Re: Multi-server roll outs

"Dusan Bolek" <pagesflames_at_usa.net> wrote in message news:1e8276d6.0203210501.5fc78c0b_at_posting.google.com...
> "The Raven" <wsmc_at_flashmail.com> wrote in message
news:<a7bk31$216u$1_at_otis.netspace.net.au>...
> > Hi,
> > This is my first post here and I admit to being far from an Oracle
> > expert. At this point it would appropriate to refer to me as a newbie
with
> > limited hands on experience.
> >
> > My question is more high level rather than strictly technical BUT I'm
> > willing to hear any technical responses.
> >
> > I have a web-enabled application (Oracle 8i, or perhaps 9iAS) that needs
to
> > be deployed over a WAN. There are numerous LANs (approx 20 nationwide)
which
> > will each have their own Oracle servers and databa etc but otherwise the
> > configuration will be near identical.
> >
> > Is it possible to make an "image" of a virgin configured server that can
> > then be used to setup each site server? Obviously, some further
> > configuration would be required once an "image" is installed. I've been
told
> > the practice of making "images" is widely used in the Windows world but
it's
> > not clear if it would apply to Oracle. Is this feasible, practical, or
> > recommended?
> >
> > Any suggestions as to how a roll out of 20+ server nationwide could be
best
> > achieved would be appreciated.
>
> In Unix there is no need to make images. Every part of your
> configuration can be coppied just as files. No registry keys, no
> sharing problems with copying running system executables. Just tar
> everything you want to have on the other site, put on tape and untar
> in destination. However if your servers are not strictly identical,
> then you can encounter problem because of differencies in
> configuration. And of course if your servers are running different
> version of Unix or even another type of Unix, you must carefully
> handle differencies between versions.
> The best strategy for you is hard to tell you because of lack of
> informations.

Thanks for the information. The proposed roll out would take place on a conventional Windows based LAN/WAN running either NT/2000/XP. While I can appreciate that Unix would make it simpler from a technical viewpoint its not an OS that will be used.

When I used the term "image" it was more in regards to an Server running the web enabled version of Oracle (probably 9iAS) and included the underlying OS etc. In essence, a brand new server with nothing on the HDD then has a pre-configured "image" of the OS, Oracle, and the application installed.

Regards

The Raven Received on Thu Mar 21 2002 - 19:53:16 CST