Re: Anyone with experience with the Oracle Data Appliance/ODA?
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2016 12:16:27 -0600
Message-ID: <CAEueRAURcsC0AMsGbVUYReT__ucO+8wTgLhd3H4Fmkvy6ck6og_at_mail.gmail.com>
You may be running on an older version. Run this command to see what version you have.
oakcli show version
Seth Miller
On Tue, Feb 2, 2016 at 5:27 AM, De DBA <dedba_at_tpg.com.au> wrote:
> Thanks Pete.
>
> 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
>
> [image: Oracle logo]
>
> Pete Sharman
> Database Architect, DBaaS / DBLM
> Enterprise Manager Product Suite
> 33 Benson Crescent CALWELL ACT 2905 AUSTRALIA
>
> Phone: +61262924095 | | Mobile: *+61414443449*
> Email: pete.sharman_at_oracle.com Twitter: _at_SharmanPete LinkedIn:
> au.linkedin.com/in/petesharman
> Website: petewhodidnottweet.com
> ------------------------------
>
> "Controlling developers is like herding cats."
>
> Kevin Loney, Oracle DBA Handbook
>
>
>
> "Oh no, it's not, it's much harder than that!"
>
> Bruce Pihlamae, long term Oracle DBA
> ------------------------------
>
>
>
> *From:* De DBA [mailto:dedba_at_tpg.com.au <dedba_at_tpg.com.au>]
> *Sent:* Monday, February 1, 2016 10:32 AM
> *To:* Seth Miller <sethmiller.sm_at_gmail.com> <sethmiller.sm_at_gmail.com>
> *Cc:* Oracle Discussion List <oracle-l_at_freelists.org>
> <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> 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> <
> 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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