This document is intended for executives evaluating the use of a horizontally scalable grid for database application deployment, as well as project managers, system engineers, integration specialists, and other technical staff looking to design, implement, and tune database applications in a grid computing environment.

It provides an overview of database deployment challenges and options, and describes how Sun's Reference Architecture for Oracle 11g Grid delivers on these requirements. An architectural overview and descriptions of the hardware and software components used in the reference architecture are also included. Note that only the features and techniques directly relevant to the reference architecture are discussed here. For more complete information about Sun servers and storage, Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC) 11g, InfiniBand switches, or other components of this architecture, please refer to the product documentation from Sun, Oracle, and InfiniBand switch vendor.