Steps to configure Oracle 11g Data Guard Physical Standby – Active

Data Guard Part-I

Here in this article I am going to cover steps by step approach to configure Oracle 11g Data Guard Physical
Standby.

In my case, Ingredients to simulate Physical Standby data guard environment are as below:

• 2 VM’s, Primary and DR with enough CPU and RAM in order to run oracle database.

• Primary server configuration

 CentOS 6.5
 Server name: pr
 IP: 192.168.17.131
 Oracle 11g software plus oracle instance.
 Oracle SID/Global_name: RTS
 Oracle db_unique_name: RTS

• Secondary server configuration

 CentOS 6.5
 Server name: dr
 IP: 192.168.17.132
 Oracle 11g software only.
 Oracle SID/Global name: RTS
 Oracle db_unique_name: RTSDR

Note:

• Oracle version on Primary and secondary should be identical. i.e. In my case it’s 11.2.0.1.0

• db_unique_name on standby and primary database should be different in order to used in DG_CONFIG
setting of the LOG_ARCHIVE_CONFIG parameter.

• Primary and DR server should ping each other by IP as well as its server name. In order to ping with its
server name, edit /etc/hosts file accordingly.
Primary Server Configurations:

<Step – 1 >

1.Enable Archive log:

2. Primary database is in No Archive Mode, Enable it:

SQL> archive log list

Database log mode No Archive Mode

Automatic archival Disabled

Archive destination USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST

Oldest online log sequence 1

Current log sequence 3

SQL> SHUTDOWN IMMEDIATE;

SQL> STARTUP MOUNT;

SQL> ALTER DATABASE ARCHIVELOG;

SQL> ALTER DATABASE OPEN;

SQL> archive log list;

Database log mode Archive Mode

Automatic archival Enabled

Archive destination USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST

Oldest online log sequence 1

Next log sequence to archive 3

Current log sequence 3

<Step – 2 >

Enable force logging with the help of following SQL command:

SQL> ALTER DATABASE FORCE LOGGING;

<Step – 3 >

Verify initialization parameters db_name and db_unique_name on primary, In my case those are set to:
RTS
 SQL> show parameter db_name

NAME TYPE VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------

db_name string RTS

SQL> show parameter db_unique_name

NAME TYPE VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------

db_unique_name string RTS

<Step – 4 >

Issue following command to set LOG_ARCHIVE_CONFIG parameter for data guard config.

SQL> ALTER SYSTEM SET LOG_ARCHIVE_CONFIG='DG_CONFIG=(RTS,RTSDR)';

Ensure your above changes as below:

SQL> show parameter LOG_ARCHIVE_CONFIG

NAME TYPE VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------

log_archive_config string DG_CONFIG=(RTS,RTSDR)

<Step – 5 >

Issue following to set LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_2, In my case i have used flash recovery area for
remote archive log destination.

Note: Service and DB_UNIQUE_NAME reference the remote standby location.

SQL> ALTER SYSTEM SET LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_2='SERVICE=RTSDR NOAFFIRM ASYNC

VALID_FOR=(ONLINE_LOGFILES,PRIMARY_ROLE) DB_UNIQUE_NAME=RTSDR';

Ensure your above changes as below:

SQL> show parameter LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_2

NAME TYPE VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------

log_archive_dest_2 string SERVICE=rtsdr NOAFFIRM ASYNC

VALID_FOR=(ONLINE_LOGFILES,PRIMARY_ROLE) DB_UNIQUE_NAME=rtsdr
 Enable LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_2:

SQL> alter system set log_archive_dest_state_2=enable;

SQL> show parameter log_archive_dest_state_2

NAME TYPE VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------

log_archive_dest_state_2 string ENABLE

<Step – 6 >

Set log_archive_format parameter as below:

SQL> alter system set log_archive_format='%t_%s_%r.arc' scope=spfile;

SQL> show parameter log_archive_format

NAME TYPE VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------

log_archive_format string %t_%s_%r.arc

Set log_archive_max_processes parameter to 30:

