Re: Help! Oracle server clustering

In article <1b9e9988.0206270944.3d81a22b_at_posting.google.com>, thuthaot_at_hotmail.com says...
>
>Thank you I find your responses so useful. This is what i plan to do
>but not sure what the best approach I should take in order to make
>them work nsyn. So please recommend!
>I want to set up two identical Win2K servers, each with two mirrored
>drives to install OS and application. One will be primary server and
>second one is backup/standby(whatever the term it mean) server incase
>the first primary server goes down. They both will connect to 5 disk
>drives RAID-5 storage system where the production Oracle 8i database
>resides. My questions are
>
>1. what methods (failsafe, standby, OPS, OS cluster) should be
>implemented to keep these two servers all time synchronous that if one
>goes down, the other can take over instantly with minimal downtime and
>zero data loss. I would prefer the best method that can be easily
>managed by IT administrator because we are not DBA to deal with Oracle
>database aspects like changing datafiles or something like that. Our
>vendor take care of our database app. All we like to do is to have a
>redundant system to turn over when one goes down.

It sounds like FailSafe is going to be closest to what you want, but before you take any recommendations I would suggest you talk to your application vendor. Some vendors have specific configurations that they will or will not support, so make sure you have their buy-in for any configuration you decide on. I would not recommend OPS or Standby to a site that doesn't have DBA's who understand the relevant technology. An OS cluster may also be capable of giving you some of what you want, but I'm not familiar enough with MSCS to verify that (most customers I work with are using high-end Unix boxes rather than W2K).
>
>2. what specific hardware configuration do I need to make this work
>seemlessly

Again, dependent on the route you take. Speak to your hardware vendor about what they would recommend.
>
>3. Do I need two oracles licenses for two servers?

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure with FailSafe. I think the answer is yes but I would confirm that with your Oracle sales rep. They will know the licensing issues far better than I.

Pete
>
>Thanks
>Thao
>
>Pete Sharman <peter.sharman_at_oracle.com> wrote in message
>news:<afdidu0ohb_at_drn.newsguy.com>...
>> In article <1b9e9988.0206261404.4b4aee64_at_posting.google.com>,
>> thuthaot_at_hotmail.com says...
>> >
>> >Pete Sharman <peter.sharman_at_oracle.com> wrote in message
>> >news:<afcvee02cid_at_drn.newsguy.com>...
>> >> In article <1b9e9988.0206260809.4efe5df4_at_posting.google.com>,
>> >> thuthaot_at_hotmail.com says...
>> >> >
>> >> >I am looking to have my 8i oracle server run on NT to two compaq Win2K
>> >> >servers that will back-up for each other. I dont' know waht method I
>> >> >use use and what are the advantages/disadvantages?
>> >> >
>> >> >1. Clustering server or server-mirroring?
>> >> >2. what tools do I need?
>> >> >3. Does Oracle 8i support clustering?
>> >> >4. Any suggestions on using Oracle on Win2K clustering on Fault
>> >> >Tolerance Features?
>> >> >
>> >> >Thanks for any of your feedbacks
>> >> >thao
>> >>
>> >> Need to know more before we can give firm suggestions:
>> >>
>> >> 1. Are the two boxes clustered or not?
>> > I want to have them clustered but not sure if it is supported by
>> >Oracle 8i which we are using
>>
>>Clustering is an OS thing. If the OS supports clustering of the two boxes, then
>> Oracle can run in a clustered configuration.
>> >
>>>>2. What are you trying to protect against (machine failure, disaster
>>recovery,
>> >> etc.)?
>> > Yes, extra redundancy
>>
>> Still doesn't tell me what form of redundancy. Machine failure and disaster
>> recovery are two completely different requirements. You can't use a single
>> cluster to provide both.
>> >
>>>>3. Do you want the second box to be used in an active-active configuration,
>>or
>> >> is active-standby what you're looking at?
>> > What are the differences? I guess I may want active-active
>> >config. How do I do that? and what tools do I need?
>>
>>Active-active means users are connected to the database from both nodes of the
>> cluster. In Oracle terms, that requires OPS in 8i, or RAC in 9i.
>> Active-standby means only one node of the cluster is used for active database
>>connections. The second node will be failed over to if there are problems with
>> the first one. This is what Oracle FailSafe does in Oracle terms.
>> >
>> >
>> >>
>>>>Depending on the answers to the above, start investigating Parallel Server
>>(RAC
>> >> would be a better option if you can upgrade to 9i) or Oracle FailSafe (NOT
>> >> Oracle Parallel FailSafe which is a different beastie).
>> > I will.
>> >
>> >Thanks
>> >thao
>>
>> HTH. Additions and corrections welcome.
>>
>> Pete
>>
>> SELECT standard_disclaimer, witty_remark FROM company_requirements;

HTH. Additions and corrections welcome.

Pete

SELECT standard_disclaimer, witty_remark FROM company_requirements; Received on Thu Jun 27 2002 - 22:39:24 CDT