Category: High Availability Software

Bulk Exadata Patching

After more than 11 year from the launch Oracle Exadata Machine has become popular on many companies across industries, making administrators, developers and final users almost unanimously satisfied about performance and availability.

But also, on Exadata there are cumbersome maintenance activities like patching.

Most of my Exadata customers have acquired 2 non-full RACKs, which makes the patching effort quite reasonable; but recently I started working on a project with multiple full RACKs, with tens of Storage Servers, Compute Nodes and hundreds of Virtual Machines…

A very challenging environment, especially when it came to patching…

Patching all the systems using the standard patchmgr utiliy was not acceptable, therefore I had to replace my standard patching procedure with a new one offering automation and scalability.

At this subject Oracle provides few handy options:

Patching Exadata Infrastructure

  • Storage Server Patching via http/https server: starting with Oracle Exadata System Software release 18.1.0.0.0, it is possible to patch the Storage Servers using an external http server hosting the new software image. The activitiy can be scheduled up to one week before the installation, allowing on each Cell the Management Server (MS) to start downloading and run pre-checks in advance. MS interrupts the software upgrade and generates an alert if the Cell does not comply with all pre-requisites.
  • Unbreakable Linux Network: ULN offers software patches, updates, and fixes for Oracle Linux and Oracle VM. The implementation of a local YUM repository leverages the patch automation of the bare metal OS or dom0/domU.
  • InfiniBand Switch: standard rolling upgrade patching procedure using patchmgr.

Patching Grid Infrastructure & RDBMS

  • GI & RDBMS: those components are patched using the standard Oracle tools common to all platforms, but the entire process has been parallalized using OS tools like dcli commands.

Overview Bulk Exadata Patching

Main Patching Commands

Storage Server – Scheduling Automated Storage Server Update via HTTP/HTTPS

On the Storage Cell set the local Apache location hosting the cell software

[root@efucndb01-a ~]# dcli -l root -g ~/cells cellcli -e 'alter softwareUpdate store=\"http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/cellsw\"'
efucncel01-a: Software Update successfully altered.
efucncel02-a: Software Update successfully altered.
efucncel03-a: Software Update successfully altered.
efucncel04-a: Software Update successfully altered.
efucncel05-a: Software Update successfully altered.
efucncel06-a: Software Update successfully altered.
efucncel07-a: Software Update successfully altered.
efucncel08-a: Software Update successfully altered.
efucncel09-a: Software Update successfully altered.
efucncel10-a: Software Update successfully altered.
efucncel11-a: Software Update successfully altered.
efucncel12-a: Software Update successfully altered.
efucncel13-a: Software Update successfully altered.
efucncel14-a: Software Update successfully altered.
[root@efucndb01-a ~]#

Schedule the update

[root@efucndb01-a ~]# dcli -l root -g ~/cells cellcli -e 'alter softwareUpdate time=\"03:20 AM WEDNESDAY\"'
efucncel01-a: Software update is scheduled to begin at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00.
efucncel02-a: Software update is scheduled to begin at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00.
efucncel03-a: Software update is scheduled to begin at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00.
efucncel04-a: Software update is scheduled to begin at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00.
efucncel05-a: Software update is scheduled to begin at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00.
efucncel06-a: Software update is scheduled to begin at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00.
efucncel07-a: Software update is scheduled to begin at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00.
efucncel08-a: Software update is scheduled to begin at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00.
efucncel09-a: Software update is scheduled to begin at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00.
efucncel10-a: Software update is scheduled to begin at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00.
efucncel11-a: Software update is scheduled to begin at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00.
efucncel12-a: Software update is scheduled to begin at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00.
efucncel13-a: Software update is scheduled to begin at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00.
efucncel14-a: Software update is scheduled to begin at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00.
[root@efucndb01-a ~]#

Verify the scheduled upgrade

[root@efucndb01-a ~]# dcli -l root -g ~/cells cellcli -e 'list softwareupdate detail'
efucncel01-a: name: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
efucncel01-a: status: PreReq OK. Ready to update at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel01-a: store: http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/cellsw
efucncel01-a: time: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel02-a: name: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
efucncel02-a: status: PreReq OK. Ready to update at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel02-a: store: http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/cellsw
efucncel02-a: time: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel03-a: name: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
efucncel03-a: status: PreReq OK. Ready to update at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel03-a: store: http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/cellsw
efucncel03-a: time: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel04-a: name: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
efucncel04-a: status: PreReq OK. Ready to update at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel04-a: store: http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/cellsw
efucncel04-a: time: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel05-a: name: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
efucncel05-a: status: PreReq OK. Ready to update at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel05-a: store: http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/cellsw
efucncel05-a: time: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel06-a: name: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
efucncel06-a: status: PreReq OK. Ready to update at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel06-a: store: http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/cellsw
efucncel06-a: time: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel07-a: name: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
efucncel07-a: status: PreReq OK. Ready to update at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel07-a: store: http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/cellsw
efucncel07-a: time: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel08-a: name: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
efucncel08-a: status: PreReq OK. Ready to update at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel08-a: store: http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/cellsw
efucncel08-a: time: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel09-a: name: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
efucncel09-a: status: PreReq OK. Ready to update at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel09-a: store: http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/cellsw
efucncel09-a: time: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel10-a: name: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
efucncel10-a: status: PreReq OK. Ready to update at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel10-a: store: http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/cellsw
efucncel10-a: time: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel11-a: name: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
efucncel11-a: status: PreReq OK. Ready to update at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel11-a: store: http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/cellsw
efucncel11-a: time: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel12-a: name: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
efucncel12-a: status: PreReq OK. Ready to update at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel12-a: store: http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/cellsw
efucncel12-a: time: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel13-a: name: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
efucncel13-a: status: PreReq OK. Ready to update at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel13-a: store: http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/cellsw
efucncel13-a: time: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel14-a: name: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
efucncel14-a: status: PreReq OK. Ready to update at: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
efucncel14-a: store: http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/cellsw
efucncel14-a: time: 2020-02-05T03:20:00+01:00
[root@efucndb01-a ~]#

Unbreakable Linux Network

dom0 checks

[root@efuconsole dbserver_patch_19.200120]# ./patchmgr -dbnodes ~/dom0 -precheck -yum_repo http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/yum/EngineeredSystems/exadata/dbserver/dom0/19.3.4.0.0/base/x86_64 -target_version 19.3.4.0.0.200130

NOTE patchmgr release: 19.200120 (always check MOS 1553103.1 for the latest release of dbserver.patch.zip)
NOTE
WARNING Do not interrupt the patchmgr session.
WARNING Do not resize the screen. It may disturb the screen layout.
WARNING Do not reboot database nodes during update or rollback.
WARNING Do not open logfiles in write mode and do not try to alter them.

2020-02-06 14:06:17 +0100 :Working: Verify SSH equivalence for the root user to node(s)
2020-02-06 14:06:19 +0100 :SUCCESS: Verify SSH equivalence for the root user to node(s)
2020-02-06 14:06:22 +0100 :Working: Initiate precheck on 8 node(s)
2020-02-06 14:07:36 +0100 :Working: Check free space on node(s)
2020-02-06 14:07:42 +0100 :SUCCESS: Check free space on node(s)
2020-02-06 14:08:07 +0100 :Working: dbnodeupdate.sh running a precheck on node(s).
2020-02-06 14:09:43 +0100 :SUCCESS: Initiate precheck on node(s).
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :SUCCESS: Completed run of command: ./patchmgr -dbnodes /root/dom0 -precheck -yum_repo http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/yum/EngineeredSystems/exadata/dbserver/dom0/19.3.4.0.0/base/x86_64 -target_version 19.3.4.0.0.200130
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :INFO : Precheck attempted on nodes in file /root/dom0: [efucndb01-a efucndb02-a efucndb03-a efucndb04-a efucndb05-a efucndb06-a efucndb07-a efucndb08-a]
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :INFO : Current image version on dbnode(s) is:
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :INFO : efucndb01-a: 19.2.6.0.0.190911.1
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :INFO : efucndb02-a: 19.2.6.0.0.190911.1
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :INFO : efucndb03-a: 19.2.6.0.0.190911.1
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :INFO : efucndb04-a: 19.2.6.0.0.190911.1
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :INFO : efucndb05-a: 19.2.6.0.0.190911.1
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :INFO : efucndb06-a: 19.2.6.0.0.190911.1
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :INFO : efucndb07-a: 19.2.6.0.0.190911.1
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :INFO : efucndb08-a: 19.2.6.0.0.190911.1
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :INFO : For details, check the following files in /EXAVMIMAGES/Patch/patchmgr_DBSERVER/dbserver_patch_19.200120:
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :INFO : - _dbnodeupdate.log
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :INFO : - patchmgr.log
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :INFO : - patchmgr.trc
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :INFO : Exit status:0
2020-02-06 14:09:45 +0100 :INFO : Exiting.
[root@efucndb01-a dbserver_patch_19.200120]#

dom0 upgrade

[root@efuconsole dbserver_patch_19.200120]# ./patchmgr -dbnodes ~/dom0 -upgrade -yum_repo http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/yum/EngineeredSystems/exadata/dbserver/dom0/19.3.4.0.0/base/x86_64 -target_version 19.3.4.0.0.200130

NOTE patchmgr release: 19.200120 (always check MOS 1553103.1 for the latest release of dbserver.patch.zip)
NOTE
NOTE Database nodes will reboot during the update process.
NOTE
WARNING Do not interrupt the patchmgr session.
WARNING Do not resize the screen. It may disturb the screen layout.
WARNING Do not reboot database nodes during update or rollback.
WARNING Do not open logfiles in write mode and do not try to alter them.

