How to convert from raw device to filesystem datafiles?

[mewa]

Hello,
I plan to convert my 9.2 database datafile layer from raw devices to filesystem files (database is on hp-ux).

At first I thought about exporting the data, changing the structure from raw to filesystem and then importing. But the database is huge and the required downtime will not be accepted by bussiness dept.

Now, I take into consideration building the standby database on a different system and storage resources.
My plan is:
1. prepare the production database to standby (data guard)
2. take RMAN backup of the production database
3. restore the backup on a different host and on the filesystem structure
4. switch from primary database to standby database
5. rebuild the structure on the primary host from raw to filesystem
6. build the standby to my standby database, now being primary database
7. switch back productio to the primary host
That's it.

My question is:
Is is possible to have a primary database on raw devices and standby database on filesystem?
I can't find a word about such convertion in a documentation for data guard nor rman.

Any help will be appreciated.

mewa

 

[alexhu]

I don't see why this shouldn't work - the databases work on their own and the processes between them know nothing of the filesystems or even the OS types.

Best bet would be to ask Oracle

Alex

 

[naubin]

Did you ever get a clear answer to your question? I am trying to do the same thing except we are on solaris 8 with sun cluster 3.0. I have been searching and can't find anyone who has done this or any books which mention it.

 

[mewa]

No, I haven't done it yet. We are behind the schedule and still investigating the issue.

mewa