Database Software

You are describing using infiniband with GI as the cluster interconnect, that doc is referring to using infiniband with the database for SQL*Net.

In any case, remember that just because something works does not mean that it is legal to use it.

So, what exactly does it mean that Standard Edition does not support IB?

It means that if you have problems with the Cluster Interconnect using IB on SE, then Oracle Support may not help you fix the problem because this is an uncertified configuration. It doesn't mean that you are explicitly forbidden from configuration it this way. As you found out...you can do it. That being said, if this is a production system, it may not be a wise thing to do.

Cheers,
Brian

ArtemD wrote:

But I'm able to start Standard Edition RAC 11.2.0.4 with either UDP over IB or RDS over IB as private interconnect.
So, what exactly does it mean that Standard Edition does not support IB?

You can run IPoIB (IP over Infiniband) for supporting a standard IP stack. You can also configure it for connected mode (7000 byte MTU recommended). From a TCP/UDP/IP application perspective (such as Oracle), it is just another standard IP stack being used.

Oracle may argue that relinking the rdbms executable for using RDS as oppose to UDP is a violation of the SE license. But I seriously doubt that they will claim SE prevents you from using IB all together and that using IPoIB is a license violation - as that would just be plain silly.

But then from an IB perspective - a SE RAC is a really a small minor cluster. Where the performance and scalability provided by IB is pretty much unused and wasted.

So SE not supporting IB is more a support statement I think from Oracle (not supporting high-end Interconnect with low-end cluster), and not a statement of incompatibility of SE  with IB.

JohnWatson2 wrote:

You are describing using infiniband with GI as the cluster interconnect, that doc is referring to using infiniband with the database for SQL*Net.
In any case, remember that just because something works does not mean that it is legal to use it.

John, Oracle claiming that IB may not be legally use with SE, is like a car manufacturer claiming you can only use Mobil fuel in the car, and not BP fuel - despite the fuel being identical.

So I doubt that this is indeed what the support matrix says when not ticking IB for SE.

In my view it says that SE does not support IB specific protocols (like RDMA, RDS, etc) - not that one may not use a standard IP protocol stack over IB.