2020-02-06 14:29:11 +0100 :Working: Verify SSH equivalence for the root user to node(s)
2020-02-06 14:29:13 +0100 :SUCCESS: Verify SSH equivalence for the root user to node(s)
2020-02-06 14:29:15 +0100 :Working: Initiate prepare steps on node(s).
2020-02-06 14:29:17 +0100 :Working: Check free space on node(s)
2020-02-06 14:29:23 +0100 :SUCCESS: Check free space on node(s)
2020-02-06 14:29:59 +0100 :SUCCESS: Initiate prepare steps on node(s).
2020-02-06 14:29:59 +0100 :Working: Initiate update on 8 node(s).
2020-02-06 14:29:59 +0100 :Working: dbnodeupdate.sh running a backup on 8 node(s).
2020-02-06 14:36:16 +0100 :SUCCESS: dbnodeupdate.sh running a backup on 8 node(s).
2020-02-06 14:36:16 +0100 :Working: Initiate update on node(s)
2020-02-06 14:36:16 +0100 :Working: Get information about any required OS upgrades from node(s).
2020-02-06 14:36:28 +0100 :SUCCESS: Get information about any required OS upgrades from node(s).
2020-02-06 14:36:28 +0100 :Working: dbnodeupdate.sh running an update step on all nodes.
2020-02-06 14:56:38 +0100 :INFO : efucndb01-a is ready to reboot.
2020-02-06 14:56:38 +0100 :INFO : efucndb02-a is ready to reboot.
2020-02-06 14:56:38 +0100 :INFO : efucndb03-a is ready to reboot.
2020-02-06 14:56:38 +0100 :INFO : efucndb04-a is ready to reboot.
2020-02-06 14:56:38 +0100 :INFO : efucndb05-a is ready to reboot.
2020-02-06 14:56:38 +0100 :INFO : efucndb06-a is ready to reboot.
2020-02-06 14:56:38 +0100 :INFO : efucndb07-a is ready to reboot.
2020-02-06 14:56:38 +0100 :INFO : efucndb08-a is ready to reboot.
2020-02-06 14:56:39 +0100 :SUCCESS: dbnodeupdate.sh running an update step on all nodes.
2020-02-06 14:56:51 +0100 :Working: Initiate reboot on node(s)
2020-02-06 14:56:55 +0100 :SUCCESS: Initiate reboot on node(s)
2020-02-06 14:56:55 +0100 :Working: Waiting to ensure node(s) is down before reboot.
2020-02-06 14:58:20 +0100 :SUCCESS: Waiting to ensure node(s) is down before reboot.
2020-02-06 14:58:20 +0100 :Working: Waiting to ensure node(s) is up after reboot.
2020-02-06 15:04:23 +0100 :SUCCESS: Waiting to ensure node(s) is up after reboot.
2020-02-06 15:04:23 +0100 :Working: Waiting to connect to node(s) with SSH. During Linux upgrades this can take some time.
2020-02-06 15:27:46 +0100 :SUCCESS: Waiting to connect to node(s) with SSH. During Linux upgrades this can take some time.
2020-02-06 15:27:46 +0100 :Working: Wait for node(s) is ready for the completion step of update.
2020-02-06 15:31:29 +0100 :SUCCESS: Wait for node(s) is ready for the completion step of update.
2020-02-06 15:31:30 +0100 :Working: Initiate completion step from dbnodeupdate.sh on node(s)
2020-02-06 15:48:10 +0100 :SUCCESS: Initiate completion step from dbnodeupdate.sh on efucndb01-a
2020-02-06 15:48:14 +0100 :SUCCESS: Initiate completion step from dbnodeupdate.sh on efucndb02-a
2020-02-06 15:48:19 +0100 :SUCCESS: Initiate completion step from dbnodeupdate.sh on efucndb03-a
2020-02-06 15:48:30 +0100 :SUCCESS: Initiate completion step from dbnodeupdate.sh on efucndb04-a
2020-02-06 15:48:35 +0100 :SUCCESS: Initiate completion step from dbnodeupdate.sh on efucndb05-a
2020-02-06 15:48:46 +0100 :SUCCESS: Initiate completion step from dbnodeupdate.sh on efucndb06-a
2020-02-06 15:48:50 +0100 :SUCCESS: Initiate completion step from dbnodeupdate.sh on efucndb07-a
2020-02-06 15:49:02 +0100 :SUCCESS: Initiate completion step from dbnodeupdate.sh on efucndb08-a
2020-02-06 15:49:18 +0100 :SUCCESS: Initiate update on node(s).
2020-02-06 15:49:18 +0100 :SUCCESS: Initiate update on 0 node(s).
[INFO ] Collected dbnodeupdate diag in file: Diag_patchmgr_dbnode_upgrade_060220142909.tbz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6381043 Feb 6 15:49 Diag_patchmgr_dbnode_upgrade_060220142909.tbz
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :SUCCESS: Completed run of command: ./patchmgr -dbnodes /root/dom0 -upgrade -yum_repo http://uln-yum.emilianofusaglia.net/yum/EngineeredSystems/exadata/dbserver/dom0/19.3.4.0.0/base/x86_64 -target_version 19.3.4.0.0.200130
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :INFO : Upgrade attempted on nodes in file /root/dom0: [efucndb01-a efucndb02-a efucndb03-a efucndb04-a efucndb05-a efucndb06-a efucndb07-a efucndb08-a]
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :INFO : Current image version on dbnode(s) is:
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :INFO : efucndb01-a: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :INFO : efucndb02-a: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :INFO : efucndb03-a: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :INFO : efucndb04-a: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :INFO : efucndb05-a: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :INFO : efucndb06-a: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :INFO : efucndb07-a: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :INFO : efucndb08-a: 19.3.4.0.0.200130
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :INFO : For details, check the following files in /EXAVMIMAGES/Patch/patchmgr_DBSERVER/dbserver_patch_19.200120:
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :INFO : - _dbnodeupdate.log
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :INFO : - patchmgr.log
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :INFO : - patchmgr.trc
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :INFO : Exit status:0
2020-02-06 15:49:22 +0100 :INFO : Exiting.

InfiniBand Switch

IB switch checks

[root@efucndb01-a patch_switch_19.3.4.0.0.200130]# ./patchmgr -ibswitches ~/ibs -upgrade -ibswitch_precheck
2020-02-10 07:57:44 +0100 :Working: Verify SSH equivalence for the root user to node(s)
2020-02-10 07:57:46 +0100 :SUCCESS: Verify SSH equivalence for the root user to node(s)
2020-02-10 07:57:47 +0100 1 of 1 :Working: Initiate pre-upgrade validation check on InfiniBand switch(es).
----- InfiniBand switch update process started 2020-02-10 07:57:48 +0100 -----
[NOTE ] Log file at /EXAVMIMAGES/Patch/IBs_19.3.4.0.0/patch_switch_19.3.4.0.0.200130/upgradeIBSwitch.log
[INFO ] List of InfiniBand switches for upgrade: ( efucnsw-iba01-a efucnsw-ibb01-a )
[SUCCESS ] Verifying Network connectivity to efucnsw-iba01-a
[SUCCESS ] Verifying Network connectivity to efucnsw-ibb01-a
[SUCCESS ] Validating verify-topology output
[INFO ] Master Subnet Manager is set to "efucnsw-iba01-a" in all Switches
[INFO ] ---------- Starting with InfiniBand Switch efucnsw-iba01-a
[WARNING ] Infiniband switch meets minimal version requirements, but downgrade is only available to 2.2.13-2 with the current package.
To downgrade to other versions:
Manually download the InfiniBand switch firmware package to the patch directory
Set export variable "EXADATA_IMAGE_IBSWITCH_DOWNGRADE_VERSION" to the appropriate version
Run patchmgr command to initiate downgrade.
[SUCCESS ] Verify SSH access to the patchmgr host efucndb01-a.emilianofusaglia.net from the InfiniBand Switch efucnsw-iba01-a.
[INFO ] Starting pre-update validation on efucnsw-iba01-a
[SUCCESS ] Verifying that /tmp has 150M in efucnsw-iba01-a, found 492M
[SUCCESS ] Verifying that / has 20M in efucnsw-iba01-a, found 28M
[SUCCESS ] NTP daemon is running on efucnsw-iba01-a.
[INFO ] Manually validate the following entries Date:(YYYY-aM-DD) 2020-02-10 Time:(HH:MM:SS) 07:58:05
[INFO ] Validating the current firmware on the InfiniBand Switch
[SUCCESS ] Firmware verification on InfiniBand switch efucnsw-iba01-a
[SUCCESS ] Verifying that the patchmgr host efucndb01-a.emilianofusaglia.net is recognized on the InfiniBand Switch efucnsw-iba01-a through getHostByName
[SUCCESS ] Execute plugin check for Patch Check Prereq on efucnsw-iba01-a
[INFO ] Finished pre-update validation on efucnsw-iba01-a
[SUCCESS ] Pre-update validation on efucnsw-iba01-a
[SUCCESS ] Prereq check on efucnsw-iba01-a
[INFO ] ---------- Starting with InfiniBand Switch efucnsw-ibb01-a
[WARNING ] Infiniband switch meets minimal version requirements, but downgrade is only available to 2.2.13-2 with the current package.
To downgrade to other versions:
Manually download the InfiniBand switch firmware package to the patch directory
Set export variable "EXADATA_IMAGE_IBSWITCH_DOWNGRADE_VERSION" to the appropriate version
Run patchmgr command to initiate downgrade.
[SUCCESS ] Verify SSH access to the patchmgr host efucndb01-a.emilianofusaglia.net from the InfiniBand Switch efucnsw-ibb01-a.
[INFO ] Starting pre-update validation on efucnsw-ibb01-a
[SUCCESS ] Verifying that /tmp has 150M in efucnsw-ibb01-a, found 492M
[SUCCESS ] Verifying that / has 20M in efucnsw-ibb01-a, found 28M
[SUCCESS ] NTP daemon is running on efucnsw-ibb01-a.
[INFO ] Manually validate the following entries Date:(YYYY-aM-DD) 2020-02-10 Time:(HH:MM:SS) 07:58:25
[INFO ] Validating the current firmware on the InfiniBand Switch
[SUCCESS ] Firmware verification on InfiniBand switch efucnsw-ibb01-a
[SUCCESS ] Verifying that the patchmgr host efucndb01-a.emilianofusaglia.net is recognized on the InfiniBand Switch efucnsw-ibb01-a through getHostByName
[SUCCESS ] Execute plugin check for Patch Check Prereq on efucnsw-ibb01-a
[INFO ] Finished pre-update validation on efucnsw-ibb01-a
[SUCCESS ] Pre-update validation on efucnsw-ibb01-a
[SUCCESS ] Prereq check on efucnsw-ibb01-a
[SUCCESS ] Overall status
----- InfiniBand switch update process ended 2020-02-10 07:58:42 +0100 -----
2020-02-10 07:58:42 +0100 1 of 1 :SUCCESS: Initiate pre-upgrade validation check on InfiniBand switch(es).
2020-02-10 07:58:42 +0100 :SUCCESS: Completed run of command: ./patchmgr -ibswitches /root/ibs -upgrade -ibswitch_precheck
2020-02-10 07:58:42 +0100 :INFO : upgrade attempted on nodes in file /root/ibs: [efucnsw-iba01-a efucnsw-ibb01-a]
2020-02-10 07:58:42 +0100 :INFO : For details, check the following files in /EXAVMIMAGES/Patch/IBs_19.3.4.0.0/patch_switch_19.3.4.0.0.200130:
2020-02-10 07:58:42 +0100 :INFO : - upgradeIBSwitch.log
2020-02-10 07:58:42 +0100 :INFO : - upgradeIBSwitch.trc
2020-02-10 07:58:42 +0100 :INFO : - patchmgr.stdout
2020-02-10 07:58:42 +0100 :INFO : - patchmgr.stderr
2020-02-10 07:58:42 +0100 :INFO : - patchmgr.log
2020-02-10 07:58:42 +0100 :INFO : - patchmgr.trc
2020-02-10 07:58:42 +0100 :INFO : Exit status:0
2020-02-10 07:58:42 +0100 :INFO : Exiting.
[root@efucndb01-a patch_switch_19.3.4.0.0.200130]#

