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Oracle RAC & ASM Hardware Setup

Hello,

I'm looking into implementing an Oracle 10g RAC cluster with ASM storage for a project and there are a couple of issues I'm having in understanding the hardware configuration.

We have two database servers that we'd like to set up in an RAC cluster using ASM to control the file storage. Most of the Oracle documentation I've read speaks of the disks being stored separately from the database servers.

However, I was wondering if it's possible to use the hard disks of the servers that we have in the ASM disk groups, or if they have to be physically stored separately for proper clustering? This will mean that the database and ASM instance will be on the same node as the storage.

I've already searched other topics about RAC/ASM but I'm new to database clusters so I was hoping someone could clarify the issue.

Thanks for reading, any help would be much appreciated.

Nico
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schwertner
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schwertner covers it well. I will re-emphasize, there is not much point in building a cluster if you are going to run your storage on the same node as one of the instances. The storage subsystem really needs to be on its own, with its own redundancy (EMC, NetApp, RAID). RAC is more for scale-out than redundancy, in my book, but the single point of failure, the storage, really needs the most attention in a RAC cluster, otherwise don't bother with RAC, use Data Guard or Streams.

For true, full redundancy, Data Guard physical standby is preferred. RAC lets you scale out gradually by adding more inexpensive nodes, but be advised, RAC administration is a whole new ballgame.


There are many indications do not use ASM.
It adds license costs (this is an Oracle instance in his nature),
additional level of complexity (bugs, need education, trained personal),
delay due the additional level in data transfer.
I have met analysys that says what I briefly explain now.
Keep it simple and short (KISS!).
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Hi,

Thanks for such great responses.

The project we're working on is restriced to a standard license as far as I'm aware which would rule out data guard I think, please correct me if I'm wrong.

The setup is small, just two web servers and two database servers. I was investigating what the best solution for a clustering setup using oracle would be in this situation.

If the ASM instance requires its own Oracle license then that probably removes this option for us in terms of backing up the storage. It seems that ASM is overkill for this setup.

From schwertner's original comment I think that a RAID data setup should provide us with enough redundancy should a disk fail. The system isn't mission critical but I've been asked to research a clustering solution given the hardware and licenses we have.

Thanks again for the comments, I'm new to dbadmin stuff and your help is much appreciated.

Nico
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