How to Add Exadata Storage Servers Using 3 TB (or larger) Disks to an Existing Database Machine (Doc ID 1476336.1)

Last updated on OCTOBER 18, 2023

Applies to:

Goal

This procedure shows how to add new storage servers with 3 TB disks to existing disk groups composed of 2 TB disks.  The same procedure may be used to add 8 TB or 4 TB disks to existing 2TB or 3TB disks, keeping in mind that you'll see different sizes than those shown in the examples of this document.  This note only covers the storage configuration aspect of the grid disks and disk groups; for information on how to configure a storage cell and incorporate it into an existing cluster, please see the Oracle Exadata Storage Server Software User's Guide, "Configuring Exadata Storage Server Software" chapter.

Specifically, this note applies to the following scenario:

• You have an existing set of cell servers using 2 TB high capacity disks
• You are adding cell servers with 3 TB (or larger) high capacity disks for :
  • adding a storage expansion rack
  • adding a new separate rack that will be interconnected with the existing rack
  • expanding an existing rack with new cell servers (e.g., expanding a quarter rack to a half rack) 

Please note the following restrictions when adding disks to Exadata:

1. Within a disk group, you can only add the same kinds of disks as what already exists.  E.g., if you have a diskgroup with high capacity (HC) disks, then you can only add HC disks and similarly if you already have high performance (HP) disks you can only add HP disks
2. When adding additional cells to a rack (as part of an expansion within a rack) or an additional storage expansion rack, you may add either HC or HP disks, but if the new disks are a different type from the existing ones, then you must add them to a new diskgroup containing only that disk type. E.g., your existing disks are HP and you add an HC storage expansion rack; the new disks must go into a new diskgroup
3. The exception to restriction #2 is with X5 systems or higher.  In that case, the performance charactersitics of X5 HC disks and the additional amount of flash available will make it possible to combine X5 HC disks with existing HP disks and achieve similar performance.  This is only supported by making the grid disks of the X5 HC disks exactly the same size as the existing HP grid disks.  The remaining space on the X5 HC disks can be used to create a new disk group.

Solution

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