Re: polyserve and oracle 10g

thanks for the info and please convey my appreciation to kevin as well. this helps a great deal. i'll keep you updated on what the client decides and why and how the implementation goes.

take care,
haroon

• Original message ----
  >Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2005 08:47:20 +0800
  >From: Connor McDonald <mcdonald.connor_at_gmail.com>
  >Subject: Re: polyserve and oracle 10g
  >To: oracle-l_at_freelists.org
  >
  >I bounced the initial post off Kevin Closson at Polyserve, and he
  >replied as follows:
  >
  ><quote>
  >
  >>>i've seen some references that oracle does not certify
  oracle=20
  >>>products running on polyserve and that the support for=20
  >>>"Unbreakable Linux" is therefore not provided. i believe
  this=20
  >>>is because polyserve requires a custom kernel to run.
  >
  >This is a long answer to a topic that is actually wider than
  >PolyServe. The key is knowing what "Unbreakable Linux" is.
  >
  >PolyServe contains Kernel Loadable Modules (KLM). Just
  loading a=20
  >non-open-source KLM into the kernel voids "Unbreakable Linux".=20
  >That includes certain Fiber Channel HBA drivers, certain=20
  >MPIO drivers and so on. The only software allowed
  >to be closed source is Oracle for "Unbreakable Linux".=20
  >
  >PolyServe is not going to open source our products. Like Oracle,
  >we have a great deal of proprietary value add and a business
  model
  >that does not favor open sourcing. The value-add is exactly
  why HP=20
  >and Novell resell (and OEM in the case of HP) PolyServe - and
  provide
  >support=20
  >for it along with Linux. Not all problems can be solved with Open
  >Source.
  >That is the very reason customers are still choosing Oracle
  instead
  >of MySQL for certain IT needs.
  >
  >So the answer to this question is to first understand
  "Unbreakable
  >Linux".=20
  >The following points are based on quotes from this URL:
  >
  >http://www.oracle.com/technology/tech/linux/htdocs/oracleonlinux_faq.html#6
  >
  >1. Unbreakable Linux is support for the Operating System.
  >
  >"Oracle customers running RHEL, SLES or Asianux, can call
  Oracle=20
  >directly for any Oracle or OS issue. Oracle will diagnose the
  issue=20
  >and will work with the OS partner to address the operating
  system=20
  >issue as needed."
  >
  >2. Even with Unbreakable, customers still need OS support
  from the OS
  >provider.
  >
  >"customers must have a current support contract in place with
  Oracle.=20
  >In addition, Novell and Asianux customers must maintain
  current support=20
  >contracts with those distributors, and Red Hat customers must
  maintain=20
  >a Standard or Premium support contract with Red Hat to be
  eligible for=20
  >Unbreakable Support."
  >
  >3. Choosing to deploy outside the "Unbreakable" model does
  not render
  > Oracle products unsupported
  >
  >"If a customer recompiles the kernel or uses third-party
  software that
  >modifies=20
  >the Linux kernel, they are no longer eligible for Unbreakable
  Linux
  >Support=20
  >and can't receive direct Linux OS technical support from
  Oracle. In
  >these=20
  >cases, Oracle will continue to support Oracle products on the
  certified
  >Linux=20
  >distributions."
  >
  >The PolyServe website contains a good deal of Oracle specific
  content.
  >The=20
  >value propositions are all outlined in solution briefs stored
  there.
  >
  >
  >Kevin Closson
  >Chief Architect, Database Solutions
  >PolyServe
  ></quote>
  >
  >hth
  >Connor
  >
  >On 6/7/05, Marquez, Chris <cmarquez_at_collegeboard.org> wrote:
  >> Haroon,
  >>=20
  >> I have used OCFS.
  >> It is little slow, and took a lot of probably unfair abuse
  ( from me) whe=
  >n really many of our issues *might* be hardware related.
  >> Still OCFS is not the best, but worth the price we paid for it.
  >> I *think* and believe that Polyserve is the best and clear
  leader in the =
  >Oracle-RAC-Linux space.
  >> I would love to have tried it and talk to some (on this
  list) who have.
  >>=20
  >> Below are some of my personal notes and comment during our
  initial RAC co=
  >nfig/test and links...not much here.
  >> 1.) I personally would not use/trust the RH or VERITAS
  option, only becau=
  >se they seem new...and I don't like *new* with RAC!
  >> 2.) email Polyserve directly...trust me...the know if they
  are certified =
  >with Oracle or not...open a TAR too...do both and you
  eventually get a fina=
  >l answer?
  >>=20
  >> hth
  >>=20
  >> PS All my stuff is 9i...never used RAC and 10g.
  >>=20
  >> Chris Marquez
  >> Oracle DBA
  >>=20
  >>
  =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
  >=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
  >> Global Cluster Filesystem-GFS, Cluster Filesystem-CF;
  >>
  =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
  >=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
  >>=20
  >> >>Wouldn't looking at another alternative of OCFS meaning
  products like R=
  >edhat Global Filesystem
  >> Yes, and RAW is an alternative.
  >> Other Global Cluster Filesystem-GFS, Cluster Filesystem-CF;
  >> - Polyserve; http://www.polyserve.com/sol_linux_9irac.html
  >> - Red Hat; http://www.redhat.com/software/rha/gfs/
  >> - VERITAS Storage Foundation for Oracle;
  http://www.veritas.com/Products=
  >/www?c=3Dproduct&refId=3D145
  >>=20
  >> RAW is;
  >> * Has not additional cost to us.
  >> * Is support by Oracle and for many, many years the only
  options for OPS/=
  >RAC.
  >> * Been used by Oracle OPS/RAC for 7+ years.
  >> * Administratively more challenging...you have to be
  diligent in space ad=
  >ministration when using RAW...not for the lazy!
  >>=20
  >> Global Cluster Filesystem-GFS, Cluster Filesystem-CF is;
  >> * (Other than OCFS) An additional expenses.
  >> * (Other than OCFS) something we/I have no experiences with.
  >> * "Might" not support by Oracle (this is critical).
  >>=20
  >>=20
  >>=20
  >> -----Original Message-----
  >> From: oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org on behalf of Haroon A.
  Qureshi
  >> Sent: Sun 6/5/2005 4:43 AM
  >> To: oracle-l_at_freelists.org
  >> Subject: polyserve and oracle 10g
  >>=20
  >> greetings,
  >>=20
  >> a client is planning on implementing 10g RAC and is looking
  >> into hardware and filesystems to use for the implementation.
  >> they have settled on linux on ibm servers and are still
  >> deciding which cluster file system to use. polyserve is an
  >> option, as well as OCFS.
  >>=20
  >> i've seen some references that oracle does not certify oracle
  >> products running on polyserve and that the support for
  >> "unbreakable linux" is therefore not provided. i believe this
  >> is because polyserve requires a custom kernel to run.
  >>=20
  >
  >--=20
  >Connor McDonald
  >=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
  >=3D=3D
  >email: connor_mcdonald_at_yahoo.com
  >web: http://www.oracledba.co.uk
  >
  >"Semper in excremento, sole profundum qui variat"
  >--
  >http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l
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