Re: RAID5 Hardware vs NT (software)

Hi there Xoltan,

Use hardware Raid - NT Raid is good but it has a CPU overhead, also NT Raid requires manual intervention if the system disk fails.

There are a few issues you need to consider when selecting storage:

1. Types of disk access: Oracle NT has 4 main type of components that are accessed. They are Oracle executables, Database, Redo logs, and Archive Logs. In addition to this you have the Windows NT system files. What you should try to do is try to organise your disks so that types of access are together (i.e. Don't put sequential access components on the same physical disk as random access files. This means keep the redo logs on a separate disk, separate from the data.
2. Separate your components for redundancy Don't put you archive logs on the same disk as the data. If you loose this disk you would have to go back to the previous tape backup.

I'll consider the Compaq solution as I know these machines best. Put the Windows NT system and Oracle executables on a Raid 1 (mirrored) set. (e.g. 2.1GB usable)
Put the Oracle redo logs on another Raid 1 (mirrored) set. (e.g. 1GB usable)
Put the Oracle datafiles on a Raid 5 set, using as many disks as possible to spread the IO.

• Put the Oracle Archive logs on the system volume, but monitor these regularly as you don't want to fill this volume completely. If you have enough cash you may want to get another storage subsystem and put the Oracle Archive logs on another separate Raid 1 (mirrored) set.

We have also found the Compaq Smart-2 Raid controllers perform very well.

Bear in mind that there are many options depending on your finances (e.g use Raid 0+1 with many 1GB drives for the data if you can afford it.)

Hope this helps,

Allan.

 Xoltan wrote in article <01bc558f$0ab8d1a0$34fd00cf_at_hdaffin>...
>I am new to this ng... so bear with me.
>
>Can anyone tell me if it is best to run Oracle over RAID5 disks?
>Or are RAID0 (mirrored) disks preferred?
>
>Likewise, is it best to implement RAID5 or RAID0 using WinNT
>(software) or to use the hardware controllers that are offered by
>various companies? The hardware disk arrays seem to be the
>way to go.
>
>I am trying to decide on whether to purchase an HP Netserver
>with RAID5 or Compaq Proliant 5000 w/ storage tower. Any
>suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Thanks
>
>Xoltan
>xoltan_at_usa.net
>http://www.citynet.net/personal/xoltan/
>------
> "The surest sign of intelligent life on other planets is that it has
 never
> tried to contact us."
> -Calvin and Hobbes
>
>
Received on Thu May 01 1997 - 00:00:00 CDT