Purpose

This note explains the procedure of creating a Physical Standby

database using 11g RMAN DUPLICATE FROM ACTIVE DATABASE feature which
is now available in 11g Release 1 onwards. This enables us to create
a physical standby database without having to take a backup of the
primary database as a prerequisite step.

Environment

Primary Database DB_UNIQUE_NAME: genoa1_js

Standby Database DB_UNIQUE_NAME: genoa1_fc

ORACLE_SID: genoa1

Primary hostname: oatu037

Standby hostname: drou037

Oracle software version: Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition

Release 11.1.0.7.0 - 64bit

Enable Force Logging on the Primary database

SQL> alter database force logging;

Database altered.

Create the password file on the Standby host

Note - ensure that the same password is used as the one used while
creating the password file on the Primary host

genoa1:/u01/oracle/product/11.1.0/db_1/dbs> orapwd file=orapwgenoa1

password=G3nesisoat

Update network configuration files

Add the following entries to the tnsnames.ora file on both Primary as

well as Standby hosts. The listener has been configured to run from
the ASM home on the server, so we would need to update the
tnsnames.ora file in both the database as well as ASM Oracle homes on
both machines.

genoa1_js =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = oatu037)(PORT = 1521))
)
(CONNECT_DATA =
(SERVICE_NAME = genoa1_js)
)
)

genoa1_fc =
 (DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = drou037)(PORT = 1521))
)
(CONNECT_DATA =
(SERVICE_NAME = genoa1_fc)
)
)

On the Standby host, add a static entry in the listener.ora file and
reload or restart the listener.

LISTENER =
(DESCRIPTION_LIST =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = oatu037.bankwest.com)(PORT =
1521))
)
)

SID_LIST_LISTENER =
(SID_LIST =
(SID_DESC =
(GLOBAL_DBNAME = genoa1_fc)
(ORACLE_HOME = /u01/oracle/product/11.1.0/db_1)
(SID_NAME = genoa1)
)
)

The database initially had a service_names value of 'genoa1'. We

have defined the network configuration files using distinct service
names to match the db_unique_name values on both Primary as well as
Standby locations. We now need to change the service_names parameter
and then we can test connectivity from the using the TNS aliases that
we set up in the earlier step.

SQL> alter system set service_names='genoa1_js' scope=both;

System altered.

SQL> show parameter service

NAME TYPE VALUE

------------------------------------ -----------
------------------------------
service_names string genoa1_js

genoa1:/u01/oracle/product/11.1.0/db_1/dbs> sqlplus
system/G3nesisoat@genoa1_js

SQL*Plus: Release 11.1.0.7.0 - Production on Mon Mar 15 15:43:43 2010

Copyright (c) 1982, 2008, Oracle. All rights reserved.

Connected to:
Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.1.0.7.0 - 64bit
Production
With the Partitioning and Real Application Testing options

SQL> select host_name from v$instance;

HOST_NAME
----------------------------------------------------------------
oatu037

Create a "scratch" init.ora file on the Standby host with just a

single parameter

genoa1:/u01/oracle/product/11.1.0/db_1/dbs> vi initgenoa1.ora

"initgenoa1.ora" [New file]

DB_NAME=genoa1

Create the required directories on the Standby host

Check the value of the parameter audit_file_dest on the Primary

database. Ensure that this directory structure also exists on the
Standby host. If the directory structure differs in any way on the
Primary and Standby server, we will have to ensure that the RMAN rcv
file to create the Standby database is amended to reflect this as
well.

On Primary database:

SQL> show parameter audit_file

NAME TYPE VALUE

------------------------------------ -----------
------------------------------
audit_file_dest string
/u01/oracle/admin/genoa1/adump

On Standby host:

genoa1:/u01/oracle/admin> mkdir genoa1

genoa1:/u01/oracle/admin> cd genoa1
genoa1:/u01/oracle/admin/genoa1> mkdir adump

Create the active_standby.rcv file

DUPLICATE TARGET DATABASE

FOR STANDBY
FROM ACTIVE DATABASE
DORECOVER
SPFILE
SET DB_UNIQUE_NAME='genoa1_fc'
SET LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_2='service=genoa1_js LGWR SYNC REGISTER
VALID_FOR=(online_logfile,primary_role)'
Set STANDBY_FILE_MANAGEMENT='AUTO'
SET FAL_SERVER='genoa1_js'
SET FAL_CLIENT='genoa1_fc'
SET
CONTROL_FILES='+DATA/genoa1/controlfile/control01.ctl','+DATA/genoa1/
controlfile/control02.ctl'
NOFILENAMECHECK
;

Start the Standby database instance in NOMOUNT state

genoa1:/u01/oracle/product/11.1.0/db_1/dbs> sqlas

SQL*Plus: Release 11.1.0.7.0 - Production on Mon Mar 15 15:40:21 2010

Copyright (c) 1982, 2008, Oracle. All rights reserved.

