Perl is a powerful tool for Oracle database administrators, but too few DBAs realize how helpful Perl can be in managing, monitoring, and tuning Oracle databases. Whether you're responsible for Oracle9i, Oracle8i, or earlier databases, you'll find Perl an invaluable addition to your database administration arsenal. You don't need to be a Perl expert to use the applications and scripts described in "Perl for Oracle DBAs". The book explains what you need to know about Perl, provides ready-to-use scripts developed especially for Oracle DBAs, and suggests many resources for further exploration. The book covers: The Perl language; the Perl/Oracle architecture; the Oracle call interface (OCI); Perl applications for Oracle DBAs; the Perl Database Administration (PDBA) Toolkit; monitoring the Oracle alert log and databases; creating and managing Oracle user accounts; maintaining indexes and extents; extracting DDL and data; and troubleshooting and tuning database problems, and much more. The book also explains how Oracle DBAs and developers can extend the toolkit and solve their own database ad ministration problems using Perl.