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Program Scope

The goal of this program is to validate hardware with Oracle Linux and Oracle VM, and to identify issues and configuration details that would impact customer deployments. Oracle developed the program to go far beyond the standard certification testing normally performed with operating systems. Hardware vendors participating in this program perform thorough testing of the hardware in real-world configurations with Oracle Linux and Oracle VM.

This is not a database certification. Oracle Database is a component of the environment because it is demanding on hardware resources (processor, memory, cache, storage, network) and the operating system, and well suited for this advanced level of testing. The validation program uses Oracle Database as a tool and hardware is not certified with Oracle Database as a result of the validation program.

For more information please see the program's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

Validated Configuration Details
Configuration SummaryOEL 5 Update 1 x86-64 on Dell PowerEdge 2950 III and Compellent Storage Center Firmware version 4.0 Code with Oracle Database 11g Release 1
Publication Date03-JUN-08
Version1.0
Server PlatformDell PowerEdge 2950 III
Storage ModelCompellent Storage Center Firmware version 4.0 Code
Oracle SoftwareOracle Database 11g Release 1 (11.1.0.6) for Linux x86_64
Linux DistributionOracle Enterprise Linux 5 Update 1 x86-64
Server and Storage Platform Details
Server Model2 X Dell PowerEdge 2950 III
Processors2 X Quad Core Intel Xeon x5460 @3.16 GHz
Memory8GB RAM
OnBoardStorage4 X 73GB SAS 15K
RAIDDell PowerEdge RAID Controller 6/i
Network/Interconnect1 X Intel 82575GB Gigabit Ethernet , 1 X Broadcom NetXtreme II BCM5708 Gigabit Ethernet
HBA Dual port QLogic QLE2462 Fibre Channel HBA
Storage ModelCompellent Storage Center Firmware version 4.0 Code
Storage DetailsFC HDDs: 16 x 10K rpm (with mix capacity drives 136GB and 300GB) Volumes created with RAID 1/0
 
Switch Details
Switch ModelCisco 2960G
Switch TypeNetwork Switch
Additional Info.None
 
Switch ModelCisco MDS9124
Switch TypeFC Switch
Additional Info.None
 
Linux Distribution Details
OSOEL 5 Update 1 x86-64
Kernelkernel-2.6.18-53.1.14.0.1.el5.x86_64.rpm or higher
 
