Database Software

Env:
10.2.0.4 with ASM
RedHat Linux

We are planning to replace hardware (no DB upgrade but with a Linux OS upgrade RH-4 to RH-5 ) for our RAC database. It appears I have to add new nodes, and remove the existing to accomplish this.

So if I have four existing RAC nodes :a,b,c,d and the replacement new nodes are: aa,bb,cc,dd

then

-add aa,bb,cc,dd
-shutdown a,b,c,d
-Make sure things are fine, which may mean running it for a week (rollback is easy , shut the new bring up the old).
-drop a,b,c,d

RAC is now made up of aa,bb,cc,dd

And if we were to retain the same host names, since RAC host name (public) cannot be changed, I have to go through another iteration of delete-node and add-node. Something like :

drop aa
rename host aa as a
add a
...


All changes will be done in a maintenance window. Any suggestions or comments?


Thanks

-Madhu