During the last six months, a large amount of work has been done within the Oracle openlab framework.

The main activities were focused on Security, Oracle Database Virtualization, work in the Software Testing Program and Monitoring.

In the Security field, the work was focused on setting up the new rules for iptables firewall in the RACs. Real Application Cluster technology requires specific iptables rules, the work consisted in developing a scheme for handling the iptables rules for large scale deployment. A report was produced that describes this work so that it can be used by other RAC users.

The main goal in Virtualization during this period was integrating OracleVM into the CERN ELFms (Extremely Large Fabric management system). Thanks to the collaboration of the CERN FIO group and Chris Barclay, Adam Hawley and Madhup Gulati from Oracle, this phase of the project has now been completed.

CERN also participated in the Software Testing Program. It has focused on the 11gR2, specifically in the Dataguard technology, with very satisfying results.

The Monitoring area has also been a very important activity. Oracle Enterprise Manager has been migrated to version 10.2.0.5, in which the virtualization console has been intensively tested, and the use of web transaction monitoring has been investigated.

The database policies have been defined, resulting in a presentation which was given by Manuel Guijarro at Oracle OpenWorld 2009.

During these six months, following outreach was presented:

• 11.2 testing result,

• phone conferences on OracleVM and EM,

• CERN Computer Newsletter article on OracleVM,

• Oracle Press release about OEM management of OracleVM,

• Presentations at the OOW conference, the Swiss Oracle User Group Special Interest Group meeting, as well at the UK Oracle User Group technology conference.

CERN openlab

Editor's note: