Skip to main content
NetApp Backup and Recovery

Clone Oracle Database workloads with NetApp Backup and Recovery

Contributors netapp-mwallis
PDFs

Use NetApp Backup and Recovery to create writable clones of Oracle Database workloads from on-premises ONTAP systems on primary or secondary storage. You can also schedule clone refreshes to meet your requirements.

Required NetApp Console role
Backup and Recovery super admin or Backup and Recovery clone admin role. Learn about NetApp Console access roles for all services.

Create a clone of an Oracle database

Create a clone immediately from an existing snapshot. Use this method to create a one-time clone that is not continuously refreshed from a snapshot.

Steps

  1. From the NetApp Console menu, select Protection > Backup and Recovery.

  2. Under Workloads, select the Oracle tile.

  3. Select Clone.

  4. Select Create new clone.

  5. In the Database source section, choose the source host and database from the lists.

    1. If the source database is a container database (CDB), in the Clone type section select one of the following:

      • Complete database clone: Clones the entire container database, including all PDBs.

      • PDB clone: Clones a specific PDB from the container database backup into an existing target container database.

  6. In the Database target section, choose the target host and database from the lists. The destination host and database can be different from the source.

  7. Select Next.

  8. In the Clone from section on the Select restore point page, select Existing snapshots.

  9. Choose an existing snapshot (restore point) from the list to use as a base for the clone and select Next.

    The Select snapshot location page appears if the snapshot is stored in more than one location.

  10. Choose the snapshot location to use and select Next.

  11. On the Advanced options page, do the following:

    1. Optionally, if you are cloning a complete multitenant database, in Complete database clone settings, select one or more PDBs to exclude from the clone (PDB$SEED is always excluded). This section doesn't appear when cloning a single tenant database.

    2. If you have previously saved a specification file, you can enable the Customize target database parameters option to upload it and customize the cloned database settings. You can also download the default specification file for the database snapshot.

    3. In the Recovery scope section, select an option to recover the clone using archive logs, and enter any required details. Choosing None skips recovery (the clone is created from the snapshot without applying changes from archive logs). None is not available for PDB clones.

    4. In the Prescripts and postscripts section, enable one or both of the Prescript and Postscript options to execute a script before the clone operation begins or after it completes. For each option, enter the full script path and any required arguments.

  12. Select Clone.

Schedule a clone of an Oracle database

Create an instant clone and schedule regular refreshes to keep it current with the latest database state.

Note Creating an instant snapshot and clone with a refresh schedule applies to complete database clones only. It is not available for a PDB clone.
Steps

  1. From the NetApp Console menu, select Protection > Backup and Recovery.

  2. Under Workloads, select the Oracle tile.

  3. Select Clone.

  4. Select Create new clone.

  5. In the Database source section, choose the source host and database from the lists.

  6. In the Database target section, choose the target host and database from the lists. The destination host and database can be different from the source.

  7. Select Next.

  8. In the Clone from section on the Select restore point page, select Instant snapshot and clone.

  9. Choose a location to store the snapshot when it is created.

  10. Select Next.

  11. On the Advanced options page, do the following:

    1. To customize the cloned database settings, enable the Customize target database parameters option. If you have previously saved a specification file, this option enables you to upload it to customize the cloned database settings. You can also download the default specification file for the database that reflects its current settings.

    2. In the Clone refresh schedule section, choose when and how often to refresh the clone. The refresh updates the instant snapshot and overwrites the existing clone with a new copy.

    3. In the Prescripts and postscripts section, enable one or both of the Prescript and Postscript options to execute a script before the clone operation begins or after it completes. For each option, enter the full script path and any required arguments.

  12. Select Clone.

Split a clone

You can split a clone of your Oracle Database workloads to create an independent or long-term copy. Splitting a clone creates a new backup from the clone that can be used for protection and restore operations.

The split operation displays the aggregates that are part of the storage VM, their sizes, and where the cloned volume resides. NetApp Backup and Recovery indicates whether sufficient space is available to complete the split. After the split, the clone becomes independent. The original clone job remains available for future operations.

Steps

  1. From the NetApp Backup and Recovery menu, select Clone.

  2. Select a clone.

  3. Select the Actions icon Actions option > Split clone.

  4. Review the split clone details and select Split.

  5. When the split clone is created, you can view it in the Inventory page.

Delete a clone

Remove clones of your Oracle Database workloads to free up storage space. If a policy protects the clone, both the clone and its associated job are deleted.

Steps

  1. From the NetApp Backup and Recovery menu, select Clone.

  2. Select a clone.

  3. Select the Actions icon Actions option > Delete clone.

  4. In the Delete clone confirmation dialog box, review the deletion details.

    1. To delete the cloned resources from SnapCenter even if the clones or their storage is not accessible, select Force delete.

    2. Select Delete.

  5. When the clone is deleted, it is removed from the Inventory page.