A robust, scalable Linux cluster solution and full remote monitoring and management to achieve the highest possible availability of a mission-critical Oracle database environment and easy future migrations.
Our client is a large UK Manufacturer operating mission-critical Oracle database systems that control production, sales and distribution for all product ranges.
Issues
Four years ago, the client was operating a badly architected, poorly performing system. The database system was not consistently managed and could not support the client’s busy mission critical applications. As the Oracle systems controlled the vital production, sales and distribution processes for all product ranges, poor database performance seriously affected the business as a whole, reducing productivity and profitability, and costing the client a great deal in support costs.
Xynomix’ Solution
Implementation of a Linux Cluster with Oracle support 24x7x365 to guarantee virtually non-existent downtime.
Xynomix were drafted in to assess the client’s system requirements and to design an ‘always available’ system that would match the organisation’s current and future ambitions. A team of Xynomix’ Oracle technicians attended a series of meetings to learn about the client’s Oracle environment, working to understand exactly how Oracle fitted with the business as a whole. It was clear that the system to be implemented would need to eliminate risk to the organisation, delivering the highest plausible levels of uptime. It was also recognised that scalability would be a vital feature of the implemented system to fit with the organisation’s predicted levels of growth.
Xynomix technicians re-designed the entire database environment. Due to the client’s application constraints, an alternative to Oracle RAC was required. However, as the organisation expressed a possible interest in the future implementation of a RAC environment, it was important that the new system was based on an infrastructure that could be migrated to RAC with minimal system interruption. The new system was based on a Linux Cluster to allow for easy future migration, the full use of shared storage and powerful commodity servers, and the highest possible availability. The client was involved up to management level at each stage of the planning and implementation process to ensure that the system would deliver the organisation’s objectives.
For such a critical system, it was recommended that the client’s systems were monitored 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year to guarantee virtually non-existent downtime. Four years on, the systems are still being monitored and managed remotely using Xynomix’ sophisticated predictive monitoring technologies. Technicians are immediately alerted to potential issues that may arise and are able to log in remotely to prevent their occurrence.
Key Skills Used: Linux-based Cluster Design and Implementation, Individual Database Tuning, Full Remote Monitoring and Management, Full Documentation, Skills Transfer, General Trouble Shooting.
Client Benefits
An initial diagnosis; architecture of a clustered system for highest possible levels of system availability; 24×7 monitoring and management; future-proof migration architecture.
Xynomix have monitored and managed the client’s Oracle systems and assisted with all Oracle DBA related activity for the past four years. The client’s key aims for a robust, scalable, easy to migrate cluster environment have been consistently achieved, and the requirement for the highest possible levels of uptime is met by the implemented clustering technology and full management and support services provided. Since Xynomix has been working with the client, the estimated cost savings are in excess of £60,000 per year and the database systems have never failed.
