Friday 20 February 2015

Oracle Data Integrator (ODI) Interview questions

1) What components make up Oracle Data Integrator?

"Oracle Data Integrator" comprises of the following

  1. Oracle Data Integrator + Topology Manager + Designer + Operator + Agent. 
  2. Oracle Data Quality for Data Integrator.
  3. Oracle Data Profiling.
2) What is a model in ODI ?

A data model corresponds to group of tabular data structure stored in a data server and is based on a Logical Schema defined in the topology and contain only metadata.


3) What are User Parameters in Oracle Data Integrator?


Oracle Data Integrator saves user parameters such as default directories, windows positions etc. User parameters are saved in the userpref.xml file in /bin.


4) What are the Types of repositories in ODI and explain them?

There are two types of repositories in ODI.

  1. Master repository: This is a data structure containing information on the topology of the company’s IT resources, on security and on version management of projects and data models. This repository is stored on a relational database accessible in client/server mode from the different Oracle Data Integrator modules. 
  2. Work repository: This is a data structure containing information on data models, projects, and their use. This repository is stored on a relational database accessible in client/server mode from the different Oracle Data Integrator modules. Several work repositories can be created with several master repositories if necessary. However, a work repository can be linked with only one master repository for version management purposes.
5) Can I create more than one Master Repository in ODI ?

Yes. In general, you need only one master repository. However, it may be necessary to create several master repositories if the Project construction over several sites not linked by a high-speed network (off-site development, for example) or Necessity to clearly separate the interfaces operating environments (development, test, production), including on the database containing the master repository. This may be the case if these environments are on several sites.


6) What are the types of Knowledge Modules?

  1. LKM(used to extract data from heterogeneous source systems (files, middleware, databases, etc.) to a staging area).
  2. IKM(used to integrate (load) data from staging to target tables)
  3. RKM(used to perform a customized reverse-engineering of data models for a specific technology. It extracts metadata from a metadata provider to ODI repository. These are used in data models.)
  4. JKM(used to create a journal of data modifications (insert, update and delete) of the source databases to keep track of changes. These are used in data models and used for Changed Data Capture.)
  5. CKM( used to check data consistency i.e. constraints on the sources and targets are not violated. These are used in data model’s static checks and interfaces flow checks. Static check refers to constraint or rules defined in data model to verify integrity of source or application data. Flow check refers to declarative rules defined in interfaces to verify an application’s incoming data before loading into target tables.)
7) What is An Interface ?

Interface is an object in ODI which will map the sources to target datamarts.


8) What is a temporary Interface (Yellow Interface) ?


The advantage of using a yellow interface is to avoid the creation of Models each time we need to use it in an interface. Since they are temporary, they are not a part of the data model and hence don’t need to be in the Model.


9) Explain some differences between ODI 10g and ODI 11g?



  1. ODI 11g provides a Java API to manipulate both the design-time and run-time artifacts of the product. This API allows you for example to create or modify interfaces programmatically, create your topology, perform import or export operations, launch or monitor sessions. This API can be used in any Java SE and Java EE applications, or in the context of Java-based scripting languages like Groovy or Jython.
  2. External Password Storage, to have source/target data servers (and contexts) passwords stored in an enterprise credential store. External Authentication, to have user/password information stored in an enterprise identity store (e.g.: LDAP, Oracle Directory, Active Directory), and ODI authenticating against this store. These two features let you optionally store critical information in dedicated storages and not within the ODI repository. The ODI Console may also use Oracle's single-sign on systems with ODI.
10) What is CKM and when we will use this CKM?

Check control module is used when we are creating constraints on target datastore. We can say that CKM is used in Data Quality control.


11) What is SKM and when we will use this SKM?


SKM (Service Knowledge Module) is used to generate code required for data services. These are used in data models. Data Services are specialized web services that enable access to application data in datastores, and to the changes captured for these datastores using Changed Data Capture.


