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Oracle Linux: Raw Devices on Linux (Doc ID 224302.1)

Last updated on JUNE 03, 2024

Applies to:

Linux OS - Version Oracle Linux 4.4 to Oracle Linux 8.0 [Release OL4U4 to OL8]
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure - Version N/A and later
Linux x86
Linux x86-64

Purpose

This FAQ document identifies the most frequently reported how-to questions. The articles below do not include bugs/patches or troubleshooting.

Questions and Answers

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In this Document
Purpose
Questions and Answers
 How can a raw device be recognised?
 What are the benefits of raw devices?
 Are there circumstances when raw devices have to be used?
 Can I use the entire raw partition for Oracle?
 How many raw devices I have in Linux by default and how many raw can I have?
 How can I create new raw devices?
 Who should own the raw device?
 How can I use a raw device for Oracle RDBMS?
 Does the Oracle block size have any relevance on a raw device?
 How can I back up my database files if they are on raw devices?
 Providing I am not using Parallel Server or Real Application Cluster, can I use a mixture of raw?
 Should I store my redo log files on raw partitions?
 Can I use raw partitions for archive logs?
 Can I have more than one data file on a raw partition?
 Should my raw partitions be on the same disk device?
 Do I need to make my raw partitions all the same size?
 Do I need to change any UNIX kernel parameters if I decide to use raw devices?
 What other UNIX-level changes could help to improve I/O performance?
 How can I gain further performance benefits, after considering all of the above?
 Does raw storage support with Oracle Database/Clusterware 12c?

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