Oracle’s Real Application Clusters (RAC) option supports the transparent deployment of a single database across a cluster of servers, providing fault tolerance from hardware failures or planned outages. Oracle RAC running on clusters provides Oracle’s highest level of capability in terms of availability, scalability, and low-cost computing.
Oracle RAC supports mainstream business applications of all kinds. This includes OLTP, DSS, and Oracle’s unique ability to effectively support mixed OLTP/DSS environments. This also includes popular packaged products such as SAP, PeopleSoft, Siebel, and Oracle E*Business Suite, as well as custom applications. Oracle RAC provides a single image installation and management.
The DBA has a single point of control to install and manage a RAC cluster from the GUI interface or command line.
This clusterware functionality includes mechanisms for cluster messaging, locking, failure detection, and recovery. For most platforms, no 3rd party clusterware management software need be purchased. Oracle will, however, continue to support select 3rd party clusterware products on specified platforms.
Oracle Clusterware includes a High Availability API to make applications highly available. Oracle Clusterware can be used to monitor, relocate, and restart your applications. With Real Application Clusters, Oracle Clusterware automatically manages all Oracle processes.
Benefits of Oracle Real Application Clusters:
- High Availability
- Recoverability
- Error Detection
- Continuous Operations
- Scalability
