Re: is there any way i can avoid rebuild physical standby database after every PROD to UAT database refresh ?

From: Clay Jackson (cjackson) <"Clay>
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 2019 12:55:04 +0000
Message-ID: <2C1F2236-C063-4E9B-88CB-7B6B7944EA43_at_quest.com>



So, as I understand the problem statement; you have a UAT database, protected by DataGuard, that gets periodically refreshed from a Production database, and the refresh takes 2 days.

So, when you do your refresh, why not stop DataGuard before the refresh; and refresh both the primary and “standby” at the same time. More work; but shouldn’t take significantly more time.

Sent from my iPhone
Clay Jackson

On Nov 14, 2019, at 4:56 AM, Noveljic Nenad <nenad.noveljic_at_vontobel.com> wrote:


CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

That's true - also non-production databases can have stricter recovery point and time objectives. However, copy-on-write snapshots seem like a better fit for the case you described - especially for large databases.

Best regards,

Nenad

https://nenadnoveljic.com/blog/<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnenadnoveljic.com%2Fblog%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cclay.jackson%40quest.com%7C0c0eaa3c1cc84e39e7d508d768e8ef92%7C91c369b51c9e439c989c1867ec606603%7C0%7C0%7C637093221973691129&sdata=Ey7%2BsRF90CT%2FJ0KgPsyeTjNyt2ZGD%2B9wZspaeufwkDk%3D&reserved=0>

From: Mark W. Farnham <mwf_at_rsiz.com> Sent: Donnerstag, 14. November 2019 00:01 To: howard.latham_at_gmail.com; Noveljic Nenad <nenad.noveljic_at_vontobel.com> Cc: rjgoulet_at_comcast.net; oracle-l_at_freelists.org Subject: RE: is there any way i can avoid rebuild physical standby database after every PROD to UAT database refresh ?

Also hang on a minute about whether the standby of UAT is needed.

Can the UAT be reinstantiated from PROD? Yes. So recovery to the point of a fresh refresh from PROD does not require a backup.

However before you run off shouting a standby is not needed you need to know how UAT is used.

For example, it could be refreshed once a week or month and used to test development that has been passed out from engineering. The first step after the refresh might be complicated changes to the structure of the data that may require hours or days. Let’s say that is cleverly scheduled for the weekend, and then the UAT test team commences work on the clean update massaged from PROD to use the improved application suite.

Bam! the primary UAT server bites it. Do the thousands of dollars per hour expert user new functionality testers (often including consultants) twiddle their thumbs for a couple days while UAT is restored from PROD and then re-updated to be ready to test the software revision? NO, because you bring up the standby and fork them over there until you can fail back.

Now, given the exact purpose and use of the UAT database at a particular department of a particular company, perhaps we can streamline something.

The large majority of UAT databases I have seen are used for three things:

  1. the scenario above, testing new application functionality
  2. vendor updates (Oracle RDBMS, operating system, or both) where you refresh from PROD, run the updates (or patches), and then run your regression test. The updates and patches can be too long to repeat cost effectively.
  3. experimenting on the PROD data’s copy on UAT to investigate User reported bugs.

Having this functionality unavailable during whatever prime time is while a new refresh is done is often not acceptable. In 24 by 7 nearly flat loads, it may require 2 UAT databases, each with a standby, so that while one is being refreshed the other is still available for anything that does not require newer data.

Question it? Sure. But there is a very good chance it IS needed.

mwf



Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. Bitte denken Sie an die Umwelt, bevor Sie dieses E-Mail drucken.

Important Notice

This message is intended only for the individual named. It may contain confidential or privileged information. If you are not the named addressee you should in particular not disseminate, distribute, modify or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail, if you have received this message by mistake and delete it from your system. Without prejudice to any contractual agreements between you and us which shall prevail in any case, we take it as your authorization to correspond with you by e-mail if you send us messages by e-mail. However, we reserve the right not to execute orders and instructions transmitted by e-mail at any time and without further explanation. E-mail transmission may not be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete. Also processing of incoming e-mails cannot be guaranteed. All liability of Vontobel Holding Ltd. and any of its affiliates (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Vontobel Group") for any damages resulting from e-mail use is excluded. You are advised that urgent and time sensitive messages should not be sent by e-mail and if verification is required please request a printed version. Please note that all e-mail communications to and from the Vontobel Group are subject to electronic storage and review by Vontobel Group. Unless stated to the contrary and without prejudice to any contractual agreements between you and Vontobel Group which shall prevail in any case, e-mail-communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument or as an official confirmation of any transaction. The legal basis for the processing of your personal data is the legitimate interest to develop a commercial relationship with you, as well as your consent to forward you commercial communications. You can exercise, at any time and under the terms established under current regulation, your rights. If you prefer not to receive any further communications, please contact your client relationship manager if you are a client of Vontobel Group or notify the sender. Please note for an exact reference to the affected group entity the corporate e-mail signature. For further information about data privacy at Vontobel Group please consult www.vontobel.com<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vontobel.com&data=02%7C01%7Cclay.jackson%40quest.com%7C0c0eaa3c1cc84e39e7d508d768e8ef92%7C91c369b51c9e439c989c1867ec606603%7C0%7C0%7C637093221973691129&sdata=Jyj8PEJ29MrVpUydAhXJvuArcsH3o%2BPREhhjzG49m64%3D&reserved=0>.

--
http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l
Received on Thu Nov 14 2019 - 13:55:04 CET

Original text of this message