Installed Informix for the Mac...er, now what?

In some ways this is the stupidest post I've ever written to a mailing list, and for that I truly apologize. I have consulted the documentation at http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/idshelp/v117/index.jsp after installing Informix 11.70 Developer Edition on my MacBook Pro, but now I cannot for the life of me understand how to start and stop the database server. I know that oninit is somehow involved, but either I'm not understanding the documentation's terminology or I'm reading the wrong documentation. In an ideal world I'd like to start the server up, connect to it and do a few things, and then shut it down manually. I have no intention of running this in the background every time my Mac starts up. Could someone kindly point me and my slow brain at the relevant documentation that shows how to accomplish this? Thanks much, Laird --00151743f884dce51e04a597bd2f

Hello. Did you check all your environment variables??? (INFORMIXSERVER, SHLIB_PATH...)? Did you create the informix userid and group??? If so, I´d suggest you to read you machine notes, and also your release notes (maybe you´ll have to change some onconfig parameters, before using it, like SHMBASE onconfig parameter, etc....) Could you post your "oninit -iv" output here??? Maybe it indicates some error message.... Best regards. > In some ways this is the stupidest post I've ever written to a mailing > list, > and for that I truly apologize. > > I have consulted the documentation at > http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/idshelp/v117/index.jsp after > installing Informix 11.70 Developer Edition on my MacBook Pro, but now I > cannot for the life of me understand how to start and stop the database > server. I know that oninit is somehow involved, but either I'm not > understanding the documentation's terminology or I'm reading the wrong > documentation. > > In an ideal world I'd like to start the server up, connect to it and do a > few things, and then shut it down manually. I have no intention of running > this in the background every time my Mac starts up. > > Could someone kindly point me and my slow brain at the relevant > documentation that shows how to accomplish this? > > Thanks much, > Laird > > --00151743f884dce51e04a597bd2f > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > >

On Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 9:29 AM, amarini@fazenda.ms.gov.br < amarini@fazenda.ms.gov.br> wrote: > Did you check all your environment variables??? > No; I haven't done anything at all yet. I used the Mac installer and accepted all the defaults. Then I began reading documentation. So I haven't issued any commands yet. Best, Laird --000e0cd1f95a0900a104a59819f6

On Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 06:17, Laird Nelson <ljnelson@gmail.com> wrote: > In some ways this is the stupidest post I've ever written to a mailing > list, > and for that I truly apologize. > Not stupid at all. I have consulted the documentation at > http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/idshelp/v117/index.jsp after > installing Informix 11.70 Developer Edition on my MacBook Pro, but now I > cannot for the life of me understand how to start and stop the database > server. I know that oninit is somehow involved, but either I'm not > understanding the documentation's terminology or I'm reading the wrong > documentation. > > In an ideal world I'd like to start the server up, connect to it and do a > few things, and then shut it down manually. I have no intention of running > this in the background every time my Mac starts up. > > Could someone kindly point me and my slow brain at the relevant > documentation that shows how to accomplish this? > (1) Which version of IDS are you using and did you create a private installation if you have 11.70.FC2? Assuming you don't have a private server: (2) Did you ask the installer (permit the installer) to create a demo instance for you? * If you did... Then there is an environment setting file somewhere - I think under $INFORMIXDIR/demo but I don't usually use the demo server myself - that you can source into your shell to set the environment variables. . /Applications/IBM/Informix/demo/env-setting-script.sh # Bash, Korn shell, etc source /Applications/IBM/Informix/demo/env-setting-script.csh # Tcsh etc. (You can use the command 'source' in Bash too - but you specify the Bash file, not the C shell file.) Caveat: the server must be running. If it is not running (because you've rebooted since installing), you need to use 'sudo' privileges (or any equivalent mechanism) to run the server as either user root or user informix. Set the environment for the privileged user and then run "oninit" or "oninit -v". * If you did not... Then there are a number of steps you must go through to configure and initialize the server. This is most easily done with informix or root privileges (gained using 'sudo'). INFORMIXDIR is where you installed the software - /Applications/IBM/informix by default. 0. Choose a name for your database server. I use <machine>_<nn> where NN is the server number (0..255), but that's because I routinely run many servers on a single machine. Set this as $INFORMIXSERVER and $IXS: export INFORMIXSERVER=apollo; export IXS=$INFORMIXSERVER1. Choose a directory to hold your server files: /usr/informix/$IXS. Set an abbreviated env var such as IXL=/usr/informix/$IXS. 2. Create sub-directories $IXL/dev, $IXL/log, $IXL/tmp 3. All these directories should be owned by user informix, group informix, and have 770 (or, at a pinch, 775) permission. 4. In $INFORMIXDIR/etc, copy onconfig.std to onconfig.$IXS. 5. Set ONCONFIG=onconfig.$IXS 6. Edit $ONCONFIG and set path names to appropriate locations (under $IXL). 7. For the primary root chunk, choose a name (e.g. $IXL/dev/$IXS.rootdbs.c0). 8. Create the primary root chunk as an empty file with informix:informix:660 permissions. 9. Choose suitable names for the various log files (CONSOLE, MSGPATH, etc) under $IXL/log. 10. Create empty files for these with suitable permissions (informix:informix:660 or perhaps 664). 11. Add an entry to the sqlhosts file ($INFORMIXDIR/etc/sqlhosts) for $IXS (write the expanded name in the file): $IXS olsoctcp localhost 9088 12. Add $INFORMIXDIR/bin to your PATH.13. Set the DBSERVERNAME to $IXS. 14. Do a sanity check on other parameters in $ONCONFIG, creating files or directories if necessary. 15. If all has gone well, you should be able to run: ononit -ivy With a small modicum of luck, that will bring up IDS, or show you on the terminal why it failed (meaning I've forgotten some crucial step, such as adding a "NETTYPE soctcp,1,50,NET" entry to $ONCONFIG). Note that you use the '-ivy' option only the first time - the '-i' option means initialize; thereafter, use no arguments to oninit, or just '-v'. There are scripts that automate all this created by various people at various times. My suite of such scripts is rather large and complex, and semi-continually in flux as I need to exercise different features in IDS. If you get all this running, then you should record the key environment variables somewhere that you can use in your own login. The short form ones ($IXS, $IXL, etc - I use $IXD for $INFORMIXDIR and $IXH for $INFORMIXSQLHOSTS) are not recognized by the software but they save me typing. You need to record: * INFORMIXDIR * PATH (add $INFORMIXDIR/bin to $PATH) * ONCONFIG (for administration) * INFORMIXSQLHOSTS (optionally; only needed if you choose a file other than $INFORMIXDIR/etc/sqlhosts) * DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH (add $IXD/lib:$IXD/lib/esql to it if you plan to write any ESQL/C programs, or use any). * INFORMIXSERVER When you need to run the server, set these 6 environment variables. Start the server (using 'sudo' to gain informix or root privileges; we can discuss using role separation and adding you as a DBSA and so on separately). Then use it (dbaccess or whatever). Then shut it down the server with 'onmode -ky' (with informix or root privileges). If you created a private server instance, you still follow steps 0..15 outlined above. The main difference is that you don't set the permissions to informix:informix, and you ensure that there is no group write access to files (and 600 permission on the chunks). You don't have to futz with 'sudo' then. -- Jonathan Leffler <jonathan.leffler@gmail.com> #include <disclaimer.h> Guardian of DBD::Informix - v2011.0612 - http://dbi.perl.org "Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves, for we shall never cease to be amused." --0016e647630640a27704a59a1050

On Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 12:03 PM, Jonathan Leffler < jonathan.leffler@gmail.com> wrote: > Not stupid at all. > OK, but wait till you see my answers to your questions. :-) > (1) Which version of IDS are you using and did you create a private > installation if you have 11.70.FC2? > Well, I went here: https://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/iwm/web/reg/pick.do?source=ifxids&S_TACT=1 09HF16W&S_CMP=rnav&lang=en_US Then I THINK I chose 11.70FC2DE from the mind-numbing list. :-) How would I check what version I have, assuming for the moment that I already deleted the installation tarball? Is there a "frob --version" command I can run to tell for certain? > (2) Did you ask the installer (permit the installer) to create a demo > instance for you? > I think so. (How would I check?) > * If you did... > > Then there is an environment setting file somewhere - I think under > $INFORMIXDIR/demo but I don't usually use the demo server myself - that you > can source into your shell to set the environment variables. > > .. /Applications/IBM/Informix/demo/env-setting-script.sh # Bash, Korn > shell, etc > source /Applications/IBM/Informix/demo/env-setting-script.csh # Tcsh etc. > > (You can use the command 'source' in Bash too - but you specify the Bash > file, not the C shell file.) > OK, I don't see an env-setting-script.sh (I assume you were just handwaving here at the name); I do see some ol_informix1170.csh/.sh files here. These look like what you're talking about. > Caveat: the server must be running. How would I tell whether the server is running or not? Via onstat in some manner? I say that like I know what I'm talking about, but really I just saw "stat" in the filename and am guessing. :-) Also, it would be great to know what arcane bit of history is responsible for the fact that all the administration programs seem to start with "on" instead of, say, "ifx" (a few do). > If it is not running (because you've > rebooted since installing), you need to use 'sudo' privileges (or any > equivalent mechanism) to run the server as either user root or user > informix. Set the environment for the privileged user and then run "oninit" > or "oninit -v". > OK. I'll let you respond to my questions and then we'll take it from there if you're still (miraculously) willing. :-) Thanks for your help so far. Best, Laird --20cf3054a29df9b54404a59a9f69

On Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 09:44, Laird Nelson <ljnelson@gmail.com> wrote: > On Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 12:03 PM, Jonathan Leffler < > jonathan.leffler@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Not stupid at all. > > OK, but wait till you see my answers to your questions. :-) > Everyone is new to Informix at some time... > > (1) Which version of IDS are you using and did you create a private > > installation if you have 11.70.FC2? > > Well, I went here: > > > https://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/iwm/web/reg/pick.do?source=ifxids&S_TACT=1 09HF16W&S_CMP=rnav&lang=en_US > > Then I THINK I chose 11.70FC2DE from the mind-numbing list. :-) How would I > check what version I have, assuming for the moment that I already deleted > the installation tarball? Is there a "frob --version" command I can run to > tell for certain? > Yes. Pick your binary, and add the '-version' option: For example: $ oninit -versionProgram Name: oninit Build Version: 11.70.FC2 Build Number: N195 Build Host: lxmac1.lenexa.ibm.com Build OS: Darwin 9.2.0 Build Date: Tue Mar 15 22:47:41 CDT 2011 GLS Version: glslib-5.00.FC2 $ The '-V' option gives a simpler output. > > (2) Did you ask the installer (permit the installer) to create a demo > > instance for you? > > I think so. (How would I check?) > By finding it exists... > * If you did... > > > > Then there is an environment setting file somewhere - I think under > > $INFORMIXDIR/demo but I don't usually use the demo server myself - that > you > > can source into your shell to set the environment variables. > > > > .. /Applications/IBM/Informix/demo/env-setting-script.sh # Bash, Korn > > shell, etc > > source /Applications/IBM/Informix/demo/env-setting-script.csh # Tcsh etc. > > > > (You can use the command 'source' in Bash too - but you specify the Bash > > file, not the C shell file.) > > > > OK, I don't see an env-setting-script.sh (I assume you were just handwaving > here at the name); I do see some ol_informix1170.csh/.sh files here. These > look like what you're talking about. > The name was indeed hand-waving; the name you found is what you're looking for. Their presence shows that you did create a demo server. It might be in $INFORMIXDIR/demo/server. The install summary document, or should have documented, the location of the files and the server - you might still find that information in one of the install log files in /Applications/IBM/informix. > Caveat: the server must be running. > > How would I tell whether the server is running or not? Via onstat in some > manner? I say that like I know what I'm talking about, but really I just > saw "stat" in the filename and am guessing. :-) Also, it would be great to > know what arcane bit of history is responsible for the fact that all the > administration programs seem to start with "on" instead of, say, "ifx" (a > few do). > The quickest way is 'onstat -' (as long as you have the environment set). Other programs take longer to report that the server is down when it is down, in general. > > If it is not running (because you've > > rebooted since installing), you need to use 'sudo' privileges (or any > > equivalent mechanism) to run the server as either user root or user > > informix. Set the environment for the privileged user and then run > "oninit" > > or "oninit -v". > > OK. I'll let you respond to my questions and then we'll take it from there > if you're still (miraculously) willing. :-) Thanks for your help so far. > One other issue you can face on Mac that doesn't affect other platforms: /tmp is a symlink to a private directory - so it may not work well as a target for anything in IDS. Generally, anything configured under /tmp should be somewhere else - $IXL in my previous missive. -- Jonathan Leffler <jonathan.leffler@gmail.com> #include <disclaimer.h> Guardian of DBD::Informix - v2011.0612 - http://dbi.perl.org "Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves, for we shall never cease to be amused." --0016e64763067e150504a59ad138

See below: Art Art S. Kagel Advanced DataTools (www.advancedatatools.com) Blog: http://informix-myview.blogspot.com/ Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that my own opinions are my own opinions and do not reflect on my employer, Advanced DataTools, the IIUG, nor any other organization with which I am associated either explicitly, implicitly, or by inference. Neither do those opinions reflect those of other individuals affiliated with any entity with which I am affiliated nor those of the entities themselves. On Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 12:44 PM, Laird Nelson <ljnelson@gmail.com> wrote: > On Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 12:03 PM, Jonathan Leffler < > jonathan.leffler@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Not stupid at all. > > > > OK, but wait till you see my answers to your questions. :-) > ;-) > > > (1) Which version of IDS are you using and did you create a private > > installation if you have 11.70.FC2? > > > > Well, I went here: > > > https://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/iwm/web/reg/pick.do?source=ifxids&S_TACT=1 09HF16W&S_CMP=rnav&lang=en_US > > Then I THINK I chose 11.70FC2DE from the mind-numbing list. :-) How would I > check what version I have, assuming for the moment that I already deleted > the installation tarball? Is there a "frob --version" command I can run to > tell for certain? > > > (2) Did you ask the installer (permit the installer) to create a demo > > instance for you? > > > > I think so. (How would I check?) > As Jonathan said, the existence of the environment files you found are a clear indicator that you did. > > > * If you did... > > > > Then there is an environment setting file somewhere - I think under > > $INFORMIXDIR/demo but I don't usually use the demo server myself - that > you > > can source into your shell to set the environment variables. > > > > .. /Applications/IBM/Informix/demo/env-setting-script.sh # Bash, Korn > > shell, etc > > source /Applications/IBM/Informix/demo/env-setting-script.csh # Tcsh etc. > > > > (You can use the command 'source' in Bash too - but you specify the Bash > > file, not the C shell file.) > > > > OK, I don't see an env-setting-script.sh (I assume you were just handwaving > here at the name); I do see some ol_informix1170.csh/.sh files here. These > look like what you're talking about. > Yup. > > > Caveat: the server must be running. > > How would I tell whether the server is running or not? Via onstat in some > manner? I say that like I know what I'm talking about, but really I just > You can set up the environment by executing one of the environment scripts. If you use sh/ksh/bash then run the .sh file as a 'dot' script (or "source" it): . ol_informix1170.sh Then you can run the "onstat -" command and the headline of the onstat report will tell you the server's status. Also, if you run "ps -ef" you will find a number off "oninit" processes running. These are the database engine's processes. saw "stat" in the filename and am guessing. :-) Also, it would be great to > know what arcane bit of history is responsible for the fact that all the > administration programs seem to start with "on" instead of, say, "ifx" (a > few do). > The "on" is historical. The original Informix engine, which is now known as Standard Engine or SE, had utilities prefixed with db* and b*. When Informix created its first shared memory shared cache version, known as Turbo, the utilities for it were named beginning with tb* to differentiate them from the non-shared versions. When Turbo was expanded and improved and the ability to archive the server while users were actively accessing the data (ie while "online"), it became Informix OnLine and the utilities were renamed as on*. That prefix stuck even as Informix Dynamic Server and eXtended Parallel Server were introduced later. > > > If it is not running (because you've > > rebooted since installing), you need to use 'sudo' privileges (or any > > equivalent mechanism) to run the server as either user root or user > > informix. Set the environment for the privileged user and then run > "oninit" > > or "oninit -v". > > > > OK. I'll let you respond to my questions and then we'll take it from there > if you're still (miraculously) willing. :-) Thanks for your help so far. > Running onstat -? will print out the list of available status report options (over 100 IB) and the query tool is known as dbaccess. Your demo instance will have a demonstration database named 'stores', 'stores7', or 'stores_demo' - haven't actually installed an 11.70 instance with a demo database so I don't know the exact name. To expand your server you can use the onspaces utility to add additional data files (known as chunks) to the existing dbspaces (logical organizations of chunks in which tables and databases reside) or create new ones. The details are explained in the Administrator's Guide and the commands are detailed in the Administrator's Reference Manual. > Best, > Laird > > --20cf3054a29df9b54404a59a9f69 > > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > --20cf3071c696aefbbe04a59d301a

On Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 3:49 PM, Art Kagel <art.kagel@gmail.com> wrote: > On Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 12:44 PM, Laird Nelson <ljnelson@gmail.com> wrote: > You can set up the environment by executing one of the environment scripts. > If you use sh/ksh/bash then run the .sh file as a 'dot' script (or "source" > it): > > .. ol_informix1170.sh > > Then you can run the "onstat -" command and the headline of the onstat > report will tell you the server's status. Also, if you run "ps -ef" you > will find a number off "oninit" processes running. These are the database > engine's processes. > This is great; thank you. Did I overlook this in the (voluminous) InfoCenter documentation? Which of the many thousands of tree nodes should I have consulted to find this? I'm quite embarrassed that I was unable to locate it. > > it would be great to > > know what arcane bit of history is responsible for the fact that all the > > administration programs seem to start with "on" instead of, say, "ifx" (a > > few do). > > > > The "on" is historical. The original Informix engine, which is now known as > Standard Engine or SE, had utilities prefixed with db* and b*. When > Informix created its first shared memory shared cache version, known as > Turbo, the utilities for it were named beginning with tb* to differentiate > them from the non-shared versions. When Turbo was expanded and improved and > the ability to archive the server while users were actively accessing the > data (ie while "online"), it became Informix OnLine and the utilities were > renamed as on*. That prefix stuck even as Informix Dynamic Server and > eXtended Parallel Server were introduced later. > At least it wasn't platinum or titanium or unobtanium. Thanks. > Running onstat -? will print out the list of available status report > options > (over 100 IB) and the query tool is known as dbaccess. Your demo instance > will have a demonstration database named 'stores', 'stores7', or > 'stores_demo' - haven't actually installed an 11.70 instance with a demo > database so I don't know the exact name. To expand your server you can use > the onspaces utility to add additional data files (known as chunks) to the > existing dbspaces (logical organizations of chunks in which tables and > databases reside) or create new ones. The details are explained in the > Administrator's Guide and the commands are detailed in the Administrator's > Reference Manual. > Thanks again to you and Jonathan for your help. Best, Laird --20cf307f34c2f592b504a59dd1ed

On 13/06/2011 14:17, Laird Nelson wrote: > In some ways this is the stupidest post I've ever written to a mailing list, > and for that I truly apologize. > > I have consulted the documentation at > http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/idshelp/v117/index.jsp after > installing Informix 11.70 Developer Edition on my MacBook Pro, but now I > cannot for the life of me understand how to start and stop the database > server. I know that oninit is somehow involved, but either I'm not > understanding the documentation's terminology or I'm reading the wrong > documentation. > > In an ideal world I'd like to start the server up, connect to it and do a > few things, and then shut it down manually. I have no intention of running > this in the background every time my Mac starts up. > > Could someone kindly point me and my slow brain at the relevant > documentation that shows how to accomplish this? Look up the oninit and onmode commands in the manual. You need to run oninit -ivy to initialise the engine (once), onmode -ky to shut it down and oninit -v to bring it up subsequently. To configure it, you need to edit the onconfig file, setting ROOTDBS and DBSERVERNAME are the only mandatory ones, I think, and the sqlhosts file for database connectivity and /etc/services needs to be configured if you want to use TCP connectivity. -- Cheers, Obnoxio The Clown http://obotheclown.blogspot.com I will now proceed to pleasure myself with this fish.