Oracle Recovery Manager Features: BACKUP AS COPY

What is the advantage backup as copy feature in RMAN?

RMAN(Recovery Manager) utility creates backup in the form of backupsets or backup pieces by default.RMAN utility also allows other method which is similar to user managed hot backup. It can be acheived using 'BACKUP AS COPY' command.Using "Backup as Copy" RMAN creates backup in the form of image copies. However, we do not need to put the database in begin backup/end backup mode as in Conventional Hot Backup.

Syntax for Datafile Backup using Backup as copy:

RMAN> backup as copy datafile 1 format '/backup/data/datafile01.dbf' ;

Another advantage of this feature is that it allows to create image copy of control file.

 RMAN> backup as copy current controlfile format 'F:\CntrlFile_Bkp.ctl';  

How do we identify backups taken  as Image copies using RMAN?

Use "LIST COPY" Command. "LIST BACKUP" only gives a list of backup sets which were created using default RMAN backup Methos.

Syntax:

RMAN> LIST COPY;

ADOP Options: cleanup_mode

ADOP cleanup_mode

Run with adop cleanup phase.

Provides control over the extent of cleanup operations.

If no value is specified, cleanup is performed in standard mode, which does the same as quick mode but also drops obsolete code objects.

Values: quick/full

Purpose:

cleanup_mode=quick performs the minimum necessary cleanup to complete the online patching cycle. Use this mode if you want to start a new online patching cycle as soon as possible.

cleanup_mode=full performs all possible cleanup tasks for maximum recovery of space from unused database editions, objects and columns. Full cleanup is required after aborting an online patching cycle.

Usage:

adop phase=cleanup cleanup_mode=full

adop phase=cleanup cleanup_mode=quick

ADOP Options: actualize_all

Whenever adop prepare phase is initiated, a new patch edition is created in the database.During Online patching (ADOP) : An additional column ZD_EDITION_NAME is populated in the seed tables.As we do more online patching cycles, the number of entries for database editions will increase. This affects system performance and also increases cleanup time.When the number of old database editions reaches 25 or more, you should consider dropping all old database editions by running the adop actualize_all phase and then performing a full cleanup.

To drop older database editions, follow the below steps:

$ adop phase=prepare
$ adop phase=actualize_all
$ adop phase=finalize finalize_mode=full
$ adop phase=cutover
$ adop phase=cleanup cleanup_mode=full

How to Restore context file in oracle applications?

Scenario: Your Applications context file is either accidentally deleted or Corrupted. You do not have any latest backup of context file available.

Below are the steps to recreate context file 

The Applications context file can be retrieved by running the adclonectx.pl script.

perl /clone/bin/adclonectx.pl retrieve

Above script prompts for Database connection Info, apps username/password , Available Context files and the location to which context files can be restored.When prompted for the context file to be retrieved, select the option of retrieving the Applications tier context file that has been lost and retrieve it to the default location as in $CONTEXT_FILE parameter.

The above command can be used only when INST_TOP the is still intact. Incase if INST_TOP is also lost, the Applications tier context file may be retrieved as follows:

Execute the following command on the Database tier:

perl /appsutil/clone/bin/adclonectx.pl retrieve

When prompted for the context file to be retrieved, select the option of retrieving the Applications tier context file that has been lost.Choose the location to any writeable location and copy the restored context file to the value specified in $CONTEXT_FILE parameter on Application Tier.

To retrieve the Database tier context file,

Execute the following command on the Database tier:

perl /appsutil/clone/bin/adclonectx.pl retrieve

When prompted for the context file to be retrieved, select the Database tier context file and retrieve it to the default location ($CONTEXT_FILE on DB node).

Oracle Applications R12.2.5 New Features: dualfs in cloning

From Oracle Applications Release 12.2.5 Version, we have dualfs option for cloning applications tier.We can use this feature in earlier 12.2.x versions also, if AD-TXK Delta 7 patch is applied.Before AD-TXK Delta 7, it was required to run adcfgclone twice on run and patch filesystems.Using dualfs option,we can create both run and patch fs at one time.

-bash$ perl adcfgclone.pl appsTier dualfs

                     Copyright (c) 2002, 2015 Oracle Corporation
                        Redwood Shores, California, USA

                        Oracle E-Business Suite Rapid Clone

                                 Version 12.2

                      adcfgclone Version 120.63.12020000.56

Enter the APPS password :

Enter the Weblogic AdminServer password :

Do you want to add a node (yes/no) [no] :


Running: Context clone...

Log file located at /u01/VISN/fs1/EBSapps/comn/clone/bin/CloneContext_1023194859.log

Provide the values required for creation of the new APPL_TOP Context file.

