| z/os & oracle [message #113850] |
Wed, 07 August 2002 09:01  |
Mark Wooldridge
Messages: 1
Registered: August 2002
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Junior Member |
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I am intersted in understanding oracle 9i on z/os. Specifically what things oracle does and does not do well when running in this environment. For example can large number of concurrent users or VLDB or network communcation cause problems. Can volume/storage management within and outside oracle be limited.
How does management for oracle with VSAM linear data sets compare to oracle with a unix files system files?
The over all comparison I am interested in is the pros/cons of oracle on the mainframe and on unix. WHat types of applications would be better suited for each os.
Thanks
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| Re: z/os & oracle [message #113852 is a reply to message #113850] |
Fri, 09 August 2002 05:40  |
paul mansfield
Messages: 35
Registered: January 2001
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Member |
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Mark,
we run both UNIX and OS/390 here (Oracle 8.1.7 and soon going to Z/OS 1.3 but the things you ask apply to both).
There are a number of pros and cons with both environments though I'd probably be accused of being a mainframe bigot!
Z/OS pros are:
1. Its very reliable - even though Oracle is a bit less stable than some of our other mainframe products we still get excellent availablity. It also needs less maintenance.
2. Its very scaleable - we run around 1500 sessions on one instance, most use forms and some come thru Access Manager. We don't seem to hit problems from the number of users coming thru Net8.
3. Problem determination is a LOT better than on UNIX i.e good logs, more stats left around when the system goes belly up, easier to monitor which user took the CPU or which DB took the memory, good historical stats etc.
4. Disaster recovery is much easier if all your eggs are in one basket.
5. Security is better.
6. You don't get disk/block corruption (well we haven't in the last 10 years).
CONs.
1. Z/OS has a small user population - that can make things difficult e.g things are not always tested well before they arrive on site and you can often be the first site to have a problem. Beware being first to go to a new release.
However, talking to various people I do get the impression that Z/OS patches tend to get provided more quickly than on some platforms.
2. Sometimes the 'generic' bits of Oracle don't work as the books say they should on Z/OS. This is more of a problem if you do a lot of cross platform work between databases on mainframe and UNIX but can be frustrating especially for DBAs raised on UNIX.
3. Oracle can be hungry for CPU and thus, if you code something wrong it has the potential to chew up a big machine rather than a small machine.
4. Z/OS systems engineers are not easy to come by.
As a rule of thumb I'd say, if its small run it on UNIX. If its a large integrated system run it on Z/OS.
On the storage management side we use SMS and RACF and can thus control who puts what where. Dataset definition is not so tied in with the operating system as it is on UNIX. We tend to define the datafiles offline and then bring them online to Oracle later but that's your choice. We have had occasions where, when we drop a file online we cannot delete it until Oracle comes down.
: I am interested in understanding oracle 9i on z/os. Specifically what things oracle does and does not do well when running in this environment. For example can large number of concurrent users or VLDB or network communcation cause problems. Can volume/storage management within and outside oracle be limited.
: How does management for oracle with VSAM linear data sets compare to oracle with a unix files system files?
: The over all comparison I am interested in is the pros/cons of oracle on the mainframe and on unix. What types of applications would be better suited for each os.
: Thanks
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| Re: z/os & oracle [message #113854 is a reply to message #113850] |
Thu, 15 August 2002 21:55 |
Sven Groth
Messages: 10
Registered: February 2002
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Junior Member |
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I installed an Oracle 9i on our Mainframe as an test Installation. We just want to have an idea what are the differences of managing Oracle on an
IBM z/os Machine. Sometimes it looks strange for me for example running sqlplus in an tso ispf environment. The big benefits for me are :
1.) Oracle Licences
2.) Using Host Components like RACF, SMS, HSM, SMF-Recording, DFDSS, no more Router an Switches an those stuff
3.) an better Backup Recovery strategie (no ADSM,TDP,..)
4.) Using OPC for Job Scheduling and an automation Tool like AOC and Netview.
I think Oracle for z/os is not the only one solution, but it es an other platform that migth be verry interesting for database applications like datawarehouse an this stuff.
Regards Sven Groth
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| Re: z/os & oracle [message #113864 is a reply to message #113852] |
Thu, 05 September 2002 07:14 |
Sven Groth
Messages: 10
Registered: February 2002
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Junior Member |
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Hi Paul,
well my expiriences to Oracle for Z/os are just experimental with an test installation i did.
Normaly our installations are on Sun,Aix,Dell and Compaq machines. And that's my wish to.. find reasons for witch application i have to push
oracle to the mainframe...
The Databases we use on our mainframe are db2 and ims. The Application is mostly SAP.
Do You have expiriences running oracle on mvs on an production environment ?
I degree with all the points you wrote.
I also know only one oracle specialist for z/os in germany.
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| Re: z/os & oracle [message #113878 is a reply to message #113864] |
Wed, 30 October 2002 03:57 |
paul mansfield
Messages: 35
Registered: January 2001
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Member |
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Sven,
yes we do use o/s 390 2.9 with Oracle 8.1.7.2.50 (OSDI) for our production systems. We did have a few problems getting from 7-8 but now its pretty stable with no outages for quite a while.
p.s nice picture!
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