=swg27013343
System Configuration
====================
1. Kernel Parameters
a) On Solaris 10, all System V IPC facilities are either automatically
configured or can be controlled by resource controls.
The resource controls have the following default values on Solaris 10:
process.max-sem-nsems 512
project.max-sem-ids 128
project.max-shm-memory 1/4 of physical memory
project.max-shm-ids 128
Check project.max-shm-memory on your system, IBM recommend the value
of 4398046511104 for the IBM Informix Database Server.
On systems that have zones enabled, zone-wide resource controls are
specified in the zone configuration.
Refer to the rctladm(1m) man page for more information about
available resource controls.
Examples:
1. To display the current value of project.max-shm-memory set to the
project and system wide, where Informix server is running under the
default project, run this command:
# prctl -n project.max-shm-memory -i project default
2. To display the values of all the resource controls for a specific
Informix server process, run this command:
# prctl <oninit pid>
3. To set the value of project.max-shm-memory for the project default
to 4 TB without restarting the system, run this command:
# prctl -n project.max-shm-memory -r -v 4tb -i project default
4. To perform the same action as in example 3, but instead use
the projmod command to modify the attribute value for
project.max-shm-memory in /etc/project the local source of
project information file, run this command:
# projmod -a -K 'project.max-shm-memory=(priv,4TB,deny)' default
b) Informix server Failure with a Large Intimate Shared Memory Page Size
On certain hardware configurations, Solaris 10 can use very large
memory pages for Solaris Intimate Shared Memory (ISM): 32 MB or
256 MB instead of the previous limit of 4 MB. Informix server uses
Solaris ISM for shared memory segments that are forced to be
memory-resident by the RESIDENT configuration parameter, however
Informix server might experience problems if 32 MB or 256 MB pages
are used by Solaris (APAR 36804462).
If you receive a message that contiguous shared memory segment
allocation failed and the value of the SHMBASE configuration
parameter is the same as its value in onconfig.std, then Informix server
might fail unexpectedly. To prevent this problem, set the Solaris 10
operating system mmu_ism_pagesize configuration parameter to limit
the memory pages to 4 MB for ISM. To set this parameter, edit the
/etc/system file and add the following line:
set mmu_ism_pagesize = 4194304
Then restart the Solaris computer.
2. Location of Shared Memory
The ONCONFIG variable SHMBASE should be set to the following:
SHMBASE 0x10A000000L
3. Environment Variables
It is recommended that the environment variable INFORMIXSTACKSIZE be
set to 128 (the default is 64) if the application involves operations
which would require the IBM Informix Database Server to perform recursive
database tasks (for example, cascading deletes).
Feature Notes (alphabetized by feature)
=============
1. High Performance Loader
User-defined conversion routines for the High Performance Loader must be
provided in a dynamic, shared library called ipldd11a.so. This shared
library is installed in the $INFORMIXDIR/lib directory. You can set the
location of this file with the HPL_DYNAMIC_LIB_PATH configuration
parameter in the file pointed to by PLCONFIG environment variable. For
more details see the "High-Performance Loader User's Guide".
To create a 64-bit shared library, the flags "-m64" can be used
to convey to the compiler that a 64-bit object is to be generated.
Onpload will use shared memory during its execution. It will allocate
memory beyond the address for the server, leaving room for server shared
memory expansion.
2. IPv6 Support
The Informix database server supports Internet Protocol Version 6 (128 Bit
Internet Addresses) as well as IPv4 (32 Bit Addresses).
In order for the machine name that is specified in the SQLHOSTS file to
resolve to the correct IP address, the name services files on the operating
system must be configured correctly. If the machine has an IPv6 address
configured, and the listener thread is bound to an IPv6 address, then the
name service switch files /etc/nsswitch.conf must be configured to fetch
an IPv6 address. Also any local machine settings must be set correctly in
the /etc/hosts file.
For compatibility with earlier version of Informix client and server
products, assign each host name with both an IPv4 address and an IPv6
address. If the listener needs to be bound to an IPv4 address, and the
name services resolve the name in the order of the IPv6 address followed
by the IPv4 address, then an explicit IPv4 address needs to be put in the
host name field of SQLHOSTS file. Client applications should also use the
same setting.
3. J/Foundation (Java in the Server)
J/Foundation supports the JRE 6.0 release from Oracle, which uses the
Solaris native threads based Java Virtual Machine.
The JRE 6.0 is available under $INFORMIXDIR/extend/krakatoa/jre and
should be used with J/Foundation.
To use this JRE, set the value of the ONCONFIG variable JVPJAVAHOME as
follows:
JVPJAVAHOME <jvphome>/jre
where <jvphome> is $INFORMIXDIR/extend/krakatoa
For developing Java UDRs used with J/Foundation, use the JDK 5.0 which
can be downloaded from
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javasebusiness/downloads/java-archive-downloads-javase5-419410.htm
For IBM Informix Database Server ONCONFIG settings for J/Foundation,
refer to "onconfig.std" in $INFORMIXDIR/etc.
4. Large Memory Addressability (LMA)
IBM Informix LMA provides the ability to support system configurations
with greater than 4GB of RAM. Most UNIX systems are limited to 4GB of
RAM based on the memory addressing limitations of 32-bit architectures.
The values for the following ONCONFIG parameters are increased from
32-bit to 64-bit platform by LMA support:
- The maximum number of buffers in BUFFERPOOL is 536870912.
- The maximum of LRU queues for lrus field in BUFFERPOOL is 512.
- The DS_TOTAL_MEMORY, which is the total memory available for
decision support memory, is only limited by the amount of virtual
memory available (2^40)/2 MB. The sort memory comes out of the
DS_TOTAL_MEMORY memory and hence there is no explicit limit on the
amount of sort memory.
- The read ahead parameter RA_PAGES is only limited by the number of
buffers and therefore can be any value less than 536870912. The
"chunk" write algorithm is not dependent on the amount of buffers or
shared memory and can write as many pages in a single I/O as possible.
- The maximum size of any shared memory segment is 4398046511104 bytes.
- The value for SHMADD is 4294967296 kilobytes.
Refer to IBM Informix Administrator's Reference manual for the
information about the related configuration parameters setting.
5. MQ Messaging Database Extension
The MQ extension provides mechanism for data exchange between
Informix server and queues managed by Websphere MQ.
Note: MQ extension expects Websphere MQ libraries installed in
the default location /opt/mqm. Otherwise create symbolic links
from /opt/mqm/lib64 to the 64-bit Websphere MQ libraries.
6. Network Protocols
The following protocols and interfaces are supported on this platform:
TLI using TCP/IP
SOCKETS using TCP/IP
IPC using stream pipe
To use TLI with TCP/IP:
a. The NETTYPE entry in the ONCONFIG file and the nettype field in
the sqlhosts file entry must contain "ontlitcp".
b. To enable an IBM Data Server Client to connect to the database
server, the NETTYPE entry in the ONCONFIG file and the protocol
value in the sqlhosts file entry must contain "drtlitcp"
To use SOCKETS with TCP/IP:
a. The NETTYPE entry in the ONCONFIG file and the nettype field in
the sqlhosts file entry must contain "onsoctcp".
b. To enable an IBM Data Server Client to connect to the database
Server, the NETTYPE entry in the ONCONFIG file and the protocal
value in the sqlhosts file entry must contain "drsoctcp"
If a CLI or JCC client wants to connect to the database server through
DRDA while supporting SQLI connections, you must add a DBSERVERALIASES
entry to the ONCONFIG file that corresponds to the sqlhosts file entry.
When using either TLI or SOCKETS, set the "connections" field in
the ONCONFIG NETTYPE parameter and the kernel driver ndd parameter
"tcp_conn_req_max_q" to the maximum number of expected concurrent
connections.
If the "tcp_conn_req_max_q" is set too low, you will see a client
error with sqlcode = -908 and isamcode = 13. If the NETTYPE
"connections" field is set too low, you will see a server
listener-thread error with err = -25571.
To use IPC (interprocess communication) with stream pipe:
a. The NETTYPE entry in the ONCONFIG file and the nettype field in
the sqlhosts file entry must contain "onipcstr".
Remote 32-bit or 64-bit applications and tools (example: ESQL/C, 4GL, ISQL)
can only connect to the IBM Informix Database Server using the TCP/IP
protocol.
