1. Installation Guide
  2. Optimal Flexible Architecture
  3. About the Optimal Flexible Architecture Standard

About the Optimal Flexible Architecture Standard

Oracle Optimal Flexible Architecture (OFA) rules help you to organize database software and configure databases to allow multiple databases, of different versions, owned by different users to coexist.

In earlier Oracle Database releases, the OFA rules provided optimal system performance by isolating fragmentation and minimizing contention. In current releases, OFA rules provide consistency in database management and support, and simplifies expanding or adding databases, or adding additional hardware. By default, Oracle Universal Installer places Oracle Database components in directory locations and with permissions in compliance with the OFA rules. Oracle recommends that you configure all Oracle components on the installation media in accordance with the OFA guidelines. Oracle recommends that you accept the OFA default.

About Multiple Oracle Homes Support

Oracle Database supports multiple Oracle homes.

You can install this release or earlier releases of the software more than once on the same system, in different Oracle home directories.

Careful selection of mount point names can make Oracle software easier to administer. Configuring multiple Oracle homes in compliance with the Optimal Flexible Architecture (OFA) rules provides the following advantages:

  • You can install this release, or earlier releases of the software, more than once on the same system, in different Oracle home directories. However, you cannot install products from one release of Oracle Database into an Oracle home directory of a different release. For example, you cannot install Oracle Database 12c software into an existing Oracle 11g Oracle home directory

  • Oracle Database Client can be installed in the same Oracle Database home if both products are at the same release level. For example, you can install Oracle Database Client 12.1.0.1 into an existing Oracle Database 12.1.0.1 home, but you cannot install Oracle Database Client 12.1.0.1 into an existing Oracle Database 12.1.0.2 home. If you apply a patch set before installing the client, then you must apply the patch set again.

  • Structured organization of directories and files, and consistent naming of the database files simplify database administration.

  • Distribution of I/O across multiple disks prevents performance bottlenecks caused by multiple read or write commands issued simultaneously to a single drive.

  • Distribution of applications across multiple disks safeguards against database failures.

  • Login home directories are not at risk when database administrators add, move, or delete Oracle home directories.

  • Multiple databases, of different versions, owned by different users can coexist concurrently.

  • Software upgrades can be tested in an Oracle home in a separate directory from the Oracle home where your production database is located.