CHAPTER 1 - Introduction to RAC and Grid Computing

What is Grid Computing?

Where is the IT world on Grid Computing?
     What is the Oracle's direction?
        Why this new found love for Grid Computing !!

Grid Types –
Discussion - Different Classification Systems
     Computational grids,
        Scavenging grids
        Data Grids

Nature of Data Grid and Federation of Databases
     What is the difference between a Grid and Cluster?

Introduction to Cluster Technology
     Introduction to Oracle Real Application Cluster

The Dynamic Business Environment
     Justification for HPC and HA Systems
     Benefits of Real Application Clusters (RAC)

Suitability of Oracle RAC to be a Grid Resource 

Where does 10g RAC stand Now
     Evolution from OPS
     9iRAC and now 10G RAC

Computing Trends
     Utility Computing
     On-Demand Computing

 Role of Blade Frame Server
Dynamism of Servers

Conclusion

References

CHAPTER 2 - High Performance and Highly Available Database Clusters

High Performance
     Growth of Powerful Processors    
     Why Parallel Processing?   
     Opportunities for Parallelism
     Scalability     

Parallel Databases
     Types of Parallelism 

High Performance Computing Clusters - HPCC 

Clusterize Applications
When do you need to to clusterize
How do you Clusterize Applications?

Highly Available Databases
     Highly Available Data
     Failure
     Availability
     Reliability and Serviceability
     Fault Tolerant Systems
     Database Availability 

Clustered Systems 

Database Issues

Oracle RAC
     A truly High Performance and Highly Available Database 

Overview of the Cluster Technology
How Clusters Differ from Distributed Systems
Clusters are Different from Fault-Tolerant Systems
Why Clusters?
Cluster Objectives    

Types of Clusters
     Failover Clusters
     Scalable High Performance Clusters
     Application Server Clusters  
     Other Types of Clusters      

Components of a Cluster    
     Cluster Nodes
     Emerging Server Cluster Architectures
     Cluster Interconnect
     Cluster Interconnect Products
     Infiniband Interconnect
     ClusterWare
     Essentials for Parallel Database Clusters
     Concurrent Database Access

Failover Database Clusters
     Resources, Resource Types
     Resource Groups
     The Concept of a Virtual Server
     Failover Process
     Examples      
     Failover Cluster Architecture         
     Oracle Database Service in HA Cluster      
     Issues with FO Clusters - Hidden Risks      

 Parallel Database Clusters
Shared-Nothing Model
Shared-Disk Model    
Microsoft SQL Server Federated Database  IBM Offerings
Requirements for Parallel Clusters  
Oracle’s Instance Membership Recovery
Cache Coherency and Lock Management     

Grid Enabled Clusters
      Handling unpredictable usage patterns

Conclusion    

References

CHAPTER 3- Grid Computing and the Role of Clusters

Grid and Cluster
Collection of computing resources - Grid
Aggregation of Nodes - Clustering

Nature of these two architectures
Nodes in the Clusters with Cluster software
Nodes in the Grid with Grid Management Software
Logical or Virtual Grid – as seen by Application 

Discuss from authors point of view 

Three-Point Check for Grid proposed by Ian Foster

CHAPTER 4 - REAL APPLICATION Cluster Architecture

Overview of Oracle Real Application Cluster
Evolution Real Application Cluster – The flag ship option of Oracle Database
First Incarnation as Oracle Parallel Server – OPS
Changes in 8i Release – OPS
Changes in 9i Release – RAC
     Full Implementation of Cache Fusion
      Introduction of Real Application Cluster – 9i RAC (Re-Christened as RAC)
  New Features in 10g RAC Release

RAC Database Architecture
RAC Instance and RAC Database
 ·         Discuss Nature and Differences
 ·         Multi-Instance Database
Basic Database Processes
Basic Internal Structures
RAC Additional Processes
RAC Additional SGA Areas
Global Cache Service - GCS
Global Enqeue Service - GES
Resource Modes and Roles
Global Resource Directory 

Cluster Ready Services
     Primary CRS resources
                  Virtual IP Address (Session Alias
                   Database Composite Resource Group
             Service Composite Resource Group
                    Net Listeners
     Oracle Cluster Registry – OCR
     OCR Clients: CSSD, CRSD, EVMD, and the EVM Logger daemons
     CRS Profiles 