12) How to load data from file to file and what are the KM's required for this requirement?

IKM File to File

13) What are the types of data quality control?

There are two ways to data quality control
  1. Static: We will run the constraints on existing target data. This is done after loading the data into target.
  2. Flow: we will run the constraints on incoming data. This is done before loading the data into target.
14) what is a constraint?

It is a condition which you want to apply while transferring the data from source to target.


15) what is E$ table in ODI ?

Temporary Error table created by ODI. This is created by CKM.


16) what is I$ table in ODI ?

This is a flow table created by IKM while integrating data in the datamart. This is a temporary table used by ODI.


17) what is J$ table in ODI ?

This is where all changes are recorded. Journals contain references to the changed records along with the type of change (insert, update or delete).


18) What is Journalization and why we are using in ODI ? 

It is the way to implement change data capture in ODI. We use JKM for this purpose.


19) Explain step by step procedure to enable Journalization? 

The first step is to import a proper JKM. After creating model and reverse engineering we have to add the model to CDC and then we need to subscribe to the table we want. This will enable the Journalization.


20) What is a scenario in ODI? Explain about scenario.

When a component such as a ODI interface or package has been created and tested, you can generate the scenario corresponding its actual state. Now Oracle defines the scenario code (the language generated) as the frozen component, and all subsequent modifications of the components which contributed to creating it will not change it in any way.


It is possible to generate scenarios for packages, procedures, interfaces or variables.

21) What is package and main advantages?

ODI Package is the largest unit of execution in Oracle Data Integrator. A Package is made up of a sequence of steps organized into an execution diagram.


We can run multiple interfaces in one step based on the success of the all interfaces. We can use various ODI toolbox components along with interfaces and variables.


22) How to create a package ?

Go to Designer and select your project. Once you located your project highlight “Packages” and right click your mouse, select “New Package.”.Once you have done the following you will now be able to create your ODI package. Before doing so, you will need to enter a name for your ODI package. Once you have added the name for your ODI package, click on the “Diagram” tab on the left corner. Now you need to add the interfaces and variables etc. to this diagram and connect them accordingly.


23) Explain about ODI toolbox ?

While creating a package we can use the ODI toolbox to achieve some special needs.


ODIFileAppend – Append multiple flat files into 1.

ODIFtpGet – Obtain flat files on your server for loading.


ODISendMail – Send an email once your package has complete or failed.



24) Differences between package and load plans?

In a package you will have various objects such as interfaces, variables etc. which are connected in an order. They will get executed in an order based on the result of the previous object. A package will simplify the work of a developer by making a multi-step process into single click executable.


In Load plan, the scenarios will be executed In either serial or parallel manner. Load plan cannot be represented diagrammatically which is the case in a package.



25) What is an agent and What are the types of agents?

A physical agent is an ODI Java service that runs on a host as a listener on a TCP/IP port. It can execute your scenarios when it is invoked from one of the ODI GUI modules or schedule these executions when it is started as a scheduler. A physical agent should have a unique name in Topology Manager. It is referenced by its host’s IP address or name and the TCP port it is listening on. A physical agent can run multiple sessions in parallel (multi-threaded). For optimization purposes, it is recommended that you adjust the maximum number of concurrent sessions it is allowed to execute. When this maximum number is reached, any new incoming session will be queued by the agent and executed later when other sessions have terminated. If you plan to run multiple parallel scenarios, you can use Load balancing with other agents.

Types of Agents:

1. Stand Alone agent

2. J2EE agent


26) What is flexfileds and use of flexfileds in ODI ?

In ODI you can create user-defined fields on certain objects. You can think of these fields as additional attributes for certain objects. At design time you populate these attributes with values that are then used at runtime, e.g. by a Knowledge Module. There are various Flexfields defined out of the box for very specific...


27) What is profile in ODI ? 

Profile is a set of objective wise privileges. we can assign this profiles to the users. Users will get the privileges from profile.

