Cloning 24x7 database to another platform 1

[sem]

Does anybody know a good technique for cloning (and switching) 24x7 database? Source is on NT, target is planned to be on Linux.Idle time should be minimized. Database is 8.1.7.

Regards, Dima

 

[sem]

I mean whether the better way than moving database files/editing controlfile exists?

Regards, Dima

 

[alexhu]

Dima

I think thats the fastest way - hot backup (to disk in this case), ftp files, recreate controlfiles.

Faster ways would include stuff like business continuity volumes (shared disks on 2 servers) but we are talking big money.

Replication would work but that needs expensive Enterprise !

Alex

 

[sem]

Is replication a proved technique for this purpose? We do use Enterprise and have shared disks. But I've never used replication of whole database, only some selected tables/queries. Will the whole code work on snapshots the same way as on tables?

Regards, Dima

 

[alexhu]

Sorry, don't know the answer - only a vague idea of the theory

Alex

 

[sybaseguru]

You cannot copy the database and control files from winNT to Linux. Reason O/S incompatibility. For the same reason that you cannot clone a database from Solaris to Linux. The only option is using imp and export utilities (yes this is going to be tough) and replication to keep them in sync thereafter.

Good luck

 

[alexhu]

Well it is Monday and I have to wear glasses for reading now :-(

Dima

Why do you want them on different O/S ?

Alex

 

[sem]

It's not me
Linux is a bit cheaper. Though maybe moving to another NT box may also be an option. I'm not a decision maker.

Regards, Dima

 

[alexhu]

It would make it a lot simpler if they chose one or the other !

Alex

 

[dbalearner]

sem,

sybaseguru is right. You cannot do a simple clone of a database from one platform to another. exp and imp is the only option as far as i know. We have moved from HP to Linux on one project to save costs. But it was not a 24x7 project so could you exp/imp (20GB database).

 

[DBAwhosaysNIE]

wouldn't it make more sense to convert the M$ box to linux? why pay for an OS which is less stable, less secure and prone to launching DDOS attacks on the entire internet (o.k. so that falls under security? Oracle runs fine on linux - I've had it in production for > 2 yrs at a well known website.

 

[sem]

The real problem is that downtime should be minimized: exp/imp may take too long. As for DOS - this database is a back-end for web application, so these attacks are normally repulsed by web server.

Regards, Dima