RE: Replicating Live Oracle DataFiles/LUNs to remote site via SAN tool?

    Pros:  

1. For you it's extremely easy to set up. You just sit back and watch the Unix admin do all of the work. I like that.
2. If there is a problem with the solution your not on the carpet for it.
3. If and when you upgrade of patch the remote system gets the update as well, less work. Assuming that ORACLE_HOME is replicated as well.

    Cons:  

1. If the DR database doesn't start for any reason you know who's to blame. You of course.
2. If your database expands onto new luns they may or may not be included in the replication works.
3. Adding a new lun in some products requires downtime because you have to rebuild the remote system.
4. You need a LARGE network pipe between the sites and it HAS to be reliable.
5. If you do have a network issue between the sites your database can hang because the replication software is bogged down. Not likely to occur immediately or in the event of a short outage, but longer outages will get there sooner or later.

    As for expense, yes these solutions are expensive. There's the cost of two identical SANs, the network connection, and the software. But Oracle EE isn't a drop in the bucket either. On the other hand if you've already got EE then replicating via Data Guard may be more cost effective, especially if your not using the standby database as a reporting instance and the network pipe isn't large or reliable.      

Dick Goulet
Senior Oracle DBA
PAREXEL International  

From: oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org
[mailto:oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org] On Behalf Of Taylor, Chris David Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:43 AM
To: 'Oracle L'
Subject: Replicating Live Oracle DataFiles/LUNs to remote site via SAN tool?

Any of you guys/gals replicating LIVE datafiles from one SAN to another in a remote location?  

We're looking at using HP's CA tool to replicate LIVE datafiles across a WAN to another SAN. The replication is block based, so any block that changes on the primary LUN is immediately replicated to the remote LUN at the remote site.  

Is anyone doing anything similar to this? Pros? Cons? I have a hard time imagining that this is a good idea but perhaps it is doable.  

Thoughts?  

Chris Taylor
Sr. Oracle DBA
Ingram Barge Company
Nashville, TN 37205
Office: 615-517-3355
Cell: 615-354-4799
Email: chris.taylor_at_ingrambarge.com  

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