Oracle Database Oracle Clusterware Installation Guide for HP-UX

Checking the Network Requirements
For example, with a two node cluster where each node has one public and one private
interface, you might have the configuration shown in the following table for your
network interfaces, where the hosts file is /etc/hosts:
Node Host Name Type IP Address Registered In
node1 node1 Public 143.46.43.100 DNS (if available, else the hosts file)
node1 node1-vip Virtual 143.46.43.104 DNS (if available, else the hosts file)
node1 node1-priv Private 10.0.0.1 Hosts file
node2 node2 Public 143.46.43.101 DNS (if available, else the hosts file)
node2 node2-vip Virtual 143.46.43.105 DNS (if available, else the hosts file)
node2 node2-priv Private 10.0.0.2 Hosts file
To enable VIP failover, the configuration shown in the preceding table defines the
public and VIP addresses of both nodes on the same subnet, 143.46.43.
2.6.3 Node Time Requirements
Before starting the installation, ensure that each member node of the cluster is set as
closely as possible to the same date and time. Oracle strongly recommends using the
Network Time Protocol feature of most operating systems for this purpose, with all
nodes using the same reference Network Time Protocol server.
2.6.4 Network Configuration Options
The precise configuration you choose for your network depends on the size and use of
the cluster you want to configure, and the level of availability you require.
If certified Network-attached Storage (NAS) is used for Oracle RAC and this storage is
connected through Ethernet-based networks, then you must have a third network
interface for I/O. Failing to provide three separate interfaces in this case can cause
performance and stability problems under load.
For high capacity clusters with a small number of multiprocessor servers, to ensure
high availability, you may want to configure redundant network interfaces to prevent
a NIC failure from reducing significantly the overall cluster capacity. If you are using
network storage, and want to provide redundant network interfaces, then Oracle
recommends that you provide six network interfaces: two for the public network
interface, two for the private network interface, and two for the network storage.
2.6.5 Configuring the Network Requirements
To verify that each node meets the requirements, follow these steps:
1. If necessary, install the network adapters for the public and private networks and
configure them with either public or private IP addresses.
2. If you are using a domain name server (DNS), then for each node, register the host
names and IP addresses for the public network interfaces in the DNS.
2-12 Oracle Clusterware Installation Guide
Note: All host names must conform to the RFC 952 standard, which
permits alphanumeric characters. Host names using underscores ("_")
are not allowed.