Re: ORACLE AND UNIX QUESTION

In article <CwtGI5.KI1_at_world.std.com> cbarr_at_world.std.com (Chris Barr) writes:
>Gunther Birznieks (birznie_at_aplcenmp.apl.jhu.edu) wrote:
>: Question: Is Oracle limited to using Operating system files for its
>: databases on UNIX? Or can you use RAW PARTITIONS to store data on a UNIX
>: Box such as a Sun Sparcstation running Solaris.
>
>Most versions of Oracle now support raw file i/o, including definitely
>the Solaris port. Beware several caveats, principally that growth
>and movement of extents must occur on a fixed-size basis because the
>datafile is always identical in size to the raw file. Oracle customer
>support has written one white paper discouraging raw i/o usage because
>of admin headaches - they recommend an experienced Unix guru to
>complement the DBA. And they make the case that most apps are cpu-bound
>and thus gain nothing from 30% faster raw i/o. But some sites
>obviously can use & do need raw i/o.
>
> - Chris
>
>: Thanks,
 

>: Gunther
>
>--
> - Chris
>

Generally, the instruction path length for i/o to raw devices is less than i/o to file systems. Therefore, raw i/o uses less cpu leaving more time for the application.

Rick Received on Fri Sep 30 1994 - 14:49:39 CET