A while back I put together a very detailed ten step process to create a simple two-node RAC on VMware Workstation using Red Hat Linux 5.5.
There were already many blog posts on creating RAC systems, including some using VMware, but partly because I felt that none of them were detailed for someone not already an expert in Linux, and partly because I wanted to learn for myself, I created my own.
Time Required: 60 minutes
Class Materials:
Next we are going to install the Oracle Grid Infrastructure software.
The Grid Infrastructure will provide the Cluster software that allows the RAC nodes to communicate, as well as the ASM software to manage the shared disks.
To begin, download the zip file from the Oracle software download website and unzip on Rodolfo.
Time Required: 10 minutes
Class Materials:
Next we are going to create a new RAC database using DBCA.
Open a new command window to make sure all environment settings are established. Do not re-use the same window you used to install the Grid and Database.
Time Required: 60 minutes
Class Materials:
Next we are going to install the Oracle Database 11gR2 11.2.0.3 software.
To begin, download the two zip files from the MOS and unzip on Rodolfo. Make sure you are logged into Rodolfo as the oracle user.
Time Required: 30 minutes
Class Materials:
Next we are going to add a shared disk to our two Windows VMs.
VMware Workstation makes the allocation of shared disk to VMs very simple. Shared disk has been the biggest obstacle to create Oracle RAC clusters at home, but VMware gives us a reliable and portable solution that does not require fire-wire hacks, your own NFS server or a SCSI disk array.
Time Required: 20 minutes
Class Materials:
We are now ready to clone our VM. From this point forward we will have two machines, and we will start to think of them individually.
Make sure your Windows VM is shutdown.
Time Required: 20 minutes
Class Materials:
Next we are going to add a DNS server to our Windows VM.
The DNS server is needed to support the SCAN address. If you have an existing DNS server available to you, then by all means use it, but in my case I do not, so I am going to create one on my Windows VM.
Time Required: 20 minutes
Class Materials:
Next we are going to modify the Windows security policy and account settings to support Oracle RAC.
Open a command prompt and enter the following command:
secpol
This opens the Local Security Policy interface. Alternatively you can navigate here by using:
Start->Administrative Tools->Local Security Policy
Time Required: 10 minutes
Class Materials:
Next we need to edit the Windows registry to change certain behaviours and to make sure we are ready for a RAC install.
Open a command prompt and type regedit to open the Windows registry editor.
Time Required: 30 minutes
Class Materials:
Next we need to add additional networking components to allow our RAC nodes to communicate.
Oracle RAC requires two separate networks, one for public traffic and one for private cluster traffic. Both adapters must use static IP addresses.
VMware Workstation already installed a Bridged Adapter as part of the install process, and this adapter will provde internet access to our VM. But in most cases, the IP address of this adapter will change as DHCP leases expire, or in the case of a laptop, the machine moves from network to network.
Therefore, we need to add two additional NICs on virtual networks between the RAC nodes, one to be our public network and the other to be our private network.
the gruffdba 