Oracle 10g RAC and ASM - high availability

[daljitsb]

Environment: Oracle 10.2 (Standard edition)
Windows 2003 server connected to SAN

We will have about 15-20 different databases running through 1-2 windows oracle servers. The purpose is to have high availability and quick failover.

1. Can we use RAC without using ASM. How easy/tough it is going to be managing/using RAC without ASM.

2. If possible should we use Oracle 64 bit with Windows 64 bit OS.

Please advice.

Thanks

-D

[pando]

you can only use ASM with standard edition

running 15 instances in RAC does not make sense why not consolidate them?

[KenEwald]

you can only use ASM with standard edition

Huh?

[pando]

RAC Standard --> ASM

[Bore]

Yes, I belive PANDO is right. Just do not know if it is a technological limit or a licence limit
Besides, I do not see what's wrong with ASM and why should we try to avoid using it

[daljitsb]

Yes, I belive PANDO is right. Just do not know if it is a technological limit or a licence limit
Besides, I do not see what's wrong with ASM and why should we try to avoid using it

We do need to keep 15 db seperate.

So are you saying, ASM is a proven technology with all posotive benefits and should always be employed?

The reason for avoiding ASM is to be able to continue working with file system and not raw disks - our current much needed tool used by many here works with file system. The tool drops and adds schemas and tablespaces on daily basis.

I am still looking for clear answers to:

1. Can we (should we) use RAC without using ASM.
2. Should we use ASM without using RAC.
3. How easy/tough it is going to be managing/using RAC without ASM.
4. If possible should we use Oracle 64 bit with Windows 64 bit OS.

Please advice

-D

[PAVB]

So are you saying, ASM is a proven technology with all posotive benefits and should always be employed?

Yes it is.
Easy to use, near raw-device performance... what else would you ask for?
ASM is so good Oracle is building an O/S around it.

[Bore]

Well,
I am affraid that if u use RAC, file system is not an option at all (except if you do not use OCFS)

For RAC you'll need either ASM or raw partitions, because the disks should be mounted by all the instances at the same time, which I am affraid is not possible with most file systems.
About the ASM, I have some customers in the banking sector, running RAC on ASM. Is that good enough for you?

Regards
Boris

[dbasan]

From 10g there is no 32 bit, all moving to 64 bits. May be you need to check the applications which would support 64 bits db's.

I would suggest 64 bits.

Also if you need control of your file systems and have a good network and system admin team, you can go for raids and SAN storage to maintain your db files.

If you need Oracle to take care of the file systems and do not have a team to take of your raids and SAN, then go for ASM. Choice is yours and your management

[davey23uk]

of course there is 32bit oracle, there are still 32Bit os'es out there, linux and windows being prime examples