IB switch upgrade

[root@efucndb01-a patch_switch_19.3.4.0.0.200130]# ./patchmgr -ibswitches ~/ibs -upgrade
2020-02-10 07:59:22 +0100 :Working: Verify SSH equivalence for the root user to node(s)
2020-02-10 07:59:24 +0100 :SUCCESS: Verify SSH equivalence for the root user to node(s)
2020-02-10 07:59:25 +0100 1 of 1 :Working: Initiate upgrade of InfiniBand switches to 2.2.14-1. Expect up to 40 minutes for each switch
----- InfiniBand switch update process started 2020-02-10 07:59:25 +0100 -----
[NOTE ] Log file at /EXAVMIMAGES/Patch/IBs_19.3.4.0.0/patch_switch_19.3.4.0.0.200130/upgradeIBSwitch.log
[INFO ] List of InfiniBand switches for upgrade: ( efucnsw-iba01-a efucnsw-ibb01-a )
[SUCCESS ] Verifying Network connectivity to efucnsw-iba01-a
[SUCCESS ] Verifying Network connectivity to efucnsw-ibb01-a
[SUCCESS ] Validating verify-topology output
[INFO ] Proceeding with upgrade of InfiniBand switches to version 2.2.14_1
[INFO ] Master Subnet Manager is set to "efucnsw-iba01-a" in all Switches
[INFO ] ---------- Starting with InfiniBand Switch efucnsw-iba01-a
[WARNING ] Infiniband switch meets minimal version requirements, but downgrade is only available to 2.2.13-2 with the current package.
To downgrade to other versions:
Manually download the InfiniBand switch firmware package to the patch directory
Set export variable "EXADATA_IMAGE_IBSWITCH_DOWNGRADE_VERSION" to the appropriate version
Run patchmgr command to initiate downgrade.
[SUCCESS ] Verify SSH access to the patchmgr host efucndb01-a.emilianofusaglia.net from the InfiniBand Switch efucnsw-iba01-a.
[INFO ] Starting pre-update validation on efucnsw-iba01-a
[SUCCESS ] Verifying that /tmp has 150M in efucnsw-iba01-a, found 492M
[SUCCESS ] Verifying that / has 20M in efucnsw-iba01-a, found 26M
[SUCCESS ] Service opensmd is running on InfiniBand Switch efucnsw-iba01-a
[SUCCESS ] NTP daemon is running on efucnsw-iba01-a.
[INFO ] Manually validate the following entries Date:(YYYY-aM-DD) 2020-02-10 Time:(HH:MM:SS) 07:59:41
[INFO ] Validating the current firmware on the InfiniBand Switch
[SUCCESS ] Firmware verification on InfiniBand switch efucnsw-iba01-a
[SUCCESS ] Verifying that the patchmgr host efucndb01-a.emilianofusaglia.net is recognized on the InfiniBand Switch efucnsw-iba01-a through getHostByName
[SUCCESS ] Execute plugin check for Patch Check Prereq on efucnsw-iba01-a
[INFO ] Finished pre-update validation on efucnsw-iba01-a
[SUCCESS ] Pre-update validation on efucnsw-iba01-a
[INFO ] Package will be downloaded at firmware update time via scp
[SUCCESS ] Execute plugin check for Patching on efucnsw-iba01-a
[INFO ] Starting upgrade on efucnsw-iba01-a to 2.2.14_1. Please give upto 15 mins for the process to complete. DO NOT INTERRUPT or HIT CTRL+C during the upgrade
[INFO ] Rebooting efucnsw-iba01-a to complete the firmware update. Wait for 15 minutes before continuing. DO NOT MANUALLY REBOOT THE INFINIBAND SWITCH
Connection to efucndb01-a closed by remote host.
Connection to efucndb01-a closed.
2020-02-10 08:27:49 +0100 :Working: Verify SSH equivalence for the root user to node(s)
2020-02-10 08:27:51 +0100 :SUCCESS: Verify SSH equivalence for the root user to node(s)
2020-02-10 08:27:52 +0100 1 of 1 :Working: Initiate upgrade of InfiniBand switches to 2.2.14-1. Expect up to 40 minutes for each switch
----- InfiniBand switch update process started 2020-02-10 08:27:52 +0100 -----
[NOTE ] Log file at /EXAVMIMAGES/Patch/IBs_19.3.4.0.0/patch_switch_19.3.4.0.0.200130/upgradeIBSwitch.log
[INFO ] List of InfiniBand switches for upgrade: ( efucnsw-iba01-a efucnsw-ibb01-a )
[SUCCESS ] Verifying Network connectivity to efucnsw-iba01-a
[SUCCESS ] Verifying Network connectivity to efucnsw-ibb01-a
[INFO ] InfiniBand switch efucnsw-iba01-a is already at target version.
[SUCCESS ] Validating verify-topology output
[INFO ] Proceeding with upgrade of InfiniBand switches to version 2.2.14_1
[INFO ] Master Subnet Manager is set to "efucnsw-ibb01-a" in all Switches
[INFO ] ---------- Starting with InfiniBand Switch efucnsw-ibb01-a
[WARNING ] Infiniband switch meets minimal version requirements, but downgrade is only available to 2.2.13-2 with the current package.
To downgrade to other versions:
Manually download the InfiniBand switch firmware package to the patch directory
Set export variable "EXADATA_IMAGE_IBSWITCH_DOWNGRADE_VERSION" to the appropriate version
Run patchmgr command to initiate downgrade.
[SUCCESS ] Verify SSH access to the patchmgr host efucndb01-a.emilianofusaglia.net from the InfiniBand Switch efucnsw-ibb01-a.
[INFO ] Starting pre-update validation on efucnsw-ibb01-a
[SUCCESS ] Verifying that /tmp has 150M in efucnsw-ibb01-a, found 492M
[SUCCESS ] Verifying that / has 20M in efucnsw-ibb01-a, found 26M
[SUCCESS ] Service opensmd is running on InfiniBand Switch efucnsw-ibb01-a
[SUCCESS ] NTP daemon is running on efucnsw-ibb01-a.
[INFO ] Manually validate the following entries Date:(YYYY-aM-DD) 2020-02-10 Time:(HH:MM:SS) 08:28:07
[INFO ] Validating the current firmware on the InfiniBand Switch
[SUCCESS ] Firmware verification on InfiniBand switch efucnsw-ibb01-a
[SUCCESS ] Verifying that the patchmgr host efucndb01-a.emilianofusaglia.net is recognized on the InfiniBand Switch efucnsw-ibb01-a through getHostByName
[SUCCESS ] Execute plugin check for Patch Check Prereq on efucnsw-ibb01-a
[INFO ] Finished pre-update validation on efucnsw-ibb01-a
[SUCCESS ] Pre-update validation on efucnsw-ibb01-a
[INFO ] Package will be downloaded at firmware update time via scp
[SUCCESS ] Execute plugin check for Patching on efucnsw-ibb01-a
[INFO ] Starting upgrade on efucnsw-ibb01-a to 2.2.14_1. Please give upto 15 mins for the process to complete. DO NOT INTERRUPT or HIT CTRL+C during the upgrade
[INFO ] Rebooting efucnsw-ibb01-a to complete the firmware update. Wait for 15 minutes before continuing. DO NOT MANUALLY REBOOT THE INFINIBAND SWITCH
Connection to efucndb01-a closed by remote host.
Connection to efucndb01-a closed.

Feedback of Modern Consolidated Database Environment

 

Since the launch of Oracle 12c R1 Beta Program (August 2012) at Trivadis, we have been intensively testing, engineering and implementing Multitenant architectures for our customers.

Today, we can provide our feedbacks and those of our customers!

The overall feedback related to Oracle Multitenant is very positive, customers have been able to increase flexibility and automation, improving the efficiency of the software development life cycles.

Even the Single-tenant configuration (free of charge) brings few advantages compared to the non-CDB architecture. Therefore, from a technology point of view I recommend adopting the Container Database (CDB) architecture for all Oracle databases.

 

Examples of Multitenant architectures implemented

Having defined Oracle Multitenant a technological revolution on the space of relational databases, when combined with others 12c features it becomes a game changer for flexibility, automation and velocity.

Here are listed few examples of successful architectures implemented with our customers, using Oracle Container Database (CDB):

 

  • Database consolidation without performance and stability compromise here.

 

  • Multitenant and DevOps here.

 

  • Operating Database Disaster Recovery in Multitenant environment here.

 

 

 

Adding Pluggable Databases to an existing Multitenant Data Guard environment

We all know the benefits of the Oracle Multitenant cosolidation “Many-as-One”, one container (CDB) operation for wich many Pluggable Databases (PDBs) can take benefit; for example one CDB backup protects all PDBs stored inside the container itself.

