Use Delphix to virtualise Oracle database binaries for easier maintenance and improved server utilisation

Delphix is well known for its ability to virtualise and provision databases.  However Delphix has for some while also been able to virtualise folders and filesystems.

One of the most common use cases for Delphix file virtualisation (vFiles) is to virtualise application binaries.  Delphix customers have found that the Oracle database binaries stored under $ORACLE_HOME are also a great candidate for virtualising for several reasons.  We call this Virtual Oracle Home (VOH).

Maintaining and Distributing Patched Oracle Database Binaries

Typically this process involves:

1. Patch the Oracle Home with an Oracle issued PSU
2. Validate that the Patch works
3. Patch all of the affected DB Target Servers

Typical Oracle Database Patching Process

With Delphix vFiles this becomes a much more efficient two step process.

Step 1:  Virtualise and synchronise your patched Oracle Home directory.

1. Establish Patch Master and link to Delphix
2. Install patch on DB Patch Master
3. Take Delphix Snapshot to ingest patched binaries
4. Provision/Refresh Oracle Home to DEV/TEST DB server
5. Use Refresh, Rewind, Reset data control features tovtest patch, remedy errors and validate patch.

        If patch fails, you can “Rewind” the binaries to previous patch set

Step 2:  Distribute either virtual or physical copies

Now you can distribute your patched ORACLE_HOME, either as a virtual copy using NFS mounts or as a physical copy using Virtual to Physical (V2P) re-hydration of the patched ORACLE_HOME folder hierarchy on the target servers.

Other major use cases for Virtual Oracle Home (VOH)

DevOps - provision entire versioned stack

Archive - ensure exact database version is archived along with the database

Server Utilisation - make better use of your dev/test server pool by provisioning pre-requisite Oracle binaries on demand

Testing-as-a-Service - fully automated Regression Testing by provisioning all the components for your tests on any compatible server and O/S

How do I Implement Virtual Oracle Home (VOH)

Please see my upcoming blog post on implementing VOH using Delphix vFiles and hook scripts.

Learn more at Delphix Agile Data Managementwww.delphix.com