Connected to an idle instance.

SQL> startup nomount

ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area 217157632 bytes

Fixed Size 2152328 bytes
Variable Size 159385720 bytes
Database Buffers 50331648 bytes
Redo Buffers 5287936 bytes

From the Primary host, run the following RMAN command to create the
Standby Database

rman target / auxiliary sys/G3nesisoat@genoa1_fc

cmdfile=active_standby.rcv log=cre_actv_stndby.log

Starting Duplicate Db at 16-03-2010 09:51:38

using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
allocated channel: ORA_AUX_DISK_1
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: SID=97 device type=DISK

contents of Memory Script:

{
backup as copy reuse
file '/u01/oracle/product/11.1.0/db_1/dbs/orapwgenoa1' auxiliary
format
'/u01/oracle/product/11.1.0/db_1/dbs/orapwgenoa1' file
'/u01/oracle/product/11.1.0/db_1/dbs/spfilegenoa1.ora' auxiliary
format
'/u01/oracle/product/11.1.0/db_1/dbs/spfilegenoa1.ora' ;
sql clone "alter system set spfile=
''/u01/oracle/product/11.1.0/db_1/dbs/spfilegenoa1.ora''";
}
executing Memory Script

Starting backup at 16-03-2010 09:51:40

allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: SID=529 device type=DISK
Finished backup at 16-03-2010 09:51:43
sql statement: alter system set spfile=
''/u01/oracle/product/11.1.0/db_1/dbs/spfilegenoa1.ora''

contents of Memory Script:

{
sql clone "alter system set db_unique_name =
''genoa1_fc'' comment=
'''' scope=spfile";
sql clone "alter system set LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_2 =
''service=genoa1_js LGWR SYNC REGISTER
VALID_FOR=(online_logfile,primary_role)'' comment=
'''' scope=spfile";
sql clone "alter system set FAL_SERVER =
''genoa1_js'' comment=
'''' scope=spfile";
sql clone "alter system set FAL_CLIENT =
''genoa1_fc'' comment=
'''' scope=spfile";
sql clone "alter system set CONTROL_FILES =
''+DATA/genoa1/controlfile/control01.ctl'',
''+DATA/genoa1/controlfile/control02.ctl'' comment=
'''' scope=spfile";
shutdown clone immediate;
startup clone nomount ;
}
executing Memory Script

sql statement: alter system set db_unique_name = ''genoa1_fc''

comment= '''' scope=spfile

sql statement: alter system set LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_2 =

''service=genoa1_js LGWR SYNC REGISTER
VALID_FOR=(online_logfile,primary_role)'' comment= '''' scope=sp
file

sql statement: alter system set FAL_SERVER = ''genoa1_js'' comment=

'''' scope=spfile

sql statement: alter system set FAL_CLIENT = ''genoa1_fc'' comment=

'''' scope=spfile

sql statement: alter system set CONTROL_FILES =

''+DATA/genoa1/controlfile/control01.ctl'',
''+DATA/genoa1/controlfile/control02.ctl'' comment= '''' scope=s
pfile

Oracle instance shut down

connected to auxiliary database (not started)

Oracle instance started

Total System Global Area 5344731136 bytes

Fixed Size 2153536 bytes

Variable Size 3154117568 bytes
Database Buffers 2147483648 bytes
Redo Buffers 40976384 bytes

contents of Memory Script:

{
backup as copy current controlfile for standby auxiliary format
'+DATA/genoa1/controlfile/control01.ctl';
restore clone controlfile to
'+DATA/genoa1/controlfile/control02.ctl' from
'+DATA/genoa1/controlfile/control01.ctl';
sql clone 'alter database mount standby database';
}
executing Memory Script

Starting backup at 16-03-2010 09:51:49

using channel ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting datafile copy
copying standby control file
output file name=/u01/oracle/product/11.1.0/db_1/dbs/snapcf_genoa1.f
tag=TAG20100316T095149 RECID=23 STAMP=713785910
channel ORA_DISK_1: datafile copy complete, elapsed time: 00:00:03
Finished backup at 16-03-2010 09:51:52

Starting restore at 16-03-2010 09:51:52

allocated channel: ORA_AUX_DISK_1
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: SID=537 device type=DISK

channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: copied control file copy

Finished restore at 16-03-2010 09:51:54

sql statement: alter database mount standby database

RMAN-05529: WARNING: DB_FILE_NAME_CONVERT resulted in invalid ASM
names; names changed to disk group only.

contents of Memory Script:

