Re: limited trial version of Delphix for instant database cloning
- From: Tim Gorman <tim@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:27:01 -0600
Chris,
First, some background to clarify things...
Production is the "source" database. Let's say that PROD is initially
loaded into Delphix while it is at code release x.x.2. Once that occurs,
QA is cloned as a "virtual database" or VDB from the "dSource" of PROD.
Once a VDB is created, it is an independent branch from its dSource.
So, QA is gradually modified from code release x.x.2 to x.x.3 in the
normal course of events, which doesn't affect the dSource of PROD at
all. The dSource of PROD is constantly in synch with the source
database PROD, and any new VDBs created from the dSource of PROD will
initially be x.x.2 as well, but then become independent branches in
their own right.
Eventually, code release x.x.3 within QA is declared ready for
production, and the deployment into the source database PROD occurs, so
those changes are recorded and propagated into the dSource of PROD
within Delphix. No problems. The existing VDBs are not affected by
these changes, including QA.
As you mention, QA has progressed to x.x.3.y, which doesn't affect
anything around it. The upgrade of PROD to x.x.3 does not affect QA.
The propagation of any changes in PROD to the dSource of PROD in Delphix
does not affect QA. Everything is independent of one another.
Now, to answer your questions...
Q1. How can we preserve the differences in the QA environment when we
want to create a new QA VDB and replace the prior one - that is, does
Delphix provide that capability to generate a set of differences scripts
to be replayed after the new VDB is created to bring the objects up to
speed with the latest changes, OR would that be a function of the
DBA/Dev teams to capture the changes prior to creating the VDB and
replaying them manually?
/A1. Delphix does not generate a "differences script" as you
describe. However, there are a variety of tools (such as TOAD) that
do compare two databases and produce such a script. Delphix can
maintain the QA database at code release x.x.3.y, and Delphix can
create a new VDB (named QA1) from the current dSource at code
release x.x.3. A DBA can point TOAD at the two VDBs to generate the
differences script./
Q2: How does Oracle licensing fit into this with VDBs?
/A2: //Delphix only virtualizes storage (i.e. datafiles, tempfiles,
redo logfiles, archivelogs, control files, spfiles/pfiles, etc).
Oracle licenses by CPU or named-user. This means that Delphix has
no direct impact on Oracle licensing. As far as any indirect impact
is concerned, it can be said that by creating VDBs more quickly
using less storage, Delphix can have the effect of causing more
Oracle licenses to be consumed, because it will become easier to
generate more databases. However, this is purely a local choice, as
DBAs could simply cram more database instances onto existing servers
to preserve licenses.
/
Hope this helps!
Thanks!
-Tim
On 10/29/14 11:14, Chris Taylor wrote:
Given the following scenario, can you share some answers/ideas to the
questions that follow. This should be "on topic" I believe as related
to leveraging this as a support function of the Oracle DBA group - or
working in conjunction with a development/change management group.
QA Environment at code release x.x.3
Production at code release x.x.2
Production is updated to x.x.3
Some additional changes still reside in QA however that are not in Prod.
1. How can we preserve the differences in the QA environment when we
want to create a new QA VDB and replace the prior one - that is, does
Delphix provide that capability to generate a set of differences
scripts to be replayed after the new VDB is created to bring the
objects up to speed with the latest changes, OR would that be a
function of the DBA/Dev teams to capture the changes prior to creating
the VDB and replaying them manually?
2. How does Oracle licensing fit into this with VDBs?
Sincerely!
Chris Taylor
On Wed, Oct 29, 2014 at 11:02 AM, kyle Hailey <kylelf@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:kylelf@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
If you are interested in early access to the first publicly
downloadable version of Delphix, email me back and send me your
linkedin profile URL. I'll send you the download info back via
Linkedin.
At OOW we launched the public access to Delphix called
#CloneAttack (like #RacAttack) and ran it at the OTN lounge. Now
we are rolling it out on a limited download basis.
Delphix allows you to clone data, especially databases notably
Oracle, in minutes no matter the size for hardly any storage . see
http://blog.delphix.com/kyle/2014/delphix/ for more info
Now we running a limited download program. We have a trial version
of Delphix and hands on lab that include 3 virtual machine OVAs.
One VM is a Linux source with an Oracle database. Another VM is a
Linux target for creating clones. And the 3rd is a Delphix VM that
creates the clones.
A video of the lab install is here https://vimeo.com/106979766
A video of an exercise using cloning is here
https://vimeo.com/106979766
Best Wishes
Kyle Hailey
http://kylehailey.com
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