Create Backup and DR Workflows for Oracle databases

Backup and DR Workflows are defined in the App Manager. Backup and DR Workflows use backup production data as the source data from which they generate.

  • Direct mounts: Direct mounts are used when application data does not need to be scrubbed before it is mounted and made available to users. The application data can be mounted with a standard mount as sjust the data, a virtual application, or as both the data and as a virtual application. Direct mounts make backup data available almost instantly without actually moving data.

  • LiveClones: LiveClones are typically used in Backup and DR Workflows when an application contains sensitive data that must be scrubbed before it is mounted and made available to users. The application data can be mounted with a standard mount as just the data, or a virtual application, or as both the data and as a virtual application. Updates to the LiveClone, scrubbing, and mounting can be done automatically, either according to a schedule or on-demand.

Direct mounting Oracle data as a virtual application

Direct mount Backup and DR Workflows are used when the application image does not contain sensitive data. This allows the Backup and DR Workflow to mount an application's data as a virtual application, or as application data only, without first having to define a LiveClone and then scrub the LiveClone. Direct mounts make application data and virtual applications available almost instantly.

In this example, you define a Backup and DR Workflow that does the following:

  • Generates or updates mounted application data from a single selected production image.
  • Defines a schedule for updating the application data with the latest production data. Scheduled Backup and DR Workflows can also be run on-demand.
  • Mounts the application data.
  • Lets you create a virtual application with the data.

Use these instructions to define the Backup and DR Workflow for an Oracle database:

  1. Click App Manager > Workflows.

  2. Click Workflow in the upper-right corner of the page.

    The Add Workflow: Select an Application page opens.

  3. Right-click a managed database and click Next.

  4. On the Add Workflow: Configure page, specify a name for the Backup and DR Workflow, then select Direct Mount, and select the appliance to manage the Backup and DR Workflow. Backup and DR Workflow names cannot include special characters.

  5. Select Scheduled and assign a frequency for the Backup and DR Workflow to run for Schedule Type. The time selector uses a 24-hour clock. Scheduled Backup and DR Workflows can also be run on-demand.

  6. In Direct Mount Settings for Source Image, select the snapshot image to run the Backup and DR Workflow on and give the mount an identifiable label.

  7. In the Hosts section, select the server or servers which the data mounts to. The user who runs the Backup and DR Workflow is given the option of mounting the data to other servers as needed.

  8. In the Mapping Options, add a mount location. If you do not specify a mount, the Backup and DR agent chooses a mount location.

  9. Enter a Preferred diskgroup name as needed.

  10. Enter a RAC node list as needed in a colon-separated list of IP addresses.

  11. Specify a Pre Script as needed. The pre-script is used to configure the environment prior to mounting or unmounting the application. This script must reside in a folder named /act/scripts on the server that hosts the mounted image. See Backup and DR Workflow pre and post scripts for scripting details.

  12. Specify a Post Script as needed. The post script is used to perform an operation on the data after it is mounted or unmounted. This script must reside in a folder named /act/scripts on the server that hosts the mounted image. See Backup and DR Workflow pre and post scripts for scripting details.

  13. If you specified scripts, specify timeouts long enough for the scripts to complete.

  14. The Remove mounted image after processing. checkbox is typically used when you employ a script to process mounted data. Once the script finishes its task, this option unmounts and deletes the virtual application.

  15. Decide between these options:

    • If you only need the data, click Done and the Backup and DR Workflow runs as scheduled. Users with proper access can also run this Backup and DR Workflow on-demand to provision and re-provision their environments with the application data.
    • If you want to create a virtual application, continue with the following steps.

  16. Check the Perform application aware mount checkbox and the application specific options to perform an application aware mount are displayed.

  17. In the spaces provided, enter the Oracle related options. Click the question mark ? next to an option for help text.

  18. Click the black arrow to open Advanced Options and complete the remainder of the options as necessary.

  19. Check Restore with Recovery. Doing so leaves the database in a state where if logs are available they can be applied to bring the database to a specific point in time.

  20. At this point you can complete these tasks:

    • Check the Protect new application option. This lets you apply a backup plan policy template and a Resource Profile to protect the virtual application as a new application. For details see Backup plan policy templates and Profiles.
    • Click Done and the Backup and DR Workflow runs as scheduled. Users with proper access can also run this Backup and DR Workflow on-demand to provision and re-provision their environments with the virtual application.

