Re: Test Server Strategy

Hi Bryce,

We have such environment for Oracle servers :

Prod server = PRD SID
Dev server = DEV SID and PRD SID
VAL server = VAL SID

Validation server :
The restore from PRD to VAL is weekly. We are just restoring an offline backup (50 gb). On PRD server we are using this command : alter database backup controlfile to trace to generate the controlfile script.
After copying this script on VAL server we are doing the following changes and run the script to recreate the control files.

remove all unnecessary commands (STARTUP, RECOVER, ALTER) only leave CREATE CONTROLFILE
change REUSE to SET
change NORESETLOGS in RESETLOGS
change ARCHIVELOG in NOARCHIVELOG
change all old SID occurences to new SID

svrmgrl
connect internal
startup nomount
_at_script.sql
new control files now created !
shutdown immediate
startup mount
Now the most critical moment !
alter database open resetlogs;

That's it. it takes only 5 mn and could be automated ...

Stand by server :
On the other hand, we create an "Oracle stand by database" on DEV server to get all the logs from the PROD server. This is the SID we are using in case of major disater on Prod server. But you cannot use this as validation (test db) because the stanby mode is not a normal working mode ...

That's it !
Our solution is not 100 % secure but it is less costly than replication server. Everything is well documented on Oracle White papers (Metalink).

Cheers.
I hope it could help you.
Xavier

Bryce Fischer <bfischeATtb._at_rr.com> wrote:

>I hope someone here can help me with some advice. I am responsible for
>setting up a Test Server, that will mirror a production server.

>The Test Server will be used when new applications need to be tested
>against the database, without messing with the data in the Production
>Server.

>I am going to create a 2nd instance for this purpose. What I'm not
>sure, is what I should do to copy the data from the Production Server
>to the Test Server. They want this to occur daily.

>One method is to use Export/Import to copy the entire database. I
>suppose I could run this automatically using a script, but it seems
>kind of tedious.

>Other methods investigated are using Replication or Standby Services.
>While I don't know much about these two services, I've got the
>resources to learn... I just wasn't sure if either were appropriate
>for what I wanted, and I wanted to know before I invested a lot of
>time researching...

>Any opinions, tips, pointers would be appreciated.

>TIA.

>--

>Bryce

>I am not what you would call a handsome man.
>God did not choose to bless with me with good looks,
>charm, or a fully functional brain.
Received on Wed Oct 24 2001 - 18:38:32 CEST