Until recently, clustered Oracle databases were the preserve of a small number of Oracle customers who could afford them. Three factors have changed this landscape in a remarkably short time: Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC), Linux, and the wide availability of high-performance, low-cost, industry-standard computing platforms. The most exciting of these developments is Oracle RAC which enables you to install a single Oracle database across multiple servers communicating with a high-speed interconnect. In terms of time and money, these three factors mean that building clusters with Oracle Database lOg is now possible for all Oracle users.

In this book, we share our combined knowledge and experience in delivering RAC on Linux solutions. Time and again, we have observed and recorded the key factors in implementing Oracle Database lOgRAC on Linux environments. We make no assumptions about your level of experience with RAC or Linux, and we get you up and running with the technology through step-by-step examples that provide a single reference to installing and configuring all of the software you will need. We also explain not only how to configure your environment, but also why we recommend certain techniques and features to apply to your own successful configurations.

From concepts and design through internals and diagnostics, we cover all of the information that you need to install, test, tune, and understand the Oracle Database lOgRAC on Linux, giving you the edge when working with your own Oracle grid-computing environment.