Clone an Oracle database using an online/hot backup

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This procedure will clone a database using a online copy of the source database
files. Before beginning though, there are a few things that are worth noting abo
ut online/hot backups:
When a tablespace is put into backup mode, Oracle will write entire blocks t
o redo rather than the usual change vectors. For this reason, do not perform a h
ot backup during periods of heavy database activity - it could lead to a lot of
archive logs being created.
This procedure will put all tablespaces into backup mode at the same time. I
f the source database is quite large and you think that it might take a long tim
e to copy, consider copying the tablespaces one at a time, or in groups.
While the backup is in progress, it will not be possible to take the tablesp
aces offline normally or shut down the instance.
Ok, lets get started...
1. Make a note of the current archive log change number
Because the restored files will require recovery, some archive logs will be
needed. This applies even if you are not intending to put the cloned database in
to archive log mode. Work out which will be the first required log by running th
e following query on the source database. Make a note of the change number that
is returned:
select max(first_change#) chng
from v$archived_log
/
2. Prepare the begin/end backup scripts
The following sql will produce two scripts; begin_backup.sql and end_backup.
sql. When executed, these scripts will either put the tablespaces into backup mo
de or take them out of it:
cr_hot_backup.sql
3. Put the source database into backup mode
From sqlplus, run the begin backup script created in the last step:
@begin_backup
This will put all of the databases tablespaces into backup mode.
4. Copy the files to the new location
Copy, scp or ftp the files from the source database/machine to the target. D
o not copy the control files across. Make sure that the files have the correct p
ermissions and ownership.
5. Take the source database out of backup mode
Once the file copy has been completed, take the source database out of backu
p mode. Run the end backup script created in step 2. From sqlplus:
@end_backup
6. Copy archive logs
It is only necessary to copy archive logs created during the time the source
database was in backup mode. Begin by archiving the current redo:
alter system archive log current;
Then, identify which archive log files are required. When run, the following
query will ask for a change number. This is the number noted in step 1.
select name
from v$archived_log
where first_change# >= &change_no
order by name
/
Create an archive directory in the clone database.s file system and copy all
of the identified logs into it.
7. Produce a pfile for the new database
This step assumes that you are using a spfile. If you are not, just copy the
existing pfile.
From sqlplus:
create pfile='init<new database sid>.ora' from spfile;
This will create a new pfile in the $ORACLE_HOME/dbs directory.
Once created, the new pfile will need to be edited. If the cloned database i
s to have a new name, this will need to be changed, as will any paths. Review th
e contents of the file and make alterations as necessary. Also think about adjus
ting memory parameters. If you are cloning a production database onto a slower d
evelopment machine you might want to consider reducing some values.
Ensure that the archive log destination is pointing to the directory created
in step 6.
8. Create the clone controlfile
Create a control file for the new database. To do this, connect to the sourc
e database and request a dump of the current control file. From sqlplus:
alter database backup controlfile to trace as '/home/oracle/cr_<new sid>.sql
'
/
The file will require extensive editing before it can be used. Using your fa
vourite editor make the following alterations:
Remove all lines from the top of the file up to but not including the se
cond 'STARTUP MOUNT' line (it's roughly halfway down the file).
Remove any lines that start with --
Remove any lines that start with a #
Remove any blank lines in the 'CREATE CONTROLFILE' section.
Remove the line 'RECOVER DATABASE USING BACKUP CONTROLFILE'
Remove the line 'ALTER DATABASE OPEN RESETLOGS;'
Make a copy of the 'ALTER TABLESPACE TEMP...' lines, and then remove the
m from the file. Make sure that you hang onto the command, it will be used later
.
Move to the top of the file to the 'CREATE CONTROLFILE' line. The word '
REUSE' needs to be changed to 'SET'. The database name needs setting to the new
database name (if it is being changed). Decide whether the database will be put
into archivelog mode or not.
If the file paths are being changed, alter the file to reflect the chang
es.
