Re: Anyone with experience with the Oracle Data Appliance/ODA?

From: Ls Cheng <exriscer_at_gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2016 12:37:43 +0100
Message-ID: <CAJ2-Qb_n=ZOywyN-MyrW-GN3MnqQ6MEf=CWj2Jo1vuUj9MeRfA_at_mail.gmail.com>



Hi

AFIAK the ACFS snapshot depends on Grid Infrastructure version, if that is 12cR1 you should be able. But of course the database has to reside on ACFS.

On Tue, Feb 2, 2016 at 12:27 PM, De DBA <dedba_at_tpg.com.au> wrote:

> Thanks Pete.
>
> I've now seen the ODA. The database is version 11.2.0.4. The data files
> are stored in ASM disk groups, not on ACFS mounts. I am not sure if it is
> still possible to create snapshots with oakcli in this situation?
>
> Is the snap clone functionality in EM/Cloud Control licensed with any
> optional pack? It sounds promising.. there is not much disk space left on
> the array, so a thin clone is preferable ;-)
>
> Cheers,
> Tony
>
>
> On 2/02/2016 12:45 pm, Peter Sharman wrote:
>
> Tony
>
>
>
> I don’t think I saw anything about database versions in the thread, so
> there are a couple of other options you could use depending on the version:
>
>
>
> · If the DB is 12c, there is snapshotting capability built into
> the database itself
>
> · From DB 10g onwards you could look at using Enterprise
> Manager’s Snap Clone functionality which uses copy on write technology to
> build thin clones, optionally including masking as well. This may make it
> easier for you to do the snapshotting as its built into the product, which
> makes it less error prone than a manual snapshotting process.
>
>
>
> Let me know if you need any more details on that.
>
>
>
> Pete
>
> [image: Oracle logo]
>
> Pete Sharman
> Database Architect, DBaaS / DBLM
> Enterprise Manager Product Suite
> 33 Benson Crescent CALWELL ACT 2905 AUSTRALIA
>
> Phone: +61262924095 | | Mobile: *+61414443449 <%2B61414443449>*
> Email: pete.sharman_at_oracle.com Twitter: _at_SharmanPete LinkedIn:
> au.linkedin.com/in/petesharman
> Website: petewhodidnottweet.com
> ------------------------------
>
> "Controlling developers is like herding cats."
>
> Kevin Loney, Oracle DBA Handbook
>
>
>
> "Oh no, it's not, it's much harder than that!"
>
> Bruce Pihlamae, long term Oracle DBA
> ------------------------------
>
>
>
> *From:* De DBA [mailto:dedba_at_tpg.com.au <dedba_at_tpg.com.au>]
> *Sent:* Monday, February 1, 2016 10:32 AM
> *To:* Seth Miller <sethmiller.sm_at_gmail.com> <sethmiller.sm_at_gmail.com>
> *Cc:* Oracle Discussion List <oracle-l_at_freelists.org>
> <oracle-l_at_freelists.org>
> *Subject:* Re: Anyone with experience with the Oracle Data Appliance/ODA?
>
>
>
> Seth,
>
> Thanks for that. I haven't got access to the systems yet, just reading up
> and preparing for the shock..
>
> You will not find OCFS on the ODA. It uses ACFS for the cluster file
> system as well as the database files.
>
>
>
> Ah, yes, of course, it's on ASM... I understand that oakcli will create &
> manage fs automatically, but I'm not going to have RAC. One node is
> supposed to be production, whereas the other node will run dev, test and
> UAT. I will need to refresh the dev & test databases from production, and
> wonder whether I can create a snapshot, do the masking etc. and then mount
> the copy on the other node where it will then be used as the gold copy for
> the refreshes.
>
> get yourself a couple of excellent books.
>
> Practical Oracle Database Appliance
> <http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Oracle-Database-Appliance-Curtis/dp/1430262656>
>
> Oracle Database Appliance: A Hands-On Guide
> <http://www.amazon.com/Oracle-Database-Appliance-Hands--Guide/dp/0071827447>
>
>
> I did look at the first one, which has some famous names amongst the
> authors. One of the reviews that I saw mentions that it is somewhat dated?
> Is it still worthwhile getting even if you work with the latest
> hard/software?
>
> Cheers,
> Tony
>
> On 31/01/2016 2:45 pm, Seth Miller wrote:
>
> Tony,
>
>
>
> The ODAs apparently are each set up as two stand-alone servers with shared
> storage. I understand that one needs to use oakcli to create databases and
> that this tool hides pretty much all functionality that we are used to
> through dbca etc.
>
> Yes, oakcli is the magic behind ODA but it does not preclude you from
