The ODA documentation implies that thin cloning functionality is available on
the ODA.
https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E22693_01/doc.12/e55580/dbadmin.htm#BAJIJABFCreating ;
Snapshot DatabasesAn Oracle snapshot database is created by taking a snapshot
of the ACFS file system where the source datafiles reside. The source database
can be single instance, Oracle RAC, or Oracle RAC One Node. Compared to other
methods of creating copies of databases, snapshot databases require less time
and storage space and involve no downtime of the source database. Additionally,
you can create any database type and class from any other type and class. For
example, you can create an Oracle RAC database from an Oracle RAC One Node
database. Similarly, you can create a database that is different in size than
the source database.On Oracle Database Appliance, you can create snapshot
databases from any Oracle Database stored on Oracle ASM Cluster File Systems
(ACFS). Beginning with Oracle Database Appliance Release 12.1.2.0.0, this
includes any Oracle Database Release 11.2.0.4 or later database created or
upgraded on the system. Additional requirements for a database to be used as
the source for a snapshot database include:must not be a standby or container
database
must not be running in read-only mode, or in restricted mode, or in online
backup mode
must be in ARCHIVELOG mode
must have all defined datafiles available and onlineAlso, ensure that the
system clocks on the two Oracle Database Appliance nodes are synchronized
before creating a snapshot database. To create a snapshot database, use
theoakcli create snapshotdb command, as shown in the following example, which
creates a snapshot database named snapprod from the database named prod.oakcli
create snapshotdb -db snapprod -from prodBefore issuing the command, ensure
that the system clocks on the two Oracle Database Appliance nodes are
synchronized. If the clocks are sufficiently different, the command may fail.
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2016 21:27:51 +1000
From: dedba@xxxxxxxxxx
To: pete.sharman@xxxxxxxxxx; sethmiller.sm@xxxxxxxxx
CC: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Anyone with experience with the Oracle Data Appliance/ODA?
Thanks Pete.
I've now seen the ODA. The database is version 11.2.0.4. The data
files are stored in ASM disk groups, not on ACFS mounts. I am not
sure if it is still possible to create snapshots with oakcli in this
situation?
Is the snap clone functionality in EM/Cloud Control licensed with
any optional pack? It sounds promising.. there is not much disk
space left on the array, so a thin clone is preferable ;-)
Cheers,
Tony
On 2/02/2016 12:45 pm, Peter Sharman
wrote:
Tony
I
don’t think I saw anything about database versions in the
thread, so there are a couple of other options you could use
depending on the version:
· If
the DB is 12c, there is snapshotting capability built into
the database itself
· From
DB 10g onwards you could look at using Enterprise Manager’s
Snap Clone functionality which uses copy on write technology
to build thin clones, optionally including masking as well.
This may make it easier for you to do the snapshotting as
its built into the product, which makes it less error prone
than a manual snapshotting process.
Let
me know if you need any more details on that.
Pete
Pete
Sharman
Database Architect, DBaaS / DBLM
Enterprise Manager Product Suite
33 Benson Crescent CALWELL ACT 2905 AUSTRALIA
Phone:
+61262924095 | |
Mobile: +61414443449
Email:
pete.sharman@xxxxxxxxxx
Twitter: @SharmanPete LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/petesharman
Website:
petewhodidnottweet.com
"Controlling
developers is like herding cats."
Kevin
Loney, Oracle DBA Handbook
"Oh
no, it's not, it's much harder than that!"
Bruce
Pihlamae, long term Oracle DBA
From: De DBA [mailto:dedba@xxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Monday, February 1, 2016 10:32 AM
To: Seth Miller <sethmiller.sm@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Oracle Discussion List
<oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Anyone with experience with the
Oracle Data Appliance/ODA?
Seth,
Thanks for that. I haven't got access to the systems yet, just
reading up and preparing for the shock..
You
will not find OCFS on the ODA. It uses ACFS for the
cluster file system as well as the database files.