Here is an example of how the file would look for a small database called dg
9a which isn't in archivelog mode:
STARTUP NOMOUNT
CREATE CONTROLFILE SET DATABASE "DG9A" RESETLOGS FORCE LOGGING NOARCHIVELOG
MAXLOGFILES 50
MAXLOGMEMBERS 5
MAXDATAFILES 100
MAXINSTANCES 1
MAXLOGHISTORY 453
LOGFILE
GROUP 1 '/u03/oradata/dg9a/redo01.log' SIZE 100M,
GROUP 2 '/u03/oradata/dg9a/redo02.log' SIZE 100M,
GROUP 3 '/u03/oradata/dg9a/redo03.log' SIZE 100M
DATAFILE
'/u03/oradata/dg9a/system01.dbf',
'/u03/oradata/dg9a/undotbs01.dbf',
'/u03/oradata/dg9a/cwmlite01.dbf',
'/u03/oradata/dg9a/drsys01.dbf',
'/u03/oradata/dg9a/example01.dbf',
'/u03/oradata/dg9a/indx01.dbf',
'/u03/oradata/dg9a/odm01.dbf',
'/u03/oradata/dg9a/tools01.dbf',
'/u03/oradata/dg9a/users01.dbf',
'/u03/oradata/dg9a/xdb01.dbf',
'/u03/oradata/dg9a/andy01.dbf',
'/u03/oradata/dg9a/psstats01.dbf',
'/u03/oradata/dg9a/planner01.dbf'
CHARACTER SET WE8ISO8859P1
;
9. Add a new entry to oratab and source the environment
Edit the /etc/oratab (or /opt/oracle/oratab) and add an entry for the new da
tabase.
Source the new environment with '. oraenv' and verify that it has worked by
issuing the following command:
echo $ORACLE_SID
If this doesn't output the new database sid go back and investigate.
10. Create the a password file
Use the following command to create a password file (add an appropriate pass
word to the end of it):
orapwd file=${ORACLE_HOME}/dbs/orapw${ORACLE_SID} password=<your password>
11. Create the new control file(s)
Ok, now for the exciting bit! It is time to create the new controlfiles and
open the database:
sqlplus "/ as sysdba"
@/home/oracle/cr_<new database sid>
If all goes to plan you will see the instance start and then the message 'Co
ntrol file created'.
12. Recover and open the database
The archive logs that were identified and copied in step 6 must now be appli
ed to the database. Issue the following command from sqlplus:
recover database using backup controlfile until cancel
When prompted to 'Specify log' enter 'auto'. Oracle will then apply all the
available logs, and then error with ORA-00308. This is normal, it simply means t
hat all available logs have been applied. Open the database with reset logs:
alter database open resetlogs;
13. Create temp files
Using the 'ALTER TABLESPACE TEMP...' command from step 8, create the temp fi
les. Make sure the paths to the file(s) are correct, then run it from sqlplus.
14. Perform a few checks
If the last couple of steps went smoothly, the database should be open. It i
s advisable to perform a few checks at this point:
Check that the database has opened with:
select status from v$instance;
The status should be 'OPEN'
Make sure that the datafiles are all ok:
select distinct status from v$datafile;
It should return only ONLINE and SYSTEM.
Take a quick look at the alert log too.
15. Set the databases global name
The new database will still have the source databases global name. Run the f
ollowing to reset it:
alter database rename global_name to <new database sid>
/
Note. no quotes!
16. Create a spfile
From sqlplus:
create spfile from pfile;
17. Change the database ID
If RMAN is going to be used to back-up the database, the database ID must be
changed. If RMAN isn't going to be used, there is no harm in changing the ID an
yway - and it's a good practice to do so.
From sqlplus:
shutdown immediate
startup mount
exit
From unix:
nid target=/
NID will ask if you want to change the ID. Respond with 'Y'. Once it has fin
ished, start the database up again in sqlplus:
shutdown immediate
startup mount
alter database open resetlogs
/
18. Configure TNS
Add entries for new database in the listener.ora and tnsnames.ora as necessa
ry.