Additional Packages Needed From Distribution
binutils-2.17.50.0.6-5.el5.x86_64.rpm
compat-libstdc++-33-3.2.3-61.i386.rpm
compat-libstdc++-33-3.2.3-61.x86_64.rpm
elfutils-libelf-devel-0.125-3.el5.x86_64.rpm
gcc-4.1.2-14.el5.x86_64.rpm
gcc-c++-4.1.2-14.el5.x86_64.rpm
gdb-6.5-25.el5.x86_64.rpm
glibc-2.5-18.i686.rpm
glibc-2.5-18.x86_64.rpm
glibc-common-2.5-18.x86_64.rpm
glibc-devel-2.5-18.i386.rpm
glibc-devel-2.5-18.x86_64.rpm
libXp-1.0.0-8.1.el5.x86_64.rpm
libXtst-1.0.1-3.1.i386.rpm
libaio-0.3.106-3.2.i386.rpm
libaio-devel-0.3.106-3.2.x86_64.rpm
libstdc++-4.1.2-14.el5.i386.rpm
libstdc++-4.1.2-14.el5.x86_64.rpm
libstdc++-devel-4.1.2-14.el5.x86_64.rpm
make-3.81-1.1.x86_64.rpm
sysstat-7.0.0-3.el5.x86_64.rpm
unixODBC-2.2.11-7.1.x86_64.rpm
unixODBC-devel-2.2.11-7.1.x86_64.rpm
util-linux-2.13-0.44.el5.x86_64.rpm
xorg-x11-deprecated-libs-6.8.2-1.EL.33.0.1.x86_64.rpm
Oracle Packages
ocfs2-2.6.18-53.1.14.0.1.el5-1.2.8-2.el5.x86_64.rpmCorresponding to the kernel version
ocfs2-tools-1.2.7-1.el5.x86_64.rpmRequired for DB on OCFS2
ocfs2console-1.2.7-1.el5.x86_64.rpmRequired for DB on OCFS2
oracle-validated-1.0.0-3.el5.x86_64.rpmThis package automatically pulls in package dependencies and sets system parameters recommended above. It is not required but is recommended to save time in getting the system setup. It is available from ULN by subscribing to the "Oracle Software" channel and then using up2date to install it. The dependent packages will be installed and parameters will be adjusted as part of this up2date process. NOTE: For supportability and diagnosability gdb should also be installed using up2date
oracleasm-2.6.18-53.1.14.0.1.el5-2.0.4-1.el5.x86_64.rpmCorresponding to the kernel version
oracleasm-support-2.0.4-1.el5.x86_64.rpmRequired for DB on ASM
oracleasmlib-2.0.3-1.el5.x86_64.rpmRequired for DB on ASM
Configuration Files
Conf File Settings Comments
/etc/security/limits.conforacle hard nofile 131072 
 oracle soft nofile 131072# depending on size of db, these may need to be larger
 oracle hard memlock 50000000 
 oracle soft memlock 50000000# set memlock greater than or equal to the sga size to allow oracle to use hugepages if configured
 oracle soft core unlimited 
 oracle hard core unlimited 
 oracle hard nproc 131072 
 oracle soft nproc 131072 
/etc/sysctl.confkernel.sem=250 32000 100 142 
 kernel.msgmax=8192 
 kernel.msgmni=2878 
 fs.file-max=327679 
 net.ipv4.ip_local_port_range = 1024 65000 
 kernel.shmmni = 4096 
 kernel.msgmnb = 65536 
 kernel.sysrq=1 
 net.core.rmem_default=262144 
 net.core.rmem_max=4194304 
 net.core.wmem_default=262144 
 net.ipv4.tcp_syncookies = 1 
 fs.aio-max-nr=3145728 
 kernel.shmall=3279547 
 kernel.shmmax=2070691840 
 net.core.wmem_max=262144 
Filesystems Tested
Filesystem Mount Options Details
ASMNoneUsing Automatic Storage Management Library Driver (asmlib) for datafiles
RAWNoneocr and voting disk located on raw partitions, for configuration with datafiles on ASM storage.
OCFS2_netdev,datavolume,nointrDatafiles, ocr and voting disk files on OCFS2
ext3NoneFor single instance database files.
Driver Modules
Driver ModuleQlogic HBA (QLE2462)
Version8.01.07-k7
SettingsNone
Additional Info.The driver used is the HBA driver supplied with the distribution
 
Driver ModuleNetwork driver module (bnx2)
VersionNone
SettingsIf using bnx2, Rx needs to be set on.
Additional Info.The driver used is the bnx2 driver supplied with the distribution
 
Miscellaneous
Two gigabit networks, 1 for public(igb) and 1 private(igb).
The swap partition is 16GB.
Oracle Software Details
ProductOracle Database 11g Release 1, Single Instance and Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC) for Linux x86_64
Version11.1.0.6
Patches6778860 , 7592335
 
Configuration Feedback
Bug No5593995
SummaryUsing Pro*C causes the system to run out of memory
AffectsCaused the system to hang.
SymptomThe system hangs.
Solution/WorkaroundFor OEL5U3, Remove references to pathnames that do not exist on your system in pcscfg.cfg. Fixed in OEL5U4.
 
Bug No6045759
SummaryApplications using random numbers may hang or report errors if there is insufficient random data in the system
AffectsOracle applications tools (e.g: java apps) requesting random data
SymptomOracle applications tools (e.g: java apps) requesting random data from /dev/random either hang or print out the following information message: Not enough random bytes available. Please do some other work to give the OS a chance to collect more entropy!
Solution/WorkaroundIf using e1000 or bnx2 network drivers on OEL5 the entropy=1 module option can be set for either of these drivers in /etc/modprobe.conf. Fixed in 2.6.18-8.0.0.4.1.el5 kernel or higher
 
Bug No6081490
SummaryWith selinux enabled, ocfs2 fails to startup via /etc/init.d/o2cb start
AffectsAutomated startup of ocfs2 via /etc/init.d/o2cb start
SymptomWith selinux enabled, starting ocfs2 via "/etc/init.d/o2cb start" fails with the following error: "mount: block device ocfs2_dlmfs is write-protected mounting read-only. mount: cannot mount block device ocfs2_dlmfs read-only. Unable to mount ocfs2_dlmfs filesystem Failed"
Solution/WorkaroundFor OEL5U3, Manually mount OCFS2_DLMFS using the command mount -t ocfs2_dlmfs ocfs2_dlmfs /dlm. Fixed in OEL5U4.
 