Create scrubbed data or virtual applications with LiveClone and mask tools

LiveClone Backup and DR Workflows are typically used when the production data contains sensitive information. The LiveClone Backup and DR Workflow lets you to define a LiveClone from production data, and then scrub the LiveClone's data before mounting it.

In the following example, a Backup and DR Workflow can do the following:

  • Generate a new or update an existing LiveClone from a selected production image that is marked as sensitive.
  • Define a schedule for updating the LiveClone with the latest production data. Scheduled Backup and DR Workflows can also be run on-demand.
  • Employ scripts to scrub the LiveClone of sensitive data.
  • Mark the scrubbed virtual application as non-sensitive.
  • Mount the scrubbed image as a virtual application—application aware mount—to a specified host.

Use these instructions to define this Backup and DR Workflow:

  1. Open the management console to App Manager > Workflows.
  2. In the upper-right corner, click Add Workflow.

  3. In the Add Workflow: Select an Application page, right-click the application to be scrubbed of its sensitive data and select Next.

    The Add Workflow: Configure page opens.

  4. Specify a name for the Backup and DR Workflow. Backup and DR Workflow names cannot include special characters.

  5. For Workflow Type select LiveClone.

    The LiveClone Settings opens.

  6. For Schedule Type, select either Scheduled or On Demand. Scheduled Backup and DR Workflows can also be run on-demand.

  7. If you selected Scheduled, define a schedule to run the Backup and DR Workflow.

    The time selector uses a 24-hour clock.

  8. For Source Image, select the latest snapshot image from the policy that produces the image to scrub.

  9. Provide an identifiable label to the LiveClone.

  10. Select the Snapshot Pool where the LiveClone resides. Ensure enough storage space is allocated to accommodate the LiveClone.

    Enable Mount for pre-processing and the following screen provides the opportunity to mount the LiveClone to a host and then scrub the mounted image for sensitive data.

  11. The Mark Data Non-Sensitive option only appears if the selected application is marked as containing sensitive data. Check this option if the application does not contain sensitive data after scrubbing. This lets users who don't have access to sensitive data to access the Backup and DR Workflow and provision their work environments.

  12. Select a Host to mount the LiveClone on.

  13. In Mapping Options, add a Mount Location if you want the image mounted to a location other than the default. If you don't specify a mount location, then the Backup and DR agent assigns a mount location.

  14. Enter a Preferred diskgroup name as needed.

  15. Enter a RAC node list as needed in a colon separated list of IP addresses.

  16. You can use Optim data privacy masking or you can use your own custom scripts:

    • If you use Optim data privacy masking, enter a Service Set and a Time Out value in minutes.
    • If you use custom scripts, specify a Pre Script as necessary. The pre script is used to configure the environment prior to mounting or unmounting an application. Then specify a Post Script as needed. The post script in this example scrubs the application of sensitive information after it has been mounted. Specify timeouts long enough for the scripts to complete.

  17. If you don't need a virtual application, then click Add and the Backup and DR Workflow runs as scheduled. Users with proper access can run this Backup and DR Workflow on-demand and provision and re-provision any server to which they have access with the application data.

    If you need a virtual application of this LiveClone, continue here.

  18. Enable Create New Virtual Application and click Next. Additional Oracle settings options are displayed to complete the process.

  19. Enable Manage New Application if you want Backup and DR to protect it. If you select this, you have to select a policy template and a resource profile to apply to it.

  20. Click the arrow to open the Advanced Options. Check Restore with Recovery to apply available logs to bring the database to a specific point in time.

  21. Continue entering the Oracle settings as needed for this database. Click each label for help.

  22. At the end, select Remove mounted image after done checkbox. It is usually selected when you employ a script to process mounted data. When the script finishes its task this option unmounts, and you can delete the virtual application.

  23. Click Add.

Use a Backup and DR Workflow to refresh Oracle database schemas

If you are using Oracle 12c or later, see Present an Oracle 12c database PDB as a virtual PDB to an existing database container on a target.

