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The database components of Oracle Database 10g's grid computing provide an infrastructure that brings together multiple servers (RAC) with shared storage (ASM), all tied together using the Oracle Enterprise Manager (OEM) Grid Control. Table 9-17 shows how grid computing addresses some of the issues facing large databases.

In order for grid computing to work, a software infrastructure layer needs to be in place to control the hardware and processes, as well as provide some automated maintenance capabilities. This is mainly the function of the OEM and is a core component of the grid. In addition, the Oracle Database 10g has the capability to perform some self-management.

Self-Managing Databases

One of the new features of Oracle Database 10g is its self-managing capabilities. The components of this feature are as follows:

Image Automatic Workload Repository Automatically collects workload and performance statistics to be used for all self-management activities.

Large Database Issue

Grid Components

Benefits

Data volumes

ASM

Reduced maintenance efforts
Improved performance through data striping

Number of users and applications

RAC

Multiple nodes available to service requests
Improved performance (workload balancing)

Complexity of requests

RAC

Improved performance (workload balancing)

 

ASM

Improved performance (data striping)

Database availability

RAC

Multiple nodes available to service requests

Hardware/software costs

RAC and ASM

Use of lower-cost servers and generic disks

Resource management

OEM

Reduced maintenance efforts (aware of all grid components)

TABLE 9-17. Large Database Issues Addressed by Grid Computing

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