Target System Hostname (virtual or normal) [appsmt] :

Target System Database SID : VISN

Target System Database Server Node [r12erpt] : appsdb

Target System Database Domain Name [domain.com] :

Target System Base Directory : /u01/VISN

Target System Base Directory set to /u01/VISN

Target System Current File System Base set to /u01/VISN/fs1

Target System Other File System Base set to /u01/VISN/fs2

Target System Fusion Middleware Home set to /u01/VISN/fs1/FMW_Home
Target System Other File System Fusion Middleware Home set to /u01/VISN/fs2/FMW_Home

Target System Web Oracle Home set to /u01/VISN/fs1/FMW_Home/webtier
Target System Other File System Web Oracle Home set to /u01/VISN/fs2/FMW_Home/webtier

Target System Appl TOP set to /u01/VISN/fs1/EBSapps/appl
Target System Other File System Appl TOP set to /u01/VISN/fs2/EBSapps/appl

Target System COMMON TOP set to /u01/VISN/fs1/EBSapps/comn
Target System Other File System COMMON TOP set to /u01/VISN/fs2/EBSapps/comn

Target System Instance Home Directory [V] : /u01/VISN

Target System Current File System Instance Top set to /u01/VISN/fs1/inst/apps/VISN_appsmt

Do you want to preserve the Display [appsmt:0.0] (y/n)  : n

Target System Display [r12erpt:0.0] : appsmt:3.0

Target System Root Service [enabled] :

Target System Web Entry Point Services [enabled] :

Target System Web Application Services [enabled] :

Target System Batch Processing Services [enabled] :

Target System Other Services [disabled] :


Do you want the target system to have the same port values as the source system (y/n) [y] ? : n

Target System Port Pool [0-99] : 88

Checking the port pool 88
done: Port Pool 88 is free
Report file located at /u01/VISN/fs1/inst/apps/VISN_appsmt/admin/out/portpool.lst

UTL_FILE_DIR on database tier consists of the following directories.

1. /usr/tmp
2. /usr/tmp
3./u01/VISN/product/12.1.0/appsutil/outbound/VISN_appsmt
4. /usr/tmp
Choose a value which will be set as APPLPTMP value on the target node [1] : 3
The new APPL_TOP context file has been created :
  /u01/VISN/fs1/inst/apps/VISN_appsmt/appl/admin/VISN_appsmt.xml
Check Clone Context logfile /u01/VISN/fs1/EBSapps/comn/clone/bin/CloneContext_1023194859.log for details.

Creating Patch file system context file.....

Log file located at /u01/VISN/fs1/EBSapps/comn/clone/bin/CloneContextPatch_1023194973.log

Target System Other File System Instance Top set to /u01/VISN/fs2/inst/apps/VISN_appsmt

Target System Port Pool [0-99] : 89

Checking the port pool 89
done: Port Pool 89 is free
Report file located at /u01/VISN/fs2/inst/apps/VISN_appsmt/admin/out/portpool.lst
The new APPL_TOP context file has been created :
 /u01/VISN/fs2/inst/apps/VISN_appsmt/appl/admin/VISN_appsmt.xml
Check Clone Context logfile /u01/VISN/fs1/EBSapps/comn/clone/bin/CloneContextPatch_********.log for details.

FMW Pre-requisite check log file location : /u01/VISN/fs1/EBSapps/comn/clone/FMW/logs/prereqcheck.log
Running: FMW pre-req check...

Configuring: Run file system....
LogFile located at /u01/VISN/fs1/inst/apps/VISN_appsmt/admin/log/clone/run/RCloneApplyAppstier_*******.log

What are the differences between Oracle Applications R12.1.x and R12.2.x

From DBA perspective, below are the changes in R12.2.x version of Oracle Applications, compared to R12.1.3.

1. Dual FS: Oracle Application Release 12.2 has dual filesystems(RUN FS and PATCH FS) to facilitate Online Patching.This Requires double the mountpoint space at MiddleTier Level.

2. Weblogic Server: Oracle HTTP Server in R12.1 is replaced by Oracle Weblogic Server.

10.1.3 Home is replaced by FMW_HOME.Weblogic Server Manages all oacore, forms and oafm servers in R12.2.

3. Online Patching : Dual Filesystem and EBR feature in 11gR2 Database facilitate online patching. Online Patching minimizes the downtime required for patching.adpatch utility in R12.1.x is replaced by adop utility. adop cycle runs in 5 Phases : prepare,apply,finalize,cutover and cleanup. adop internally calls adpatch utility to run the driver files associated with adop phases.

4. APPS Password Change: After Changing Apps Password in R12.2, we need to update the new password in EBS Datasource used by Weblogic Domain.To know more about apps password change in Oracle applications R12.2, check the below link.

http://www.appsdbadiaries.com/2016/02/changing-apps-password-in-r122.html

5. Cloning : While Cloning of R12.2.x adcfgclone instance needs to be run twice,  on RUN fs and PATCH fs.From 12.2.5 Version (OR R12.AD-TXK Delta 7), we have the dualfs option which creates both run fs and patch fs during clone process.

How to Configure RMAN Backups into Multiple Locations?

If we need  RMAN to distribute backup sets among multiple disks on different mountpoints. We can use the below syntax to configure backup in multiple locations.

Using Allocate Channel:

RUN

{

ALLOCATE CHANNEL c1 DEVICE TYPE DISK FORMAT '/u01/oracle/data1'; 

ALLOCATE CHANNEL c2 DEVICE TYPE DISK FORMAT '/u02/oracle/data2'; 

}

Using Configure Channel:

CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE DISK FORMAT '/u01/%U', '/u02/%U';