Servers installation and interconnection

Each PortaBilling with Oracle Real Application Cluster server should be connected to the local management network, which is used by servers in the cluster to exchange information. Since this network will be used by Oracle RAC servers to exchange large portions of data, it must be Gigabit Ethernet.

Each server will be connected to the public network. This is the network which provides a "real" IP address that can be used to access it via the Internet.

Each PortaBilling with Oracle Real Application Cluster server contains a built-in firewall and runs only those services which need to be accessed from the Internet (e.g., the web interface). So, strictly speaking, a separate firewall in front of the servers will yield little additional benefit. However, you may certainly use one if this is required by your security policies.

The Oracle RAC environment requires shared disk access, so that all the database servers have concurrent access to the same storage. The method of connecting storage to the database servers is usually either iSCSI or fiber-channel (NFS options are not recommended, and therefore not covered here.)

In order to avoid a situation where disk storage becomes the single point of failure, it is recommended that you use several redundant storage arrays, connected via separate fiber-channel or network switches.

Proper network configuration is the most important aspect of the PortaBilling with Oracle Real Application Cluster configuration performed before software installation. This includes the configuration for the public (network for services), private (network for PortaSwitch servers’ management) and the Oracle RAC Interconnect networks, setting up DNS servers and allocating virtual IP addresses, etc.

Once the network is configured you may start the PortaBilling with Oracle Real Application Cluster software installation process using the jump-start installation DVD provided with PortaBilling with Oracle Real Application Cluster. This DVD contains installation media for Oracle Enterprise Linux, supplementary packages needed for convenient system administration and maintenance, and PortaBilling with Oracle Real Application Cluster software packages.

After the installation is complete you will assign roles (e.g., RADIUS, web interface, etc.) to individual servers using the Configuration server tool – this will automatically enable the required components of PortaBilling with Oracle Real Application Cluster software on each server.

The whole commissioning process (including network configuration, installation of Oracle software, configuring disk array access, and further cluster configuration and testing) may take about 5-7 business days.

For detailed installation instructions, please refer to the PortaBilling Installation Guide.