Local 32-bit applications and tools can connect to the 64-bit server using
either the TCP/IP or the IPC stream pipe protocols.
Fast poll is supported with TCP/IP and stream pipe interfaces. To disable
fast poll, set the FASTPOLL parameter to 0 in the ONCONFIG file. By default
the fast poll is enabled (value is 1).
The protocol for supporting IBM Informix MaxConnect on this platform
is "ontliimc".
7. OnLine Backup and Restore (ON-Bar)
ON-Bar uses the XBSA interface. Some of the functions invoked by ON-Bar
are in a shared library supplied by third party storage management vendors.
For ON-Bar to access these functions, set the BAR_BSALIB_PATH parameter in
$INFORMIXDIR/etc/$ONCONFIG to the full pathname of the library.
This shared library must be compiled in 64-bit mode.
Using $INFORMIXDIR/lib/ibsad001.so as a symbolic link to the library is
deprecated and shall be discontinued.
Informix Interface for Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) is supported on this
platform. The interface is built with TSM API version 5.3.2.
8. OnSNMP
The SNMP agent for OnSNMP is based on SNMP Research (SNMPR).
9. Optical
The name of the IBM Informix shared library for Optical on Solaris is
iosm11a.so. This library must be located in $INFORMIXDIR/lib (or must
have a link provided in $INFORMIXDIR/lib).
Refer to the "Optical Subsystem Guide" for more information about
enabling optical functionality.
10. Pluggable Authentication Module (PAM)
PAM functionality is supported on Solaris operating systems. PAM requires
the libpam.so library that is supplied by the Operating System vendor.
Use of PAM can be enabled or disabled by the system administrator. By
default, the Informix server will use the traditional authentication
mechanism to avoid changes for the users.
The PAM service identifies the PAM module. This PAM module usually is
located in /usr/lib/security and its parameters are listed in
/etc/pam.conf.
11. Secure Sockets Layer
IBM Informix Database Server uses the libraries and utilities provided by
the IBM Global Security Kit (GSKit) for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
communication.
a. Before uninstalling GSKit, verify that it is not needed on your
system. It is possible that software other than Informix Database
Server requires GSKit. Uninstalling entails removing the GSKit
packages with the pkgrm command-line tool
As root user run the pkgrm command to remove each package as
needed. For example, the following command removes the GSKit
SSL and GSKit Crypt packages:
pkgrm gsk8ssl32 gsk8cry32
b. If you want to restore Secure Sockets Layer capability after you
have uninstalled GSKit, see the readme file in $INFORMIXDIR/gskit
for how to install GSKit.
12. Simple Password Communications Support Module
The name of the IBM Informix shared library for Simple Password CSM on
Solaris is libixspw.so.
Features not supported
======================
Migrating to this 64-bit Version
================================
1. To migrate to this 64-bit version from previous versions of the server
(64-bit as well as 32-bit), refer to the migration process described in
the IBM Informix Migration Guide, Version 12.10.
To revert from this 64-bit version to all previous 64-bit versions refer
to the IBM Informix Migration Guide, Version 12.10.
To revert from 64-bit 12.10 (this server) to 32-bit 11.50, 11.10, 10.00,
or 9.40:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Disconnect all users from this server. The 64-bit server should be
in online mode.
b. Run the following command as user informix or DBA:
$INFORMIXDIR/etc/conv/update.sh -32
c. Revert to 9.40, 10.00, 11.10 or 11.50 32-bit by following the steps
described in the IBM Informix Migration Guide, Version 12.10, in the
section "Reverting from Informix Version 12.10".
2. All UDRs and Database Extensions that are built in 32-bit mode must be
re-compiled in 64-bit mode to work with the 64-bit server. If you have
any UDRs that were developed on 32-bit, make sure that the proper size
and alignment of the data structures are used for the UDRs to work
correctly on 64-bit after re-compilation in 64-bit mode.
Known Defects in this release
=============================
For information about known defects in this release, see:
Click here for a list
Defects Fixed in this release
=============================
For information about defects fixed in this release, see:
Click here for a list
(C) Copyright IBM Corp. 2002, 2014
