Do we need rpm package oracleasmlib for using Oracle ASMLib?

Question

..The Oracle ASMLib kernel driver is now included in the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel.
No driver package needs to be installed when using this kernel.
The oracleasm-support and oracleasmlib packages still need to be installed from ULN+
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/linux/asmlib/index-101839.html
i use:
root@oel62 ~]# uname -r
2.6.32-300.3.1.el6uek.x86_64I understood:
-oracleasm: is include in the kernel(kernel/drivers/block/oracleasm/oracleasm.ko)
-oracleasm-support: can be found on the install ISO or in Oracle Public Yum Server.
-oracleasmlib: ? not found in Oracle Public Yum Server! can be found only in ULN?
Question: Do we need it, rpm package oracleasmlib for install Oracle ASMLib?
I have add kernel module oracleasm (via modprobe) and install rpm oracleasm-support
(but without oracleasmlib) and it works !!??
..and I'm confused ???

Answer 1

Dude wrote:
Saying that it works seems quite audacious to me. Well, I can start the engine, let's fly! I'd rather remain on the ground ;-)Hi Dude!
You do not mean I talk nonsense, right?
Maybe! But once again i will protocol here what i did.
It would be very nice if you take a look here:
Ok! Step by step..
My environment: Oracle Linux 6.2 in VMWare
Linux kernel:
[root@oel62 ~]# uname -r
2.6.32-300.3.1.el6uek.x86_64Install oracleasm:
[root@oel62 ~]# modprobe oracleasm
[root@oel62 ~]# modprobe -l oracleasm
kernel/drivers/block/oracleasm/oracleasm.ko
[root@oel62 ~]# lsmod | grep oracle
oracleasm              48482  1 Install oracleasm-support:
root@oel62 ~]# yum install oracleasm-support
Installed:
  oracleasm-support.x86_64 0:2.1.5-1.el6                                                                                      
Complete!I have only oracleasm-support(no oracleasmlib!)
[root@oel62 ~]# rpm -qa| grep oracleasm
oracleasm-support-2.1.5-1.el6.x86_64
[root@oel62 ~]# Status:
[root@oel62 ~]# oracleasm status
Checking if ASM is loaded: yes
Checking if /dev/oracleasm is mounted: noConfigure:
[root@oel62 ~]#  /etc/init.d/oracleasm configure
Default user to own the driver interface []: grid
Default group to own the driver interface []: asmadmin
Start Oracle ASM library driver on boot (y/n) [n]: y
Scan for Oracle ASM disks on boot (y/n) [y]: y
Writing Oracle ASM library driver configuration: done
Initializing the Oracle ASMLib driver:                     [  OK  ]
Scanning the system for Oracle ASMLib disks:               [  OK  ]Status again:
root@oel62 ~]# /etc/init.d/oracleasm status
Checking if ASM is loaded: yes
Checking if /dev/oracleasm is mounted: yesI create 2 virtual disks and then create partition on those disks.
Result: /dev/sdg1, /dev/sdh1
and now create ASM disks:
[root@oel62 ~]# oracleasm createdisk asmdisk1 /dev/sdg1
Writing disk header: done
Instantiating disk: done
[root@oel62 ~]# oracleasm createdisk asmdisk2 /dev/sdh1
Writing disk header: done
Instantiating disk: donelistdisks
[root@oel62 ~]# oracleasm listdisks
ASMDISK1
ASMDISK2querydisk
[root@oel62 ~]# oracleasm querydisk -d /dev/sdg1
Device "/dev/sdg1" is marked an ASM disk with the label "ASMDISK1"
[root@oel62 ~]# oracleasm querydisk -d /dev/sdh1
Device "/dev/sdh1" is marked an ASM disk with the label "ASMDISK2"-Create diskgroup TEST_DG:
run asmca, step through all screens, specify "Disk discovery path"
/dev/oracleasm/disks/*Result:
ASMCMD [+] > lsdsk -p -G test_dg
Group_Num  Disk_Num      Incarn  Mount_Stat  Header_Stat  Mode_Stat  State   Path
        1         0  3915949404  CACHED      MEMBER       ONLINE     NORMAL  /dev/oracleasm/disks/ASMDISK1
        1         1  3915949403  CACHED      MEMBER       ONLINE     NORMAL  /dev/oracleasm/disks/ASMDISK2-Run dbca create a database testdb with storage using diskgroup TEST_DG
and here is the DB testdb on diskgroup test_dg
[grid@oel62 ~]$ rlwrap asmcmd -p
ASMCMD [+] > ls test_dg/testdb
CONTROLFILE/
DATAFILE/
ONLINELOG/
PARAMETERFILE/
TEMPFILE/
spfiletestdb.ora
ASMCMD [+] > ls -l test_dg/testdb/datafile
Type      Redund  Striped  Time             Sys  Name
DATAFILE  UNPROT  COARSE   JUN 27 11:00:00  Y    SYSAUX.257.787055133
DATAFILE  UNPROT  COARSE   JUN 27 11:00:00  Y    SYSTEM.256.787055133
DATAFILE  UNPROT  COARSE   JUN 27 11:00:00  Y    UNDOTBS1.258.787055133
DATAFILE  UNPROT  COARSE   JUN 27 11:00:00  Y    USERS.259.787055133
ASMCMD [+] > Service status:
[grid@oel62 ~]$ srvctl status diskgroup -g test_dg
Disk Group test_dg is running on oel62
[grid@oel62 ~]$ Once again i did not install oracleasmlib!
I have no RPM oracleasmlib on my system:
root@oel62 ~]# rpm -qa| grep oracleasm
oracleasm-support-2.1.5-1.el6.x86_64It is a "perfect" installation, or what do you mean?
It works fine, but why it works??
Well, folks! Tell me now why it works without oracleasmlib ?
What happened, what is going on here?
Thank you for reading my long text here!