Re: Anyone with experience with the Oracle Data Appliance/ODA?

I've now seen the ODA. The database is version 11.2.0.4. The data files are stored in ASM disk groups, not on ACFS mounts. I am not sure if it is still possible to create snapshots with oakcli in this situation?

Is the snap clone functionality in EM/Cloud Control licensed with any optional pack? It sounds promising.. there is not much disk space left on the array, so a thin clone is preferable ;-)

Cheers,
Tony

On 2/02/2016 12:45 pm, Peter Sharman wrote:
>
> Tony
>
> I don’t think I saw anything about database versions in the thread, so
> there are a couple of other options you could use depending on the
> version:
>
> ·If the DB is 12c, there is snapshotting capability built into the
> database itself
>
> ·From DB 10g onwards you could look at using Enterprise Manager’s Snap
> Clone functionality which uses copy on write technology to build thin
> clones, optionally including masking as well. This may make it easier
> for you to do the snapshotting as its built into the product, which
> makes it less error prone than a manual snapshotting process.
>
> Let me know if you need any more details on that.
>
> Pete
>
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>
> Pete Sharman
> Database Architect, DBaaS / DBLM
> Enterprise Manager Product Suite
> 33 Benson Crescent CALWELL ACT 2905 AUSTRALIA
>
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>
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> *From:*De DBA [mailto:dedba_at_tpg.com.au]
> *Sent:* Monday, February 1, 2016 10:32 AM
> *To:* Seth Miller <sethmiller.sm_at_gmail.com>
> *Cc:* Oracle Discussion List <oracle-l_at_freelists.org>
> *Subject:* Re: Anyone with experience with the Oracle Data Appliance/ODA?
>
> Seth,
>
> Thanks for that. I haven't got access to the systems yet, just reading
> up and preparing for the shock..
>
> You will not find OCFS on the ODA. It uses ACFS for the cluster file
> system as well as the database files.
>
> Ah, yes, of course, it's on ASM... I understand that oakcli will
> create & manage fs automatically, but I'm not going to have RAC. One
> node is supposed to be production, whereas the other node will run
> dev, test and UAT. I will need to refresh the dev & test databases
> from production, and wonder whether I can create a snapshot, do the
> masking etc. and then mount the copy on the other node where it will
> then be used as the gold copy for the refreshes.
>
> get yourself a couple of excellent books.
>
> Practical Oracle Database Appliance
> <http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Oracle-Database-Appliance-Curtis/dp/1430262656>
>
> Oracle Database Appliance: A Hands-On Guide
> <http://www.amazon.com/Oracle-Database-Appliance-Hands--Guide/dp/0071827447>
>
>
> I did look at the first one, which has some famous names amongst the
> authors. One of the reviews that I saw mentions that it is somewhat
> dated? Is it still worthwhile getting even if you work with the latest
> hard/software?
>
> Cheers,
> Tony
>
> On 31/01/2016 2:45 pm, Seth Miller wrote:
>
> Tony,
>
> The ODAs apparently are each set up as two stand-alone servers
> with shared storage. I understand that one needs to use oakcli to
> create databases and that this tool hides pretty much all
> functionality that we are used to through dbca etc.
>
> Yes, oakcli is the magic behind ODA but it does not preclude you
> from using DBCA. If you need to create a database that does not
> fall into one of the oakcli templates, feel free to use DBCA or
> any other classic method.
>
> But what does it do exactly?
>
> Oakcli is nothing more than a bunch of very well written perl and
> shell scripts that wrap the classic tools included with the Oracle
> database software. They are easy to find and read if you really
> want to know what they are doing.
>
> How does one manage the OCFS?
>
> You will not find OCFS on the ODA. It uses ACFS for the cluster
> file system as well as the database files.
>
> Can a file system be mounted on both nodes, or just on one? Is
> this automatic?
>
> Oakcli will take care of this for you.
>
> Given a complete backup (... which is a problem all of its
> own...), how does one restore a database?
>
> Use RMAN or Enterprise Manager for this. There will be little
> difference from a standard RAC database in how you backup and
> restore a database.
>
> Don't use centralised wallets with TDE, otherwise problems will
> arise -- but what does that even mean?
>
> This isn't specific to the ODA. There are a number of reasons to
> have local wallets in RAC -- one of the most important being that
> you can't have a local only autologin wallet if it is shared with
> multiple nodes.
>
> You will find little argument that the documentation for ODA is
> mediocre at best. This is why a number of training companies
> (including the one I teach for) have developed their own content
> for the ODA. I think your best course of action, though, is to get
> yourself a couple of excellent books.
>
> Practical Oracle Database Appliance
> <http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Oracle-Database-Appliance-Curtis/dp/1430262656>
>
> Oracle Database Appliance: A Hands-On Guide
> <http://www.amazon.com/Oracle-Database-Appliance-Hands--Guide/dp/0071827447>
>
> Seth Miller
>
> On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 10:42 PM, De DBA <dedba_at_tpg.com.au
> <mailto:dedba_at_tpg.com.au>> wrote:
>
> I've just read through that documentation, as I will shortly
> get the responsibility for 2 ODA's. I would not classify the 3
> software manuals and 2 hw manuals as good documentation. After
> reading all of it, I've got more questions than what I started
> out with...
>
> The ODAs apparently are each set up as two stand-alone servers
> with shared storage. I understand that one needs to use oakcli
> to create databases and that this tool hides pretty much all
> functionality that we are used to through dbca etc. But what
> does it do exactly? How does one manage the OCFS? Can a file
> system be mounted on both nodes, or just on one? Is this
> automatic? Given a complete backup (... which is a problem all
> of its own...), how does one restore a database? Don't use
> centralised wallets with TDE, otherwise problems will arise --
> but what does that even mean? Questions...
>
> Pointers to more complete documentation/blogs/etc. regarding
> managing and patching the ODA are very welcome!
>
> Cheers,
> Tony
>
> On 30/01/2016 6:38 am, Hans Forbrich wrote:
>
> Yes, lack of documentation was a problem at one time.
>
> That has significantly improved. See
> http://docs.oracle.com/en/engineered-systems/
>
> /Hans
>
> On 29/01/2016 12:54 PM, Andrew Kerber wrote:
>
> I have run into problem with a lack of good
> documentation on its use.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>
> On Jan 29, 2016, at 1:49 PM,
> <Jay.Miller_at_tdameritrade.com
> <mailto:Jay.Miller_at_tdameritrade.com>>
> <Jay.Miller_at_tdameritrade.com
> <mailto:Jay.Miller_at_tdameritrade.com>> wrote:
>
> Hi
>
> We just attended an ODA presentation and it looks
> very promising as a solution for our non-prod
> testing environment as it would allow us to clone
> multiple instances of the gold copy test databases
> easily (without needing to coordinate with other
> departments as we do now) and apply patches for
> those environments quickly and easily as well.
>
> Any real life pros or cons that anyone has
> experienced with the appliance? We’d keep our
> production and performance testing environments
> off it at least for now.
>
> Jay Miller
>
> Sr. Oracle DBA
>
> 201.369.8355
>

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