Copy Oracle instance

[AndreasAuer]

I have an Oracle 8.0.5 Server running on Windows NT 4 and I need to make a full copy of an instance to make a new one. How can I do this? With exp80 and imp80 it didn't work correctly.

Please help!!

 

[karluk]

Exp80 and imp80 should work. What kind of problem did you have?

 

[carp]

Imp/Exp will make copies of the contents of your database. If you are trying to replicate an instance, you would have to create a new database using a copy of the original instance's init.ora file.

Could you please expand on (1) what you are trying to do and (2) exactly what is lacking when you try imp/exp?

 

[carp]

Perhaps I should add that the init.ora file will have to be modified to reflect the different database name as well as path/names of your control files.

 

[AndreasAuer]

My problem with imp/exp is, that the "SYS" objects are not exported and the import of the users don't work correctly. I hav 2 users with tables. 1 user work without errors the other one is imported but his tables are not. Also the grants don't work correctly.

Isn't it possible to copy just the .ora files and run some scripts to use them with the new instance?

 

[DBAwhosaysNIE]

at the risk of sounding ASCII retentive, one does not copy an instance; one copies a database. an instance is a set of processes and their shared memory which act on a database.

that being said, the easiest way I've found to copy a database is to physically clone it. that is, create directories for the new SID, copy the files (control, data, log & init), &quot;register&quot; the new instance (NT only; just export ORACLE_SID=<new_sid> on unix), tweak new init (for instance_name & control files) and start it up. optionally, you can also rename the database (pretty sure I've posted how to do this before).

full export/import is good if you want to defrag and get a fresh start but for testing/QAing the cloning method guarantees physically identical databases down to the extent & block level.

just my 2c/never 2bHO...