> using DBCA. If you need to create a database that does not fall into one of
> the oakcli templates, feel free to use DBCA or any other classic method.
>
>
>
> But what does it do exactly?
>
> Oakcli is nothing more than a bunch of very well written perl and shell
> scripts that wrap the classic tools included with the Oracle database
> software. They are easy to find and read if you really want to know what
> they are doing.
>
>
>
> How does one manage the OCFS?
>
> You will not find OCFS on the ODA. It uses ACFS for the cluster file
> system as well as the database files.
>
>
>
> Can a file system be mounted on both nodes, or just on one? Is this
> automatic?
>
> Oakcli will take care of this for you.
>
>
>
> Given a complete backup (... which is a problem all of its own...), how
> does one restore a database?
>
> Use RMAN or Enterprise Manager for this. There will be little difference
> from a standard RAC database in how you backup and restore a database.
>
>
>
> Don't use centralised wallets with TDE, otherwise problems will arise --
> but what does that even mean?
>
> This isn't specific to the ODA. There are a number of reasons to have
> local wallets in RAC -- one of the most important being that you can't have
> a local only autologin wallet if it is shared with multiple nodes.
>
>
>
> You will find little argument that the documentation for ODA is mediocre
> at best. This is why a number of training companies (including the one I
> teach for) have developed their own content for the ODA. I think your best
> course of action, though, is to get yourself a couple of excellent books.
>
> Practical Oracle Database Appliance
> <http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Oracle-Database-Appliance-Curtis/dp/1430262656>
>
> Oracle Database Appliance: A Hands-On Guide
> <http://www.amazon.com/Oracle-Database-Appliance-Hands--Guide/dp/0071827447>
>
>
>
> Seth Miller
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 10:42 PM, De DBA <dedba_at_tpg.com.au> wrote:
>
>
>
> I've just read through that documentation, as I will shortly get the
> responsibility for 2 ODA's. I would not classify the 3 software manuals and
> 2 hw manuals as good documentation. After reading all of it, I've got more
> questions than what I started out with...
>
> The ODAs apparently are each set up as two stand-alone servers with shared
> storage. I understand that one needs to use oakcli to create databases and
> that this tool hides pretty much all functionality that we are used to
> through dbca etc. But what does it do exactly? How does one manage the
> OCFS? Can a file system be mounted on both nodes, or just on one? Is this
> automatic? Given a complete backup (... which is a problem all of its
> own...), how does one restore a database? Don't use centralised wallets
> with TDE, otherwise problems will arise -- but what does that even mean?
> Questions...
>
> Pointers to more complete documentation/blogs/etc. regarding managing and
> patching the ODA are very welcome!
>
> Cheers,
> Tony
>
> On 30/01/2016 6:38 am, Hans Forbrich wrote:
>
> Yes, lack of documentation was a problem at one time.
>
> That has significantly improved. See
> http://docs.oracle.com/en/engineered-systems/
>
> /Hans
>
> On 29/01/2016 12:54 PM, Andrew Kerber wrote:
>
> I have run into problem with a lack of good documentation on its use.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>
> On Jan 29, 2016, at 1:49 PM, <Jay.Miller_at_tdameritrade.com> <
> Jay.Miller_at_tdameritrade.com> wrote:
>
> Hi
>
>
>
> We just attended an ODA presentation and it looks very promising as a
> solution for our non-prod testing environment as it would allow us to clone
> multiple instances of the gold copy test databases easily (without needing
> to coordinate with other departments as we do now) and apply patches for
> those environments quickly and easily as well.
>
>
>
> Any real life pros or cons that anyone has experienced with the appliance?
> We’d keep our production and performance testing environments off it at
> least for now.
>
>
>
>
>
> Jay Miller
>
> Sr. Oracle DBA
>
> 201.369.8355
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>



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Received on Tue Feb 02 2016 - 12:37:43 CET

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