Convert a Physical Standby Database into a Snapshot Standby Database Using the Data Guard Command Line Interface

This document will detail the steps to convert a physical standby database to a snapshot database using the Data Guard Command Line Interface. If you would like to know more about snapshot databases or how to perform the conversion manually see the post Convert a Physical Standby Database into a Snapshot Standby Database.

Convert the Physical Standby Database into a Snapshot Standby Database

Using DGMGRL connect to either the primary or the physical standby.

[oracle@prod ~]$ dgmgrl 
DGMGRL for Linux: Version 11.2.0.1.0 - 64bit Production

Copyright (c) 2000, 2009, Oracle. All rights reserved.

Welcome to DGMGRL, type "help" for information.
DGMGRL> connect sys
Password:
Connected.
DGMGRL> show configuration;

Configuration - proddb

  Protection Mode: MaxPerformance
  Databases:
    proddb  - Primary database
    standby - Physical standby database

Fast-Start Failover: DISABLED

Configuration Status:
SUCCESS

DGMGRL> 

The command CONVERT DATABASE TO SNAPSHOT is used to convert a physical standby to a snapshot database.

DGMGRL> convert database standby to snapshot standby;
Converting database "standby" to a Snapshot Standby database, please wait...
Database "standby" converted successfully
DGMGRL>

If you issue the SHOW CONFIGURATION command you will see that the standby is now a Snapshot standby database.

DGMGRL> show configuration;

Configuration - proddb

  Protection Mode: MaxPerformance
  Databases:
    proddb  - Primary database
    standby - Snapshot standby database

Fast-Start Failover: DISABLED

Configuration Status:
SUCCESS

DGMGRL> 

To convert the snapshot standby back to a physical database use the command CONVERT DATABASE TO PHYSICAL STANDBY. The conversion process does perform shutdown of the standby database. The shutdown is required for the FLASHBACK DATABASE operation.

DGMGRL> convert database standby to physical standby;
Converting database "standby" to a Physical Standby database, please wait...
Operation requires shutdown of instance "standby" on database "standby"
Shutting down instance "standby"...
Database closed.
Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.
Operation requires startup of instance "standby" on database "standby"
Starting instance "standby"...
ORACLE instance started.
Database mounted.
Continuing to convert database "standby" ...
Operation requires shutdown of instance "standby" on database "standby"
Shutting down instance "standby"...
ORA-01109: database not open

Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.
Operation requires startup of instance "standby" on database "standby"
Starting instance "standby"...
ORACLE instance started.
Database mounted.
Database "standby" converted successfully
DGMGRL> 

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