{
set newname for tempfile 1 to
"+data";
switch clone tempfile all;
set newname for datafile 1 to
"+data";
set newname for datafile 2 to
"+data";
set newname for datafile 3 to
"+data";
set newname for datafile 4 to
"+data";
backup as copy reuse
datafile 1 auxiliary format
"+data" datafile
2 auxiliary format
"+data" datafile
3 auxiliary format
"+data" datafile
4 auxiliary format
"+data" ;
sql 'alter system archive log current';
}
executing Memory Script
executing command: SET NEWNAME

renamed tempfile 1 to +data in control file

executing command: SET NEWNAME

executing command: SET NEWNAME

executing command: SET NEWNAME

executing command: SET NEWNAME

Starting backup at 16-03-2010 09:51:59

using channel ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting datafile copy
input datafile file number=00001
name=+DATA/genoa1/datafile/system.260.713696473
output file name=+DATA/genoa1_fc/datafile/system.256.713785921
tag=TAG20100316T095159 RECID=0 STAMP=0
channel ORA_DISK_1: datafile copy complete, elapsed time: 00:00:15
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting datafile copy
input datafile file number=00002
name=+DATA/genoa1/datafile/sysaux.258.713694281
output file name=+DATA/genoa1_fc/datafile/sysaux.259.713785935
tag=TAG20100316T095159 RECID=0 STAMP=0
channel ORA_DISK_1: datafile copy complete, elapsed time: 00:00:15
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting datafile copy
input datafile file number=00003
name=+DATA/genoa1/datafile/undotbs1.261.713696297
output file name=+DATA/genoa1_fc/datafile/undotbs1.260.713785951
tag=TAG20100316T095159 RECID=0 STAMP=0
channel ORA_DISK_1: datafile copy complete, elapsed time: 00:00:07
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting datafile copy
input datafile file number=00004
name=+DATA/genoa1/datafile/users.259.713694329
output file name=+DATA/genoa1_fc/datafile/users.261.713785957
tag=TAG20100316T095159 RECID=0 STAMP=0
channel ORA_DISK_1: datafile copy complete, elapsed time: 00:00:01
Finished backup at 16-03-2010 09:52:38

sql statement: alter system archive log current

contents of Memory Script:

{
backup as copy reuse
archivelog like
"+FRA/genoa1/archivelog/2010_03_16/thread_1_seq_43.317.713785959"
auxiliary format
"+FRA" ;
catalog clone recovery area;
switch clone datafile all;
}
executing Memory Script

Starting backup at 16-03-2010 09:52:39

using channel ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting archived log copy
input archived log thread=1 sequence=43 RECID=39 STAMP=713785959
output file
name=+FRA/genoa1_fc/archivelog/2010_03_16/thread_1_seq_43.265.7137859
59 RECID=0 STAMP=0
channel ORA_DISK_1: archived log copy complete, elapsed time:
00:00:01
Finished backup at 16-03-2010 09:52:40

searching for all files in the recovery area

List of Files Unknown to the Database

=====================================
File Name:
+fra/GENOA1_FC/ARCHIVELOG/2010_03_16/thread_1_seq_42.260.713783777
File Name:
+fra/GENOA1_FC/ARCHIVELOG/2010_03_16/thread_1_seq_43.265.713785959
File Name: +fra/GENOA1_FC/ONLINELOG/group_4.256.713749183
File Name: +fra/GENOA1_FC/ONLINELOG/group_5.257.713749183
File Name: +fra/GENOA1_FC/ONLINELOG/group_6.258.713749185
File Name: +fra/GENOA1_FC/ONLINELOG/group_7.259.713749185
File Name: +fra/GENOA1_FC/ONLINELOG/group_4.261.713783787
File Name: +fra/GENOA1_FC/ONLINELOG/group_5.262.713783789
File Name: +fra/GENOA1_FC/ONLINELOG/group_6.263.713783789
File Name: +fra/GENOA1_FC/ONLINELOG/group_7.264.713783791
cataloging files...
cataloging done

List of Cataloged Files

=======================
File Name:
+fra/GENOA1_FC/ARCHIVELOG/2010_03_16/thread_1_seq_42.260.713783777
File Name:
+fra/GENOA1_FC/ARCHIVELOG/2010_03_16/thread_1_seq_43.265.713785959

