Re: Using Soft Links for Datafiles

It IS a standard practice [but not mandatory] to use soft-links to give meaningful
file-names to raw devices in an OPS/RAC database.

Why do you think that the link would break "for some reason" ? A link to an NFS-mounted file can break if the NFS-mount fails but surely not a link to a local
device. It would only break if someone or some job/script on the server modified
or removed it -- but then you run the same risk even with regular file system database files. [e.g. redo-log files which are created as "redo01.log" and a CRON job or an new SA decides to issue the "rm *.log" command].

If you have a link to a device, I would think that writing to the link would write
to the device. The underlying device is still a "character-device" for the raw datafile.

Hemant

At 09:34 AM 07-02-03 -0800, you wrote:
>Resending. Any takers?
>
>----- Forwarded by Rajesh Rao/JPMCHASE on 02/07/03 11:51 AM -----
>
>
>
>
> Rajesh
>
> Rao/JPMCHASE@ To: Multiple recipients of
> list ORACLE-L <ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com>
> CHASE cc:
>
> Sent by: Subject: Using Soft Links
> for Datafiles
> root_at_fatcity.
>
> com
>
>
>
>
>
> February
> 06,
>
> 2003 04:23
> PM
>
> Please
>
> respond
> to
>
> ORACLE-L
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>We are in the process of creating a 9.2 RAC database. And we are being
>forced to follow a standard whereby, all files are to be in a directory
>structure, say /local. No standards have yet been defined, if one were
>using raw volumes. And since we will be using raw volumes for the
>datafiles, to enforce the standards, we are being asked to create symbolic
>links from /local datafiles to the raw volumes. To convince them otherwise,
>I have seemed to dug up two issues.
>
>1. For some reason, if the link breaks or is removed while the databases
>are up and running, its akin to taking a datafile offline, which would
>neccesitate a recovery.
>2. While doing a restore, RMAN would restore the files to the link
>directory and not to the actual raw volume.
>
>Does this hold water? Anyone has other ideas or gotchas with using symbolic
>links for datafiles? Or Am I just being paranoid?
>
>"I commonly use links for raw datafiles. Doing so aids the adoption of
>meaningful naming conventions" - Steve Adams
>
>Thanks
>Raj
>
>
>
>
>--
>Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net
>--
>Author:
> INET: Rajesh.Rao_at_jpmchase.com
>
>Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com
>San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
>to: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in
>the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L
>(or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may
>also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
>
>
>
>
>--
>Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net
>--
>Author:
> INET: Rajesh.Rao_at_jpmchase.com
>
>Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com
>San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
>to: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in
>the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L
>(or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may
>also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).

Hemant K Chitale
My web site page is : http://hkchital.tripod.com

-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net
-- 
Author: Hemant K Chitale
  INET: hkchital_at_singnet.com.sg

Fat City Network Services    -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com
San Diego, California        -- Mailing list and web hosting services
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
to: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in
the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L
(or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from).  You may
also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).