The image maxav032.gif shows the hierarchy of HA architectures. At the base is the core database, which includes the following HA features:

• Flashback technologies
• Online redefinition and reorganization
• Managed backup and recovery

At the next level of availability are the following architectures:

• RAC only
• Data Guard only
• Streams

"RAC only" has the following HA capabilities:

• Fast node and instance failover
• Rolling patch upgrade

"Data Guard only" has the following HA capabilities:

• Disaster recovery
• Rolling database upgrade

Streams has the following HA capability: replication.

At the top of the HA pyramid is the most highly availably architecture, Maximum Availability Architecture, which builds on "RAC only" and "Data Guard only".

End of image description.