Features of Net8

Features of Net8

Net8 is easier to configure and admin by using the new Net8 Easy Config and Net8 Assistant tools.
Clients access a database via a service name instead of a SID. Allows access to multiple services made available by a single database or a single service that spans multiple instances.
Database instance registration is a new feature of 8i that allows database instances to register themselves with the listener.
Two init.ora parameters to set that allow an instance to register itself with the listener of a local machine when the database is started: INSTANCE_NAME and SERVICE_NAME.
Setting these values for database instance registration also provides for automatic connect-time failover to another listener. Connection failover occurs when the listener selected by a client is unavailable and the connection request is routed to the next available listener.
The connect descriptor SID parameter in the tnsnames.ora file has been replaced with SERVICE_NAME and INSTANCE_NAME, in order to allow a database to have more than one service associated with it.
Connection load balancing is facilitated via the listener because each instance is registered with all identified listeners. Listeners make routing decisions based upon volume of dispatcher connections and node load. MTS must be enabled for connection load balancing.
New virtual private database (VPD) feature in Net8 to help secure data. Provides for server-enforced granular access control. Attaches a security policy to a table or view.
Two components to VPD, fine-grained access control and application context.
With fine grained access, you create a security policy function and then use the DBMS_RLS package to associate the function with the desired table or view.