Cluster Synchronization Services (CSS)
     New  cluster manager for all platforms
     Cluster Synchronization Service Daemon (OCSSD) for Unix 

GSI - Grid Security Infrastructure  

RAC Server Components
      Hosts and Blades
     Server Redundancy
     Necessity of Server Redundancy
     Redundancy Features

RAC Disk System
     Shared Storage – Components to reside on
           Raw Partitions
           Cluster File System

10g Automatic Storage Management – ASM
Logic behind this approach
Benefits – reduction layers
Issues one can anticipate
How does it compare with Volume Manager Controlled Volumes
VXVM and ASM 

How does ASM work
Mechanism
Examples

Storage Technology and Redundancy
     Basics of Storage Disk System
          Understanding I/O Path
          Host Bus Adapter (HBA
          Storage Redundancy Components   
          Multiple RAID Controllers and Storage Processors
          Power Management
          High Availability with SAN
                        RAID and RAID Administration
                       Multiple Access Paths to Host
                       Logical Volume Manager

     Cluster File System
          Oracle10g RAC and CFS      
          Context Dependent Symbolic Link - CDSL                     
          Veritas CFS   
           PolyServe Matrix Server (MxS)       
           HP Tru64 CFS

     Oracle Cluster File System (OCFS)
          Growth and changes over the last two years
          Can it be a true general file system
          New features on OCFS 2.0
     Other CFS solutions
           NFS as viable Cluster File system

     Oracle Managed Files

     Oracle Disk Manager
            API developed by Oracle 

Conclusion

References

CHAPTER 5 - RAC Installation and Configuration

Preparation of Environment
     Fits in to the Grid
     Guidelines and Best Practices
     Certification Matrix 

Installation and Components
     Servers and Operating system
     Interconnect and Cluster_Interconnect parameter
     Cluster Software Installation
     Shared Storage
           Work out the Raw Devices or CFS Files – General Discussion 

General Steps
     Phase – 1 
     Phase – 2
     Phase – 3

On Solaris Servers
     Hardware / System Details
     Creating the Cluster Using Sun Cluster 3.1
          Install the Volume Manager
                         Install the Clusterware (OSD) for RAC
          Configure Shared Storage
          Veritas Cluster Volume Management        
          UNIX Pre-Installation Steps
    Using Veritas DBE/Advanced Cluster
          Communication Stack
          Shared Storage Configuration        
          VCS Framework and Service Groups
          Veritas I/O Fencing and SCSI-3 Persistency
          Install DBE/AC and Configure Service Groups – First Stage
          Install DBE/AC and Configure Service Groups – Second Stage 

Using HP Tru64 Unix
     Hardware / System Details
     Set up Disks
     Creating the Cluster 

Using HP-UX Clusters
     Hardware / System Details
     Creating the Cluster
     Shared Storage Configuration        
     Configure HP ServiceGuard Cluster
     UNIX Pre-installation Tasks
     Using Veritas DBE/Advance Cluster on HP-UX Servers

Using IBM AIX Servers
     Hardware / System Details
     What is VSD?
     Configure using HACMP/ES
     General Parallel File System - GPFS
     Oracle Installation

Using Windows Cluster
     Hardware / System Details
     Creating the Cluster
     Configure Shared Storage
     Special Notes for NFS based shared Installation

On Linux Based Systems
     Install and Configuration
          • Red Hat
          • United Linux
     Hardware / System Details
     Interconnect & Cluster Software
     Shared Storage Volumes
     Oracle Cluster File System (OCFS)
     PolyServe Matrix Server
     FireWire Drive as Shared Storage
     Emphasize and Discuss the O C F S growth and Adaptability
    What is coming in OCFS 2.0
    Oracle Software Installation and Creation of Database
    Oracle Software Installation
    Database Creation using DBCA
          • Support Automatic Storage Management (ASM) (NEW feature)
          • Support for Oracle File Manager (OMF) (NEW feature)
     Database Creation Manually
     Adding Threads and expanding Instances

Dynamic Node Management
     Suggestions and Planning

Conclusion

References

CHAPTER 6 - Cache Fusion and Inter-Instance Coordination

Overview of Cache Fusion
     Evolution of Cache Fusion
     Nature of Cache Fusion
     Benefits of Cache Fusion    
     Concurrency and Consistency        
     Cache Coherency
     Global Cache Service

