oracle 8i webdb pinging utility

[Jeremy Becker]

Here's the deal. I've got an old Oracle 8i WebDB site that I want to
add functionality where a user will input an IP / server name and the
submit will launch a utility to ping the server and test if it's alive.
Does anyone know of any type of Oracle utility or prebuilt package
that might handle this type of request?

[IANAL_VISTA]

"Jeremy Becker" <jeremy.p.becker@gmail.com> wrote in
news:1117212147.568544.169100@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com:
Here's the deal. I've got an old Oracle 8i WebDB site that I want to add functionality where a user will input an IP / server name and the submit will launch a utility to ping the server and test if it's alive. Does anyone know of any type of Oracle utility or prebuilt package that might handle this type of request?

most likely doesn't exist.
8i is obsoleted.
1st challenge is get "get out of the DB to the OS" just to do the ping.
2nd challenge is to get the results of the ping back to the code in the DB
so results can be reported or used.

A shovel is a great tool for creating a hole in the ground, but
only when the corrent end of the shovel contacts the earth.
You're using the "wrong end" of the database.

You're trying to use the wrong tool for this problem.
It has NOTHING to do with an Oracle database.
It could be done via a simple CGI that never gets close to the DB.

[Frank van Bortel]

IANAL_VISTA wrote: "Jeremy Becker" <jeremy.p.becker@gmail.com> wrote in news:1117212147.568544.169100@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com:Here's the deal. I've got an old Oracle 8i WebDB site that I want toadd functionality where a user will input an IP / server name and thesubmit will launch a utility to ping the server and test if it's alive. Does anyone know of any type of Oracle utility or prebuilt packagethat might handle this type of request? most likely doesn't exist. 8i is obsoleted.

It's 8i WebDb - probably meaning WebDb 2.2 or 2.3. OP should
clarify his environment, for now, I will assume WebDb 2.3
1st challenge is get "get out of the DB to the OS" just to do the ping.

Why? UTL_TCP has an open_connection function, that could be used.
2nd challenge is to get the results of the ping back to the code in the DB so results can be reported or used.

Look at the exceptions after a time out on UTL_TCP.OPEN_CONNECTION.
I did not have a good look, so probably there are more functions or
procedures that could be used, maybe even within WebDb.
A shovel is a great tool for creating a hole in the ground, but only when the corrent end of the shovel contacts the earth. You're using the "wrong end" of the database. You're trying to use the wrong tool for this problem. It has NOTHING to do with an Oracle database. It could be done via a simple CGI that never gets close to the DB.

As the OP isn't talking DB, you're shoveling too fast and too hard.

Jeremy, you cannot always ping a server (my firewall used to drop
pings - not even respond 'destination unreachable'), which
equally doesn't mean the server isn't up.
Besides, what does a ping say? Nothing; I'd go for an attempt
to open a connection - that way you can show that the service
is actually there (SSH, TCP, HTTP(S) - whatever)
--
Regards,
Frank van Bortel