Ah, yes, of course, it's on ASM... I
understand that oakcli will create & manage fs
automatically, but I'm not going to have RAC. One node is
supposed to be production, whereas the other node will run
dev, test and UAT. I will need to refresh the dev & test
databases from production, and wonder whether I can create a
snapshot, do the masking etc. and then mount the copy on the
other node where it will then be used as the gold copy for the
refreshes.
get yourself a couple of
excellent books.
Practical
Oracle Database Appliance
Oracle
Database Appliance: A Hands-On Guide
I did look at the first one, which has some famous names
amongst the authors. One of the reviews that I saw mentions
that it is somewhat dated? Is it still worthwhile getting even
if you work with the latest hard/software?
Cheers,
Tony
On 31/01/2016 2:45 pm, Seth Miller wrote:
Tony,
The
ODAs apparently are each set up as two stand-alone
servers with shared storage. I understand that one
needs to use oakcli to create databases and that this
tool hides pretty much all functionality that we are
used to through dbca etc.
Yes, oakcli is the
magic behind ODA but it does not preclude you from
using DBCA. If you need to create a database that does
not fall into one of the oakcli templates, feel free
to use DBCA or any other classic method.
But
what does it do exactly?
Oakcli is nothing
more than a bunch of very well written perl and shell
scripts that wrap the classic tools included with the
Oracle database software. They are easy to find and
read if you really want to know what they are doing.
How
does one manage the OCFS?
You will not find
OCFS on the ODA. It uses ACFS for the cluster file
system as well as the database files.
Can a
file system be mounted on both nodes, or just on one?
Is this automatic?
Oakcli will take
care of this for you.
Given a
complete backup (... which is a problem all of its
own...), how does one restore a database?
Use RMAN or
Enterprise Manager for this. There will be little
difference from a standard RAC database in how you
backup and restore a database.
Don't
use centralised wallets with TDE, otherwise problems
will arise -- but what does that even mean?
This isn't specific
to the ODA. There are a number of reasons to have
local wallets in RAC -- one of the most important
being that you can't have a local only autologin
wallet if it is shared with multiple nodes.
You
will find little argument that the documentation for
ODA is mediocre at best. This is why a number of
training companies (including the one I teach for)
have developed their own content for the ODA. I think
your best course of action, though, is to get yourself
a couple of excellent books.
Practical
Oracle Database Appliance
Oracle
Database Appliance: A Hands-On Guide
Seth
Miller
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 10:42 PM, De
DBA <dedba@xxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
I've
just read through that documentation, as I will
shortly get the responsibility for 2 ODA's. I would
not classify the 3 software manuals and 2 hw manuals
as good documentation. After reading all of it, I've
got more questions than what I started out with...
The ODAs apparently are each set up as two
stand-alone servers with shared storage. I
understand that one needs to use oakcli to create
databases and that this tool hides pretty much all
functionality that we are used to through dbca etc.
But what does it do exactly? How does one manage the
OCFS? Can a file system be mounted on both nodes, or
just on one? Is this automatic? Given a complete
backup (... which is a problem all of its own...),
how does one restore a database? Don't use
centralised wallets with TDE, otherwise problems
will arise -- but what does that even mean?
Questions...
Pointers to more complete documentation/blogs/etc.
regarding managing and patching the ODA are very
welcome!
Cheers,
Tony
On 30/01/2016 6:38 am, Hans
Forbrich wrote:
Yes, lack of documentation
was a problem at one time.
That has significantly improved. See
http://docs.oracle.com/en/engineered-systems/
/Hans
On 29/01/2016 12:54 PM, Andrew Kerber wrote:
I have run into problem
with a lack of good documentation on its use.
Sent from my iPad
On Jan 29, 2016, at 1:49 PM,
<Jay.Miller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<Jay.Miller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hi
We
just attended an ODA presentation and it
looks very promising as a solution for our
non-prod testing environment as it would
allow us to clone multiple instances of
the gold copy test databases easily
(without needing to coordinate with other
departments as we do now) and apply
patches for those environments quickly and
easily as well.
Any
real life pros or cons that anyone has
experienced with the appliance? We’d keep
our production and performance testing
environments off it at least for now.
Jay
Miller
Sr.
Oracle DBA
201.369.8355