SGA Components and Locking
     SGA – System Global Area
     Program Global Area (PGA)
     Buffer Cache Management
     What is a Dirty Block?
     Multi-Version Consistency Model

RAC Components
     Global Cache Service
     Global Enqueue Service
     Row-Level Locks

Global Resource Directory
     Discussion

Resource Coordination
    Synchronization
    GCS Resource Modes and Roles
    Concept of Past Image
    Lock Modes
    Block Access Modes and Buffer States

Cache Fusion Scenarios
    Block Transfers using Cache Fusion - Examples
    Block Access, Grants, and Interrupts

Cache Fusion and Recovery
     Recovery Features
     Recovery Methodology and steps
     Recovery Process
     Re-mastering Resources

Conclusion

References

CHAPTER 7 - RAC Administration

Parameter Management
     Overview
     RAC and Initialization Parameters

Password File Management

UTIL_DIR location

UNDO Management
     Undo Management in RAC
     UNDO Tablespace Features
     System Rollback Segment

Concept of Thread
     Thread Features
     Redo Thread Maintenance

Segment Space Management
     Automatic Segment Space Management
     Manual Space Management

Oracle Managed Files
     Utility of OMF
     Format and Syntax

External Tables
     Use of external tables
     Relevance of Shared Storage for locating external tables

7.9 Server Control Utility
     srvctl add
     srvctl config
     srvctl getenv
     srvctl setenv
     srvctl start
     srvctl status
     srvctl stop

Using SQL*Plus
     Starting the database in Cluster mode

Using Oracle Enterprise Manager
     Configuration of OEM with RAC
     Managing with GRID Control Utility

Cluster Ready Services CRS
     Profiles administration

Conclusion

CHAPTER-8 - Transparent Application Failover - TAF

Overview of Transparent Application Failover
     Load Balancing
     Example listener.ora
     Example tnsnames.ora
     Dynamic Registration (new section)

Example TAF Configurations
     TAF with Connect-Time Failover and Client Load Balancing
     Configuring TAF to Retry a Connection
     Configuring TAF for Pre-Establishing Connections
     Verifying TAF Configurations
     Using Instance Role for Configuring the Primary and Secondary Instance
     Connection to Instance Role Type
     Establishing a Connection to a Specific Instance
     Using BACKUP with TAF Pre-Establishing a Connection

Using OCI Driver
    An example showing the TAF

Conclusion

References

CHAPTER-9 - Application Deployment

Overview
     Database Consolidation
     E-business Applications

RAC Suitability
     Advantages of the RAC database
     Scalability
     Unpredictable Loads
     High Availability

Application Deployment Issues
     OLTP applications using ‘exclusive’ or specific data
     Departmental Applications
     Data warehousing Applications

Applications requiring HA
     Large Batch jobs
     Using Parallel Instance Groups

RAC Suitability for Packaged Applications
     SAP and Real Application Clusters
     Status of Oracle RAC/SAP certification
     SAP's MCOD
     Performance considerations
     Siebel and RAC
     Oracle eBusiness Suite

Middleware Software
     JDBC Connectivity
     JDBC Thin Driver
     JDBC Oracle Call Interface Driver
     JDBC Server-Side Internal Driver
     Web Logic and RAC database

Conclusion

References

CHAPTER-10 - RAC Design Considerations

Designing Equipment for Real Application Clusters
     What are the effects of component failure?
          • Failure of the Internet or Intranet
          • Failure of the firewall
          • Failure of the Application Server
          • Failure of the Database Server
          • Failure of the fabric switch
          • SAN Failure
          • NICs
     Provide Redundancy at Each Level

Designing for High Performance
     Confining Transactions to Specific Nodes
     Creating Efficient RAC Data Objects
     Proper Sequence Usage

Tablespace Design in Real Application Clusters
     Extent Management and Locally Managed Tablespaces
          • Identifying Extent Management Issues
          • Minimizing Extent Management Operations
          • Using Locally Managed Tablespaces

Minimizing Table Locks to Optimize Performance
     Disabling Table Locks for Individual Tables
     Setting DML_LOCKS to Zero

Performance for Object Creation in Real Application Clusters

Summary of Guidelines

Conclusion
References


CHAPTER 11 -Backup and Recovery

Overview of RAC Backup and Recovery
     Discussion – Instance Failure v/s Media Failure
     Export – Logical Backup
     Cold Backup using Scripts
     Hot Backup Using Scripts
     RMAN (Recovery Manager)
     Third Party Solutions
     How do the things change with A S M?

