Oracle Databases

From Seapine Labs

TestTrack Pro is client/server application consisting of a client application, a server application, and a database. The TestTrack Pro Server communicates with the Seapine License Server, which provides centralized license management and stores user information in a separate database. With any TestTrack Pro installation, there are three types of databases: the Seapine License Server database, TestTrack Pro Server database, and TestTrack Pro project databases.

The Seapine License Server database stores product licenses, the global user list, and the server settings. You can use the Seapine License Server Admin utility to manage this database. The TestTrack Pro Server database contains the project list, the mail queue, and TestTrack Server Options. The TestTrack project databases contain the configuration settings for individual projects, as well as defects, test cases, test runs, custom fields, local users, and security groups.

By default, all the applications use a proprietary database format. However, they can use any of the following RDBMS formats:

• SQL Server/ODBC
• MySQL
• Oracle Native

Note: You can mix database formats. For example, you can use the native database format for the server databases and MySQL for the TestTrack Pro project databases.

This article describes how to configure the Seapine License Server and TestTrack Pro Server to use Oracle databases. Install the Seapine License Server, TestTrack Client, and TestTrack Server before configuring the databases.

To use Oracle databases for the License Server or TestTrack Server, complete the following tasks:

• Create the database
• Configure the Seapine License Server and/or TestTrack Server to use a Oracle database

To use Oracle databases for one or more TestTrack projects complete the following tasks:

• Configure TestTrack to connect to a Oracle project database
• Create a new TestTrack project for Oracle

Contents 1 Creating the database 1.1 Oracle database character set 1.2 Oracle sizing, memory, and tuning 2 Configuring the Seapine License Server and TestTrack for Oracle databases 2.1 Configuring the Seapine License Server to use a Oracle database 2.2 Configuring the TestTrack Server to use a Oracle database 2.3 Configuring TestTrack to connect to a Oracle project database 2.4 Creating a new TestTrack project for Oracle

[edit] Creating the database

Before configuring the databases with the appropriate admin utility, you must create the database. Keep the following in mind:

• Do not add, delete, or modify any of the fields in the Seapine License Server or TestTrack Server or TestTrack project tables.
• Do not directly add, edit or delete any of the data in these tables.
• Do not create different primary keys. This will adversely affect the performance of the application.
• Do not create complex triggers on any of the Seapine License Server, TestTrack Server, or TestTrack project tables. Triggers may cause severe database issues, and correcting these issues is not covered by Seapine Software.
• Create a process to back up database tables on a regular schedule.

Log in to the RDBMS and create a new database for the databases (Seapine License Server, TestTrack Server, and/or TestTrack project database) you want to manage with the RDBMS.

Next decide which RDMBS user account you want the Seapine License Server and/or TestTrack Server to use to connect to the RDBMS. Determine whether you want to use a single account for all the databases, or if you want to set up separate accounts for each.

Each user only requires default connection privileges and should not have any Oracle DBA privileges. Use your preferred tablespace management for the users. An easy method is to set up the users to share the USERS tablespace and to enable an unlimited quota.

[edit] Oracle database character set

Oracle only converts characters when the Oracle client’s character set, specified by NLS_LANG, does not match the character set that is stored in the database. If the character set is set to something other than UTF-8, VARCHAR2 fields may not be able to correctly store data. If this happens, you will see this misnomer of an error: ‘ORA-01461: can bind a LONG value only for insert into a LONG column’. The Oracle database character set should be AL32UTF8 or UTF8.

[edit] Oracle sizing, memory, and tuning

Oracle sizing and tuning settings should be consistent with your corporate standards. The SQL scripts included with the Seapine License Server and TestTrack Server for schema creation can be reviewed to determine appropriate settings.

[edit] Configuring the Seapine License Server and TestTrack for Oracle databases

After creating the databases, use the appropriate admin utility to convert the existing data to the new format. You may not use all the following procedures depending on which databases you chose to convert.

[edit] Configuring the Seapine License Server to use a Oracle database

The Seapine License Server database stores product licenses, the global user list, and the server settings. If you created a Oracle database for the Seapine License Server, use the following steps to convert the existing data.

1. Choose Programs > Seapine Software > Seapine License Server > Seapine License Server Admin on the Start menu.
2. Click Server Options.
3. Click the Server Database category.
4. Click Convert. The License Server Database Conversion dialog box opens.
5. Select Oracle Native as the Database Type.
6. Enter a Service Name.
7. Enter a Host Name.
8. Enter a Port.
9. Enter your Username and Password.
10. Click Test.
11. Click OK. The Conversion Confirmation dialog box opens.
12. Click Use the converted database to end your administration session after the database is converted.
13. Click Yes. The RDBMS Vendor dialog box opens.
14. Select a database vendor.
15. Click OK.
16. Click OK in the Success dialog box.
17. Click Close in the Conversion Status dialog box.

[edit] Configuring the TestTrack Server to use a Oracle database

The TestTrack Server database contains the project list, the mail queue, and TestTrack Server Options. If you created a Oracle database for the TestTrack Server, use the following steps to convert the existing data.

1. Choose Programs > Seapine Software > TestTrack > TestTrack #Server Admin on the Start menu.
2. Click Server Options. The Options dialog box opens.
3. Click Server Database.
4. Click Convert. The License Server Database Conversion dialog box opens
5. Select Oracle Native as the Database Type.
6. Enter a Service Name.
7. Enter a Host Name.
8. Enter a Port.
9. Enter a Username and Password.
10. Click Test.
11. Click OK.

[edit] Configuring TestTrack to connect to a Oracle project database

TestTrack project databases contains the configuration settings for individual projects, as well as defects, test cases, test runs, custom fields, local users, and security groups. Use the following steps to configure to TestTrack Server to connect to the RDBMS that contains the Oracle project databases.

1. Choose Programs > Seapine Software > TestTrack > TestTrack Server Admin on the Start menu.
2. Click Server Options. The Options dialog box opens.
3. Select RDBMS Connections in the Servers category.
4. Click Add to add a new RDBMS connection.
5. Select Oracle as the Connection Type.
6. Enter a Service Name.
7. Enter a Host Name.
8. Enter a Port.
9. Enter the Username and Password.
10. Click Test.
11. Click OK to add the connection.
12. Click OK in the Options dialog box.

[edit] Creating a new TestTrack project for Oracle

1. Choose Programs > Seapine Software > TestTrack > TestTrack Server Admin on the Start menu.
2. Click Projects.
3. Click Create.
4. Enter a Description.
5. Select RDBMS as the Project Type.
6. Select a Connection.
7. Click OK to save the changes.