11.2.0.3 grid installation fails while selecting OCFS2 for ocr files

Question

We are installing 11GR2 (11.2.0.3) cluster on a 64 bit system. we have OCFS2 filesystem for shared devices. version 1.6.3.
While selecting ocr file locations , we get the following error
[INS-41321] Invalid oracle cluster register [OCR] Location
Cause- The installer detects that the storage type of location is not supported for Oracle Cluster registery
Action - Provide a supported storage location for the Oracle Cluster Registry
Additional information
/crp2db01/OCR/ocr_1 is not shared
However , this mountpoint is shared across both the nodes.
Note: 11201 grid installation was successful and it accepted the above locations for OCR. however ,we need 11.2.0.3 cluster for 11.2.0.3 database

Answer 1

As for your current problem, just because Oracle "allows" OCFS2 in a GRID environment, I would never suggest nor implement that. It adds a layer of complexity that is totally unnecessary when a GRID/ASM implementation performs circles around OCFS2. ASM is much easier to manage, maintain, expand and shrink than OCFS2. Especially at version 11.2.0.3. When working at a large telco a few years ago, we had a 300TB+ ASM environment. OCFS2 could not even begin to be that big. ASM will provide you a MUCH more stable environment than OCFS2. And with ASM there is a lot of "magic" that happens with OCR/Voting that makes your life MUCH easier. If you "require" shared application files, then use ASM/ACFS. It is a much better "volume manager" than OCFS2.
Since you must present devices to the system for OCFS2, you should not have any problems doing the same for ASM. (and don't use ASMLib as it is going away and is not necessary - just make sure you use a partition that skips the first 1M (usually cylinder 1) and you should be good to go!)
I also would not use a "shared ORACLE_HOME" on either ACFS or OCFS2. The biggest reason is that you lose the ability to do a "rolling" upgrade and when you have a VLC, that becomes much more important that saving a few GB worth of storage.
I would also pay attention to this:
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/install.112/e22489/storage.htm#CDEDAHGB
3.1.4.2 General Storage Considerations for Oracle RAC
Use the following guidelines when choosing the storage options to use for each file type:
You can choose any combination of the supported storage options for each file type provided that you satisfy all requirements listed for the chosen storage options.
If you plan to install an Oracle RAC home on a shared OCFS2 location, then you must upgrade OCFS2 to at least version 1.4.1, which supports shared writable mmaps.
Oracle recommends that you choose Oracle ASM as the storage option for database and recovery files.
For Standard Edition Oracle RAC installations, Oracle ASM is the only supported storage option for database or recovery files.