3 - 4 minutes readDuplicate a Controlfile when ASM is Involved

Know current control file

SQL> show parameter control_files

NAME TYPE VALUE
—————— ———– ——————————
control_files string +DB_DATA01/indian/controlfile/current.269.746249877

Add second file in Same Disk Group

SQL> alter system set control_files=’+DB_DATA01/indian/controlfile/ current.269.746249877′,’+DB_DATA01′ scope=spfile;

Step 2 Start the instance in NOMOUNT mode.

Step 3 From rman, duplicate the controlfile

$ rman target /
RMAN> restore controlfile from ‘+DB_DATA01/indian/controlfile/current.269.746249877’;

Step 4 Mount and Open the database

RMAN> sql ‘alter database mount’;
RMAN> sql ‘alter database open’;

Step 5 Validate both controlfiles are present

SQL> select name from v$controlfile;

Step 6 Modify the control_file parameter with the complete path of the new file:

SQL> alter system set control_files=’+ DB_DATA01/indian/controlfile/current.269.746249877′,’+ DB_DATA01/indian/controlfile/backup.275.746250653′ scope=spfile;

When using init.ora file:

Step 1 Edit init.ora and add new disk group name or same disk group name for mirroring controlfiles.

Example:
control_files=(‘+GROUP1′,’+GROUP2’)

Step 2 Start the instance in NOMOUNT mode.

Step 3 Execute restore command, to duplicate the controlfile using the original location.

Example:
RMAN> restore controlfile from ‘+DB_DATA01/indian/controlfile/current.269.746249877’;

Step 4 Mount and open the database

RMAN> alter database mount;
RMAN> alter database open;

Step 5 Verify new mirrored controlfiles

SQL> show parameter control_files

It is also possible to duplicate the controlfile using a specific name for the new controlfile.

On the ASM instance:

Step 1 Create the directory to store the new controlfile.

SQL> alter diskgroup add directory ‘+DB_DATA02>/INDIAN/CONTROLFILE’;

On the database instance:

Step 2 Edit init.ora or spifile and modify parameter control_file:

control_files=’+DB_DATA01/INDIAN/CONTROLFILE/control01.ctl’,’/+DB_DATA/INDIAN/CONTROLFILE/control01.ctl’

Step 3 Identify the location of the current controlfile:

SQL> select name from v$controfile;

Step 4 Shutdown the database and start the instance:

SQL> shutdown normal
SQL> startup nomount

Step 5 Use RMAN to duplicate the controlfile:

$ rman target /
RMAN>restore controlfile to ‘‘ from ‘‘;
RMAN> restore controlfile to ‘————-’ from ‘<.————’;

Step 6 Start the database:

SQL> alter database mount;
SQL> alter database open;

On the database instance:

Step 1 Identify the location of the current controlfile:

SQL> select name from v$controlfile;

Step 2 Shutdown the database and start the instance:

SQL> shutdown normal
SQL> startup nomount

Step 3 Use RMAN to duplicate the controlfile:

$ rman target /
RMAN>restore controlfile to ‘‘ from ‘‘;

We are only specifying the name of the diskgroup, so Oracle will create an OMF (Oracle Managed File). Use ASMCMD or sqlplus to identify the name assigned to the controlfile

Step 4 On the ASM instance, identify the name of the controlfile:

Using ASMCMD:

$ asmcmd
ASMCMD> cd
ASMCMD> find -t controlfile . *

On the database side:

• Modify init.ora or spfile, adding the new path to parameter control_files.

• if using init.ora, just modify the control_files parameter and restart the database.