Unit 1:

RAC Concepts and Overview

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Agenda
• Oracle server concepts

• RAC architecture

• Hardware components

• Software components

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Oracle server definition
• An object-relational database management system that
provides an integrated approach to Information Oracle server
management.
Instance
• Oracle Server consists of two parts:
Memory
• An Oracle Instance
– A set of memory structures Processes
– User processes that execute the application code
– Server processes that perform work for the user
processes or on behalf of Oracle Database
• An Oracle Database
– A collection of data that is treated as a unit
– Consisting of logical and physical data structures

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Oracle server architecture
Instance
User
Process
Shared Pool Database Large
Buffer Java Pool
Cache Pool
Library
Cache Streams
Server Data
Redo
log
… … Pool
Directory
Process Cache buffer
… … Sort Extent
PGA Pool
PMON SMON DBWR LGWR CKPT Others

Flashback
Buffer

Redo
Data Control Archived
Parameter Files
Log
File Files Files Log Files

Password
File Database

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Agenda
• Oracle server concepts

• RAC architecture

• Hardware components

• Software components

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC)

• A clustered computing configuration that harnesses the power of

multiple interconnected computers to create a single, robust
computing environment
– Using Real Application Clusters (RAC) software
– Involving two or more servers (nodes)
– Sharing data across all servers (nodes)

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Oracle server: Single instance

• One Oracle instance

• One physical database

SID = PROD
Service = PROD.ibm.com

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RAC: Multiple instances, shared database

Inter-Connect Inter-Connect

• Multiple Instances

SID=RAC2
SID=RAC1 SID=RAC3

• One Shared Database

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Agenda
• Oracle server concepts

• RAC architecture

• Hardware components

• Software components

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

RAC cluster hardware components

• Inter-Connect
• Servers

SAN

• Shared disk subsystem

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Servers(AIX)
• Supported hardware:
– POWER
– System p
– System i
– Blade Center (POWER-based JS20 or JS21
servers)
2 to “n” • Same operating system level on all nodes:
nodes – 10g R1: AIX 5.1,5.2 or 5.3
– 10g R2: AIX 5.2, 5.3 or 6.1
• Minimum configuration:
– AIX 7.1 TL0 SP2 – 11g R1: AIX 5.3 or 6.1 TL00 SP4 and higher
– 1-2 CPUs – 11g R2: AIX 5.3 , 6.1 or 7.1
– RAM > 1.5GB • Same OS and Oracle patch levels on all
– swap space > 1.5GB
– /tmp >1GB nodes
– 2 Ethernet interfaces – See metalink note # 282036.1
– Local disk (min 30 GB)
• CPU’s and memory could be different
– Asymmetric workload configurations

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Network interconnect
• Supports inter-node communication:
– Global cache coherency
• Inter-Connect(Primary) – Global locking
– Cluster monitoring/control
• Interconnect options:
• Inter-Connect(backup) – Ethernet
• 100 Mbps or 1 Gigabit NIC
• IBM on AIX 10 Gigabit Ethernet solution
– InfiniBand:
• 10 Gigabit (IP over IB)
– SP switch
• Normally have dedicated primary and backup
networks
– Requires network switches
– Crossover cables are not supported

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Shared disk subsystem

• All storage products must be supported by the server (host)

and storage vendors
• Shared disk subsystem • Attachment options:
• Fibre Channel
– Switch required for more than two nodes
– Must adhere to ANSI FC-FS or FC-AL standards
• SCSI (subset of adapters only)
– Only two nodes supported
– InfiniBand not supported
• iSCSI
– Support for up to 30 nodes
• NAS File Server
– NFS storage vendors are supported: EMC, Fujitsu, HP, IBM, NetApp, Pillar Data,
Sun, Hitachi.
– NFS file servers do not require RAC certification. The NFS file server must be
supported by the system and storage vendors.
– Currently, only NFS protocol version 3 (NFSv3) is supported.
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Agenda
• Oracle server concepts

• RAC architecture

• Hardware components

• Software components

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Oracle software components

• Oracle Grid Infrastructure

• Oracle Database Software

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Oracle Grid Infrastructure
• Oracle Grid Infrastructure for a standalone server
provides system support for an Oracle database including
volume management, file system, and automatic restart
capabilities
• Oracle Grid Infrastructure for a cluster
Oracle Grid Infrastructure consists of Oracle Clusterware and
Oracle Automatic Storage Management (Oracle ASM).

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Oracle Grid Infrastructure for a cluster

Node 1 Node 2 • Consists of Oracle Clusterware and

Oracle ASM
Clusterware Clusterware

ASM ASM
Operating Operating
System System

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Cluster processes
Component Processes Owner

Cluster Ready Service(CRS) crsd root

ocssd,cssdmonitor,cssdag
Cluster Synchronization Service(CSS) grid,root,root
ent
Event Manager (EVM) evmd,evmlogger grid
Cluster Time Synchronization
octssd root
Service (CTSS)
Oracle Nofification Service(ONS) ons,eons grid

Oracle Agent oraagent grid

Oracle Root Agent orarootagent root

Grid Naming Service (GNS) gnsd root

Grid Plug and Play (GPnP) gpnpd grid

Multicast domain name service
mdnsd grid
(mDNS) © Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
SCAN
• A feature used in Oracle Real
Application Clusters
environments that provides a
single name for clients to
access any Oracle Database
running in a cluster

• There are 2 options for defining

the SCAN:
– Define a SCAN using the
corporate DNS (Domain Name
Service)
– Define a SCAN using the
Oracle Grid Naming Service
(GNS)

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Oracle software components

• Oracle Grid Infrastructure

• Oracle Database Software

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Oracle Database Software

Node 1 Node 2
Clusterware Clusterware

ASM ASM
Database Database
software software
Oracle Database Software
Operating Operating
System System

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