Oracle, Netware, and redo logs

We're currently planning the implementation of a new database system here and I need some advice from people who have had experience with using Oracle and Netware. I'm currently using Oracle Server for OS/2, so I have an understanding of Oracle works, but I know almost nothing about the Netware environment.

What we are considering is the addition of another server to an existing  Novell LAN. This new server would run the Oracle NLM and store all of the Oracle database files. The current server would continue to provide the standard file services.

Because of the nature of the processing (lots of transactions that would be a real pain to re-enter in the event of a disk crash), we are strongly considering running the database in ARCHIVELOG mode. But, for ARCHIVELOG mode to be of any use, the redo log files have to be on a different physical spindle from the database files.

What I'm trying to find out is if it's possible for the Oracle NLM to run with its redo log files on a separate Novell server. By doing it that way, we could avoid having to buy two disk drives for the Oracle server and save some money. However, if it means that response times would be drastically lengthened, or make Oracle more prone to crashes, I'll start pricing disks.

So, has anyone out there done this? If so how did it work? What happens if the network communication between the two servers breaks down in the middle of a transaction? Any other "gotchas" I should worry about?

Thanks.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Mark Gleaves cmdglv_at_pmvax.weeg.uiowa.edu

"News burst on us like meridian splendour on a blind man. We were overwhelmed  with it. . . . Nor was it until some days had elapsed, that we were able to methodise it, or reduce it into form." -- Watkin Tench Received on Thu Jan 16 1992 - 23:47:50 CET