Bug No6241862
SummaryUsing sysrq+t with netconsole/tg3 configured causes the system to panic.
AffectsTroubleshooting of systems via "alt sysrq t" with netconsole/tg3 configured.
SymptomWhen troubleshooting system, usage of "alt + sysrq + t" with netconsole/tg3 configured to take a system stack trace may cause the system to panic . This does not affect the normal operation of the system.
Solution/WorkaroundFixed in 2.6.18-92.0.0.0.1.el5 kernel or higher
 
Bug No8253185
SummaryMachine becomes unresponsive during swap pressure, due to direct reclaim threads
AffectsSystems with heavy memory and I/O load
SymptomDuring periods of heavy memory or I/O load that forces the system to swap, the machine becomes unresponsive. In the case of Oracle RAC deployments, this could result in RAC evictions.
Solution/WorkaroundFixed in 2.6.18-92.1.17.0.1.el5 kernel or higher
 
Bug No8277913
SummaryNetconsole module insertion fails with bonding on el5.3
Affectsnetconsole with bonding.
SymptomWith bonding enabled, "/etc/init.d/netconsole start" fails with the following error Initializing netconsole FATAL: Error inserting netconsole (/lib/modules//kernel/drivers/net/netconsole.ko): Invalid argument [FAILED]
Solution/WorkaroundFixed in 2.6.18-92.1.17.0.2.el5 kernel or higher
 
Bug No8451369
SummaryIf oracle-validated rpm is installed from CD, it fails to update the numa settings in /boot/grub/menu.lst
Affectsx86_64 AMD processor based systems
SymptomRecommended settings for numa will not be set on AMD processor based systems
Solution/WorkaroundAfter install, bring up the system. Append numa=off to the lines "kernel " in /boot/grub/menu.lst. Reboot the system for changes to take effect.Fixed in OEL5U4.
 
Bug No6140224
SummarySQLPLUS FAILS TO LOAD LIBNNZ11.SO WITH SELINUX ENABLED ON EL5/RHEL5
Affects11gR1 and 11gR2
Symptomsqlplus fails with the following error message "cannot restore segment prot after reloc: Permission denied"
Solution/WorkaroundDisable selinux
 
Bug No6501138
SummaryORA-12751: CPU TIME OR RUN TIME POLICY VIOLATION under certain type of workloads.
Affects11gR1 performance
SymptomFollowing messages appear in the oracle trace files "Runtime exceeded 900 seconds"
Solution/WorkaroundReduce the load ( e.g: reduce no of users ) or enhance system configuration for that workload
 
Bug No7036544
SummaryDatabase instance startup fails when sga_target was set to multiples of 4096M
Affects11.1.0.6
SymptomDatabase instance startup fails with the following error " ORA-12853: insufficient memory for PX buffers: current 0K, max needed 2640K and ORA-04031: unable to allocate 21544 bytes of shared memory ("large pool","unknown object","large pool","PX msg pool")"
Solution/WorkaroundFixed in 11.1.0.7, for 11.1.0.6 set the parameter large_pool_size in init.ora or increase the sga_target size.
 
Bug No8451866
SummaryIncorrect multipath.conf setting affects RAC node failover. Settings(features = "1 queue_if_no_path") and/or (no_path_retry = queue) causes the node hang if io path fails. no_path_retry has to be set to the numeric value explicitly.
AffectsAll applications using device mapper multipath devices which have contingency plan in case of io path failure.
SymptomRAC node hangs if io path fails.
Solution/WorkaroundIn configuration file /etc/multipath.conf,set no_path_retry and polling_interval to the numeric values, for example, "no_path_retry=5" and "polling_interval=10" so as to disable queuing. These values depend on system workload.
 
Note: The above configuration can be deployed with Red Hat with the changes listed below:
os Kernel
RHEL 5 Update 1 x86-64kernel-2.6.18-53.1.14.el5.x86_64.rpm or higher
Required Packages
Packages
oracleasm-support-2.0.4-1.el5.x86_64.rpm
oracleasm-2.6.18-53.1.14.el5-2.0.4-1.el5.x86_64.rpm
ocfs2-tools-1.2.7-1.el5.x86_64.rpm
ocfs2console-1.2.7-1.el5.x86_64.rpm
ocfs2-2.6.18-53.1.14.el5-1.2.8-2.el5.x86_64.rpm
oracleasmlib-2.0.3-1.el5.x86_64.rpm


Note: Oracle-validated for Red Hat is available from oracle-validated-1.0.0-18 onwards.

 
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