This was first published on https://blog.dbi-services.com/oda-x7 (2017-10-03)
Republishing here for new followers. The content is related to the the versions available at the publication date
So, the ODA X6 End of Life seems to be planned for October, and be careful, as far as I know, this concerns also the storage expansion.
The main feedback from the X6-2 series were:
The Small version of the ODA Lite has the same number of cores as in X6-2: 10 cores in one socket. Those are Intel Xeon Silver 4114 processor (2.2GHz). Some more memory: 6x32GB instead of 4x32GB, so 192GB expandable to 384GB as before.
And the big new thing is that it can run virtualized (X6-2 was Bare Metal only). Even if it is still OVM, the hypervisor is KVM. OVM is accepted by Oracle to license per vCPU, but for the moment the database cannot run on a VM so you need to get database licences for all the cores enabled on the ODA.
The storage for database is two 6.4TB Flash NVMe, which means 12.8TB raw capacity (6.4TB double-mirrored)
You can look at it in the 3D view
The larger version of ODA Lite has more cores: 36 cores instead of 20 before: two sockets with Intel Xeon Gold 6140 processor (2.3GHz). Some more memory: 12x32GB=384GB instead of 256GB. Expandable to 768GB as before.
As the Small one, it can be virtualized with KVM.
The storage for database is two 6.4TB Flash NVMe, and you can add 6 additional ones to bring the storage to 51.2TB raw capacity.
Because of this new capacity in the ‘Medium’ one, and the large possibility to add disks, there is no ‘Large’ version of ODA X7-2.
You can look at it in the 3D view
The HA version of ODA has more cores: 72 cores instead of 40 before: two 18-cores sockets with Intel Xeon Gold 6140 processor (2.3GHz), in two nodes. Some more memory: 768GB instead of 256GB. Expandable to 1.5TB as before.
The big new thing is that you are allowed to run Standard Edition, and then RAC with no option. In the latter case, with SE2 only one socket per node is enabled.
The second important thing is that the storage which was limited (12TB expandable to 24TB or 48TB with a second shelf) is now declined into:
For the REDO, there are 4 additional 800GB disks (4 additional in the expansion shelf).
In the initial release of X7 the virtualization on HA still used OVM/Xen.
You will be able to install 12cR2 (12.2.0.1).
You have the choice for the network between:
OAKCLI will be replaced everywhere by ODACLI
Franck
I’m interested in your statement at the start about End of Life for the X6 seems to be planned for October. Oracle usually gives a minimum of 5 years support from GA before EOL. Even the old ODA X4-2 (GA Dec 2013) is still not EOL. I wonder if you meant EOSL instead, which is quite different …?
Pete
Hi Pete, Of course, this comes from OOW where all information is under ‘Safe Harbor’ It is not an end of support, but the end of life where it will be removed from price list and cannot be ordered anymore. Regards, Franck.
Hi Franck, we are using OVM based on licensing advantages for the oracle db. But we are quite unhappy with the technical features of OVM. Is there a new OVM version on the horizon (based on KVM)? We would looking very forward to get a technical update of OVM BR Rene
Hi Rene, Yes there is already OVM based on KVM in the ODA Lite. However, for the moment, you can put only applications in a VM. Not the database. But that should come soon. Regards, Franck.
Thanks for your updates Franck – the ODA X7 family is described at http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/database-appliance/learnmore/odax7-2family-wp-3940774.pdf It is probably a good time to consider upgrading infrastructure. The new systems offer again a brilliant price/performance ratio.
The M and HA models increase the number of processor cores, you should be aware of the licensing impact when refreshing hardware.
Hi Andrew, ODA has Capacity on Demand. Just activate the right number of cores.
Thanks for article..Please fix incorrect statement; The storage for database is two 6.4TB Flash NVMe, which means 12.8TB raw capacity, 6.4TB/4.8TB double-mirrored/ triple-mirrored
Thanks, fixed
For the ODA X7-2 HA, does it support installing SE & EE together? e.g. One OVM running SE with RAC while another OVM running EE with RAC?
Hi, If you mean SE and EE in the same node the answer is no because database can be installed only on ODA Base and licensing cannot mix different editions and different metrics. If you mean one node for SE and one for EE, then I think it is possible (they are just 2 servers with same storage) but I don’t know if ODA deployment will allow that. Anyway, the purpose of ODA HA is RAC and the big thing about SE allowed is that SE RAC is a very cheap HA solution. Just add a second ODA with Dbvisit standby (or maybe just some refreshable PDBs) and you are protected for DR as well. Regards, Franck.
Unfortunately it’s not possible- just reemphasizing correct Franck’s statement: ‘for the moment the database cannot run on a VM’ (from Oracle licence/support point of view), while saying that IS technically possible But let me take this ‘wish’ with the ODA “father” and BDM…you are not only one asking for this.
PS: There is no more OVM but KVM
Hi Franck,
Thank you for sharing…
In the article, you stated that: – For ODA X7-2S: And the big new thing is that it can run virtualized (X6-2 was Bare Metal only) – For ODA X7-2M: As the Small one, it can be virtualized with KVM.
Yet, in the oracle documentation, they say this: — Reference: https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E89155_01/doc.122/e93447/creating-oda-baremetal.htm#CMTXL-GUID-0F801EFA-DE6E-4AFA-A919-3431E4245880 ========================== The steps to deploy your Oracle Database Appliance configuration vary, depending on the type of platform and whether you want to deploy a bare metal platform or a virtualized platform:
Oracle Database Appliance X7-2S and X7-2M are single node systems that you deploy as a bare metal platform.
Oracle Database Appliance X7-2-HA is a multi-node system with the option to deploy as a bare metal platform or a virtualized platform. ===============================
So, can you tell us a little bit more about the virtualization on those families of ODA, and if possible, share your references please?
Thank you.
Hi Herve, Here is where the ODA Product Manager detailed about KVM on ODA Lite: https://blogs.oracle.com/oda/kvm Regards, Franck.
Hi Franck, I see. The virtualization here is not the virtualized-plateform deployment option. This is why it was confusing. The virtualization we are talking about here is the fact that VMs can be created using KVM. But we still can not deploy X7-2S and X7-2M as virtualized plateform with ODA_BASE and so on… This is possible only with X7-2HA.
By the way, starting with ODA 12.1.2.11.0 KVM is included with ODA X6-2, so virtualization is also possible with X6-2.
Thank you.
Hi Herve, Yes, exactly. ODA_BASE in a KVM VM is not yet possible. But AFAIK that’s planned. And then maybe OVM in ODA HA will use KVM instead of Xen. Regards, Franck.