Issue with Oracle Database ODBC Drivers

There is an issue with the Oracle ODBC drivers that prevents Sterling Gentran:Server® from working properly with the ODBC drivers supplied by Oracle for use with Oracle databases.

IBM® has contacted Oracle and it is a known issue in their ODBC drivers that causes the ADO RecordCount property to always return a value of -1. The Oracle BUG number for checking on the status of fixes for this issue is 11962102.600.

Note: The Microsoft ODBC driver can be obtained from the Microsoft web site as part of the latest MDAC software.

Effect in Sterling Gentran:Server

The Oracle ODBC issue only affects the Audit Notification Service because this is this only service that uses this function of ODBC.

Note: If the ODBC driver is not installed and configured before Sterling Gentran:Server is installed or upgraded, the Audit Notification Service will fail to start. This prevents any other Sterling Gentran:Server services from starting. Additionally, failure to install or upgrade the ODBC driver may result in database corruption.

Resolution

Until Oracle resolves this issue, you must use two ODBC Data Sources as a work-around. After following the directions listed in Configuring the Oracle Database for Use with Sterling Gentran:Server, your system will use two Data Source Names (DSNs): one DSN using the Microsoft ODBC for Oracle driver and the other using the ODBC driver supplied by Oracle. The Microsoft DSN is associated with the Audit Notification Service and the Oracle DSN is associated with the Mailbox Service, Executive Service, and Communications Service.