Types of Data Sources

When you create a data source, you have 3 different types of data sources.  It is not always clear which type you can use in relation to your license.  Additionally, Oracle makes it just a little bit more obscure by using different namings in the WebLogic Console and the documentation.

Here are the 3 types you can choose in the WebLogic Console:

Generic Data Source

This is the basic type you can use to make a JDBC connection to a single database.
You can use this option in all the license levels: Standard, Enterprise and Suite.


Multi Data Source

Also known as "GridLink for RAC".
If your WebLogic Server is running on an underlying RAC database architecture, you can choose to use multi data sources.  A multi data source is a combination of several generic data sources.  First you have to create the generic data sources seperately and afterwards you can combine them in a multi data source, based on a algorithm type: Failover or Load-Balancing.
You can use this option in all the license levels: Standard, Enterprise and Suite.


GridLink Data Source

Also known as "Active GridLink for RAC".
Here, the JDBC info of your RAC is stored directly in the data source.
In fact it is a combination of the previous types:
* like the generic data source, the JDBC info is stored directly in the data source.
* like the multi data source, you can reach mutiple database nodes.
In this concept, the advantages of the RAC features are better used in your WebLogic architecture.
You can use this option only in the highest license level: Suite.