Raw devices on a single RAID 5 set? Help...

From: Wayne Sweatt <sweatt_at_dps.state.nm.us>
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 16:46:37 -0600

I am learning on-demand as usual. Now I am asked to setup an
Oracle 8i Server on an AS1200 Du4.0D standalone server that will
eventually be TruClustered (Prod. Server V1.5) with an identical AS1200.

I will have to install/configure Oracle Parallel Server along with TCPSE at some point as well.
OPS requires the use of shared, raw devices.
My problem for now is this:

To use the impending cluster running OPS, I wish to set up the standalone server
with Oracle 8i using raw disks, now. While performing my "learn as I go" pre-install check,
I read that I should have "at least as many raw disk partitions as Oracle tablespaces"
per the "Oracle 8i Admin Guide for Digital UNIX".
I also am required to have a partition for the two control files and one for the redo logs.
The "a" partition is lost, since I am not allowed to have a raw partition that starts on cylinder 0.
I've never tried partitioning "a" starting at cylinder 1 before. It might work being non-bootable.
That's not my real problem.
The big problem is that my shared storage is a single, 4 member RAID 5 set with 1 HSP
and 1 JBOD drive - all 9GB inside a RA3000. The system sees it as two drives - rrz16 adn rrzb16.
This means that I have 12 partitions to use.
I have 12 tablespaces, plus the additional 3 needed for control files and redo logs. If I can use partition "a"
starting at cylinder 1, then I'll have 14. Still not enough.
It's more an issue of lack of partitions than lack of space.
* Any ideas?
It seems that the reasons for configuring raw devices under Oracle are valid. They're not just
recommendations, but requirements.

* Could I configure my six 9GB drives in the RA3000 as three RAID 1 sets? I would lose 9GB, but - maybe? I would have enough partitions then.

* Has anyone ever migrated from a stand-alone DU/Oracle server to a TruCluster/OPS set?
If so, what were the issues?

I'll be doing an Oracle 7.3.4 version after this one.

It's too bad that I have to use raw devices in the first place, since they're hard to administer and backup.
I appreciate any ideas and most comments.

Thanks,


***********************
Wayne Sweatt
Principal Software Analyst
Litton / PRC
505.827.9288
***********************
Received on Tue Aug 17 1999 - 22:50:24 NZST

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