HP Parallel Database Cluster Oracle Real Application Clusters on Linux

Overview

HP Parallel Database Cluster for Oracle Real Application Clusters on Linux
The HP Parallel Database Clusters (PDC) for Linux are multi-node shared storage clusters, specifically designed, tested and optimized for Oracle 10g grid environments and Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC) databases. These platforms have evolved through years of joint engineering work with Oracle. HP customers worldwide, in a variety of application environments, have successfully deployed them. These platforms hold performance and scalability records on industry standard benchmarks and key application benchmarks. The PDC Cluster Kits are a set of tools and configuration support services specifically packaged to reduce the complexity and time to deployment of Oracle 10g RAC and Application Server (J2EE) environments. The PDC Cluster Kit includes detailed documentation of best practices for the implementation of RAC, installation scripts and utilities, test scripts and processes for validating your installation. The kits also include entitlement to specialized PDC support should you encounter any issues during installation. The PDC program includes on-going testing of the PDC configurations to ensure compatibility with Oracle and operating system updates over time. The PDC family of products is available in a full range of deployment options from 'do-it-yourself' to on-site start-up services, each specifically designed to reduce complexity and minimize time to deployment while reducing overall solutions cost.

What's New

Introducing the newest version of the HP Parallel Database Cluster Kit for RAC on Linux with all new optional support for the HP Rapid Deployment Pack:

Support Red Hat AS 3 and now Red Hat AS 4
Support for Oracle RAC deployment and now Oracle Application Server as well
Support for HP Opteron Blades

Models
PDC for Linux RAC Cluster Kit
HP Parallel Database Cluster for Linux Kit - MSA/EVA/DL380 Packaged Cluster MSA500	308225-B23

Description	The HP Parallel Database Cluster (PDC) for Linux RAC Cluster Kits support deployment of multi-node clusters of HP ProLiant servers running Oracle Real Application Clusters and optional Oracle Application Server (J2EE) software. No other clustering software is necessary. The hardware supported by the PDC includes the following:
	Select HP ProLiant and Integrity Servers (including Blade server models) with the high availability and scalability features demanded by high-performance, scale-out, shared-storage environments like Oracle Real Application Clusters. HP StorageWorks MSA1000/1500 or Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA3000 or EVA5000) Fiber Channel SAN environments for mid range to enterprise performance and scalability. For entry level or development environments the HP ProLiant DL380 Packaged Cluster solutions with either MSA500 SCSI or MSA1500 FC storage environments are ideal platforms. Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet dedicated cluster Interconnects utilizing the HP ProCurve family of Network switches.
	For details refer to the PDC for Linux Support Matrix at: http://www.hp.com/solutions/highavailability/oracle
	The HP Parallel Database Cluster (PDC) for Linux RAC Cluster Kit includes:
	Detailed user installation documentation Installation scripts and utilities for Linux OS installation and configuration specific to HP and Oracle RAC or AS Test tools and processes for validating your installation Installation and configuration support entitlement from PDC Support specialists
	The PDC family of products is available in a full range of deployment options from 'do-it-yourself' to on-site start-up services, each specifically designed to reduce complexity and minimize time to deployment while reducing overall solutions cost.
	"Do-it-Yourself" installation is enabled and supported through the HP Parallel Database Cluster Kit. The kit accumulates the knowledge necessary and provides specialized tools and scripts that simplify the process. The kit entitles the owner to escalated phone support by PDC specialists. Fully 'Pre-configured' solutions are available from select HP integration partners in North America and Europe and through HP Custom Systems in Asia Pacific. The HP Start-up Service for Oracle RAC is specifically designed to deliver basic installation and configuration of a valid PDC environment at the customer site (not available in all locations).

