Ranko, This really is not much different than using an external SAN disk for the database. If your EMC or Shark array does down, then the database goes with it. The only real difference is in the software controlling the disk array. Either you use Oracle and ASM or the third party software. Tom ________________________________ From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ranko Mosic Sent: Sunday, May 07, 2006 2:53 PM To: _oracle_L_list Subject: ASM is single point of failure ? Hi List, Just thinking aloud - when ASM crashes then all instances connected to it crash too. This can't be good, right ? -- Regards, Ranko Mosic Contract Senior Oracle DBA B. Eng, Oracle 10g, 9i Certified Database Professional Phone: 416-450-2785 email: mosicr@xxxxxxxxxx http://ca.geocities.com/mosicr@xxxxxxxxxx/ContractSeniorOracleDBARankoMo sicMain.html