SQL> alter system set log_archive_max_processes=30;

SQL> show parameter log_archive_max_processes

NAME TYPE VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------

log_archive_max_processes integer 30

Set remote_login_passwordfile parameter to exclusive:

SQL> alter system set remote_login_passwordfile=exclusive scope=spfile;

SQL> show parameter remote_login_passwordfile

NAME TYPE VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------

remote_login_passwordfile string EXCLUSIVE

<Step – 7 >

Set fal_server and fal_client parameter for primary database:

SQL> alter system set fal_server=RTSDR;

SQL> show parameter fal_server

NAME TYPE VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------

fal_server string RTSDR

SQL> alter system set fal_client='RTS';

SQL> show parameter fal_client

NAME TYPE VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------

fal_client string RTS

Set standby_file_management parameter to auto:

SQL> alter system set standby_file_management=auto;

SQL> show parameter standby_file_management

NAME TYPE VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------

standby_file_management string AUTO

<Step – 8 >

Configure listener file and copy it to DR @ location:

/u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1/network/admin

Listener file:

SID_LIST_LISTENER = (SID_LIST = (SID_DESC = (GLOBAL_DBNAME = RTS)

(ORACLE_HOME = /u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1) (SID_NAME = RTS) ) )

LISTENER = (DESCRIPTION = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = pr)(PORT = 1521))

ADR_BASE_LISTENER = /u01/app/oracle
<Step – 9 >

Entries for the primary and standby databases are needed in the
“$ORACLE_HOME/network/admin/tnsnames.ora” files on both the servers.

RTS =

(DESCRIPTION =

(ADDRESS_LIST =

(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = pr)(PORT = 1521))

(CONNECT_DATA =

(SERVICE_NAME = RTS)

(GLOBAL_NAME = RTS)

(UR=A)

))

RTSDR =

(DESCRIPTION =

(ADDRESS_LIST =

(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = dr)(PORT = 1521))

(CONNECT_DATA =

(SERVICE_NAME = RTS)

(GLOBAL_NAME = RTS)

(UR=A)

))

Ensure your above configuration by TNSPing utility on Primary and standby:

[oracle@pr admin]$ tnsping RTS

TNS Ping Utility for Linux: Version 11.2.0.1.0 - Production on 03-OCT-2014 06:04:09

Copyright (c) 1997, 2009, Oracle. All rights reserved.

Used parameter files:

/u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1/network/admin/sqlnet.ora

Used TNSNAMES adapter to resolve the alias

Attempting to contact (DESCRIPTION = (ADDRESS_LIST = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = pr)(PORT =

1521))) (CONNECT_ DATA = (SERVICE_NAME = rts) (GLOBAL_NAME = RTS)))

OK (10 msec)

[oracle@pr admin]$ tnsping RTSDR

TNS Ping Utility for Linux: Version 11.2.0.1.0 - Production on 03-OCT-2014 06:04:15

Copyright (c) 1997, 2009, Oracle. All rights reserved.

Used parameter files:

/u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1/network/admin/sqlnet.ora

Used TNSNAMES adapter to resolve the alias

Attempting to contact (DESCRIPTION = (ADDRESS_LIST = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = dr)(PORT =

1521))) (CONNECT_ DATA = (SERVICE_NAME = RTS) (GLOBAL_NAME = RTS)))

OK (20 msec)

<Step – 10 >

Backup primary database via RMAN backup utility:

[oracle@pr admin]$ rman target /

Recovery Manager: Release 11.2.0.1.0 - Production on Sat Oct 4 02:02:11 2014

Copyright (c) 1982, 2009, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

connected to target database: RTS (DBID=1421312347)

RMAN> backup database plus archivelog;

Note: Backup location: Flash Recovery Area.

<Step – 11>

Create Standby control file.