While among the DBAs the setup of Oracle Data Guard is become more than a standandard routine,  described in thousands of Internet pages and blogs (one example available here), this post explains how to add new Pluggable Databases (PDBs) to an existing Multitenant environment protected by Data Guard.

 

How to create PDBs in Oracle Multitenant environment protected by Data Guard

There are multiple scenarios of PDB creation and they differently integrate within the Data Guard architecture. The easiest way to proceed consists in creating a new Pluggable Database using the SEED PDB:

  • PDB creation from SEED
    The creation of a brand new empty pluggable database is automatically replicated to each physical standby database. No additional action is required.

 

Unfortunately, this option is not always applicable because the new PDB should be a clone of an existing one. Therefore, it is important for the DBA to understand how integrating new non-empty Pluggable Database on a Multitenant and Data Guard environment without impacting the pre-existing setup.

 

  • PDB clone 

Cloning a PDB in a Data Guard environment requires few additional steps, which changes across the different Oracle versions and when Active Data Guard option is in use. While remote cloning the PDB the option STANDBYS=NONE should be used to defer the PDB replica to the Standby container. Then it is possible to replicate and protect the newly cloned PDB with Data Guard.

A full example of how to perform those tasks is reported below.

 

Cloning a PDB via DB Link using the STANDBYS=NONE option

create pluggable database PCJORD from PCLORD@ccls01_PCLORD tempfile reuse STANDBYS=NONE;

 

Open the newly cloned PDB

alter pluggable database PCJORD open instances=all;

 

On the Standby Container Restore PDB from Primary

run{
set newname for pluggable database PCJORD to new;
restore pluggable database PCJORD from service CMJP01;
switch datafile all;
}

 

Connect to the Standby container and STOP the Apply Process

dgmgrl
connect sys/xxxxxxxx@CMJP01
edit database 'CMJS01' set state='APPLY-OFF';

 

If Active Data Guard is in use, re-start the Standby container in MOUNT

srvctl stop database -db CMJS01 

sqlplus / as sysdba
startup mount

 

Enable the PDB recovery on the Standby Container

alter session set container=PCJORD;
alter pluggable database enable recovery;

 

Connect to the Standby container and RE-START the Apply Process

dgmdrl
connect sys/xxxxxxxx@CMJP01
edit database 'CMJS01' set state='APPLY-ON';

 

If Active Data Guard is in use Open the Container in Read Only

alter database open;

 

 

 

 

Adding flexibility to Oracle GI Implementing Multiple SCANs

Nowadays the business requirements force the IT to implement the more and more sophisticated and consolidated environments without compromising availability, performance and flexibility of each application running on it.

In this post, I explain how to improve the Grid Infrastructure Network flexibility, implementing multiple SCANs and how to associate one or multiple networks to the Oracle databases.

To better understand the reasons for such type of implementation, below are listed few common use cases:

  • Applications are deployed on different/dedicated subnets.
  • Network isolation due to security requirement.
  • Different database protocols are in use (TCP, TCPS, etc.).

 

 

Single Client Access Name (SCAN)

By default on each Oracle Grid Infrastructure cluster, indipendently from the number of nodes, one SCAN with 3 SCAN VIPs is created.

Below is depicted the default Oracle Clusterware network/SCAN configuration.

 

Single_Scan_Listener

 

Multiple Single Client Access Name (SCAN) implementation

Before implemeting additional SCANs, the OS provisioning of new network interfaces or new VLAN Tagging has to be completed.

The current example uses the second option (VLAN Tagging), and the bond0 interface is an Active/Active setup of two 10gbe cards, to which a VLAN tag has been added.

Below is represented the customized Oracle Clusterware network/SCAN configuration, having added a second SCAN.

 

Multi_Scan_Listeners

 

Step-by-step implementation

After completing the OS network setup, as grid owner add the new interface to the Grid Infrastructure:

grid@host01a:~# oifcfg setif -global bond0.764/10.15.69.0:public

grid@host01a:~# oifcfg getif
eno49 192.168.7.32 global cluster_interconnect,asm
eno50 192.168.9.48 global cluster_interconnect,asm
bond0 10.11.8.0 global public
bond0.764 10.15.69.0 global public
grid@host01a:~#

 

Then as root create the network number 2 and disply the configuration:

root@host01a:~# /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid/bin/srvctl add network -netnum 2 -subnet 10.15.69.0/255.255.255.0/bond0.764 -nettype STATIC

root@host01a:~# /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid/bin/srvctl config network -netnum 2
Network 2 exists
Subnet IPv4: 10.15.69.0/255.255.255.0/, static
Subnet IPv6:
Ping Targets:
Network is enabled
Network is individually enabled on nodes:
Network is individually disabled on nodes:

 

As root user add the node VIPs:

root@host01a:~# /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid/bin/srvctl add vip -node host01a -netnum 2 -address host01b-vip.emilianofusaglia.net/255.255.255.0
root@host01a:~# /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid/bin/srvctl add vip -node host02a -netnum 2 -address host02b-vip.emilianofusaglia.net/255.255.255.0
root@host01a:~# /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid/bin/srvctl add vip -node host03a -netnum 2 -address host03b-vip.emilianofusaglia.net/255.255.255.0
root@host01a:~# /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid/bin/srvctl add vip -node host04a -netnum 2 -address host04b-vip.emilianofusaglia.net/255.255.255.0
root@host01a:~# /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid/bin/srvctl add vip -node host05a -netnum 2 -address host05b-vip.emilianofusaglia.net/255.255.255.0
root@host01a:~# /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid/bin/srvctl add vip -node host06a -netnum 2 -address host06b-vip.emilianofusaglia.net/255.255.255.0

 

As grid user  create a new listener based on the network number 2:

grid@host01a:~# srvctl add listener -listener LISTENER2 -netnum 2 -endpoints "TCP:1532"

 

As root user add the new SCAN to the network number 2:

 root@host01a:~# /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid/bin/srvctl add scan -scanname scan-02.emilianofusaglia.net -netnum 2

 

As root user start the new node VIPs:

root@host01a:~# /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid/bin/srvctl start vip -vip host01b-vip.emilianofusaglia.net
root@host01a:~# /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid/bin/srvctl start vip -vip host02b-vip.emilianofusaglia.net
root@host01a:~# /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid/bin/srvctl start vip -vip host03b-vip.emilianofusaglia.net
root@host01a:~# /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid/bin/srvctl start vip -vip host04b-vip.emilianofusaglia.net
root@host01a:~# /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid/bin/srvctl start vip -vip host05b-vip.emilianofusaglia.net
root@host01a:~# /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid/bin/srvctl start vip -vip host06b-vip.emilianofusaglia.net

 

As grid user start the new node Listeners:

grid@host01a:~# srvctl start listener -listener LISTENER2
grid@host01a:~# srvctl status listener -listener LISTENER2
Listener LISTENER2 is enabled
Listener LISTENER2 is running on node(s): host01a,host02a,host03a,host04a,host05a,host06a

 

As root user start the new SCAN and as grid user check the configuration:

root@host01a:~# /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid/bin/srvctl start scan -netnum 2

grid@host01a:~# srvctl config scan -netnum 2
SCAN name: scan-02.emilianofusaglia.net, Network: 2
Subnet IPv4: 10.15.69.0/255.255.255.0/, static
Subnet IPv6:
SCAN 1 IPv4 VIP: 10.15.69.44
SCAN VIP is enabled.
SCAN VIP is individually enabled on nodes:
SCAN VIP is individually disabled on nodes:
SCAN 2 IPv4 VIP: 10.15.69.45
SCAN VIP is enabled.
SCAN VIP is individually enabled on nodes:
SCAN VIP is individually disabled on nodes:
SCAN 3 IPv4 VIP: 10.15.69.43
SCAN VIP is enabled.
SCAN VIP is individually enabled on nodes:
SCAN VIP is individually disabled on nodes:

grid@host01a:~# srvctl status scan -netnum 2
SCAN VIP scan1_net2 is enabled
SCAN VIP scan1_net2 is running on node host02a
SCAN VIP scan2_net2 is enabled
SCAN VIP scan2_net2 is running on node host01a
SCAN VIP scan3_net2 is enabled
SCAN VIP scan3_net2 is running on node host03a

 

As grid user add the SCAN Listener and check the configuration:

grid@host01a:~# srvctl add scan_listener -netnum 2 -listener LISTENER2 -endpoints TCP:1532

grid@host01a:~# srvctl config scan_listener -netnum 2
SCAN Listener LISTENER2_SCAN1_NET2 exists. Port: TCP:1532
Registration invited nodes:
Registration invited subnets:
SCAN Listener is enabled.
SCAN Listener is individually enabled on nodes:
SCAN Listener is individually disabled on nodes:
SCAN Listener LISTENER2_SCAN2_NET2 exists. Port: TCP:1532
Registration invited nodes:
Registration invited subnets:
SCAN Listener is enabled.
SCAN Listener is individually enabled on nodes:
SCAN Listener is individually disabled on nodes:
SCAN Listener LISTENER2_SCAN3_NET2 exists. Port: TCP:1532
Registration invited nodes:
Registration invited subnets:
SCAN Listener is enabled.
SCAN Listener is individually enabled on nodes:
SCAN Listener is individually disabled on nodes:

 

As grid user start the SCAN Listener2 and check the status:

grid@host01a:~# srvctl start scan_listener -netnum 2

grid@host01a:~# srvctl status scan_listener -netnum 2
SCAN Listener LISTENER2_SCAN1_NET2 is enabled
SCAN listener LISTENER2_SCAN1_NET2 is running on node host02a
SCAN Listener LISTENER2_SCAN2_NET2 is enabled
SCAN listener LISTENER2_SCAN2_NET2 is running on node host01a
SCAN Listener LISTENER2_SCAN3_NET2 is enabled
SCAN listener LISTENER2_SCAN3_NET2 is running on node host03a

 

Defining the multi SCANs configuration per database

Once the above configuration is completed, it remains to define which SCAN/s should be used by each database.

When multiple SCANs exists, by default the CRS populate the LISTENER_NETWORKS parameter to register the database against all SCANs and LISTENERs.

To overwrite this default behavior, allowing for example the authentication of a specific database only against the SCAN scan-02.emilianofusaglia.net, the database parameter LISTENER_NETWORKS should be manually configured.
The parameter LISTENER_NETWORKS can be dynamically set but the new value is enforced during the next instance restart.

