Recovering the complete Oracle instance or database to a computer other than the original Oracle server

If you experience a complete loss, deletion, or destruction of the Oracle instance or database, you can restore the instance and database to a computer other than the original Oracle server.

To successfully complete the recovery, you must have the following items:

Table: Requirements when you recover using a new or alternate Oracle server

Item

Description

DBID

If you do not know the DBID, you can find it in the Backup Exec job log or in RMAN after you login.

ControlFile piece ID

You can identify the ControlFile piece ID in the Backup Exec restore view in the Control Files subnode under the Oracle node.

A full system Oracle backup

The full system Oracle backup must include the following:

  • controlfile

  • datafiles

  • archive logs

To recover the complete Oracle instance and database after it has been lost, deleted, or destroyed, and you want to use a new or alternate Oracle server for the recovery

  1. Recreate the Oracle instance using the same name you used for the original instance that was lost.

  2. Find and rename the pwd<SID>.ora file.

  3. Create a new pwd<SID>.ora file.

To create a new pwd<SID>.ora file

  1. Open a command prompt.

  2. Type the following command:

    orapwd file=path\pwdsid.ora password=<password>

To continue the disaster recovery

  1. In the command prompt, do the following:

  2. Type the following command:

    RMAN

  3. Type CONNECT TARGET <sys/password@sid>;

  4. Type SHUTDOWN ABORT;

  5. Type STARTUP NOMOUNT;

  6. Type SET DBID<dbid ID>;

  7. Move to the Backup Exec media server.

  8. On the navigation bar, click the arrow next to Restore.

  9. Click New Restore Job.

  10. On the Properties pane, under Source, click Selections.

  11. Select the appropriate ControlFile to restore.

  12. On the Restore job properties pane, under Destination, click Oracle Redirection.

  13. Check the check box for the option, Restore Oracle instance to server.

  14. Enter account credentials to access the new or alternate Oracle server.

  15. Check the check box for the option, Restore datafiles to the following path:

  16. Type a path to the new database.

  17. Check the check box for the option, Restore archived log files to the following path:

  18. Click Run Now.

    The restore job will fail because the recovery portion encounters inconsistent archive logs. This is a normal occurrence during a disaster recovery.

  19. Move to the Oracle server.

  20. Type Alter database open resetlogs;

  21. Do one of the following:

    If an error is encountered while Oracle tries to open the database

    Note the online redo log path and then update the path using the steps below.

    If an error does not occur

    Do nothing. The disaster recovery is complete.

To update the online redo log file path

  1. At the Oracle server, open a command prompt.

  2. Type the following command:

    SQLPLUS /nolog

  3. Type connect<sys/password@SID>;

  4. Type the following SQLPlus command:

    SQLPLUS ALTER DATABASE RENAME FILE <old path from backup to any redolog file name> to <path to expected restored redolog file name>;

    For example,

    ALTER DATABASE RENAME FILE 'D:\ORACLE\ORADATA\JACOB\REDO01.LOG' to 'C:\ORACLE\ORADATA\JACOB\REDO01.LOG';

  5. In the command prompt, type RMAN.

  6. Type the following command at the RMAN prompt:

    Alter database open resetlogs;

  7. Close the command prompt.

    The recovery is finished.