SQL> alter database create standby controlfile as '/u01/bkup/stndbyctrl.ctl';

<Step – 12>
Create pfile from spfile:

SQL> create pfile='/u01/bkup/initRTS.ora' from spfile;

<Step – 13>

After creating parameter file as above, edit following changes in newly created pfile:

*.db_unique_name='RTSDR'

*.fal_server='RTS';

*.log_archive_dest_2='SERVICE=RTS ASYNC VALID_FOR=(ONLINE_LOGFILES,PRIMARY_ROLE)

DB_UNIQUE_NAME=RTS'

<Step – 14>

Copy parameter file to DR @ location: /u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1/dbs/

[oracle@pr bkup]$ scp initRTS.ora oracle@192.168.17.132:/u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1/dbs/

Copy standby control file to DR @ location: /u01/app/oracle/oradata/RTS/control01.ctl &

/u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/RTS/control02.ctl

[oracle@pr bkup]$ scp stndbyctrl.ctl oracle@192.168.17.132:/u01/app/oracle/oradata/RTS/control01.ctl

[oracle@pr bkup]$ scp stndbyctrl.ctl

oracle@192.168.17.132:/u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/RTS/control02.ctl

Copy password file to DR @ location: /u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1/dbs/

[oracle@pr ~]$ cd /u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1/dbs/

[oracle@pr dbs]$ scp orapwRTS oracle@192.168.17.132:/u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1/dbs/

Copy Listener file to DR @ location: /u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1/network/admin

[oracle@pr bkup]$ cd /u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1/network/admin

[oracle@pr admin]$ scp listener.ora

oracle@192.168.17.132:/u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1/network/admin

Edit DR database listener file with host name. ( i.e. (HOST = dr))

And finally copy RMAN backup to DR @ flash recovery area.

[oracle@pr ~]$ cd /u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/

[oracle@pr flash_recovery_area]$ scp -r RTS oracle@192.168.17.132:/u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/

Standby/DR Server Configurations:

<Step – 15>

Startup standby database in mount state:

Set following environment variable as oracle user OR edit those in /home/oracle/.bash_profile in order to set it for
every time while oracle user logged in:

export ORACLE_SID=RTS

export ORACLE_HOME=/u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1

export PATH=$PATH:/u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1/bin

[oracle@DR ~]$ mkdir -p /u01/app/oracle/admin/RTS/adump

SQL> sqlplus / as sysdba

SQL> startup mount

ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area 972898304 bytes

Fixed Size 2219272 bytes

Variable Size 566231800 bytes

Database Buffers 398458880 bytes

Redo Buffers 5988352 bytes

Database mounted.

<Step – 16>

Create spfile from pfile:

SQL> create spfile from pfile='/u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1/dbs/initRTS.ora';

<Step – 17>

Start listener on standby:

[oracle@dr ~]$ lsnrctl start

<Step – 18>

Create follwoing directories on DR server, in case those are not available:

/u01/app/oracle/admin/RTS/adump
/u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area

<Step – 19>

Restore and recover database @ DR with RMAN backup utility.

RMAN> list backup of database summary;

List of Backups

===============

Key TY LV S Device Type Completion Time #Pieces #Copies Compressed Tag

------- -- -- - ----------- --------------- ------- ------- ---------- ---

6 B F A DISK 05-OCT-14 1 1 NO TAG20141005T065604

RMAN> restore database;

RMAN> recover database;

Note: Recovery of database would be failed with RMAN-06054 error, We can ignore it because RMAN will ask for
unknown archive log ( i.e. next archive log sequence, i.e. 10 ) who is not also available on Primary database.

Error log: RMAN-06054: media recovery requesting unknown archived log for thread 1 with sequence 10 and
starting SCN of 1009554

<Step – 20>

Create standby redolog file to Primary and DR for the user of switch over, It should be match the configuration of
the primary server.

Note: Create one additional standby redolog file on both.

