Oracle transportable database tips

Starting in Oracle 10g release 2 we see the new RMAN transportable database feature.

Transportable Database allows for a 50% time reduction when migrating entire Oracle databases from one server to another (note: Transportable database requires that both the source and target database possess the same endian format.

The RMAN convert database command (Oracle transportable database) is used to automate the movement of an entire database from one platform (the source platform) to another (the destination platform), and transportable database promises to cut the database migration time by 50%.

In a nutshell, the transportable database features uses these steps to migrate a whole database to a new environment:

• Explore - The transportable database feature checks the external filesystems and directories.

• Verify - The transportable database feature ensure that all space management prerequisites are in-place (using dbms_tdb.check_db).

• Transport the data files - The transportable database features runs the RMAN "convert database" command and copies the data files to their new location.

• Transport environment - The transportable database then copies all initialization parms (pfile or spfile), listener.ora and tnsnames.ora onto the target server.

• Start the new database - The final step of the transportable database starts the new database on the target system.

For complete details and steps in using Oracle Transportable Database in 10gr2 and beyond, see these notes on using the Oracle transportable database feature.

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