RAC setup ( ideal configuration)

[prakashs43]

Hi ,
could anybody tell me the pros and cons of configuring the database in RAC environment .

where should be the binaries be installed ? ( local or shared )
Thanks in advance for ur valuable comments.

[ramaral]

Binaries aren't shared - separate binaries are installed on each node of the cluster (oracm, etc). The data files are "shared".

Depending on which option you choose: a) raw devices, or b) clustered file systems.

Clustered file systems are much easier to manage from a dba point of view as you can have autoextend turned on (if you want to deal with that), etc. And doing backups are a little easier as well.

Raw IS faster. I have a RAC database on raw devices in a Linux machine and it's fairly quick. But when that thing needs to grow or get backed up then it becomes a pain.

[prakashs43]

Originally posted by ramaral
Binaries aren't shared - separate binaries are installed on each node of the cluster (oracm, etc). The data files are "shared".

i think binaries can be installed in shared directory .

[ramaral]

From Chapter 1 of Introduction to Real Application Clusters Installation and Configuration:

System Installation Requirements
Verify that your system meets the requirements discussed under the following topics before proceeding with installation:

Hardware and Software Requirements for Oracle9i Real Application Clusters
File System Requirements for Using Oracle Managed Files (Optional)
Hardware and Software Requirements for Oracle9i Real Application Clusters
Verify the following hardware and software requirements for each node:

Hardware
Each node in a cluster requires the following hardware:

Operating system-specific hardware as described in operating system-specific installation guides
External shared hard disk(s)
Software
Each node in a cluster requires the following software:

Operating system-specific software as described in operating system-specific installation guides
Certified vendor-supplied operating system-dependent clusterware for UNIX, or Oracle operating system-dependent clusterware for Windows NT and Windows 2000
Oracle9i Enterprise Edition
Oracle Net
Oracle Intelligent Agent release 2 (9.2) if using EM
One of the following Web browsers to view online documentation:
Netscape Navigator Version 3.0 or later.
http://www.netscape.com


Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 3.0 or later.
http://www.microsoft.com


File System Requirements for Using Oracle Managed Files (Optional)

[prakashs43]

Fine that is the way how it should be installed .
but it is also possible to install oracle binaries in shared or global area and copy the essential files to both the nodes .

[stmontgo]

Originally posted by prakashs43
Fine that is the way how it should be installed .
but it is also possible to install oracle binaries in shared or global area and copy the essential files to both the nodes .

why would anyone even consider spending a boat load of money
on a RAC licence to set it up in an unsupported configuration?

[gopi]

Search MetaLink for the following excellent document:

Step-By-Step Installation of RAC on Sun Cluster v3
Type: Note Doc ID: 175465.1
Score: 29% Modified Date: 14-NOV-2002
Status: PUBLISHED Platform: Solaris Operating System (SPARC) (64-bit Product: Oracle Server - Enterprise Edition

[ramses71]

I think I am getting to understand a little more of what you are asking.

The answer is still no - unless you mean by shared or global area a software depot as in the unix sense then of course. Assuming that they are the installion files rather than the INSTALLED files.

When installing you would be prompted for node information and cluster master info which then gets bound into the config files making the it a unique install and which by then the database would be able to tell which node is which.

You can also "push" out binaries and config info (I haven't done this though) from the cluster master but that would only be the cluster binaries as the oracle software would still need to be installed on the nodes.

The only time that the rac binaries would be shared is if you did a single node install (as per documents on metalink) which multiple instances on the one node.