Question

write fonal project of 5 pages on ASM in a cloud world.

Answer 1

ASM : Automatic Storage Management -

• Meaning : refers to a high-performance storage management system or a database filing system. It is a version of oracle database system and helps out in the management of dynamic databases environment and managing disks space.
• Usage : it provides an alternative for conventional file systems, volume managers and raw devices. also this system can support multiple databases and can manage the storage of all the files on those databases.
Disk groups are used to store data files in thus system, wherein ASM disk group means collection of disks that ASM manages as a single unit (disks store oracle data files). It is a flexible and automated system which allows you to add/remove files/disks from the disk groups.i.e. it fecilitates flexible options with respect to data/volume storage and management.

ASM can be easily integrated with other storage management systems in a pre-existing environment and requires less of administration in managing the databases.

The capacity of an ASM storage can be upto 63 disk groups, 10,000 disks and 1 million files within each disk group. This is very fast and avoid corruption in disks/data.

1. ASM in a cloud world: in this case if an ASM system is deployed on a cloud (i.e. storage redirected on a cloud), then as its functionality is replicated in the same way on te cloud. it follows the same storage patterns and data management over the cloud. The disk groups are created and saved on the cloud and could be connected to or accessed through different devices. This way it gives more flexibility in therms of access to database.

ASM on a cloud brings more power to the user as it offers varied opportunities and extended storage capacity, allowing remote action to the databases and information in store therein.

2. Managing databases in ASM: The whole system works upon the basic concept, i.e. storing the data into files, further in disks and lastly into disk group and assembling them systematically in order to identify or obtain the required data/file as per demand.

It is majorly automatic and needs very less of manual intervention. The system is designed to accommodate data files/disks by their intelligence systematically.  

Some of the important points in relation to the ASM in a cloud world / Managing databases in ASM, are as follows:

• ASM uses AU (allocation units) as a basic unit, w.r.t. allocating units to a disk/disk group. (could be upto1 mb in oracle)
• The configuration databases for a cluster computing network are stored on a cluster quorum disk.
• ASM uses fast mirror synch technology to resynchronise ASM disks in case of disk path failures.
• ASM distributes data evenly across all storage resources, as per the configuration changes applied at one place/point.
• The basic purpose of ASM is to bring about maximum database availability.
• ASM is recognised as a cost effective and relatively inexpensive system by its customers.
• This system is a simplified version thus is considered user friendly.
• It helps in optimum utilisation of the available storage capacity.

These are some of the advantages and benefits of ASM and how it has contributed in the world of database management and data storage on cloud. With time the technology is improving and so is the ASM y oracle, they are regularly adding on to the features and functions of ASM. So as to keep it updated with the need of the current times. It has been useful so far and the updations will help the system to keep in pace with the improving technology and changing world in terms of innovation and science.