ON OEL 5.4 Initializing the Oracle ASMLib driver: [FAILED]

ISSUE:

Writing Oracle ASM library driver configuration: done
Initializing the Oracle ASMLib driver:                     [FAILED]

SOLUTION
If using Oracle asm support 2.1.0 or more use the following to update driver and reconfigure ASM
/etc/init.d/oracleasm update-driver
Updating to the latest Oracle ASMLib driver:               [  OK  ]
[root@node1 oracle]# /etc/init.d/oracleasm configure
Configuring the Oracle ASM library driver.

This will configure the on-boot properties of the Oracle ASM library
driver.  The following questions will determine whether the driver is
loaded on boot and what permissions it will have.  The current values
will be shown in brackets ('[]').  Hitting <ENTER> without typing an
answer will keep that current value.  Ctrl-C will abort.

Default user to own the driver interface [oracle]:
Default group to own the driver interface [dba]:
Start Oracle ASM library driver on boot (y/n) [y]:
Scan for Oracle ASM disks on boot (y/n) [y]:
Writing Oracle ASM library driver configuration: done
Initializing the Oracle ASMLib driver:                     [  OK  ]
Scanning the system for Oracle ASMLib disks:               [  OK  ]

PRVF-4007 : User equivalence check failed for user oracle

ISSUE:
During cluster verification, you get the following error.
Result: PRVF-4007 : User equivalence check failed for user “oracle”
ERROR:
User equivalence unavailable on all the specified nodes
Verification cannot proceed

 SOLUTION
cd to sshsetup folder and setup ssh without password using the utility as below. Please verify the syntax for shared home. For non-shared home, use
./sshUserSetup.sh -user oracle -hosts host1, host2 -advanced -exverify -confirm


RESULT
./runcluvfy.sh stage -pre crsinst -n host1, host2
Node connectivity check passed
Checking ASMLib configuration.
Check for ASMLib configuration passed.
Total memory check passed
Available memory check passed
Swap space check passed
Free disk space check passed for "valwgpor008ph:/tmp"
Check for multiple users with UID value 500 passed
User existence check passed for "oracle"
Group existence check passed for "oinstall"
Group existence check passed for "dba"

11.2.0.2 Startup Upgrade Results in ORA-01092, ORA-39701

Issue:
SQL> startup upgrade
ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area  784998400 bytes
Fixed Size                  2230600 bytes
Variable Size             482346680 bytes
Database Buffers          293601280 bytes
Redo Buffers                6819840 bytes
Database mounted.
ORA-01092: ORACLE instance terminated. Disconnection forced
ORA-39701: database must be mounted EXCLUSIVE for UPGRADE or DOWNGRADE
Process ID: 7112
Session ID: 125 Serial number: 5


Action:
Add line cluster_database=False to init<sid>.ora  if SPFILE is being called or
Modify cluster_database=False if pfile is being used.

Example, in my case, where spfile is used.
SPFILE='+DATA/<dbname>/spfile<dbname>.ora'
cluster_database=false

SQL> startup upgrade
ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area  784998400 bytes
Fixed Size                  2230600 bytes
Variable Size             482346680 bytes
Database Buffers          293601280 bytes
Redo Buffers                6819840 bytes
Database mounted.
Database opened.
Now, @catupgrd can be run.

Note: Do not forget to change cluster_database=True after the upgrade

INST-07407 Unable to detect machine platform or jvm bits while installing OID 11.1.1.3

Issue: While installing OID 11.1.1.3 with WebLogic 10.0.3.3, you encouter INST-07407 Unable to detect machine platform or jvm bits error.

Solution:
Install the OID 11.1.1.2 software with Install only option
Apply the patch 11.1.1.3 patch
Use RCU 11.1.1.3 and load the metadata in the database
Use config.sh to configure the OID 11.1.1.3 environment.

DBCA doesn't give an option to create a RAC database

This can happen with 10gr2, 11gr1 databases on 11gr2 cluster
Solution: Pin the cluster nodes using the following method.

List the nodes: $GRID_HOME/bin/olsnodes -t -n
Pin the nodes: $GRID_HOME/bin/olsnodes pin css -n node1 node2 node3

"DBCA could not startup the ASM instance configured on this node. To processd with database creation using ASM you need the ASM instance to be up and running. Do you want to recreate the ASM instance on this node?"

On 11gr2 cluster, 10.2.0.4, 11.1.0.6 and 11.1.0.7 dbca can not locate ASM files and result in ASM instance not being recongized.

Solution: Patch 8288940 is available for 10.2.0.4, 11.1.0.6 and 11.1.0.7 as a .jar file as it is platform independent.  The fix will be included in the 10.2.0.5 patchset