If you have a source database instance with multiple applications, and each application has its own schema, do the following:

  • Create and refresh a virtual copy at the schema level, and refresh each schema individually to the same target or to a different target.
  • Create and refresh multiple virtual copies of a single schema to a single target under different schemas, each with its own refresh schedule.

This section includes the following:

How it works: Backup and DR virtual copy with transportable tablespace

You can create and refresh multiple virtual copies under a single target Oracle instance from the same or from multiple source instances.

  1. Set up an application aware mount Backup and DR Workflow to create an application aware mount with a temporary instance.
  2. Set up a pre-script to run on the target instance—offline and drop the tablespace to be refreshed on the target instance.
  3. Set up a post-script to be run on the temporary instance and the target instance.
  4. On the temporary instance, complete the following:
    1. Rename the tablespace
    2. Change the tablespace to read-only
    3. For EXPDP, export the tablespace metadata.
    4. Shut down the temporary instance.
  5. On the target instance:
    1. For IMPDP, import the tablespace metadata (TRANSPORT_DATAFILES with remap schema to target instance
    2. Change the tablespace to read-write

Before you begin

Follow these instructions before you begin.

  1. Ensure database backups are running as per the backup plan policy.

  2. Set up the scripts on the target server:

    1. Login to database server as root. Change directory to /act and create an /act/scripts directory—if it does not exist—by running the following commands.

        cd /act
  mkdir -p /act/scripts
  cd /act/scripts

    2. Copy all files from /act/act_scripts/objectrefresh/

    3. Move act_<schema>_refresh.conf to act_testuser_refresh.conf for a target schema name of testuser where <schema> is testuser.

      where:

      • SOURCE_SCHEMA_NAME: Source database schema to be presented to target.
      • TARGET_SID: Target database SID, where schema is refreshed.
      • TARGET_SCHEMA_NAME: Target database schema to be refreshed with source schema.

Create the Backup and DR Workflow

Use the following instructions to create a Backup and DR Workflow to perform a schema refresh.

  1. Open the management console to App Manager > Workflows, then select Add Workflow.
  2. From the Add Workflow: Select an Application list, right-click the database to use and click Next.

  3. The Add Workflow: Configure page appears:

    • Provide a unique name for the Backup and DR Workflow. Backup and DR Workflow names cannot include special characters.
    • Select Direct Mount.
    • Select the backup/recovery appliance that runs the Backup and DR Workflow.
    • For Schedule Type, select On Demand.
    • Select the Source image, either latest snapshot or latest snap from production.
    • At Mount Label, provide a unique identifier to help identify mounts from this Backup and DR Workflow when viewing active mounts.
    • Select the target Host from the Hosts list.

  4. In Mapping Options, complete the following:

    • Enter the location for mounted drives—for example,. M:, D:\testdb1, or /oracledata/db1data—if the temporary copy is going to be on NON - ASM.
    • Add the Preferred Diskgroup Name.
    • For RAC Node List, enter a colon-separated list of IP addresses.

  5. Fill in the pre-script field: act_ttswfpre.sh actSCHEMArefresh.conf Where actSCHEMA_refresh.conf is the file created from step one.

  6. Fill in the post-script field: ttswfpost.sh actSCHEMArefresh.conf Where actSCHEMA_refresh.conf is the file created from step one.

  7. Enter a timeout value of 1800 or more seconds.

  8. Select Create New Virtual Application.

  9. Fill the target database SID—this is a temporary SID.

  10. Provide the OS Username who owns the Oracle software binary on the target machine.

  11. Provide ORACLE_HOME as specified in the configuration file.

  12. Open the Advanced Options by clicking the arrow. Provide the TNS ADMIN Directory Path on the target machine, and specify the minimum SGA% for the temporary instance. Click the field labels for help.

  13. Select Standalone Non-RAC.

  14. Click Add.

Run the Backup and DR Workflow

Once the Backup and DR Workflow is created, use the following steps to run it.

  1. Right-click the Backup and DR Workflow and click Run Now.

  2. Select Initiate Scheduled Workflow Now and click Submit.

    Logs can be monitored on the target host at location: /var/act/log

  3. When the Backup and DR Workflow displays a success state, the schema on the target database is refreshed.

    1. If the TARGET_SCHEMA_NAME does not exist on the target database, Backup and DR creates a user for the first time and the default user password is abc#1234.
    2. Tablespaces for the refreshed schema on target database get presented to the target with the schema name as a prefix: (Schema)_(Source_Tablespace_Name)

Unmount mounted images

Use these instructions to unmount mounted images.