List of Files Which Where Not Cataloged

=======================================
File Name: +fra/GENOA1_FC/ONLINELOG/group_4.256.713749183
RMAN-07529: Reason: catalog is not supported for this file type
File Name: +fra/GENOA1_FC/ONLINELOG/group_5.257.713749183
RMAN-07529: Reason: catalog is not supported for this file type
File Name: +fra/GENOA1_FC/ONLINELOG/group_6.258.713749185
RMAN-07529: Reason: catalog is not supported for this file type
File Name: +fra/GENOA1_FC/ONLINELOG/group_7.259.713749185
RMAN-07529: Reason: catalog is not supported for this file type
File Name: +fra/GENOA1_FC/ONLINELOG/group_4.261.713783787
RMAN-07529: Reason: catalog is not supported for this file type
File Name: +fra/GENOA1_FC/ONLINELOG/group_5.262.713783789
RMAN-07529: Reason: catalog is not supported for this file type
File Name: +fra/GENOA1_FC/ONLINELOG/group_6.263.713783789
RMAN-07529: Reason: catalog is not supported for this file type
File Name: +fra/GENOA1_FC/ONLINELOG/group_7.264.713783791
RMAN-07529: Reason: catalog is not supported for this file type

datafile 1 switched to datafile copy

input datafile copy RECID=23 STAMP=713785961 file
name=+DATA/genoa1_fc/datafile/system.256.713785921
datafile 2 switched to datafile copy
input datafile copy RECID=24 STAMP=713785961 file
name=+DATA/genoa1_fc/datafile/sysaux.259.713785935
datafile 3 switched to datafile copy
input datafile copy RECID=25 STAMP=713785961 file
name=+DATA/genoa1_fc/datafile/undotbs1.260.713785951
datafile 4 switched to datafile copy
input datafile copy RECID=26 STAMP=713785961 file
name=+DATA/genoa1_fc/datafile/users.261.713785957

contents of Memory Script:

{
set until scn 3817576;
recover
standby
clone database
delete archivelog
;
}
executing Memory Script

executing command: SET until clause

Starting recover at 16-03-2010 09:52:42

using channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1

starting media recovery

archived log for thread 1 with sequence 43 is already on disk as file

+FRA/genoa1_fc/archivelog/2010_03_16/thread_1_seq_43.265.713785959
archived log file
name=+FRA/genoa1_fc/archivelog/2010_03_16/thread_1_seq_43.265.7137859
59 thread=1 sequence=43
media recovery complete, elapsed time: 00:00:00
Finished recover at 16-03-2010 09:52:43
Finished Duplicate Db at 16-03-2010 09:52:46

Recovery Manager complete.

Change the init.ora parameters related to redo transport and redo

apply

On primary :

SQL> alter system set fal_server='genoa1_fc' scope=both;

System altered.

SQL> alter system set fal_client='genoa1_js' scope=both;

System altered.

SQL> alter system set standby_file_management=AUTO scope=both;

System altered.
SQL> alter system set
LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_1='LOCATION=USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST
VALID_FOR=(ALL_LOGFILES,ALL_ROLES) DB_UNIQUE_NAME=genoa1_js';

System altered.

SQL> alter system set LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_2='SERVICE=genoa1_fc LGWR SYNC

VALID_FOR=(ONLINE_LOGFILES,PRIMARY_ROLE) DB_UNIQUE_NAME=genoa1_fc';

Shutdown the Standby database, add the Standby log files and then
start real time recovery

SQL> shutdown immediate;

ORA-01109: database not open

Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.

SQL> startup
ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area 5344731136 bytes

Fixed Size 2153536 bytes
Variable Size 3154117568 bytes
Database Buffers 2147483648 bytes
Redo Buffers 40976384 bytes
Database mounted.
Database opened.

SQL> alter database add standby logfile group 4 size 500m;

Database altered.

SQL> alter database add standby logfile group 5 size 500m;

Database altered.

SQL> alter database add standby logfile group 6 size 500m;

Database altered.

SQL> alter database add standby logfile group 7 size 500m;

Database altered.

SQL> recover managed standby database using current logfile

disconnect;
Media recovery complete.

SQL> !ps -ef |grep mrp

oracle 471268 1 0 10:51:16 - 0:02 ora_mrp0_genoa1

oracle 475150 270568 1 11:02:47 pts/0 0:00 grep mrp
Change the Protection Level of the Standby Database to MAXIMIZE
AVAILABILITY

On the Primary database:

SQL> shutdown immediate;

Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.

SQL> startup mount

ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area 5344731136 bytes

Fixed Size 2153536 bytes
Variable Size 3154117568 bytes
Database Buffers 2147483648 bytes
Redo Buffers 40976384 bytes
Database mounted.

SQL> alter database add standby logfile group 4 size 500m;

Database altered.

SQL> alter database add standby logfile group 5 size 500m;

Database altered.

SQL> alter database add standby logfile group 6 size 500m;

Database altered.

SQL> alter database add standby logfile group 7 size 500m;

Database altered.

SQL> alter database set standby database to maximize availability;

Database altered.

SQL> alter database open;

Database altered.

SQL> select protection_mode,protection_level from v$database;

PROTECTION_MODE PROTECTION_LEVEL
-------------------- --------------------
MAXIMUM AVAILABILITY MAXIMUM AVAILABILITY

Regards,