Moving/Renaming Control Files

It is possible to move/rename the database’s control files should the need arise. This document will detail the steps required to move/rename the control files in an 11gR2 environment on Linux. These steps also apply to a 10g environment.

First we will verify the current location of the control files.

SQL> select name from v$controlfile;

NAME
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/u02/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/control01.ctl
/u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/orcl/control02.ctl

SQL>
</pre>
The location of the control files is all stored in the <code>SPFILE</code>.
<pre>
SQL> show parameter control_files

NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE
------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------
control_files                        string      /u02/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/c
                                                 ontrol01.ctl, /u01/app/oracle/
                                                 flash_recovery_area/orcl/contr
                                                 ol02.ctl
SQL>

In this document we are going to move the control file located in /u02/app/oracle/oradata/orcl to /u02/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/ctl.

First we will set the CONTROL_FILES parameter to the new location for control file control01.ctl.

SQL> alter system 
  2  set control_files='/u02/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/ctl/control01.ctl', 
  3                    '/u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/orcl/control02.ctl'
  4  scope=spfile;
 
System altered.

SQL>

Next we shutdown the database and move the control file with OS commands then we start up the database to complete the move/rename of the control file.

SQL> shutdown immediate
Database closed.
Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.
SQL> host
[oracle@ora1 ~]$ mv /u02/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/control01.ctl /u02/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/ctl/control01.ctl
[oracle@ora1 ~]$ exit
exit

SQL> startup
ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area  849530880 bytes
Fixed Size                  1339824 bytes
Variable Size             528485968 bytes
Database Buffers          314572800 bytes
Redo Buffers                5132288 bytes
Database mounted.
Database opened.
SQL>

Now when we show the location of the control files the new location is displayed for contol01.ctl.

SQL> select name from v$controlfile;

NAME
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/u02/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/ctl/control01.ctl
/u01/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/orcl/control02.ctl

SQL> show parameter control_files

NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE
------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------
control_files                        string      /u02/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/c
                                                 tl/control01.ctl, /u01/app/ora
                                                 cle/flash_recovery_area/orcl/c
                                                 ontrol02.ctl
SQL>

Moving the control file(s) is a task that should be followed by backup of the control files for backup and recovery purposes.