 

 

Installing Oracle Grid Infrastructure 12c R2

It has been an exciting week, Oracle 12c R2 came out and suddenly was time to refresh the RAC test environments. My friend Jacques opted for an upgrade from 12.1.0.2 to 12.2.0.1 (here the link to his blog post),  I started with a fresh installation, because I also upgraded the Operating System to OEL  7.3.

Compared to 12c R1 there are new options on the installation process, but general speaking the wizard is quite similar.

The first breakthrough is about the installation simplified with an image based, no more runIstaller.sh to invoke but …

Unpack the .Zip file directly inside the Grid Infrastructure Home of the first cluster node as described below:

[grid@oel7node06 ~]$ mkdir -p /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid 
[grid@oel7node06 ~]$ chown grid:oinstall /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid 
[grid@oel7node06 ~]$ cd /u01/app/12.2.0.1/grid 
[grid@oel7node06 grid]$ unzip -q download_location/grid_home_image.zip

# From an X session invoke the Grid Infrastructure wizard: 
[grid@oel7node06 grid]$ ./gridSetup.sh

 

01

 

 

The second screenshot list the new Cluster typoligies available on 12c R2:

  • Oracle Standalone Cluster
  • Oracle Cluster Domain
    • Oracle Domain Services Cluster
    • Oracle Member Clusters
      • Oracle Member Cluster for Oracle Database
      • Oracle Member Cluster for Applications

 

In my case I’m installing an Oracle Standalone Cluster

02

 

 

03

04

 

05

 

06

 

07

 

08

 

09

 

10

 

11

 

12

 

13

 

14

 

15

 

16

 

17

 

18

19

 

20

 

21

 

22

 

And now time for testing.

 

 

Featured

ASM 12c

A powerful framework for storage management

 

1 INTRODUCTION

Oracle Automatic Storage Management (ASM) is a well-known, largely used multi-platform volume manager and file system, designed for single-instance and clustered environment. Developed for managing Oracle database files with optimal performance and native data protection, simplifying the storage management; nowadays ASM includes several functionalities for general-purpose files too.
This article focuses on the architecture and characteristics of the version 12c, where great changes and enhancements of pre-existing capabilities have been introduced by Oracle.
Dedicated sections explaining how Oracle has leveraged ASM within the Oracle Engineered Systems complete the paper.

 

1.1 ASM 12c Instance Architecture Diagram

Below are highlighted the functionalities and the main background components associated to an ASM instance. It is important to notice how starting from Oracle 12c a database can run within ASM Disk Groups or on top of ASM Cluster file systems (ACFS).

 

ASM_db

 

Overview ASM options available in Oracle 12c.

ACFS

 

1.2       ASM 12c Multi-Nodes Architecture Diagram

In a Multi-node cluster environment, ASM 12c is now available in two configurations:

  • 11gR2 like: with one ASM instance on each Grid Infrastructure node.
  • Flex ASM: a new concept, which leverages the architecture availability and performance of the cluster; removing the 1:1 hard dependency between cluster node and local ASM instance. With Flex ASM only few nodes of the cluster run an ASM instance, (the default cardinality is 3) and the database instances communicate with ASM in two possible way: locally or over the ASM Network. In case of failure of one ASM instance, the databases automatically and transparently reconnect to another surviving instance on the cluster. This major architectural change required the introduction of two new cluster resources, ASM-Listener for supporting remote client connections and ADVM-Proxy, which permits the access to the ACFS layer. In case of wide cluster installation, Flex ASM enhances the performance and the scalability of the Grid Infrastructure, reducing the amount of network traffic generated between ASM instances.

 

Below two graphical representations of the same Oracle cluster; on the first drawing ASM is configured with pre-12c setup, on the second one Flex ASM is in use.

ASM architecture 11gR2 like

01_NO_FlexASM_Drawing

 

 

Flex ASM architecture

01_FlexASM_Drawing

 

 

2  ASM 12c NEW FEATURES

The table below summarizes the list of new functionalities introduced on ASM 12c R1

Feature Definition
Filter Driver Filter Driver (Oracle ASMFD) is a kernel module that resides in the I/O

path of the Oracle ASM disks used to validate write I/O requests to Oracle ASM disks, eliminates accidental overwrites of Oracle ASM disks that would cause corruption. For example, the Oracle ASM Filter Driver filters out all non-Oracle I/Os which could cause accidental overwrites.
General ASM Enhancements –       Oracle ASM now replicates physically addressed metadata, such as the disk header and allocation tables, within each disk, offering a better protection against bad block disk sectors and external corruptions.

–       Increased storage limits: ASM can manage up to 511 disk groups and a maximum disk size of 32 PB.

–       New REPLACE clause on the ALTER DISKGROUP statement.
Disk Scrubbing Disk scrubbing checks logical data corruptions and repairs the corruptions automatically in normal and high redundancy disks groups. This process automatically starts during rebalance operations or the administrator can trigger it.
Disk Resync Enhancements It enables fast recovery from instance failure and faster resyncs performance. Multiple disks can be brought online simultaneously. Checkpoint functionality enables to resume from the point where the process was interrupted.
Even Read For Disk Groups If ASM mirroring is in use, each I/O request submitted to the system can be satisfied by more than one disk. With this feature, each request to read is sent to the least loaded of the possible source disks.
ASM Rebalance Enhancements The rebalance operation has been improved in term of scalability, performance, and reliability; supporting concurrent operations on multiple disk groups in a single instance.  In this version, it has been enhanced also the support for thin provisioning, user-data validation, and error handling.
ASM Password File in a Disk Group ASM Password file is now stored within the ASM disk group.
Access Control Enhancements on Windows It is now possible to use access control to separate roles in Windows environments. With Oracle Database services running as users rather than Local System, the Oracle ASM access control feature is enabled to support role separation on Windows.
Rolling Migration Framework for ASM One-off Patches This feature enhances the rolling migration framework to apply oneoff patches released for ASM in a rolling manner, without affecting the overall availability of the cluster or the database

 
Updated Key Management Framework This feature updates Oracle key management commands to unify the key management application programming interface (API) layer. The updated key management framework makes interacting with keys in the wallet easier and adds new key metadata that describes how the keys are being used.

 

 

2.1 ASM 12c Client Cluster

One more ASM functionality explored but still in phase of development and therefore not really documented by Oracle, is ASM Client Cluster

Designed to host applications requiring cluster functionalities (monitoring, restart and failover capabilities), without the need to provision local shared storage.

The ASM Client Cluster installation is available as configuration option of the Grid Infrastructure binaries, starting from version 12.1.0.2.1 with Oct. 2014 GI PSU.

The use of ASM Client Cluster imposes the following pre-requisites and limitations:

  • The existence of an ASM Server Cluster version 12.1.0.2.1 with Oct. 2014 GI PSU, configured with the GNS server with or without zone delegation.
  • The ASM Server Cluster becomes aware of the ASM Client Cluster by importing an ad hoc XML configuration containing all details.
  • The ASM Client Cluster uses the OCR, Voting Files and Password File of the ASM Server Cluster.
  • ASM Client Cluster communicates with the ASM Server Cluster over the ASM Network.
  • ASM Server Cluster provides remote shared storage to ASM Client Cluster.

 

As already mentioned, at the time of writing this feature is still under development and without official documentation available, the only possible comment is that the ASM Client Cluster looks similar to another option introduced by Oracle 12c and called Flex Cluster. In fact, Flex Cluster has the concept of HUB and LEAF nodes; the first used to run database workload with direct access to the ASM disks and the second used to host applications in HA configuration but without direct access to the ASM disks.

 

 

3  ACFS NEW FEATURES

In Oracle 12c the Automatic Storage Management Cluster File System supports more and more types of files, offering advanced functionalities like snapshot, replication, encryption, ACL and tagging.  It is also important to highlight that this cluster file system comply with the POSIX standards of Linux/UNIX and with the Windows standards.

Access to ACFS from outside the Grid Infrastructure cluster is granted by NFS protocol; the NFS export can be registered as clusterware resource becoming available from any of the cluster nodes (HANFS).

Here is an exhaustive list of files supported by ACFS: executables, trace files, logs, application reports, BFILEs, configuration files, video, audio, text, images, engineering drawings, general-purpose and Oracle database files.

The major change, introduced in this version of ACFS, is definitely the capability and support to host Oracle database files; granting access to a set of functionalities that in the past were restricted to customer files only. Among them, the most important is the snapshot image, which has been fully integrated with the database Multitenant architecture, allowing cloning entire Pluggable databases in few seconds, independently from the size and in space efficient way using copy-on-write technology.

The snapshots are created and immediately available in the “<FS_mount_point>.ASFS/snaps” directory, and can be generated and later converted from read-only to read/write and vice versa. In addition, ACFS supports nested snapshots.

 

Example of ACFS snapshot copy:

-- Create a read/write Snapshot copy
[grid@oel6srv02 bin]$ acfsutil snap create -w cloudfs_snap /cloudfs


-- Display Snapshot Info
[grid@oel6srv02 ~]$ acfsutil snap info cloudfs_snap /cloudfs
snapshot name:               cloudfs_snap
RO snapshot or RW snapshot:  RW
parent name:                 /cloudfs
snapshot creation time:      Wed May 27 16:54:53 2015


-- Display specific file info 
[grid@oel6srv02 ~]$ acfsutil info file /cloudfs/scripts/utl_env/NEW_SESSION.SQL
/cloudfs/scripts/utl_env/NEW_SESSION.SQL
flags:        File
inode:        42
owner:        oracle
group:        oinstall
size:         684
allocated:    4096
hardlinks:    1
device index: 1
major, minor: 251,91137
access time:  Wed May 27 10:34:18 2013
modify time:  Wed May 27 10:34:18 2013
change time:  Wed May 27 10:34:18 2013
extents:
-offset ----length | -dev --------offset
0       4096 |    1     1496457216
extent count: 1


--Convert the snapshot from Read/Write to Read-only
acfsutil snap convert -r cloudfs_snap /cloudfs

 --Drop the snapshot 
[grid@oel6srv02 ~]$ acfsutil snap delete cloudfs_snap /cloudfs


Example of Pluggable database cloned using ACFS snapshot copy List of requirements that must be met to use ACFS SNAPSHOT COPY clause:


    

      

        

      • All pluggable database files of the source PDB must be stored on ACFS.
        • 

      

    



 


 


    

      

        

      • The source PDB cannot be in a remote CDB.
        • 

      

    



 


 


    

      

        

      • The source PDB must be in read-only mode.
        • 

      

    



 


 


    

      

        

      • Dropping the parent PDB with the including datafiles clause, does not automatically remove the snapshot dependencies, manual intervention is required.
        • 

      

    



 


 


SQL> CREATE PLUGGABLE DATABASE pt02 FROM ppq01
2  FILE_NAME_CONVERT = ('/u02/oradata/CDB4/PPQ01/',
3                       '/u02/oradata/CDB4/PT02/')
4  SNAPSHOT COPY;
Pluggable database created.
Elapsed: 00:00:13.70




The PDB snapshot copy imposes few restrictions among which the source database opened in read-only. This requirement prevents the implementation on most of the production environments where the database must remain available in read/write 24h/7. For this reason, ACFS for database files is particularly recommended on test and development where flexibility, speed and space efficiency of the clones are key factors for achieving high productive environment.


