VFP6 app deployment and Oracle DB

[torturedmind]

Good day to you.

We have VFP6 apps using Oracle DB as the back-end data that were, in the past, run only by a handful of pc's. Now, these apps are needed to be run by several hundred pc's. My question is, do we need to install Oracle client to every pc that will be using the app? How did you guys do it? By the looks of it, isn't it very impractical to install Oracle client if you have hundreds of pc's that are going to use these apps? Your inputs are very much appreciated.

Thanks in advanced.

kilroy
philippines

"Once a king, always a king. But being a knight is more than enough."

 

[Olaf Doschke]

No matter what database, each client needs a) the app and fox runtimes and b) a driver to connect to the database (if it's not foxpro data)

So you could also say it's very impractical to install your app on hundreds of pc's.

For large domains there is WSUS for MS software, updates, hotfixes, device drivers, service packs. There is a 3rd party add on to enable using WSUS to install other 3rd party software, eg oracle client software or your application.

See here

http://social.technet.microsoft.com...s/thread/67833919-6477-41ee-9c8f-1cdd34b9641e

http://www.eminentware.com/

Bye, Olaf.

 

[torturedmind]

thanks olaf for your reply.

No matter what database, each client needs a) the app and fox runtimes and b) a driver to connect to the database (if it's not foxpro data)

Yes i completely understand this part.

So you could also say it's very impractical to install your app on hundreds of pc's.

Actually, the apps are already installed on the target pc's. they just need to be updated on the version that will be using oracle db. This is much easier since the program launcher just checks and copies the exe from the server to the client's pc if the version on the client is older than those in the server.

WSUS could be what we need. But then, it's M$. And since it's M$, we are talking $ here and i don't think the company is willing to spend at the moment because of a tight budget. Anyways, we'll be also looking into it.

kilroy
philippines

"Once a king, always a king. But being a knight is more than enough."

 

[Mike Lewis]

Kilroy,

I think the short answer is no: you don't need to install the Oracle client on each PC. But, as Olaf says, you do need an Oracle ODBC driver specific, and you will probably need to install on each PC.

Why don't you download the driver from Oracle, and try it for yourself.

Mike

__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Visual FoxPro tips, advice, training, consultancy
Custom software for your business

 

[Olaf Doschke]

Hi Kilroy,

WSUS itself is free, of course you need a server to install it on, but I assume you already have that, if your servers are not based on UNIX/LINUX. What would really cost you something is the addon. Should be worth it in comparison to manually installing oracle client or ODBC drivers only.

Bye, Olaf.

 

[torturedmind]

Thanks Olaf and Mike for the inputs. Am really not the only one who'll be deciding what path to take, just a "contributor" so to speak. I was also reading some materials about the differences, pros and cons of M$ Oracle ODBC driver and Oracle's own ODBC driver. And according to some users, both have advantages and disadvantages. Like, some say Oracle's is slower than M$'s or M$'s is much memory friendly than Oracle's, those sort of things. Well, these factors will also contribute which driver will be installed so I think we need to test them both in a controlled environment.

Anyways, thanks so much for the ideas and more success to both of you.

kilroy
philippines

"Once a king, always a king. But being a knight is more than enough."