Product Highlights

Maximum Availability, Minimum Cost

The Parallel Database Cluster for Linux combines the features of the industry leading HP ProLiant, Integrity and StorageWorks product lines into a tightly integrated solution. With five years of experience developing solutions for Oracle shared storage clustering (initially Oracle Parallel Server (OPS) and now Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC)) we have identified a select set of hardware and software configurations ideally suited for the RAC environment.
The PDC for Linux recommends HP ProLiant DL and HP ProLiant BL servers in 2, and 4 processor models which incorporate all of the advanced high availability features of HP ProLiant. Additionally the PDC program works to integrate and provide best practices documentation on the use of HP management tools in the Oracle 10g environment. For example the PDC Kit installation process has now been updated to run a job with HP Rapid Deployment Pack.
The MSA1500 is HP entry level Fibre Channel storage system designed for the entry level to mid-range Storage Area Networks (SAN). Designed to reduce the complexity, expense and risk of SAN deployment, the MSA1500 is a scaleable, high performance storage system built with investment protection in mind. The modular design of the MSA1500 allows user to easily add storage capacity on an as needed basis. For maximum convenience and ease of deployment the DL380 Packaged Cluster delivers a pair of HP ProLiant DL380 servers with an MSA SAN in a single integrated bundle.
The StorageWorks Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA) is HP mid range Fibre Channel SAN. EVA is a high performance, high capacity and high availability "virtual" RAID storage solution for the high-end enterprise marketplace that removes the time, space and cost boundaries of traditionally architected storage. EVA is designed for the data center where there is a critical need for improved storage utilization and scalability while meeting application specific demands for consistently high transaction I/O and MB data rate performance, seamless capacity expansion, instantaneous replication, and simplified storage administration.
The PDC for Linux Cluster now also supports the DL380 Packaged Cluster MSA500 SCSI environment. This entry level solution provides an ideal platform for Oracle Standard Edition database environments or for development and test purposes. The MSA500 can also be upgrade to a fiber channel SAN if business requirements change.
Optionally, fully redundant I/O is (Packaged Cluster MSA500 redundancy is provided through the MSA500 HA Kit).
The PDC for Linux also provides documentation and recommendations for the implementation of a fully redundant Ethernet cluster interconnect leveraging the cost effective HP ProCurve Ethernet switches and HP network interface cards.
Red Hat Linux subscription support is available directly from HP. There are several options for our award-winning support from incident based all the way to unlimited 7×24 support for mission critical environments. Now one call support for both hardware and software is a reality. For more details see: http://www.hp.com/products/servers/linux/redhat/
The PDC for Linux is an all-HP configuration, which allows optimal integration with HP management tools, and one-call support. It provides significantly improved uptime and lower operating costs than multiple single-server or proprietary database implementations.

Reliable and Repeatable	The HP Parallel Database Cluster Program works to:
	Validate stability and system resilience under real world and industry standard workloads with repetitive fault injection at server, storage, network, OS levels. Define a repeatable and supportable installation process that is fully compliant with Oracle's "Unbreakable Linux" support model and then put this through quality control and field testing. Document processes in detail and provide work-arounds or technical notes where standard installation tools do not function as expected. Develop a set of installation test tools that our customers can utilize to validate each major phase of the installation process. Work to automate as much of the process as possible to reduce implementation time. Provide investment protection by establishing an on-going road map of testing for component updates.
	Processes are designed to complete installation as efficiently as possible and result in a known good configuration. At the same time these processes are designed to educate and provide a model for end user specific configuration and modification. For more details see the Parallel Database Cluster Product Overviews at http://www.hp.com/solutions/highavailability/oracle.

All-HP solutions backed by PDC Support specialists	Because the Parallel Database Cluster is built exclusively from HP hardware technology, support is simplified. Any issue with the cluster can be directed to HP Support Call Centers Globally. To ensure one-call support HP and Oracle have developed a Cooperative Support Agreement that allows the two support centers to interact directly on behalf of our common customers.

Automatic online recovery

Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC) software provides maximum availability for Oracle environments running on an industry standard platform - the HP Parallel Database Cluster. In the event of a node failure, the remaining nodes continue to access the database. Users of the failed node can automatically be redirected to another node in the cluster and continue processing. The surviving nodes automatically recover all of the transactions performed by the applications before the failure occurred, ensuring data integrity.

Data integrity and database consistency

Each instance of the Oracle database is allocated its own mirrored, multi-segment redo logs that store transactions not yet written to the database. If a node or an Oracle copy fails, the remaining nodes use the redo log from the failed node to bring the database back to a consistent state. The Oracle Distributed Lock Manager ensures data consistency and supports multi-initiator access to the storage environment.

