Got here late due to an EMC interview thing….apologies for partial notes.

Summary = Oracle can be annoying on vSphere but is definitely worth it. One of Varrow’s customers listed as a case study.

More after the jump…

• Upgrade to vSphere 4-5 for 10-20% performance boost.
• Use Oracle recommended install guidelines – same as physical.
• Best Practices for vCPUs

• • Don’t over-allocate.
  • total # of vCPUs should be equal or less than # of cores in the host.
  • Enable hyper-threading for Core i7 processors (5500 and up).
• vSphere 5 has virtual NUMA setting – extends NUMA architecture of ESX host to guest OS.
  • If sizing requires it, virtual machine can cross NUMA nodes.
  • Virtual NUMA can leverage any NUMA optimizations in OS or database.
  • Oracle NUMA – follow MyOracleSupprot doc ID 864633.1
  • Oracle disables NUMA in 11g and up.
  • NUMA might improve performance.
  • Recommends testing it first before applying to production.
• Oracle DB Approximate Memory Architecture
  • Large DB memory -> caches more data blocks -> can minimize access to disk.
    • Use memory reservations to protect this.
• Virtual Memory Best Practices
  • Don’t overcommit.
  • Don’t disable balloon driver.
  • CPU/MMU virt option to Automatic
  • Use Large Memory Pages
    • Consult Oracle doc for sizing SGA
• Network Best Practices
  • Separate infrastructure traffic from VM traffic for security and isolation.
  • NIC teaming
  • Use NIOC if converging on 10 GigE
  • For “chatty” virtual machines on same host, put on same vSwitch.
  • Absolutely use VMXNET3
  • Use jumbo frames – KB 1007654
  • Separate RAC interconnect network to isolate from other traffic.
• Storage Best Practices
  • Use VMFS for single instance Oracle db deployments.
  • Lots more here….running out of time.
• Long slide on VMFS vs. RDM — leaning more towards RDM
• Customer case studies — American Tire Distributors listed (Varrow customer).
• Questions about Oracle on VMware
  • For any hardware platform (not VMware….any kind of hardware), Oracle reserves the right to ask a customer to duplicate the problem on other hardware.
  • If Oracle gives you a hard time on support (asks you to move platforms), call VMware GSS to open a ticket. VMware will own that ticket and run the issue for you — have hired many Oracle DB’s to support/assist with this.
  • Due to TSA (software alliance), Oracle has to take VMware’s calls/work through this stuff.
  • Write Oracle a letter asking for support….VMware can’t write it for you but can advise on it.
• Benefits of Oracle database on VMware.
  • Performance
    • I/O is not an issue.
    • Scale up and out.
    • Newer hardware can increase performance
  • Server Consolidation
    • Fully utilize hardware
    • Maintain application isoloation
    • Scale dynamically and right-size infrastructure
  • Rapid Provisioning
    • Streamline activation, deployemnt and validation of servers.
  • Workload Management
  • High Availability
  • Business Continuity
• Summary
  • Performance is fine…not an issue.
  • Use vMotion and DRS to make your life easier.
  • Don’t leave DB non-virtualized…higher risk.
  • Virt can be part of compliance strategy.
  • Yes, we have Oracle support statement