Smart Flash Cache in Oracle Exadata -3

Hi,

I will explain Smart Flash cache feature of Oracle Exadata in this article.

Read previous articles before this.

Smart Flash Cache in Oracle Exadata -1

Smart Flash Cache in Oracle Exadata -2

Smart Flash Cache Logging

Redo logs are written to the disk and flash (memory)  at the same time via Smart flash cache logging feature after Exadata Software 11.2.2.4 version. It is a very important for the database to write a redo log very quickly in the database which excessive commit is run.

Exadata will be able to get a quick response from the disk or flash when it wants to get a confirmation for a write operation. This feature is similar to the multiplication of redo logs. The only advantage here is that the copy of the redo log is also written in the Flash.

The Flash cache logging features a Flash area of 512MB by default and 32MB on the cell server and is designed to be equal and sufficient for most applications.

You can query Flash Cache logging feature as follows.

Configuring [re] Smart Flash Cache

The following commands are used to configure the smart flash cache.

CellCLI> DROP  FLASHCACHE

CellCLI> CREATE FLASHLOG ALL

CellCLI> CREATE FLASHCACHE ALL

You may use the following commands to prioritize or authorize this feature for a specific table like following.

SQL> CREATE TABLE emp (ENO NUMBER, ENAME VARCHAR2(50)) STORAGE (CELL_FLASH_CACHE KEEP);

SQL> ALTER TABLE emp STORAGE (CELL_FLASH_CACHE NONE);

Flash Cache Compression

The main purpose of compression technologies is to save from storage space by compressing existing data. In addition to the Exadata Hybrid columnar compression feature, Flash Cache also supports compression, so we can perform double compression and reduce disk access. In order for Flash Cache compression to be active, the following requirements must be met.

• Exadata >=X3-2
• Exadata software >=11.2.3.3
• Oracle Advanced Compression option

Flash Cache Compression Activation

Flash Cache is enabled on a Cell  Server with the following steps

CellCLI> ALTER FLASHCACHE ALL FLUSH

If the flash cache is not in write back mode, the following error is taken.

Flash cache flush on FD_00_usdwi20 failed because flash cache is not in write back mode.

Flash cache flush on FD_01_usdwi20 failed because flash cache is not in write back mode.

2. CellCLI> DROP FLASH CACHE ALL

3. CellCLI> DROP FLASHLOG ALL

4. CellCLI> DROP CELLDISK ALL FLASHDISK

5. CellCLI> ALTER CELL flashCacheCompress=true

6. CellCLI> CREATE CELLDISK all flashdisk

7. CellCLI> CREATE FLASHLOG ALL

8. CellCLI> CREATE FLASHCACHE ALL

If you want to disable Flash Cache in step 5, the flashCacheCompress parameter is set to false instead of true.

You can learn Flash Cache compression is active or not with following command

CellCLI> list cell attributes flashcachecompress

CellCLI> list flashcache attributes name,size

CellCLI> list metriccurrent fc_by_used

When Flash Cache Compression is active, uncompressed tables are more advantageous than compressed tables with HCC. Compression and uncompression are performed automatically in the flash area.

You can query flashcache attributes and features like following.