SQL> sqlplus / as sysdba

SQL> ALTER SYSTEM SET STANDBY_FILE_MANAGEMENT='MANUAL' scope=spfile;

SQL> ALTER DATABASE ADD STANDBY LOGFILE('/u01/app/oracle/oradata/RTS/stndby1.log') size 51M;

SQL> ALTER DATABASE ADD STANDBY LOGFILE('/u01/app/oracle/oradata/RTS/stndby2.log') size 51M;

SQL> ALTER DATABASE ADD STANDBY LOGFILE('/u01/app/oracle/oradata/RTS/stndby3.log') size 51M;

SQL> ALTER DATABASE ADD STANDBY LOGFILE('/u01/app/oracle/oradata/RTS/stndby4.log') size 51M;

SQL> ALTER SYSTEM SET STANDBY_FILE_MANAGEMENT='AUTO' scope=spfile;

<Step – 21>

Start apply process @ DR.

SQL> ALTER DATABASE RECOVER MANAGED STANDBY DATABASE nodelay DISCONNECT FROM SESSION;

In case of you want to cancel apply process, issue following command:

SQL> ALTER DATABASE RECOVER MANAGED STANDBY DATABASE CANCEL;

<Step – 22>

After graceful completion of above apply process, verify archive logs on Primary as well as DR.

On Primary:

SQL> archive log list;

Database log mode Archive Mode

Automatic archival Enabled

Archive destination USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST

Oldest online log sequence 8

Next log sequence to archive 10

Current log sequence 10

On Standby:

SQL> archive log list;

Database log mode Archive Mode

Automatic archival Enabled

Archive destination USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST

Oldest online log sequence 8

Next log sequence to archive 0

Current log sequence 10

By above result, archive logs on both the databases are in sync now.

To test your data guard configuration, generate archive logs on primary site and verify it on DR site:

SQL> alter system switch logfile; //Give this command multiple times for testing.

On Primary:

SQL> archive log list;

Database log mode Archive Mode

Automatic archival Enabled

Archive destination USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST

Oldest online log sequence 19

Next log sequence to archive 21

Current log sequence 21

OR

SQL> select max(sequence#) from v$archived_log;

MAX(SEQUENCE#)

--------------

20

On Standby:

SQL> archive log list;

Database log mode Archive Mode

Automatic archival Enabled

Archive destination USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST

Oldest online log sequence 19

Next log sequence to archive 0

Current log sequence 21

OR

SQL> select max(sequence#) from v$archived_log;

MAX(SEQUENCE#)

--------------

20

Cheers!! Our Data Guard configuration has been configured successfully.

Verify database roles by below mentioned SQL query:

On Primary:

SQL> select name,open_mode,database_role from v$database;

NAME OPEN_MODE DATABASE_ROLE

--------- -------------------- ----------------

RTS READ WRITE PRIMARY

On DR:

SQL> select name,open_mode,database_role from v$database;

NAME OPEN_MODE DATABASE_ROLE

--------- -------------------- ----------------

RTS MOUNTED PHYSICAL STANDBY

You can also verify total number of log sequence generated and applied on DR site, by below SQL query:

SQL> ALTER SESSION SET nls_date_format='DD-MON-YYYY HH24:MI:SS';

SQL> SELECT sequence#, first_time, next_time, applied

FROM v$archived_log

ORDER BY sequence#;

SEQUENCE# FIRST_TIM NEXT_TIME APPLIED

---------- --------- --------- ---------

3 04-OCT-14 04-OCT-14 YES

4 04-OCT-14 04-OCT-14 YES

5 04-OCT-14 04-OCT-14 YES

6 04-OCT-14 05-OCT-14 YES

7 05-OCT-14 05-OCT-14 YES

8 05-OCT-14 05-OCT-14 YES

9 05-OCT-14 05-OCT-14 YES

10 05-OCT-14 05-OCT-14 YES

11 05-OCT-14 05-OCT-14 YES

12 05-OCT-14 05-OCT-14 YES

13 05-OCT-14 05-OCT-14 YES

14 05-OCT-14 05-OCT-14 YES

15 05-OCT-14 05-OCT-14 YES

16 05-OCT-14 05-OCT-14 YES

17 05-OCT-14 05-OCT-14 YES

18 05-OCT-14 05-OCT-14 YES

19 05-OCT-14 05-OCT-14 YES

20 05-OCT-14 05-OCT-14 YES

In case of you are facing any kind of error than following SQL query will help you to diagnose it.

