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Fizzwheel
Contributor
Contributor

Question Regarding Oracle Database for Virtual Centre

Has anybody else done this. We have an oracle cluster already for other applications and rather than building a SQL cluster in order to provide resiliency for the Virtual Centre Database, I'm thinking of hosting the Virtual Centre database on our existing Oracle Cluster.

I've been talking to some VMware specialists that are providing consultancy on the project I'm working on, with regard to this and everytime I bring up this issue I dont really get any answer apart from, "We've not seen anybody do that"

Is anybody else running their Virutal Centre database on Oracle, is so have you had any problems if so what and how did you fix them. Are there any sound technical reasons as to why we wouldnt want to do this. Are there any technical reasons why SQL is a better solution.

Apologies if I have posted this in the wrong place.

Thanks for your help

Dave

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6 Replies
RParker
Immortal
Immortal

Seeing as how you can only connect VC to a SQL Native Client, I don't see how you can connect it to Oracle.

I agree it should be ANY database, and it should not matter, but getting around using something other than a SQL client is the problem.

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Rodos
Expert
Expert

I assume that the Oracle is not virtualised in the cluster you are going to manage with VC.

The real questions are

1. Should I use MS SQL or Oracle.

Well both are supported and people use both. Just because someone has not seen someone do it does not mean that it will not work or it is a bad idea. I have never used Oracle for VC but that does not mean I never would given the right set of circumstances. You might have heaps of Oracle experience and none with MS SQL. One might cost you a license and the other not.

2. Should I put my VC database on the same server as VC or is it okay on a remote server.

I prefer this, it removes a lot of dependencies. But you must remember to back it up and it must have sufficient grunt (see next question). If you are going to run it local MS SQL is probably easier.

3. How big is the environment that my VC will manage (you did not ask this one).

Are you talking 3 ESX hosts with 50 virtual machines or a much larger installation. The size of the environment is going to effect how you design for VC.

Check out the VC best practices Page 6 for details on the databases. http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vc_technical_best.pdf Its a bit old but the info should still be relevant.

Rodos {size:10px}{color:gray}Consider the use of the helpful or correct buttons to award points. Blog: http://rodos.haywood.org/{color}{size}
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Dave_Mishchenko
Immortal
Immortal

Your post has been moved to the VirtualCenter 2.x forum

Dave Mishchenko

VMware Communities User Moderator

PS - Oracle 9i and 10g are both supported. I would hazard a guess that VC is primarily developed on SQL, and it would seem to have a larger install base given the number of posts on SQL vs Oracle (or there's just fewer problems with Oracle Smiley Happy ).

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Rodos
Expert
Expert

Oracle is supported. For versions see the install guide (http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_35/esx_3/r35/vi3_35_25_installation_guide.pdf) page 19.

Rodos {size:10px}{color:gray}Consider the use of the helpful or correct buttons to award points. Blog: http://rodos.haywood.org/{color}{size}
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Fizzwheel
Contributor
Contributor

thanks for the replies and moving my post.

The database is going onto a seperate server that isnt part of VMware, this way the DBA's can include it in their daily maintenance tasks, backups etc etc etc I must admit I hadnt thought of installing SQL onto the Virtual Centre Box.

The concern I have with SQL is that we have had some bad experiences in the past ( mostly due to poor implementation / bad configuration of MS Cluster ) and that as a department we dont have a whole heap of skills with MS Cluster. Whereas we have a great skill set / knowledge of Oracle within our existing team and we already have an oracle cluster, so from my point of view it makes sense to use the skill set / cluster resource we have, rather than build a new MS SQL instance on an MS Cluster that then we're dont have a huge amount of skill in / knowledge to support and that historically has caused my company downtime.

It'll be quite a big install with 12 ESX hosts and as yet and unconfirmed number of VM's as we're still working on the exact numbers.

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odonnellj
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I've run my Virtual Center install on a remote Oracle 9i database for several years. The database itself is actually a schema inside one sitting in a Unix cluster somewhere far away. I actually find your question rather amusing because I would be very afraid to use MS-SQL over Oracle for any installs. However, that comes from having 15 years of Oracle experience and 0 years of MS-SQL :smileygrin:

End result, Oracle is a solid platform for Virtual Center.

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