We have a core business application running on Oracle 8.1.7, running on a
Suse Linux server. This application being business critical, we would like
to have a complete and synchronous replication on another database located
at another site (the 2 sites are linked via a full duplex 34Mbit link).
In a first phase, there would be only one master, and we would have to
switch to the alternate database in case of problem.
Is there a functionality available for this in 8.1.7?
Should we envisage to migrate to 9i?
Are there products available ?
Do you know the concept of standby database? Your master has to run in
archivelog mode (every production database should) and the archived redo logs
are copied to the standby database which is in permanent restore mode. The
standby database applies the redo logs and has the same data like the master.
You can implement a time delay between archiving and applying the redo logs
which has the advantage that you can interupt the process if a user makes a
mistake (e.g. deletes all rows in the salary table). In the case of a master
database problem you activate the standby database and users switch to it (can
be configured in the listener settings). A standby database is quite easy to set
up, Oracle 8.1.7 is fine, even it is only standard edition.
Regards,
Knut