Components

Servers	The PDC for Linux cluster supports select HP ProLiant and Integrity Servers (including Blade server models). Please refer to the Support Matrix PDC for Oracle 9i or 10g RAC on Linux (IA32, x86 64 bit emulation or IPF) for supported HP ProLiant and Integrity Server models in the PDC for Linux configurations. The following limitations and recommendations apply when selecting server nodes:
	Each server should have a minimum of 2 processors to ensure stable performance under load Each HP ProLiant server in the PDC for Linux Cluster is recommended to have a minimum of 2 GB of memory. Combinations of the supported PDC server models can be mixed to accommodate future cluster expansion, etc. It is highly recommended that matched servers be used wherever possible as additional tuning and load balancing complexities will result from seriously unbalanced configurations.

Storage	The PDC for Linux configurations have been tested with StorageWorks MSA1000 FC SAN, Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA3000 and EVA5000) Storage subsystems or the DL380 Packaged Cluster MSA500 SCSI as shared storage. For more specifics on supported configuration see the Support Matrix PDC for Linux.

Cluster Interconnect	The PDC for Linux supports single-path or fully redundant Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet cluster interconnects and/or public LAN connections.

Cluster Kits	The HP PDC for Oracle RAC on Linux Cluster Kit (PN 308225-B23) contains:
	User installation and configuration documentation Installation scripts and utilities Test tools and processes for validating your installation
	In addition, purchase of the PDC for Linux cluster kit entitles you to specialize PDC Support should you encounter any issues with the Cluster Kit installation process.

Supported Operating Systems	The PDC for Linux RAC supports specific Linux enterprise versions. For the latest version and errata support see the Support Matrix PDC for Oracle RAC on Linux.

Oracle Real Application Clusters

Oracle Real Application Clusters are implemented using the standard Oracle Enterprise Server product and the Real Application Clusters option. Separate licensing is required for each, contact your Oracle representative or the Oracle On-Line Store for details. No other clustering software components are necessary. For the latest version of Oracle RAC verified for use with the HP Parallel Database Cluster see the PDC Support Matrix.
Other valuable options include the use of the Oracle Cluster File System or a third party cluster file system for improved manageability and flexibility. It is important to note that OCFS is only to be used for Oracle files. No other application or file sharing is allowed.

PolyServe Matrix Server cluster file system

The PolyServe Matrix Server cluster file system has also been tested on the HP Parallel Database Cluster and has proven to be a stable and valuable addition to many RAC installations. Matrix Server is particularly valuable where a larger Linux infrastructure beyond the Oracle environment is involved. Matrix Server is a general purpose file sharing environment for Linux versus the special purpose cluster file system developed by Oracle for RAC. HP offers direct support for the PolyServe cluster file system option through HP Services. PolyServe provides their own Cluster Kit equivalent.

Service and Support	HP Customer Services organization has participated in the definition and delivery of supporting services for the PDC for Linux product: The HP Startup Parallel Database Cluster for RAC Service is a fixed-price, fixed-scope services design to rapidly bring a valid PDC configuration up to a functional RAC cluster - see details below. HP servers and storage systems are protected by HP Services including a three-year limited warranty, 7 x 24 hardware technical phone support and on-line support through CompuServe, Prodigy, America Online and the Internet. For more information on support offerings for your HP hardware, contact your HP Authorized Service Provider.

HP Startup Parallel Database Cluster for RAC Service (available Worldwide) P/N HA533AE (Standalone) HA114A1 Opt 5AZ (when purchased with Kit)	The HP Startup Parallel Database Cluster for RAC Service scope: The service is designed around the deployment of an HP Parallel Database Cluster (PDC) kit, developed by TSG WW Solutions Alliance for Oracle. The HP Startup Parallel Database Clusters for RAC Service provides deployment of Oracle 9i Real Application Cluster (RAC) technology on specifically designed and certified HP server and storage configurations. The service supports Windows and Linux environments, and is a fixed-deliverable, fixed-price service. The service is a software and configuration service only. As a prerequisite to the service, the customer is required to have a hardware platform in place that meets the solution specifications. HP Startup Parallel Database Cluster for RAC Service deliverables: Pre-installation planning and platform verification Configuration of up to a four-node Parallel Database Cluster: Operating system installation and configuration on all servers, including all applicable patches and updates Storage and network configuration Oracle9i with Oracle RAC option installation and configuration including patches and updates Set up a sample Oracle 9iRAC database Verification testing of the cluster Customer orientation

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The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

DA-11688 - World Wide - Version 9 - May 16, 2005