Backup of RAC database
     Using RMAN for Backups
     Backup Procedures for RMAN and RAC

Recovery in the RAC Environment
     Media Recovery in RAC Instances
     Using RMAN to Recover a RAC Environment
     Recovery in an OCFS Environment
     Recovery in a Raw File System Environment
     Parallel Recovery

Standby Databases in RAC Configuration
     Setting up a Standby Database For a RAC Cluster
     Configuration when the Standby Database is also a Cluster (RAC-) System
     Log Shipping when the Standby Database is a Single Node System
     Cross-Instance Archival
     Archive Log Gap Resolution and FAL

Tips on using backup with Storage replication
     Hitachi Storage
     EMC Storage
     Using Veritas Volume Replicator

Conclusion

References

CHAPTER 12 - Performance Tuning

Analysis of Performance Issues

Using Automated Memory Management (AMM) with RAC

Disk Monitoring and Tuning for RAC and ASM

Monitoring RAC Cluster Interconnect Performance
     Undesirable Global Cache Statistics
     Monitoring CURRENT Blocks
     Additional Wait Events of Concern

Global Cache Service Times

GCS Monitoring
     Use of the "CACHE_TRANSFER" Views
     Monitoring the GES Processes
     Monitoring the Global Directory

Monitoring and Tuning RAC using OEM

Configuring the Oracle Intelligent Agent With RAC
     Step-By-Step Setup of the Intelligent Agents on UNIX

Monitoring RAC Using OEM

Tuning Guidelines

Conclusion

References

CHAPTER 13 - RAC Guard

Using RAC Cluster Guard

Examining the Basics of Cluster Guard Technology
     Oracle Real Application Clusters Guard Packs
     The RAC Guard PFSCTL Control Utility
     The Oracle Real Application Clusters Guard Monitors
     Oracle Real Application Clusters Guard Configuration Templates
     PFSSETUP Utility

Concepts of Oracle Real Application Clusters Guard
      Primary and Secondary Instance Roles
      Preferred Primary and Secondary Nodes
      Definition of the Home and Foreign Nodes

Architecture of Oracle Real Application Clusters Guard 558
     Oracle Real Application Clusters Guard Packs
     Resources
     Using the RAC Cluster Guard Command Line Utility
     Recovering from an Unplanned Outage on One Node
     Recovering from Unplanned Outages on Both Nodes
     Configuring the Call-Home Feature
     Enhancing Application Failover with Role Change Notification

ORATAB File Entries for Oracle RAC Guard

Using dbms_libcache to Warm the Secondary Cache
     Overview of Warming the Library Cache
     Set Up of DBMS_LIBCACHE
     Use of the dbms_libcache Package
     Managing the Oracle Real Application Clusters Guard Log Files
     What if a Failover Occurs while Datafiles are in Backup Mode?

Conclusion

References

CHAPTER 14 - Advanced Topics

Migration to RAC environment
     Moving Single Instance to RAC
         • Decision to migrate to a RAC database
         • Obtain the necessary server hardware infrastructure
         • Procedure - A
         • Procedure - B

Upgrading Oracle 9.2.0.4 to 10.x
     Moving HA cluster to a RAC cluster
        • Procedure to move the VCS to Veritas DBE/AC RAC
        • Migration Features
    Packaged Applications
        • In case of SAP applications
        • Verification Process
        • Upgrade SAP Software and Tools
        • BRTOOLS
     In case of Oracle eBusiness Suite

Convert from Raw Partition to OCFS based infrastructure
     Using Transportable Tablespaces - RMAN

Storage Replication in RAC Environment
     EMC SRDF implementation in RAC environment
     Hitachi replication

Blade Servers
     How do they help in node dynamism
     Survey of blade architecture
     Case Study of E-genera Bladeframe implementing RAC solution

Switched Computing and its role in RAC environment
     Top Spin switches
     Where is infiniband

CHAPTER 15 - Parallel Execution

Types of Parallelism
     Inter-Query and Intra Query-Parallelism
     Parallelism in Oracle Relational Database

