How to create a "test" instance

I used the export/import to create a "test" copy of a production database. The "test" instance has to reside on the same machine as the production instance. I executed the following procedure. Please let me know if this procedure is OK.

1. created a new "test" instance with the same tablespace names as the production instance. (The datafile names and allocations are different of course)
2. Ran a "FULL=Y" export from the production instance.
3. Ran a "FULL=Y" import into the "test" using the dump file created from step 2.

I received quite a few error messages stating that objects already exist when it tried to create the tablespaces and system tables. It seems to have import all the objects that didn't already exist (ie. all the user objects).

Is this the best (easiest) way to clone a production system on the same machine?

Is it OK to get all those warnings regarding not being able to create the objects that already exist? (Or did I trash something in the "test" database?)

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!!!!

PS. please 'cc' mikea_at_best.com as I'm not able to read newsgroups at work. Received on Mon May 15 2000 - 00:00:00 CDT