Server pools divide the cluster into logical groups of servers hosting both singleton and uniform applications. The application can be a database service or a non-database application. An application is uniform when the application workload is distributed over all servers in the server pool. An application is singleton when it runs on a single server within the server pool. Oracle Clusterware role-separated management determines access to and use of a server pool.
You manage server pools that contain Oracle RAC databases with the Server Control (SRVCTL) utility. Use the Oracle Clusterware Control (CRSCTL) utility to manage all other server pools. Only cluster administrators have permission to create top-level server pools.
Database administrators use the Server Control (SRVCTL) utility to create and manage server pools that will contain Oracle RAC databases. Cluster administrators use the Oracle Clusterware Control (CRSCTL) utility to create and manage all other server pools, such as server pools for non-database applications. Only cluster administrators have permission to create top-level server pools.
Top-level server pools:
Logically divide the cluster
Are always exclusive, meaning that one server can only reside in one particular server pool at a certain point in time