Re: Need advice for configuring SPARCstorage Array for Oracle

Mahesh Saraswat wrote:
>
> Hi -
>
> We are geeting new SPARCcenter 2000E machine with 63-Gbyte(30X2.1G 7200
> RPM Fast/Wide SCSI-2 Disks) SPARCstorage Array system. I have to
> configure theses drive for optimal Oracle performance. The database
> (supporting Oracle Financial) size currently is 30Gbyte but will grow to
> roughly 50Gyte in two years. Here are my questions.
>
> - How would you spread the data on these disk?

System
Backup System Boot Partition
Oracle Software
Online Redo Log (mirrored on 2 devices) mixed with user home directories
Applications
Rollback Segments
Online Redo Log Archive Device
Tablespaces on all other devices
Control files mirrored on 3 devices

Be SURE that you use the OFA naming : All devices have a simple, common pattern, like /u0?? for their names. and all oracle files are in /u0??/ORACLE/$SID/... directories.

>
> - Should I stripe the disks? What tools are available to do this?

Some say yes to striping, others say no.

>
> - Should I use Raw device or UFS or both?

UFS will perform just fine and you get easy backups with standard utilities (like TAR)

>
> - What size of data block should I use?

As big as possible. 8K or more if supported.

>
> - Is there any bulletin available from Oracle or Sun on this topic?

Your Oracle installation guide and DBA guide will cover this nicely.

>
> - Should I use RAID? What level?

My Opinion is no. RAID robs performance. Your most precious files are online redo logs and control files and Oracle can mirror those for you. Your database files are very recoverable. If you take nightly backups you will only have a short recovery time from total loss of media.

>
> - Anything else I should know ragarding the configuration?

Big performance limit is rarely disk layout. It is usually number of users and amount of physical RAM. My opinion -- double the RAM. It's cheap prevention of ugly problems. You will want 95% of your logical reads to come from cache -- depending on the mix of users, this may mean a BIG cache.

-- 
S. Lott
Consultant, NE Region
CTG
SLOTT_at_DELPHI.COM
S.LOTT_at_CTG.COM
800-992-5350 box 7053