28) What are the types of profiles in ODI ?


CONNECT: Minimum generic profile for connecting to Oracle Data Integrator. All users must have at least this profile.


DESIGNER: Generic profile for interface developers, or users working on the interfaces. This profile give access to any project and project sub components (folders, interfaces, knowledge modules, etc.) stored in the repository. It also authorize users to perform journalizing actions (start journal, create subscriber, etc.) or to run static controls over models and datastores.
METADATA ADMIN: Generic profile for users responsible for managing models and reverse-engineering. Users having this profile are allowed to browse any project in order to select a CKM, RKM or JKM and to attach it to a specific model.

OPERATOR: Generic profile for operators. It allows users to browse execution logs.


REPOSITORY EXPLORER: Generic profile for meta-data browsing through Metadata Navigator. It also allows scenario launching from Metadata Navigator.


SECURITY ADMIN: Generic profile for administrators of user accounts and profiles.


TOPOLOGY ADMIN: Generic profile for users responsible for managing the information system topology. Users granted with this profile are allowed to perform any action through the Topology Manager module.


VERSION ADMIN: Generic profile for managing component versions as well as solutions. This profile must be coupled with DESIGNER and METADATA ADMIN.


NG DESIGNER: Non-Generic profile for DESIGNER.


NG METADATA ADMIN: Non-Generic profile for METADATA ADMIN.


NG REPOSITORY EXPLORER: Non-generic profile for meta-data browsing through Metadata Navigator.


NG VERSION ADMIN: Non-generic profile for VERSION ADMIN. It is recommended that you use this profile with NG DESIGNER and NG METADATA ADMIN.


29) Difference between generic and non-generic profiles ?

If an administrator wants a user to have the rights on no instance by default, but wishes to grant the rights by instance, he must grant the user with a non-generic profile.


If an administrator wants a user to have the rights on all instances of an object type by default, he must grant the user with a generic profile.


30) What are the types of Generic profiles types in ODI ?

Connect, Designer, Metadata Admin, Operator, Repository Explorer, Security Admin, Topology, Admin, Version Admin.

31) What are the types of non-Generic profiles types in ODI ?


NG DESIGNER, NG METADATA ADMIN, NG REPOSITORY EXPLORER, NG VERSION ADMIN.


32) Which profile required to access Models in Designer tool?


CONNECT, DESIGNER, METADATA ADMIN (to be able to do reverse engineering)


33) Which profile required to access solution in Designer tool?

CONNECT and DESIGNER profiles.

34) Which profile required to access ODI Console?


I think it doesn't depend on ODI profiles, but on your WebLogic users and rights.


35) How to move objects from DEV to QA and QA to PROD Environments ?


Use the "export" and "import" utility


36) What are types of LOG LEVELS in ODI ?


Notification, Incident_error, error, warning, trace etc. High priority is log level 1 and low priority is 32.


37) What is the use of Markers?


Markers will give the info about priority orders.


38) What's Memos?


A memo is an unlimited amount of text attached to virtually any object, visible on its Memo tab. When an object has a memo attached.


39) What are Sequences?


A sequence is a variable that increments itself each time it is used. Between two uses, the value can be stored in the repository or managed within an external RDBMS table. Oracle Data Integrator supports two types of sequences: Standard sequences, whose last value is stored in the Repository. Specific sequences , whose last value is stored in an RDBMS table cell. Oracle Data Integrator undertakes to read the value, to lock the row (for concurrent updates) and to update the row after the last increment.


40) What is Session?


A session is an execution (of a scenario, an interface, a package or a procedure etc.) undertaken by an execution agent. A session is made up of steps which are made up of tasks.


41) What is Session Tasks?


The task is the smallest execution unit. It corresponds to a procedure command in a KM, a procedure, assignment of a variable, etc


42) Does ODI support web services?