Graphical representation of how efficiently create and maintain a Test & Development database environment:


DB_Snapshot


 


 


4 ASM 12c and ORACLE ENGINEERED SYSTEMS


Oracle has developed few ASM features to leverage the characteristics of the Engineered Systems. Analyzing the architecture of the Exadata Storage, we see how the unique capabilities of ASM make possible to stripe and mirror data across independent set of disks grouped in different Storage Cells.


The sections below describe the implementation of ASM on the Oracle Database Appliance (ODA) and Exadata systems.


 


 


4.1 ASM 12c on Oracle Database Appliance


Oracle Database Appliance is a simple, reliable and affordable system engineered for running database workloads. One of the key characteristics present since the first version is the pay-as-you-grow model; it permits to activate a crescendo number of CPU-cores when needed, optimizing the licensing cost. With the new version of the ODA software bundle, Oracle has introduced the configuration Solution-in-a-box; which includes the virtualization layer for hosting Oracle databases and application components on the same appliance, but on separate virtual machines. The next sections highlight how the two configurations are architected and the role played by ASM:


    

  • ODA Bare metal: available since version one of the appliance, this is still the default configuration proposed by Oracle. Beyond the automated installation process, it is like any other two-node cluster, with all ASM and ACFS features available.
    • 



 


ODA_Bare_Metal


 


    

  • ODA Virtualized: on both ODA servers runs the Oracle VM Server software, also called Dom0. Each Dom0 hosts the ODA Base (or Dom Base), a privileged virtual machine where it is installed the Appliance Manager, Grid Infrastructure and RDBMS binaries. The ODA Base takes advantage of the Xen PCI Pass-through technology to provide direct access to the ODA shared disks presented and managed by ASM. This configuration reduces the VM flexibility; in fact, no VM migration is allowed, but it guarantees almost no I/O penalty in term of performance. After the Dom Base creation, it is possible to add Virtual Machine where running application components. Those optional application virtual machines are also identified with the name of Domain U.
    • 



By default, all VMs and templates are stored on a local Oracle VM Server repository, but in order to be able to migrate application virtual machines between the two Oracle VM Servers a shared repository on the ACFS file system should be created.


The implementation of the Solution-in-a-box guarantees the maximum Return on Investment of the ODA, because while licensing only the virtual CPUs allocated to Dom Base, the remaining resources are assigned to the application components as showed on the picture below.


ODA_Virtualized


 


 


4.2 ACFS Becomes the default database storage of ODA


Starting from Version 12.1.0.2, a fresh installation of the Oracle Database Appliance adopts ACFS as primary cluster file system to store database files and general-purpose data. Three file systems are created in the ASM disk groups (DATA, RECO, and REDO) and the new databases are stored in these three ACFS file systems instead of in the ASM disk groups.


In case of ODA upgrade from previous release to 12.1.0.2, all pre-existing databases are not automatically migrated to ACFS; but can coexist with the new databases created on ACFS.


At any time, the databases can be migrated from ASM to ACFS as post upgrade step.


Oracle has decided to promote ACFS as default database storage on ODA environment for the following reasons:


 


    

  • ACFS provides almost equivalent performance than Oracle ASM disk groups.
    • 



    

  • Additional functionalities on industry standard POSIX file system.
    • 



    

  • Database snapshot copy of PDBs, and NON-CDB version 11.2.0.4 of greater.
    • 



    

  • Advanced functionality for general-purpose files such as replication, tagging, encryption, security, and auditing.
    • 



Database created on ACFS follows the same Oracle Managed Files (OMF) standard used by ASM.


 


 


4.3 ASM 12c on Exadata Machine


Oracle Exadata Database machine is now at the fifth hardware generation; the latest software update has embraced the possibility to run virtual environments, but differently from the ODA or other Engineered System like Oracle Virtual Appliance, the VMs are not intended to host application components. ASM plays a key role on the success of the Exadata, because it orchestrates all Storage Cells in a way that appear as a single entity, while in reality, they do not know and they do not talk to each other.


The Exadata, available in a wide range of hardware configurations from 1/8 to multi-racks, offers a great flexibility on the storage setup too. The sections below illustrate what is possible to achieve in term of storage configuration when the Exadata is exploited bare metal and virtualized:


    

  • Exadata Bare Metal: despite the default storage configuration, which foresees three disk groups striped across all Storage Cells, guaranteeing the best I/O performance; as post-installation step, it is possible to deploy a different configuration. Before changing the storage setup, it is vital to understand and evaluate all associated consequences. In fact, even though in specific cases can be a meaningful decision, any storage configuration different from the default one, has as result a shift from optimal performance to flexibility and workload isolation.
    • 



Shown below a graphical representation of the default Exadata storage setup, compared to a custom configuration, where the Storage Cells have been divided in multiple groups, segmenting the I/O workloads and avoiding disruption between environments.


Exa_BareMetal_Disks_Default


Exa_BareMetal_Disks_Segmented.png


    

  • Exadata Virtualized: the installation of the Exadata with the virtualization option foresees a first step of meticulous capacity planning, defining the resources to allocate to the virtual machines (CPU and memory) and the size of each ASM disk group (DBFS, Data, Reco) of the clusters. This last step is particularly important, because unlike the VM resources, the characteristics of the ASM disk groups cannot be changed.
    • 



The new version of the Exadata Deployment Assistant, which generates the configuration file to submit to the Exadata installation process, now in conjunction with the use of Oracle Virtual Machines, permits to enter the information related to multiple Grid Infrastructure clusters.


The hardware-based I/O virtualization (so called Xen SR-IOV Virtualization), implemented on the Oracle VMs running on the Exadata Database servers, guarantees almost native I/O and Networking performance over InfiniBand; with lower CPU consumption when compared to a Xen Software I/O virtualization. Unfortunately, this performance advantage comes at the detriment of other virtualization features like Load Balancing, Live Migration and VM Save/Restore operations.


If the Exadata combined with the virtualization open new horizon in term of database consolidation and licensing optimization, do not leave any option to the storage configuration. In fact, the only possible user definition is the amount of space to allocate to each disk group; with this information, the installation procedure defines the size of the Grid Disks on all available Storage Cells.


Following a graphical representation of the Exadata Storage Cells, partitioned for holding three virtualized clusters. For each cluster, ASM access is automatically restricted to the associated Grid Disks.


Exa_BareMetal_Disk_Virtual


 


 


4.4 ACFS on Linux Exadata Database Machine


Starting from version 12.1.0.2, the Exadata Database Machine running Oracle Linux, supports ACFS for database file and general-purpose, with no functional restriction.


This makes ACFS an attractive storage alternative for holding: external tables, data loads, scripts and general-purpose files.


In addition, Oracle ACFS on Exadata Database Machines supports database files for the following database versions:


    

  • Oracle Database 10g Rel. 2 (10.2.0.4 and 10.2.0.5)
    • 

  • Oracle Database 11g (11.2.0.4 and higher)
    • 

  • Oracle Database 12c (12.1.0.1 and higher)
    • 



Since Exadata Storage Cell does not support database version 10g, ACFS becomes an important storage option for customers wishing to host older databases on their Exadata system.


However, those new configuration options and flexibility come with one major performance restriction. When ACFS for database files is in use, the Exadata is still not supporting the Smart Scan operations and is not able to push database operations directly to the storage. Hence, for a best performance result, it is recommended to store database files on the Exadata Storage using ASM disk groups.


As per any other system, when implementing ACFS on Exadata Database Machine, snapshots and tagging are supported for database and general-purpose files, while replication, security, encryption, audit and high availability NFS functionalities are only supported with general-purpose files.


 


 


 5 Conclusion


Oracle Automatic Storage Management 12c is a single integrated solution, designed to manage database files and general-purpose data under different hardware and software configurations. The adoption of ASM and ACFS not only eliminates the need for third party volume managers and file systems, but also simplifies the storage management offering the best I/O performance, enforcing Oracle best practices. In addition, ASM 12c with the Flex ASM setup removes previous important architecture limitations:


    

  • Availability: the hard dependency between the local ASM and database instance, was a single point of failure. In fact, without Flex ASM, the failure of the ASM instance causes the crash of all local database instances.
    • 

  • Performance: Flex ASM reduces the network traffic generated among the ASM instances, leveraging the architecture scalability; and it is easier and faster to keep the ASM metadata synchronized across large clusters. Finally yet importantly, only few nodes of the cluster have to support the burden of an ASM instance, leaving additional resources to application processing.
    • 



 


Oracle ASM offers a large set of configurations and options; it is now our duty to understand case-by-case, when it is relevant to use one setup or another, with the aim to maximize performance, availability and flexibility of the infrastructure.


