Quick Tip#3: Storing JSON data in Oracle Database

For the last couple of years, I have used JSON as my go to data format. Many a times, I had to store the JSON in the database. I used the same approach of storing it as a VARCHAR2/CLOB/BLOB and then validating the data via API. Also there was no check on what else could exist in that column(junk value or error insertion) resulting in even more validations for my data.

Now, Oracle has come up with JSON support in databases 12.1.0.2 version, which is really helpful for some one storing the json values in db.

Here is the link to the article, which explains the same in details.

https://blogs.oracle.com/jsondb/storing-json-in-the-oracle-database

Awesome work, Oracle.  

Quick Tip#2: Ping and telnet

ping command is used to find out whether the remote host is reachable.

Syntax:
ping [hostname/ip]
ping google.com

But you cannot ping ports, thus if you need to find out if the port is open on a remote host, you use TELNET.

Syntax:
telnet [domainname or ip] [port]

If the port is open, you will see a blank screen. This will mean that connection is successful.

Exiting from telnet: Type 'Ctrl]' , and then 'q' or 'quit'

Quick Tip#1: Azure v/s On-premise AD

Both Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) and on-premises Active Directory (Active Directory Domain Services or AD DS) are systems that store directory data and manage communication between users and resources, including user logon processes, authentication, and directory searches.+

AD DS is a server role on Windows Server, which means that it can be deployed on physical or virtual machines. It has a hierarchical structure based on X.500. It uses DNS for locating objects, can be interacted with using LDAP, and it primarily uses Kerberos for authentication. Active Directory enables organizational units (OUs) and Group Policy Objects (GPOs) in addition to joining machines to the domain, and trusts are created between domains.

Azure AD is a multi-customer public directory service, which means that within Azure AD you can create a tenant for your cloud servers and applications such as Office 365. Users and groups are created in a flat structure without OUs or GPOs. Authentication is performed through protocols such as SAML, WS-Federation, and OAuth. It's possible to query Azure AD, but instead of using LDAP you must use a REST API called AD Graph API. These all work over HTTP and HTTPS


More Reading: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/active-directory-whatis