In this issue:

• Securing Oracle Network Traffic: Net8 and Network Security
• Next NoCOUG Meeting: February 15, 2001
• Database Specialists VP elected to NoCOUG Board
• Learning from the Oracle Masters
• Welcome New Clients Zyomyx and Crossgain

Roger Schrag’s most recent technical paper discusses Net8 (Oracle’s platform-independent networking infrastructure) and network security. The paper identifies some of the features of Oracle’s Advanced Security offering, and the challenges of using Oracle networking over an insecure network such as the internet. The paper also presents detailed, technical how-tos that guide you through configuring the Net8 listener to accept or refuse requests from specific IP addresses, using Secure Shell protocol to make Net8 more secure, and using Secure Shell to access Oracle databases behind firewalls.

You can download this paper from the Database Specialists website at http://www.dbspecialists.com/4dbas/present.html.

Next NoCOUG Meeting: February 15, 2001

Don’t miss the next Northern California Oracle Users Group meeting. It will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2001 at Oracle Corporation in Redwood Shores. This is a great opportunity to mingle with other Oracle professionals, learn from some of the brightest in the Oracle arena, enjoy a great lunch with new and old friends, and learn what new products the vendors are offering. The daylong meetings have three learning tracks and are free for members and $40 for non-members.

After each quarterly meeting, selected presentations will be made available on the NoCOUG website at http://www.nocoug.org. Just click on the “Presentations” button on the left to view and download content from previous meetings!

Database Specialists VP elected to NoCOUG Board

The Vice President of Operations of Database Specialists, Lisa Loper, was recently elected to the board of the Northern California Oracle Users Group. Beginning in March, Lisa will be responsible for the group’s quarterly publication, called the NoCOUG Journal.

Learning from the Oracle Masters

Learn from the Oracle Masters in the Big Easy! IOUG-A University Master Classes (UMCs) are coming to New Orleans in February and they’re the perfect way to start the New Year armed with the knowledge you need to face your upcoming challenges. Packed with real-life, in-depth tips and best practices, UMCs are hands-on, two-day seminars taught by faculty members who are recognized Oracle authorities. Sign up today at http://www.ioug.org/ioug_p/dynamic_pkg.show?v_name=DISPLAY_UMC.

Database Specialists’ president Roger Schrag is an instructor for the iDBA track. During the same week, there will also be other tracks such as the Advanced DBA Bootcamp.

Don’t miss a great learning opportunity in a fun location!

Welcome New Clients Zyomyx and Crossgain

Database Specialists, Inc. is pleased to be working with Zyomyx, Inc. and Crossgain Corporation.

Zyomyx is a Hayward-based company devoted to using technical innovation in developing a new generation of biochips. You can learn more about Zyomyx, Inc. at http://www.zyomyx.com.

Crossgain’s website announces that they “are laying the foundation for the next generation Internet. Radically simplifying how people build and deploy applications on the Web, we are solving problems that others think are impossible.” Visit Crossgain at http://www.crossgain.com.