Re: Oracle9i, RAC on linux - server hardware recommendation

Keg wrote:

> You don't want a NetApp for your storage, that is NFS (unless they
> have changed recently) You cannot store Oracle datafiles on NFS
> because writes are not guaranteed (plus the performance would be
> utterly horrible and negate any reasons for moving to RAC). Shared
> storage means external storage that is locally mapped to both systems
> (or several systems). This could be a SAN (as opposed to NAS which is
> what the NetApp's are) or merely a collection of disks with Fibre
> connections to each host. The key concept is 'locally' attached so the
> disk devices appear as local devices to each system/OS. Also the
> oracle datafiles will need to be on raw devices. The NetApp uses its
> own filesystem (I believe ext3) and exports via NFS. As of the last
> time I looked at them, the NetApp's were basically 'NFS in a box' with
> a tweaked OS, but underneath, it is likely Linux or FreeBSD serving up
> NFS.
True once upon a time. Times have changed.

NetApp provides guaranteed writes in it's NFS configuration and has apparently worked very closely with Oracle to get Filer working in a supported and stable config.

SO your concern is no longer valid - for NetApp products. But true for most implementations of NFS.

/Hans Received on Thu Oct 14 2004 - 09:31:09 CDT