 


 

	


	


			
				


			

			
ASM 11gR2 Create ACFS Cluster FS
		
	
	

		
#####################################################

##           Step by step how to create Oracle ACFS Cluster Filesystem       ##

#####################################################


[grid@lnxcld02 trace]$ asmcmd


  Type "help [command]" to get help on a specific ASMCMD command.

        commands:
        --------

        md_backup, md_restore

        lsattr, setattr

        cd, cp, du, find, help, ls, lsct, lsdg, lsof, mkalias
        mkdir, pwd, rm, rmalias

        chdg, chkdg, dropdg, iostat, lsdsk, lsod, mkdg, mount
        offline, online, rebal, remap, umount

        dsget, dsset, lsop, shutdown, spbackup, spcopy, spget
        spmove, spset, startup

        chtmpl, lstmpl, mktmpl, rmtmpl

        chgrp, chmod, chown, groups, grpmod, lsgrp, lspwusr, lsusr
        mkgrp, mkusr, orapwusr, passwd, rmgrp, rmusr

        volcreate, voldelete, voldisable, volenable, volinfo
        volresize, volset, volstat


ASMCMD>     
ASMCMD> volcreate -G FRA1 -s 5G Vol_ACFS01
ASMCMD> volinfo -a
Diskgroup Name: FRA1

         Volume Name: VOL_ACFS01
         Volume Device: /dev/asm/vol_acfs01-199
         State: ENABLED
         Size (MB): 5120
         Resize Unit (MB): 32
         Redundancy: UNPROT
         Stripe Columns: 4
         Stripe Width (K): 128
         Usage:
         Mountpath:

ASMCMD> volenable -a
ASMCMD>
ASMCMD> exit


[grid@lnxcld02 trace]$ acfsdriverstate version
ACFS-9325:     Driver OS kernel version = 2.6.18-8.el5(i386).
ACFS-9326:     Driver Oracle version = 110803.1.
[grid@lnxcld02 trace]$ acfsdriverstate loaded
ACFS-9203: true



SQL> SELECT volume_name, volume_device FROM V$ASM_VOLUME;

VOLUME_NAME                    VOLUME_DEVICE
------------------------------ ----------------------------------------
VOL_ACFS01                     /dev/asm/vol_acfs01-199

1 row selected.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[root@lnxcld02 adump]# ls -la /dev/asm/vol_acfs01-199
brwxrwx--- 1 root asmadmin 252, 101889 Nov  1 20:03 /dev/asm/vol_acfs01-199

[root@lnxcld02 adump]# mkdir /cloud_FS
[root@lnxcld01 adump]# mkdir /cloud_FS


[root@lnxcld02 adump]# mkfs -t acfs /dev/asm/vol_acfs01-199
mkfs.acfs: version                   = 11.2.0.3.0
mkfs.acfs: on-disk version           = 39.0
mkfs.acfs: volume                    = /dev/asm/vol_acfs01-199
mkfs.acfs: volume size               = 5368709120
mkfs.acfs: Format complete.


[root@lnxcld02 adump]# acfsutil registry -a -f /dev/asm/vol_acfs01-199 /cloud_FS
acfsutil registry: mount point /cloud_FS successfully added to Oracle Registry


[root@lnxcld02 adump]# df -h
Filesystem            Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/hda1              11G  3.6G  6.0G  38% /
/dev/hdb1              12G  7.2G  3.9G  66% /home
tmpfs                 1.5G  634M  867M  43% /dev/shm
Oracle_Software       293G  180G  114G  62% /media/sf_Oracle_Software
/dev/hdc               40G   18G    22  45% /u01
/dev/asm/vol_acfs01-199
                      5.0G   75M  5.0G   2% /cloud_FS

                      
                      
SQL> select * from v$asm_volume;

GROUP_NUMBER VOLUME_NAME                    COMPOUND_INDEX    SIZE_MB VOLUME_NUMBER REDUND STRIPE_COLUMNS STRIPE_WIDTH_K STATE            FILE_NUMBER
------------ ------------------------------ -------------- ---------- ------------- ------ -------------- -------------- ---------------- -----------
INCARNATION DRL_FILE_NUMBER RESIZE_UNIT_MB USAGE                          VOLUME_DEVICE                            MOUNTPATH
----------- --------------- -------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------------- --------------------
           2 VOL_ACFS01                           33554433       5120             1 UNPROT              4            128 ENABLED                  270   
766094623               0             32    ACFS                           /dev/asm/vol_acfs01-199                  /cloud_FS


1 row selected.



	


	


			
				


			

			
Create Application VIP on GI 11gR2
		
	
	

		
###################################################################

## How to add an Application VIP to Oracle Cluster 11gR2

###################################################################


Oracle Clusterware includes the utility appvipcfg which allows to easily create application VIPs; below an example based on a cluster 11.2.0.3.1


[root@lnxcld02 ~]# appvipcfg -h
 Production Copyright 2007, 2008, Oracle.All rights reserved
 Unknown option: h


Usage: appvipcfg create -network=<network_number> -ip=<ip_address> -vipname=<vipname>
 -user=<user_name>[-group=<group_name>] [-failback=0 | 1]
 delete -vipname=<vipname>


--Example to run as root user:
 [root@lnxcld02 ~]# appvipcfg create -network=1 -ip=192.168.2.200 -vipname=myappvip -user=grid -group=oinstall


Production Copyright 2007, 2008, Oracle.All rights reserved
 2012-02-10 14:39:23: Creating Resource Type
 2012-02-10 14:39:23: Executing /home/GRID_INFRA/product/11.2.0.3/bin/crsctl add type app.appvip_net1.type -basetype ora.cluster_vip_net1.type -file /home/GRID_INFRA/product/11.2.0.3/crs/template/appvip.type
 2012-02-10 14:39:23: Executing cmd: /home/GRID_INFRA/product/11.2.0.3/bin/crsctl add type app.appvip_net1.type -basetype ora.cluster_vip_net1.type -file /home/GRID_INFRA/product/11.2.0.3/crs/template/appvip.type
 2012-02-10 14:39:26: Create the Resource
 2012-02-10 14:39:26: Executing /home/GRID_INFRA/product/11.2.0.3/bin/crsctl add resource myappvip -type app.appvip_net1.type -attr "USR_ORA_VIP=192.168.2.200,START_DEPENDENCIES=hard(ora.net1.network) pullup(ora.net1.network),STOP_DEPENDENCIES=hard(ora.net1.network),ACL='owner:root:rwx,pgrp:root:r-x,other::r--,group:oinstall:r-x,user:grid:r-x',HOSTING_MEMBERS=lnxcld02,APPSVIP_FAILBACK="
 2012-02-10 14:39:26: Executing cmd: /home/GRID_INFRA/product/11.2.0.3/bin/crsctl add resource myappvip -type app.appvip_net1.type -attr "USR_ORA_VIP=192.168.2.200,START_DEPENDENCIES=hard(ora.net1.network) pullup(ora.net1.network),STOP_DEPENDENCIES=hard(ora.net1.network),ACL='owner:root:rwx,pgrp:root:r-x,other::r--,group:oinstall:r-x,user:grid:r-x',HOSTING_MEMBERS=lnxcld02,APPSVIP_FAILBACK="


##############################################################################################


[grid@lnxcld02 trace]$ crsctl stat res -t
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 NAME           TARGET  STATE        SERVER                   STATE_DETAILS
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Local Resources
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ora.DATA1.dg
 ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld01
 ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld02
 ora.FRA1.dg
 ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld01
 ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld02
 ora.LISTENER.lsnr
 ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld01
 ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld02
 ora.OCRVOTING.dg
 ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld01
 ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld02
 ora.asm
 ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld01                 Started
 ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld02                 Started
 ora.gsd
 OFFLINE OFFLINE      lnxcld01
 OFFLINE OFFLINE      lnxcld02
 ora.net1.network
 ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld01
 ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld02
 ora.ons
 ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld01
 ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld02
 ora.registry.acfs
 ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld01
 ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld02
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Cluster Resources
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 myappvip
 1        ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld02
 ora.LISTENER_SCAN1.lsnr
 1        ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld02
 ora.cvu
 1        ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld02
 ora.lnxcld01.vip
 1        ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld01
 ora.lnxcld02.vip
 1        ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld02
 ora.oc4j
 1        ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld02
 ora.scan1.vip
 1        ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld02
 ora.tpolicy.db
 1        ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld01                 Open
 2        ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld02                 Open
 ora.tpolicy.loadbalance_rw.svc
 1        ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld01
 2        ONLINE  ONLINE       lnxcld02


##############################################################################################


[grid@lnxcld02 ~]$ crsctl stat res myappvip -p
 NAME=myappvip
 TYPE=app.appvip_net1.type
 ACL=owner:root:rwx,pgrp:root:r-x,other::r--,group:oinstall:r-x,user:grid:r-x
 ACTION_FAILURE_TEMPLATE=
 ACTION_SCRIPT=
 ACTIVE_PLACEMENT=1
 AGENT_FILENAME=%CRS_HOME%/bin/orarootagent%CRS_EXE_SUFFIX%
 APPSVIP_FAILBACK=0
 AUTO_START=restore
 CARDINALITY=1
 CHECK_INTERVAL=1
 CHECK_TIMEOUT=30
 DEFAULT_TEMPLATE=PROPERTY(RESOURCE_CLASS=vip)
 DEGREE=1
 DESCRIPTION=Application VIP
 ENABLED=1
 FAILOVER_DELAY=0
 FAILURE_INTERVAL=0
 FAILURE_THRESHOLD=0
 GEN_USR_ORA_STATIC_VIP=
 GEN_USR_ORA_VIP=
 HOSTING_MEMBERS=lnxcld02
 LOAD=1
 LOGGING_LEVEL=1
 NLS_LANG=
 NOT_RESTARTING_TEMPLATE=
 OFFLINE_CHECK_INTERVAL=0
 PLACEMENT=balanced
 PROFILE_CHANGE_TEMPLATE=
 RESTART_ATTEMPTS=0
 SCRIPT_TIMEOUT=60
 SERVER_POOLS=*
 START_DEPENDENCIES=hard(ora.net1.network) pullup(ora.net1.network)
 START_TIMEOUT=0
 STATE_CHANGE_TEMPLATE=
 STOP_DEPENDENCIES=hard(ora.net1.network)
 STOP_TIMEOUT=0
 TYPE_VERSION=2.1
 UPTIME_THRESHOLD=7d
 USR_ORA_ENV=
 USR_ORA_VIP=192.168.2.200
 VERSION=11.2.0.3.0

	


	


			
				


			

			
ASM Commands
		
	
	

		
################################################################

# Adding/Removing/Managing ASM instances

################################################################


--Use the following syntax to add configuration information about an existing ASM instance:
 srvctl add asm -n node_name -i +asm_instance_name -o oracle_home

--Use the following syntax to remove an ASM instance:
 srvctl remove asm -n node_name [-i +asm_instance_name]

--Use the following syntax to enable an ASM instance:
 srvctl enable asm -n node_name [-i ] +asm_instance_name

--Use the following syntax to disable an ASM instance:
 srvctl disable asm -n node_name [-i +asm_instance_name]

--Use the following syntax to start an ASM instance:
 srvctl start asm -n node_name [-i +asm_instance_name] [-o start_options]

--Use the following syntax to stop an ASM instance:
 srvctl stop asm -n node_name [-i +asm_instance_name] [-o stop_options]

--Use the following syntax to show the configuration of an ASM instance:
 srvctl config asm -n node_name

--Use the following syntax to obtain the status of an ASM instance:
 srvctl status asm -n node_name



P.S.:


For all of the SRVCTL commands in this section for which an option is not required, if the instance name “-i” is not specified the command applies  to all ASM instances.