SQL> select dest_name,status,error from v$archive_dest where dest_name='LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_2';

DEST_NAME

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STATUS ERROR

--------- -----------------------------------------------------------------

LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_2

VALID

Note: LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_2 should be VALID in order to continue Data Guard sync.

OR

SQL> select message from v$dataguard_status;

Note: This command will give you appropriate message about the dataguard current status.

By default, for a newly created standby database, the primary database is in maximum performance mode.

Oracle 11g Data Guard Switchover and Switchback – Active Data Guard Part-II

After configuring data guard, databases would be either primary and standby database role, and we can altered
these roles without loss of data or without resetting logs. called switchover and switch back.
Switchover:

Before performing switchover, kindly verify the state of data guard on both the instances by following SQL queries:

SQL> ALTER SESSION SET nls_date_format='DD-MON-YYYY HH24:MI:SS';

SQL> SELECT sequence#, first_time, next_time, applied

FROM v$archived_log

ORDER BY sequence#;

...

...

59 08-OCT-14 08-OCT-14 YES

60 08-OCT-14 08-OCT-14 YES

61 08-OCT-14 08-OCT-14 YES

SQL> select dest_name,status,error from v$archive_dest where dest_name='LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_2';

DEST_NAME

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STATUS ERROR

--------- -----------------------------------------------------------------

LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_2

VALID

SQL> select message from v$dataguard_status;

Note: This command will give you appropriate message about the data guard current status.

After getting confirmation on data guard smooth activity, we can instantiate switchover activity by issuing
following sort of commands:
On Primary database:

Step-1>>

Connect to Primary database and convert primary database to standby.

[oracle@pr ~]$ sqlplus / as sysdba

SQL> alter database commit to switchover to standby;

Database altered.

Step-2>>

Shutdown primary database:

SQL> shutdown immediate;

Step-3>>

Startup nomount old primary database as new standby database:

SQL> startup nomount

ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area 972898304 bytes

Fixed Size 2219272 bytes

Variable Size 805307128 bytes

Database Buffers 159383552 bytes

Redo Buffers 5988352 bytes

SQL> alter database mount standby database;

Database altered.

SQL> alter database recover managed standby database disconnect from session;
Database altered.

Verify database role on old primary database:

SQL> select name,open_mode,database_role from v$database;

NAME OPEN_MODE DATABASE_ROLE

--------- -------------------- ----------------

RTS MOUNTED PHYSICAL STANDBY

On Standby database:

Step-4>>

On original standby database, Convert old standby database to primary database:

[oracle@dr ~]$ sqlplus / as sysdba

Step-5>>

Convert old standby database as primary and shutdown database:

SQL> alter database commit to switchover to primary;

Database altered.

SQL> shutdown immediate;

ORA-01109: database not open

Database dismounted.

ORACLE instance shut down.

Step-6>>
Startup old standby database as primary database:

SQL> startup

ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area 972898304 bytes

Fixed Size 2219272 bytes

Variable Size 717226744 bytes

Database Buffers 247463936 bytes

Redo Buffers 5988352 bytes

Database mounted.

Database opened.

Verify database role on old standby database:

SQL> select name,open_mode,database_role from v$database;

NAME OPEN_MODE DATABASE_ROLE

--------- -------------------- ----------------

RTS READ WRITE PRIMARY

Switch over activity have completed successfully, our old primary database has become standby and old standby
database has become primary database.

Note

To test above switchover activity, generate multiple archive logs on primary database and verify those archive logs
being transferred on standby database.
Switchback:

To switchback, you have to follow same above mentioned 6 steps.