OCI - Roll Forward A Standby Database Using Recover Database From Service (Doc ID 2931070.1)

Last updated on APRIL 07, 2023

Applies to:

Goal

The procedure described in this note is applicable for OCI DBaaS environment, Oracle 18c and higher.

Typically, when rolling forward a physical standby database using primary incremental backup, multiple steps are required:

1. Identify the Start SCN on Standby for performing incremental backup on primary
2. Perform incremental backup on primary with FROM SCN clause
3. Move the backup-pieces from primary to standby
4. Catalog the backup-piece on Standby
5. Perform recovery on standby using recover database noredo
6. Refresh standby controlfile again from primary

Starting from 12.1, we could use "RECOVER DATABASE FROM SERVICE" command which will automate a few steps like performing incremental backup on primary, transfer the backup-pieces to standby over network and perform recovery on standby. However, we still had to manually refresh the standby controlfile and manually restore newly-added   datafiles. These steps required manual efforts   and are error prone especially when standby files are physically located in a path different to that of primary.

Starting with 18.1, we can use a single command to refresh the standby with changes made on primary:

RMAN> RECOVER STANDBY DATABASE FROM SERVICE <primary_connect_identifier>;

This command will internally keep track of standby file locations, refresh standby controlfile from primary, update the new standby controlfile with standby file names, perform incremental backup on primary, transfer the backup-pieces over network to standby and perform recovery on standby

Solution

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