  1. Drop the tablespace and datafiles on the target database.

    ```sql
SQL>alter tablespace <TBS_NAME> offline immediate;
SQL>drop tablespace <TBS_NAME> including contents and datafiles;
```

  2. Open App Manager > Active Mounts page. Right-click the image to be unmounted and select Unmount and Delete and then Submit the job.

Present an Oracle 12c or later database PDB as a virtual PDB to an existing database container on a target

If you are using an Oracle version earlier than 12c, then refer to Use a Backup and DR Workflow to refresh Oracle database schemas.

For example, you have a source database instance with multiple applications, and each application has its own PDB. You can create and refresh a virtual copy at the schema level, and refresh each PDB individually to the same target or to a different target. To do this, follow these steps.

Before you begin

Before you begin, set up the scripts on the target server:

  1. Get the script zip file from /act/act_scripts/pdbrefresh.
  2. Login to database server as root.

  3. Go to /act and create an /act/scripts directory—if it does not exist:

    cd /act
mkdir -p /act/scripts
cd /act/scripts

  4. Extract the file.

  5. Copy the script files into /act/scripts:

    cp /act/act_scripts/pdbrefresh/act_pdbclone_pre.sh /act/scripts/
cp /act/act_scripts/pdbrefresh/act_pdbclone_post.sh /act/scripts/

Create a Backup and DR Workflow to perform the PDB clone job

  1. From the App Manager Workflows page, click Add Workflow.
  2. Right-click the Oracle database and select Next.

  3. Enter a name for the Backup and DR Workflow and select Direct Mount and On Demand.

  4. Select the target host checkbox.

  5. If the temporary copy is going to be on non-ASM, then under Mapping Options, select Specify Mount Location as the Mount Action and then provide a mount location.

  6. Fill in the pre-script field and the post-script field: act_pdbclonepre.sh "TARGET_DB_SIDSOURCE_PDB_NAME-TARGET_PDB_NAME" act_pdbclonepost.sh "TARGET_DB_SIDSOURCE_PDB_NAME-TARGET_PDB_NAME" Where: TARGET_DB_SID = Target database SID where PDB should be attached SOURCE_PDB_NAME = Source PDB Name that needs to be attached to target container. TARGET_PDB_NAME = Target PDB Name to which source is renamed.

  7. Set Timeout for both scripts to 18000.

  8. Select Create New Virtual Application.

  9. Fill in the target database SID—this is temporary SID as defined in the act_pdb_config.conf file.

  10. Provide the OS username who owns the Oracle software binary on the target machine.

  11. Provide ORACLE_HOME as specified in the configuration file.

  12. Open the Advanced Options by clicking the arrow. Provide the TNS ADMIN Directory on the target machine and specify the minimum SGA for the temporary instance.

  13. Select Standalone Non-RAC.

  14. Click Add at the bottom of the page.

Run the Backup and DR Workflow

Once the Backup and DR Workflow is created, use these instructions to run it.

  1. Click App Manager > Workflows, then right-click the Backup and DR Workflow and click Run Now.
  2. Select Provision New Virtual Application, fill in the details, and click Submit.

  3. Logs can be monitored on the target host at: /var/act/log.

    Once the Backup and DR Workflow reaches success state, the PDB on the target database is cloned.

    If the target PDB must be refreshed again with latest or old source data, click the Backup and DR Workflow Run Now button and select Refresh Existing Virtual Application and click Done.

Unmount mounted images

Use these instructions to unmount any mounted images:

  1. From the Restore tab, select the image to unmount.

  2. Drop the pluggable database and datafiles on the target database.

    SQL>alter pluggable database <PDB_NAME> close immediate;
SQL>drop pluggable database <PDB_NAME> including datafiles;

    Or, execute the pre-script:

    cd /act/scripts
./ act_pdbclone_pre.sh

  3. Click App Manager > Active Mounts list, right-click the image to be unmounted and select Unmount and Delete and then Submit the job.

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