RHEL vs Oracle Linux/Oracle Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel on large x86_64 servers
I need some advise for the following scenario:
One organization is considering to purchase
very large x86_64 servers ( 8-way with more than 1 TB of ram) for running oracle databases.
The current standard is RHEL 5 and 6, tools (RHN-satellite, etc) and procedures are established to maintain and support RHEL. Several hundred RHEL servers are up and running. Also with Oracle databases.
My personal view is that also using RHEL for these new oracle-servers
may be the best choice if at all possible (if RHEL supports the hardware), but oracle unbreakable linux is preferred by others.
The project managers are worried about performance and therefore seems to prefer the oracle offering over RHEL because it has a newer kernel and promises better performance (compared to RHEL5).
Currently it still looks like RHEL6 is not a certified platform for oracle 11g.
RHEL5 is not a good alternative as it does not support such large hardware
(maximum memory supported is only 256GB and 64 logical CPUS. 8-way with 10 core = 160 logical CPUS when hyperthreading is enabled).
So it looks like the Oracle offering is the best choice after all. What do you think? Any pros / cons for both solutions are appreciated.
Responses
https://access.redhat.com/knowledge/refarch/2012-scaling-oracle-11g-rhev-30-environment
Also there is a huge difference for clients choose between
RHEL & Oracle Unbreakable Linux.
Do check this link to get the overall view
http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/229214651
On Tuesday, August 9 2011, Red Hat formally submitted to Oracle full certification test results of the Oracle 11gR2 database (Single Instance and RAC (including ASM) for x86 and x86-64) on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6. Oracle database certification is a self-certification program whereby operating system vendors perform extensive testing and submit the results to Oracle for audit and approval.
The certification process conducted with Oracle 11gR2 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 is the same process Red Hat has successfully completed a number of times with earlier Red Hat Enterprise Linux releases. With those releases, Oracle’s certification approval process took about six weeks from the day we submitted test results to Oracle to the day that Oracle posted the certification on their MetaLink support site (https://support.oracle.com).
Dera Jaison Raju
Are you sure Red Hat submitted to Oracle 11Gr test result including ASM.
Can you please let me know briefly as I dont know about it. As far my knowledge Oracle still not released ASM packages for RHEL 6 kernel(2.6.32-71.el6.x86_64).
If you have any information regarding this, please share. It will help me.
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/linux/asmlib/index-101839.html
//Shyfur
Hi Rahman,
Yes you are right. As of now Oracle has not posted ASMlib driver
for the RHEL6 kernel (2.6.32-71.el6.x86_64) .
Check this link .
http://www.redhat.com/about/news/archive/2011/8/red-hat-submits-oracle-11gr2-on-red-hat-enterprise-linux-6-certification-test-results-to-oracle
I don't think Oracle plans on supplying asmlib for RHEL 6. See link https://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2183312
I think source for asmlib is available - Maybe someone at Red Hat would be nice enough to build and supply the drivers via RHN.
If not then you can always go the multipath or udev route.
Hello
I came across this thread recently and felt like updating it. It should be noted that Red Hat released ASMLib for RHEL 6 during the 6.4 release. Also it should be noted that ASM may be certifiably implemented with udev, even when asmlib is not present.
Details may be found below:
https://access.redhat.com/site/solutions/315643
Welcome! Check out the Getting Started with Red Hat page for quick tours and guides for common tasks.
