Q. To RAC or go vertical

Hi All

I would like to ask for your thoughts on whether to RAC or just go vertical (more cpu)

Background

Txn - OLTP like txn during day but batch extracts at night and

        very big batch extract periodically Data Volume - 5-10 TByte
Data volatility - 99 % of data is very much like a ware house (unchanged)

                other 1% is read/update/delete/insert

Options
1. Say a very large server like a HP Superdome or SUN E12000

        with 8 CPUs
        Server already exist so cost is in obtaining additional CPU/Blades
        ie Traditional Server using plain old vanilla Oracle EE


        - can still increase head room.  

        - batch programs can utilise all 8 CPUs

        - storage system need not cater for clustering


2,  Same large server like a HP Superdome or SUN E12000 but partitioned
        into two. Each with 4 CPU.
        Oracle RDBMS + RAC option


        - storage server need to cater for cluster config

        - max performance for batch is with 4 CPUs only

Which would you prefer and why. I am not convinced with the RAC option. Now if I was going with cheaper Intel servers like Dell servers with 4 CPUS each, and purchase say 4 nodes of 4 cpus each, that would be a different story. In this case I have the equipment and ability to grow vertically.

ta
tony

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