FlashGrid Cluster
for Oracle RAC on Azure
Watch the 1-minute intro
FlashGrid Cluster is a virtual clustered appliance that enables Oracle RAC on Azure VMs for mission-critical transaction processing workloads.
Maximum uptime with Multi-AZ clustering
Achieve database uptime of 99.99%, 99.999%, or higher with Oracle RAC database nodes spread across availability zones. All-flash storage and multiple levels of mirroring across separate nodes and AZs provide maximum data durability. If an infrastructure outage occurs, the cluster can tolerate the loss of an entire data center with zero RPO. For more information, see our architecture documentation.
Active-Active HA
Oracle RAC provides an active-active database HA architecture that enables zero RPO, near-zero RTO, and zero-downtime patching and maintenance. The active-active HA is critical for eliminating database outages and maximizing application uptime.
Lift-and-shift Oracle RAC to Azure
Changes in database architecture or application code introduce high risks to migration projects. FlashGrid Cluster enables lift-and-shift migrations of Oracle RAC databases with zero architecture or code changes, thus minimizing risks to your project schedules and success.
Keep it simple and agile on native Azure VMs
FlashGrid Cluster uses native Azure VMs and disks. Keep the simplicity of running your entire application stack in the Azure Cloud. No need to reserve hardware. No need to manage a second cloud. Add, resize, and release Azure resources as needed.
Compared to Oracle Database@Azure
FlashGrid Cluster uses native Azure VMs and disks. Keep the simplicity and agility of running your entire application stack in the Azure Cloud. No need to manage hardware resources. No need to manage a second cloud. Add, resize, and release Azure resources as needed. FlashGrid Cluster for Oracle RAC is a proven solution for mission-critical transaction processing that has been available in all Azure regions since 2017. For more details, see this comparison table.
Scalable sizing and performance
FlashGrid Cluster can be configured and scaled for databases ranging from 1 TB to hundreds of TB. Smaller OLTP databases can be deployed with no physical hardware reservation. Larger databases can be provisioned with hundreds of CPU cores and millions of IOPS for maximum performance. VM sizes can be changed as needed to optimize cost/performance.
Automated deployment in 90 minutes
FlashGrid Cluster is delivered as an ARM (Azure Resource Manager) template. FlashGrid Launcher lets you customize and deploy the ARM template in your Azure account with just a few clicks. This saves time configuring storage, OS, and Grid Infrastructure software, and the deployment process is fully automated and repeatable, preventing human error.
Oracle RAC on Azure Deployment DemonstrationTasks automated with FlashGrid Launcher:
DBA friendly
Stay in control
24/7 Support
In the event that something goes wrong, it is vital to have immediate access to skilled engineers with proven experience in Azure infrastructure, Linux, and Oracle Database. FlashGrid’s 24/7 technical support covers the entire infrastructure stack, including:
Simple billing through Microsoft
FlashGrid uses VM images listed in Azure Marketplace. The marketplace software fees are charged by the hour and include FlashGrid software license subscription and 24/7 support. For your convenience, Microsoft processes billing and payment.
To estimate the expected costs see FlashGrid VM Plans and Pricing. Note that the prices include only Azure VM and FlashGrid software and support. You need to have your own license for using Oracle Database and its features (BYOL). For production deployments, we recommend having an Oracle Database support subscription.
Can I run Oracle RAC on Azure VMware Solution?
Technically, yes, but there are multiple reasons why it is unpractical in most use cases. A more viable alternative is to run Oracle RAC on Azure’s native Virtual Machines environment using FlashGrid Cluster.
How do I implement Disaster Recovery (DR) for Oracle Database on Azure?
Asynchronous replication to another Azure region using Oracle Data Guard is typically the best solution for Oracle Database DR on Azure. For maximum availability, run identical Oracle RAC clusters, each with multi-AZ configuration, in both primary and secondary regions.
For lower budgets and requirements, it may be sufficient to have a single Oracle RAC cluster spanning multiple AZs in the primary region and either replication to a single-instance database in the secondary region or regular database backups to the secondary region. FlashGrid Cluster with Oracle RAC in a multi-AZ configuration provides protection against outages localized to a single data center, such as loss of power, cooling, or storage access.
