1. Presentation Title
Linux cluster issues
Nis Sorensen Manager, SAP Solutions TSG, Solution Alliances Engineering
Copyright © 2004 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved.

2. Copyright © 2004 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved.
Multipathing
Multiple paths to the storage is a must in datacenter environments.
Currently four implementations: md
QLogic driver
device-mapper
Emulex driver (soon)
Why not just one ? This results in a lot of support effort and potential support issues.
4/9/2019
Copyright © 2004 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved.

3. Issue: cluster manager
To build a minimal configuration with SAP and Oracle 9iRAC there is a need of two 2-node cluster (four servers) as a minimum, because of the missing coexistence of the cluster managers (HA cluster manager, e.g. Serviceguard and Oracle Cluster Manager).
Need for a standard cluster manager or API that the cluster managers can coexist on the same nodes.
4/9/2019
Copyright © 2004 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved.

4. Issue: Cluster membership services
With the addition of GFS to a Serviceguard / Oracle 9iRAC cluster, three CMS will run in parallel.
Need for a standard cluster membership service.
4/9/2019
Copyright © 2004 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved.

5. Issue: no standard Linux solution
It is a great disadvantage of the Linux platform that there is not a standard cluster solution, on which solutions can be based.
E.g.: cluster file systems
RedHat: GFS
Oracle, Novell: ocfs2
=> Double testing effort for Oracle 9iRAC solutions
4/9/2019
Copyright © 2004 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved.

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Solutions for SAP
Solutions for SAP rely on stable software stacks. Best would be, if these stacks would be the same for all distributors.
Stack include:
Linux kernel
glibc (c library)
gcc (compiler)
multipathing
cluster infrastructure
4/9/2019
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7. Copyright © 2004 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved.
There is no free lunch
Efforts for certifiying a SAP / RAC solutions are about 2-4 man months per software stack.
Every change in the software stack triggers this effort anew.
New software stacks triggers new pilot projects
Complicated / difficult to find customers, that can/will invest in pilot testing
Adds additional costs
Delay bringing solution to customers
4/9/2019
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8. Copyright © 2004 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved.
SAP Solution issues
Development / testing issues
Can’t have several SAP solution
Standard single instance Oracle with a SAP supporting Cluster Manager
Another with Oracle’s Cluster Manager in RAC installation
Different CFS solution:
Red Hat CFS
Oracle / SUSE: OCFS
Adds additional testing and support issues on above
4/9/2019
Copyright © 2004 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved.

9. Copyright © 2004 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved.
SAP Solution issues
Development / testing issues
Can’t have several SAP solution
Standard single instance Oracle with a SAP supporting Cluster Manager
Another with Oracle’s Cluster Manager in RAC installation
Different CFS solution:
Red Hat CFS
Oracle / SUSE: OCFS
Adds additional testing and support issues on above
Need SAP to engage and demand !
4/9/2019
Copyright © 2004 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved.

10. Copyright © 2004 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved.
Observation
The academic discussion today has been very interesting listening to, but is a bit from reality.
We, SAP and their partners has to bring solutions to the marked, that is
Tested
And supportable
4/9/2019
Copyright © 2004 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved.

11. Copyright © 2004 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved.
Presentation Title
4/9/2019
Copyright © 2004 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2004 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved.