Load Data Using Oracle Database Gateway Running in OCI Compute
OracleDB for Azure enables Azure applications to load and query data from OCI databases. This architecture describes how an Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure can leverage the infrastructure provided by OracleDB for Azure to load and query data from Azure SQL Server using a database link via Oracle Database Gateway for SQL Server software running in an OCI Compute instance.
Architecture
This architecture uses Oracle Database Gateway for SQL Server running in an OCI Compute instance to load data from Azure SQL Server to Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure. Oracle Database Gateway for SQL Server connects to Azure SQL Server using the fast-low latency network link using an Azure private endpoint.
The following diagram illustrates this architecture.
exadata-db-azure-odsa-gateway.zip
Note the following about this architecture:
- A new security rule must be created within the Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure client subnet to allow traffic to port 1521.
- Oracle Database Gateway software can run on OCI Compute Virtual Machine or Bare Metal. The number of OCPUs, memory, and disk size must be assigned to the OCI Compute instance according to the Oracle Database Gateway for SQL Server Server requirements and sizing guidelines. See System Requirements for Oracle Database Gateway for SQL Server below for details.
- Hostname to IP address resolution for the Azure SQL Server endpoint is required in OCI. Edit the
/etc/hosts
file on the Oracle Database Gateway server, or configure a Private DNS Zone on the OCI Virtual Cloud Network (VCN) where the Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure is configured. - In Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated
Infrastructure databases, the parameter
global_names
is set toTRUE
by default. Therefore, the fully qualified database name must be used when creating the database link to Azure SQL Server.
Before You Begin
Before you begin, check the versions of major software components used in this setup, download the required software package, and review the product documentation for later reference.
Review Software Requirements
These instructions are tested on the following software and hardware versions.
- Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure X8M-2
- Oracle Database 19.16
- Azure SQL Server
Download the following software package:
Review Documentation
-
"Provisioning an Oracle Exadata System in Oracle Database Service for Azure" in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure documentation
- Oracle Database Gateway Installation and Configuration Guide
- Oracle Database Gateway for SQL Server User's Guide
- "System Requirements for Oracle Database Gateway for SQL Server" in Oracle Database Gateway Installation and Configuration Guide
About Required Services and Roles
This solution requires the following services:
- Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure with OracleDB for Azure
- Oracle Cloud Infrastructure
- Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Compute
These are the roles needed for each service.
Service Name: Role | Required to... |
---|---|
Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated
Infrastructure: sys con |
Configure the database link. |
Oracle Cloud
Infrastructure: VCN Admin |
Add security rules and modify DNS. |
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure
Compute: admin |
Create Compute instance to install Oracle Database Gateway. |
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure
Compute: opc/root |
Create user to install and configure Oracle Database Gateway software. Modify local firewall to allow connections to port 1521. |
See Learn how to get Oracle Cloud services for Oracle Solutions to get the cloud services you need.
Considerations for Oracle Database Gateway Running in an OCI Compute Instance
Review these considerations before implementing this solution. Running the Oracle Database Gateway for SQL Server in an OCI Compute instance is ideal for customers who are familiar with OCI services.
Advantages of Oracle Database Gateway Running in OCI Compute
- Oracle Database Gateway for SQL Server is developed and supported by Oracle.
- No additional third-party software is required to be installed on Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure, making the environment easy to update and maintain.
- Oracle Database Gateway for SQL Server runs on a separate compute instance from Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure, which makes both environments easy to update and maintain. In addition, the solution might be more affordable, as Oracle Database Gateway software runs on less expensive OCI Compute OCPUs instead of running on the more specialized, higher priced Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure OCPUs.
- Communication between Oracle Database Gateway Server and Microsoft Azure SQL Server is encrypted (enforced by Microsoft Azure SQL Server by default).
- Data type conversion and mapping between Oracle databases and Microsoft Azure SQL Server databases are automatically managed by Oracle Database Gateway software.
Disadvantages of Oracle Database Gateway Running in OCI Compute
- An additional license for Oracle Database Gateway software may be required.
- Communication between Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated
Infrastructure and Oracle Database Gateway Server is not encrypted by default when configuring Oracle Database Gateway Server. Additional configuration in Oracle Database Gateway Server
sqlnet.ora
is required to enforce encryption from Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure to Oracle Database Gateway Server.