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Wednesday, 8 October 2014

Oracle Exalytics – Oracle Database In-Memory Vs Times Ten In-Memory Use Cases



Oracle recently announced Oracle 12C in memory database option to support online reporting needs with improved performance and in-memory storages. I have covered the option of In-Memory in one of my earlier blog which we can find at following URL.


I was curious about what would Oracle In-memory database feature means for Oracle Exalytics. Are we suggesting a replacement for the existing Times Ten in-memory database by this feature? Do we need to install Oracle Database In-Memory option on Exalytics Box? Do we need standalone database to use in-memory option?  Oracle recently published a document on how to install Oracle Database In-Memory database option on Exalytics, this blog is an attempt to explain Oracle Database In-Memory on Oracle Exalytics use cases and what is been supported on Oracle Exalytics.
Exalytics Use Cases
The use cases supported by Exalytics for Oracle Database In-Memory are as follows
Using Aggregates
There are two different ways how query performance can be accelerated using aggregates; using OBIEE generated/managed aggregates or by using database aggregates.   
Using OBIEE Generated/Managed Aggregates (Same as Times Ten)
Use Summary Advisor to analyze the Business Intelligence workload and generate recommendations
Use Aggregate Persistence Wizard to define aggregates on logical model in the RPD.
Execute the aggregate script (recommended by Summary Advisor or manually defined aggregates) using Oracle Database In-Memory on Oracle Exalytics as target

Using Database Aggregates (Conventional Aggregations Method)
Populate aggregates by defining and coding your aggregates using any Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) or Extract, Load, Transform (ELT) tools certified on Oracle Database In-Memory. To do so, wire the aggregate tables manually in the RPD to leverage BI Server aggregate navigation.
Datamart on Oracle Exalytics
Data warehouse reporting tables or a subset of the reporting tables in Oracle Database In-Memory on Exalytics. To do so, build (code) the data transfer using tools like ODI, Informatica etc.
ODS on Oracle Exalytics
Logical Standby or use Golden Gate to replicate data from your OLTP database in Oracle Database In-Memory on Oracle Exalytics and use the database for Operational reporting.
In-Memory Database Support on Exalytics
To use Oracle Database 12c Enterprise Edition Release 12.1.0.2.0 - 64 bit In-Memory Option, this needs to be installed on Exalytics. It is similar to that of Times Ten installation on Exalytics Box. The supported features of Oracle Database 12c are as follows.
# Oracle Database 12c Enterprise Edition Release 12.1.0.2.0 - 64bit Production with In-Memory Option, database type supported is of DATA_WAREHOUSE only
# It supports storage option of File System only. Oracle Automatic Storage Management (ASM) is not supported.
# It supports single Instance of Oracle Database with In-Memory Option. Oracle Real Application Cluster (RAC) and Oracle Grid Infrastructure are not supported.
Oracle Support Document
For installation and all other details please refer following document on oracle support - Installing Oracle Database 12c In-Memory (IMDB) for Oracle Exalytics (Doc ID 1925793.1)
So in short it is a new toy on Exalytics, I found similar to Times Ten In-Memory option but I can still see significance of using Oracle In-Memory option if reporting database schema is Oracle. For ODS and real time reporting I thought it would be a better option than Times Ten.

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