Re: Rac on Linux

Jim wrote:
> Hi,
>
> We are looking to install Rac on Linux and the question is: do we use
> ASM or not? Is ASM the best system file for RAC or do we have to look
> for a solution like Veritas?
>
> In my point of view, it sounds like ASM to Linux (with RAC) is the way
> to go. Am I right????
>
> Thanks!

You are asking the wrong question. The question has nothing to do with RAC but rather with storage. The question that must first be answered is what is your storage solution?

iSCSI?
SAN?
NAS?
Which vendor?
And what is your transaction volume?

For most databases NFS mounting the NetApp cluster file system is more than sufficient. Get into a high-tx environment and you are looking for a SAN. And then you should point yourself toward ASM.

I had a chance to meet with a member of the RAC Pack up in Victoria BC yesterday and he made it abundantly clear, as have other members of the pack over the years, that the best practice solution is ASM. OFCS is marked for obsolescence and you really don't want to bring some third-party volume management vendor into the mix unless you enjoy finger-pointing exercises.

-- 
Daniel Morgan
University of Washington
Puget Sound Oracle Users Group