Yes. ODI supports web services, ODI is 'SOA' enabled and its web services can be used in 3 ways: The Oracle Data Integrator Public Web Service, that lets you execute a scenario (a published package) from a web service call Data Services, which provide a web service over an ODI data store (i.e. a table, view or other data source registered in ODI) The ODIInvokeWebService tool that you can add to a package to request a response from a web service.


43) what is the ODI Console?


ODI console is a web based navigator to access the Designer, Operator and Topology navigators through browser.


44) Suppose I having 10 interfaces and running the interface 5th one failed how to run remaining interfaces?


If you are running Sequential load it will stop the other interfaces. so go to operator navigator and right click on failed interface and click on restart. If you are running all the interfaces are parallel only one interface will fail and other interfaces will finish.


45) what's load plans and types of load plans?


Load plan is a process to run or execute multiple scenarios as a Sequential or parallel or conditional based execution of your scenarios. And same we can call three types of load plans , Sequential, parallel and Condition based load plans.


46) How to write the sub-queries in ODI ?


We can follow anyone of the following to create a sub query.

  1. Using Yellow interface and sub queries option we can create sub queries in ODI.
  2. Using a VIEW we can go for sub queries.
  3. Using ODI Procedure we can call direct database queries in ODI. 
47) Remove the duplicate in ODI ?

Use DISTINCT, in IKM level. it will remove the duplicate rows while loading into target.



48) Suppose having unique and duplicate but i want to load unique record one table and duplicates one table? 

Create two interfaces or once procedure and use two queries one for Unique values and one for duplicate values.

49) how to implement data validations?


Use Filters & Mapping Area AND Data Quality related to constraints use CKM Flow control.


50) How to handle exceptions?


Exceptions In packages advanced tab and load plan exception tab we can handle exceptions.


51) In the package one interface got failed how to know which interface got failed if we no access to operator?


Make it mail alert or check into SNP_SESS_LOG tables for session log details.


52) How to implement the logic in procedures if the source side data deleted that will reflect the target side table?


User this query on Command on target Delete from Target_table where not exists (Select 'X' From Source_table Where Source_table.ID=Target_table.ID).


53) If the Source have total 15 records with 2 records are updated and 3 records are newly inserted. Which knowledge module we should use to get these changes at the target side.


We have to load the newly changed and inserted records Use IKM Incremental Update Knowledge Module for Both Insert n Update operations.


54) Can we implement package in package?


Yes. we can ,call one package into other package.


55) How to load the data with one flat file and one RDBMS table using joins?


Drag and drop both File and table into source area and join as in Staging area.


57) How to reverse engineer views(how to load the data from views)?


In Models Go to Reverse engineering tab and select Reverse engineering object as VIEW.


58) What systems can ODI extract and load data into?

ODI brings true heterogeneous connectivity out-of-the-box, it can connect natively to Oracle, Sybase, MS SQL Server, MySQL, LDAP, DB2, PostgreSQL, Netezza. It can also connect to any data source supporting JDBC, its possible even to use the Oracle BI Server as a data source using the JDBC driver that ships with BI Publisher

59) Suppose having unique and duplicate but I want to load unique record one table and duplicates one table? 
Create two interfaces or once procedure and use two queries one for Unique values and one for duplicate values.

60) What is a procedure and how to write the procedures in ODI ?


A Procedure is a reusable component that allows you to group actions that do not fit in the Interface framework. (That is load a target datastore from one or more sources). A Procedure is a sequence of commands launched on logical schemas. It has a group of associated options. These options parameterize whether or not a command should be executed as well as the code of the commands.


61) What are the prime responsibilities of Data Integration Administrator?
  • Scheduling and executing the batch jobs.
  • Configuring, starting and stopping the real-time services
  • Adapters configuration and managing them.
  • Repository usage, Job Server configuration.
  • Access Server configuration.
  • Batch job publishing.
  • Real-time services publishing through web services.

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