Parallel Execution Mechanism
     Granules for Parallelism
     Parallel Execution Servers
     Degree of Parallelism – DOP

Parallel Operations
     Parallel Query: SELECT
     Parallel DML – update, Merge, Delete
     Parallel DML – Insert …. Select
     Parallel DDL Statements
     Rules for Parallelizing “Create Table as Select” (CTAS)

SQL*LOADER – parallel load
     Using concurrent conventional path loads
     Parallel Direct Path Load

Other Parallel Operations
     DBWR and LGWR
     Parallel Recovery
     Using Fast-Start Parallel Rollback
     Replication – Parallel Propagation

Oracle RAC and Inter-Instance parallelization
     Initialization Parameters at Glance
     Monitoring and Diagnosing the Parallel Execution

Technology

Conclusion

References

CHAPTER 16 - The Grid Computing

Basics

Introduction to Grid: Grid computing as the next evolution of the Internet.
     Leveraging Commodity Components
     Concept of building super size computers using cheap, off the shelf components is proven by supercomputers built on Intel/Linux platform.
     Elaborate further ...
     Why Grid ? Utilizing unused resources ( capacity built for peaks, lying around unused )

Technology
     Virtualization

Mechanics

Grid Case Studies (In brief)
     Business applications (Platform Computing etc)
     Scientific applications ( CERN openlab for DataGrid applications, Large Hadron Collider project; SETI@Home)

Grid Standards
     The Role of OGSA - Open Grid Services Architecture
     The OGSA Service Model
     Database as a Service with in the grid

What is Global Grid Forum?

What is Globus?

What is Globus Toolkit?

The Role of OGSA - Open Grid Services Architecture
     OGSA ( Open Grid Services Architecture ) integrates Globus and Web services:
     The OGSA Service Model
          Database as a Service with in the grid
          Making existing services readily usable individually or collectively within a Grid framework.


CHAPTER 17 - Grid and Oracle RAC Integration

On-demand Database Service

Oracle Grid Ready Database

Automatic Load balancing of systems

Consolidate and Share

Expanding DB computing resource

Oracle 10g Scheduler

Coordinated scheduling of both computing and database resources
     - Is this is a new dbms_job package ? New features/why to use it
     - What is program ?
     - What is schedule ?
     - Creating Schedules
     - Altering Schedules
     - Dropping Schedules
     - Administering Job Classes
     - Administering Windows
     Administering the Scheduler
     Configuring the Scheduler
     Monitoring and Managing the Scheduler
     How to Monitor and Manage Window and Job Logs
     Job Run Logs
     How to Change Job Priorities

Data Pump
     Data Pump Components
       - expdp and impdp
       - The DBMS_DATAPUMP
       - The DBMS_METADATA
    Data Pump New Features
        - performance improvement ( now same time for export and import )
        - Size estimate
        - The ability to restart Data Pump jobs.
        - Support for fine-grained object selection, based upon objects and object types ( all with samples )

Oracle Streams
     What Can Streams Do?
     Why Use Streams?
       - Message Queuing
       - Data Replication
       - Event Management and Notification
       - Data Warehouse Loading
       - Data Protection
     Administration Tools for a Streams Environment
     Sample application.

Transfer of data
    Fine-grained data transfer ( Oracle Streams )
    Bulk data transfers ( Data Pump, Transportable Tablespaces )
    Transportable Tablespaces
     Used with RENAME TABLESPACE to move data between databases; no platform independent
     Step-by-step primer
     Limitations/Usefulness summary
     DBMS_FILE_TRANSFER
    Step-by-step primer
     DBMS_STREAMS_TABLESPACES_ADM
     How Data Pump, DBMS_FILE_TRANSFER, DBMS_STREAMS_TABLESPACES_ADM interact ? Sample application.

Automatic Provisioning of Oracle RAC Instances
    Service Virtualization
    Virtualization is the abstraction into a service of every physical and logical entity in a grid. (Further elaborate).
     Resonance
     Oracle Portable Clusterware

Conclusion

References

CHAPTER 18 - Workload Management

Discuss the Service concept

Dynamic Allocation

Dynamic Provisioning
    - distributing supplies where they are needed.
    - Consolidate, share ( transportable tablespaces, Streams ) , and federate information.

Conclusion

References