 


###################################

# Managing DiskGroup inside ASM:

###################################


–Note that adding or dropping disks will initiate a rebalance of the data on the disks.

–The status of these processes can be shown by selecting from v$asm_operation.


--Quering ASM Disk Groups
 col name format a25
 col DATABASE_COMPATIBILITY format a10
 col COMPATIBILITY format a10
 select * from v$asm_diskgroup;
 --or
 select name, state, type, total_mb, free_mb from v$asm_diskgroup;


--Quering ASM Disks
 col PATH format a55
 col name format a25
 select name, path, group_number, TOTAL_MB, FREE_MB, READS, WRITES, READ_TIME,
 WRITE_TIME from v$asm_disk order by 3,1;
 --or
 col PATH format a50
 col HEADER_STATUS  format a12
 col name format a25
 --select INCARNATION,
 select name, path, MOUNT_STATUS,HEADER_STATUS, MODE_STATUS, STATE, group_number,
 OS_MB, TOTAL_MB, FREE_MB, READS, WRITES, READ_TIME, WRITE_TIME, BYTES_READ,
 BYTES_WRITTEN, REPAIR_TIMER, MOUNT_DATE, CREATE_DATE from v$asm_disk;


 


 


################################################################

# Tuning and Analysis

################################################################


–Performance Statistics


–N.B Time in Hundred seconds!


 col READ_TIME format 9999999999.99
 col WRITE_TIME format 9999999999.99
 col BYTES_READ format 99999999999999.99
 col BYTES_WRITTEN  format 99999999999999.99
 select name, STATE, group_number, TOTAL_MB, FREE_MB,READS, WRITES, READ_TIME,
 WRITE_TIME, BYTES_READ, BYTES_WRITTEN, REPAIR_TIMER,MOUNT_DATE
 from v$asm_disk order by group_number, name;


 


--Check the Num of Extents in use per Disk inside one Disk Group.
 select max(substr(name,1,30)) group_name, count(PXN_KFFXP) extents_per_disk,
 DISK_KFFXP, GROUP_KFFXP from x$kffxp, v$ASM_DISKGROUP gr
 where GROUP_KFFXP=&group_nr and GROUP_KFFXP=GROUP_NUMBER
 group by GROUP_KFFXP, DISK_KFFXP order by GROUP_KFFXP, DISK_KFFXP;

--Find The File distribution Between Disks
 SELECT * FROM v$asm_alias  WHERE  name='PWX_DATA.272.669293645';

SELECT GROUP_KFFXP Group#,DISK_KFFXP Disk#,AU_KFFXP AU#,XNUM_KFFXP Extent#
 FROM   X$KFFXP WHERE  number_kffxp=(SELECT file_number FROM v$asm_alias
 WHERE name='PWX_DATA.272.669293645');

--or

SELECT GROUP_KFFXP Group#,DISK_KFFXP Disk#,AU_KFFXP AU#,XNUM_KFFXP Extent#
 FROM X$KFFXP WHERE  number_kffxp=&DataFile_Number;

--or
 select d.name, XV.GROUP_KFFXP Group#, XV.DISK_KFFXP Disk#,
 XV.NUMBER_KFFXP File_Number, XV.AU_KFFXP AU#, XV.XNUM_KFFXP Extent#,
 XV.ADDR, XV.INDX, XV.INST_ID, XV.COMPOUND_KFFXP, XV.INCARN_KFFXP,
 XV.PXN_KFFXP, XV.XNUM_KFFXP,XV.LXN_KFFXP, XV.FLAGS_KFFXP,
 XV.CHK_KFFXP, XV.SIZE_KFFXP from v$asm_disk d, X$KFFXP XV
 where d.GROUP_NUMBER=XV.GROUP_KFFXP and d.DISK_NUMBER=XV.DISK_KFFXP
 and number_kffxp=&File_NUM order by 2,3,4;

--List the hierarchical tree of files stored in the diskgroup
 SELECT concat('+'||gname, sys_connect_by_path(aname, '/')) full_alias_path FROM
 (SELECT g.name gname, a.parent_index pindex, a.name aname,
 a.reference_index rindex FROM v$asm_alias a, v$asm_diskgroup g
 WHERE a.group_number = g.group_number)
 START WITH (mod(pindex, power(2, 24))) = 0
 CONNECT BY PRIOR rindex = pindex;


 


 


###################################

#Create and Modify Disk Group

###################################


create diskgroup FRA1 external redundancy disk '/dev/vx/rdsk/oraASMdg/fra1'
 ATTRIBUTE 'compatible.rdbms' = '11.1', 'compatible.asm' = '11.1';

alter diskgroup FRA1  check all;

--on +ASM2 :
 alter diskgroup FRA1 mount;

--Add a second disk:
 alter diskgroup FRA1 add disk '/dev/vx/rdsk/oraASMdg/fra2';

--Add several disks with a wildcard:
 alter diskgroup FRA1 add disk '/dev/vx/rdsk/oraASMdg/fra*';

--Remove a disk from a diskgroup:
 alter diskgroup FRA1 drop disk 'FRA1_0002';

--Drop the entire DiskGroup
 drop diskgroup DATA1 including contents;

--How to DROP the entire DiskGroup when it is in NOMOUNT Status
 --Generate the dd command which will reset the header of all the
 --disks belong the GROUP_NUMBER=0!!!!
 select 'dd if=/dev/zero of=''' ||PATH||''' bs=8192 count=100' from v$asm_disk
 where GROUP_NUMBER=0;

select * from v$asm_operation;


————————————————————————–


alter diskgroup FRA1 drop disk 'FRA1_0002';
 alter diskgroup FRA1 add disk '/dev/vx/rdsk/fra1dg/fra3';

alter diskgroup FRA1 drop disk 'FRA1_0003';
 alter diskgroup FRA1 add disk '/dev/vx/rdsk/fra1dg/fra4';


 


When a new diskgroup is created, it is only mounted on the local instance,

and only the instance-specific entry for the asm_diskgroups parameter is updated.

By manually mounting the diskgroup on other instances, the asm_diskgroups parameter on those instances are updated.


--on +ASM1 :
 create diskgroup FRA1 external redundancy disk '/dev/vx/rdsk/fradg/fra1'
 ATTRIBUTE 'compatible.rdbms' = '11.1', 'compatible.asm' = '11.1';

--on +ASM2 :
 alter diskgroup FRA1 mount;

--It works even for on going balances!!!
 alter diskgroup DATA1 rebalance power 10;


 


################################################################

# New ASM Command Line Utility (ASMCMD) Commands and Options

################################################################


ASMCMD Command Reference:


Command Description
 --------------------
 - cd Command Changes the current directory to the specified directory.
 - cp Command Enables you to copy files between ASM disk groups on a local instance and remote instances.
 - du Command Displays the total disk space occupied by ASM files in the specified
 - ASM directory and all of its subdirectories, recursively.
 - exit Command Exits ASMCMD.
 - find Command Lists the paths of all occurrences of the specified name (with wildcards) under the specified directory.
 - help Command Displays the syntax and description of ASMCMD commands.
 - ls Command Lists the contents of an ASM directory, the attributes of the specified
 - file, or the names and attributes of all disk groups.
 - lsct Command Lists information about current ASM clients.
 - lsdg Command Lists all disk groups and their attributes.
 - lsdsk Command Lists disks visible to ASM.
 - md_backup Command Creates a backup of all of the mounted disk groups.
 - md_restore Command Restores disk groups from a backup.
 - mkalias Command Creates an alias for system-generated filenames.
 - mkdir Command Creates ASM directories.
 - pwd Command Displays the path of the current ASM directory.
 - remap Command Repairs a range of physical blocks on a disk.
 - rm Command Deletes the specified ASM files or directories.
 - rmalias Command Deletes the specified alias, retaining the file that the alias points to.

--------
 -- kfed tool From Unix Prompt for reading ASM disk header.
 kfed read /dev/vx/rdsk/fra1dg/fra1


 


################################################################

# CREATE and Manage Tablespaces and Datafiles on ASM

################################################################


CREATE TABLESPACE my_ts DATAFILE '+disk_group_1' SIZE 100M AUTOEXTEND ON;

ALTER TABLESPACE sysaux ADD DATAFILE '+disk_group_1' SIZE 100M;

ALTER DATABASE DATAFILE '+DATA1/dbname/datafile/audit.259.668957419' RESIZE 150M;


-------------------------
 create diskgroup DATA1 external redundancy disk '/dev/vx/rdsk/oraASMdg/fra1'
 ATTRIBUTE 'compatible.rdbms' = '11.1', 'compatible.asm' = '11.1';

select 'alter diskgroup DATA1 add disk ''' || PATH || ''';' from v$asm_disk
 where GROUP_NUMBER=0 and rownum<=&Num_Disks_to_add;

select 'alter diskgroup FRA1 add disk ''' || PATH || ''';' from v$asm_disk
 where GROUP_NUMBER=0 and rownum<=&Num_Disks_to_add;

--Remove ASM header
 select 'dd if=/dev/zero of=''' ||PATH||''' bs=8192 count=100' from v$asm_disk
 where GROUP_NUMBER=0;