Understanding Cluster-Aware Storage Solutions

An Oracle RAC database is a shared everything database. All data files, control files, SPFILEs, and redo log files in Oracle RAC environments must reside on cluster-aware shared disks, so that all of the cluster database instances can access these storage components. Because Oracle RAC databases use a shared everything architecture, Oracle RAC requires cluster-aware storage for all database files.

In Oracle RAC, the Oracle Database software manages disk access and is certified for use on a variety of storage architectures. It is your choice how to configure your storage, but you must use a supported cluster-aware storage solution. Oracle Database provides the following storage options for Oracle RAC:

• Oracle Automatic Storage Management (Oracle ASM)

  Oracle recommends this solution to manage your storage.

• A certified cluster file system

  • Oracle recommends Oracle Automatic Storage Management Cluster File System (Oracle ACFS).

  • A third-party cluster file system on a cluster-aware volume manager that is certified for Oracle RAC. For example:

    • Oracle OCFS2 (Linux, only)

    • IBM GPFS (IBM AIX, only)

• Certified network file system (NFS) solution