How to install/create 8.1.7.0 database & migrate data

[Bob Fonacier]

Hi,
Pls help, quite urgent. Can someone help me or point me to a document on how to do this?

Basically what we want is transfer/migrate an 8.1.7.0 database from HP-UX 11.00 to another server (diff O/S version running on HP-UX 11.11). We want to create a replica as a DR backup for our company. How do I do it?

[A. Clay Stephenson]

You are making this harder than it is. By far the easist method (especially if the "bitness" of the Oracle software is the same) is to:

0) Shutdown and take a "cold" backup.
Later version may deal with RMAN or other hotbackups but I would learn to "nail" the cold version before moving to more complex
version. Besides cold backups with vxfs snapshots give you all the advantages of a hotbackup for only a few minutes of downtime.
When used in conjuction with archive/redo logs you can bring the database back to essentially any momont in time.

1) Install Oracle binaries on the new platform as a new Oracle install. The 11.0 version of 8.1.7.0 will run just fine under 11.11 but will link with the newer libraries.
You will need to restore /home directories and setup and/or transfer users/groups.

2) Create LVOL's, mountpoint, and filesystems with the exact same names as were on the 11.0 box. If you are using raw devices, I suggest that you ALWAYS use a level of indirection. e.g. suppose that you are using /dev/vg01/rlvol1 as an Oracle raw device. Instead use something like /oracle/data/file01.raw as the Oracle datafile and then create a symbolic link to /dev/vg01/rlvol1. This little level of indirection adds no real overhead but it means that when you move a database to another machine (or device) the ONLY thing you have to do is change the softlinks. If you are using hard device name now, have the DBA change them.

3) Using fbackup, OB2/DP, whatever, restore the database file to the new host. You will also need the init.ora's, tnsnames, and listeners restored to ${ORACLE_HOME}/xxx. If you have any scripts that set env variables, transfer those as well.

4) Say a small prayer, run svrmgrl, and start the database.

Again, you can build up as elaborate a scheme as you like but I would begin with
cold backup/restore. Until you get that working, there is no point in going further.

I would also upgrade your 8.1.7.0 to 8.1.7.4; a number of bugs were addressed.

By the way, it's far better to start DR with a blank machine (no OS); the other "killer" is to assume the you (the author) are dead and someone else has to follow your precise, clear, well-written instructions. It's okay to be there as a ghost but you will be amazed at how bad your instructions
are ----
I know I was the first time through this.

[Steven E. Protter]

I've rarely seen a thorough, better thought out post than A. Clay's.

Just make sure both machines are 32 bit or 64 bit. There is a nasty 27 part conversion procedure that you don't want to worry about in a DR situation.

I'd also plan an overall move to at least Oracle 8.1.7.4

There are java issues, there bug fix issues that you don't want hanging over your head in a DR situation.

Long term, you might want to consider a serviceguard cluster to provide instant failover.

Even longer term Oracle 8.1.x is at the end of its support cycle. Support is partially pulled and goes for good 12-31-2006.

These opinions are my own.

SEP

[R. Allan Hicks]

One additional point..... Don't forget the init.ora file on $ORACLE_HOME/dbs or in most cases there is a link from $ORACLE_HOME/dbs to $ORACLE_BASE/admin//pfile

[Brian_274]

If you want to create a replica for restore purposes. You might want to look into the standby database feature. I've never used the 8i standby version. But the 9i version has a logical and physical standby database. In 8i the physical standby db isn't open for read only while the 9.2.0 has a logical standby db that can be open for read only queries. It makes a good option for a reporting server.