In this Document

Applies to:

Details

Purpose

This document outlines Oracle's support Policy for customers using ASMLib with Automatic Storage Management on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) supported by Red Hat.

What is ASMLib?

ASMLib is free, optional software for the Automatic Storage Management (ASM) feature of Oracle Database that simplifies the management and discovery of ASM disks and makes I/O processing and kernel resource usage with ASM storage more efficient. ASMLib is not required to use the Automatic Storage Management (ASM) feature of Oracle Database on Linux and all features and functionality of ASM will work without ASMLib.

Software Update and Support Policy for ASMLib running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Oracle provides ASMLib software and support for customers who receive Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) operating system support from Red Hat for RHEL5 and earlier and who have a valid Oracle database support contract. Only the latest release of ASMLib will be provided for new Linux kernels released with each new supported RHEL minor release ("Update"). For example, if Red Hat were to release kernel 2.6.18-194.0.1.el5, Oracle will only release the latest version of ASMLib, say 2.0.5, for that kernel. Oracle will not release any previous versions of ASMlib for that kernel.

Furthermore, ASMLib software is only provided for Linux kernels for which the corresponding packages (devel, src, binaries) are available to Oracle. For example, Oracle cannot provide ASMLib software for kernels provided under Red Hat's Extended Update Model or "z-stream" support.

For RHEL6 or Oracle Linux 6, Oracle will only provide ASMLib software and updates for the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel and the Red Hat Compatible Kernel for Oracle Linux. Red Hat Enterprise Linux customers may request this kernel driver for Red Hat Enterprise Linux and support for the kernel driver for Red Hat Enterprise Linux  from Red Hat.  Oracle provides  oracleasmlib and oracleasm-support packages which were built for Oracle Linux to the public for free on the Oracle Technology Network (http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/server-storage/linux : see the Downloads tab).  Red Hat customers may choose to use them for free. Oracle Linux does not provide free support for these oracleasmlib and oracleasm-support packages. oracleasmlib and oracleasm-support packages are also  available via the Unbreakable Linux Network for Oracle Linux support customers. Support for these packages will also be available for Oracle Linux customers.

Requirements for ASMLib Software Updates

To receive software updates for ASMLib for RHEL5 versions and earlier, both the release of the Oracle database in use and the version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux in use must be fully supported by Oracle and Red Hat respectively. Specifically, the Oracle Database release must be covered under Premier support or Extended support as defined in the Oracle Lifetime Support Policy for Oracle Technology Products and the RHEL version must be supported under one of the Production Lifecycle Phases as defined in the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Life Cycle

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 (RHEL) x86-64

There is no ASMLib for RHEL7

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (RHEL) x86-64

For Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (beginning with 6.4) the kernel driver package 'kmod-oracleasm' is available directly from Red Hat, and can be installed from the "RHEL Server Supplementary (v. 6 64-bit x86_64)" channel on Red Hat Network (RHN).  Updates and support for this module will be provided by Red Hat.  Please check with your Red Hat advisor for questions concerning use of the kernel driver package.  The 'oracleasmlib' and 'oracleasm-support' packages are maintained by Oracle; they are required in order to use kmod-oracleasm.  These are available for download from the Oracle Technology Network.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (RHEL5) x86, x86-64, Itanium, and PowerPC

ASMLib software can be downloaded from the Oracle ASMLib Downloads for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5 page on OTN. Updates and bug fixes to ASMLib are provided for Linux kernels that are part of the latest supported release of RHEL5 listed in the Enterprise Linux Supported Releases document and three update releases prior to that. For example, if the latest supported release of RHEL is RHEL5, Update 5 (RHEL5.5), then updates to ASMLib will be provided for RHEL5.2, RHEL5.3, RHEL5.4 and RHEL5.5 kernels.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 (RHEL4) x86, x86-64, Itanium, and PowerPC

ASMLib software can be downloaded from the Oracle ASMLib Downloads for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 AS page on OTN. Updates and bug fixes to ASMLib are provided for Linux kernels that are part of the latest supported release of RHEL4 listed in the Enterprise Linux Supported Releases document and three update releases prior to that. For example, if the latest supported release of RHEL is RHEL4, Update 8 (RHEL4.8), then updates to ASMLib will be provided for RHEL4.5, RHEL4.6, RHEL4.7, RHEL4.8 and RHEL4.9 kernels.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 (RHEL3) x86 and x86-64

ASMLib software can be downloaded from the Oracle ASMLib Downloads for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 AS page on OTN. Updates and bug fixes to ASMLib are provided for RHEL3 Update 8 and Update 9 kernels only. Note that RHEL3 will no longer be supported by Red Hat after October 31, 2010 (End of Red Hat's Regular Life Cycle).  As such, Oracle will no longer provide ASMLib software updates or support for RHEL3 after that date

Actions

To ensure your ASMLib is supported by Oracle on your Red Hat Enterprise Linux supported by Red Hat, please update your RHEL and ASMLib software to the supported version.

Contacts

You can get help in the following ways:

• If you have purchased Basic or Premier support, you can open a service request with Oracle support
• If you have purchased Oracle Linux Network support, you may discuss technical issues on the OTN Linux forum or in MOS ASMlib community.