A logical error happened in one Pluggable Database. A PDB Point-In-Time-Recovery rewinds it while the others remain available and stay as they are.
Logical error in PDB2
The blue arrow represents the Multitenant Database cdb1 with all its containers. A while back in the past, a logical error affected only pdb2. cdb1 is in Archive Log Mode and backups from before the logical error of at least the root container and pdb2 are available. What happens now upon PDB PITR is quite similar to a Tablespace PITR: Backups of root and pdb2 are being restored. All other PDBs can be skipped. A PITR to rewind pdb2 only is done with the help of a temporary instance while cdb1 keeps running. Space is needed to restore the root container files to an auxiliary destination, while the pdb2 files will be restored over the existing files from pdb2:
PDB PITR
Let’s see that in action!
[oracle@uhesse ~]$ export NLS_LANG=american_america.utf8
[oracle@uhesse ~]$ export NLS_DATE_FORMAT='yyyy-mm-dd hh24:mi:ss'
[oracle@uhesse ~]$ sqlplus sys/oracle_4U@pdb2 as sysdba
SQL> select * from scott.dept;
DEPTNO DNAME LOC
------ ---------- ----------
10 ACCOUNTING NEW YORK
20 RESEARCH DALLAS
30 SALES CHICAGO
40 OPERATIONS BOSTON
SQL> select sysdate from dual;
SYSDATE
-------------------
2016-09-27 15:06:08
SQL> drop user scott cascade;
User dropped.
The drop user stands for the logical error. Now to the PDB PITR:
SQL> alter pluggable database pdb2 close immediate;
Pluggable database altered.
SQL> exit
Disconnected from Oracle Database 12c Enterprise Edition Release 12.1.0.2.0 - 64bit Production
With the Partitioning, OLAP, Advanced Analytics and Real Application Testing options
[oracle@edvmr1p0 ~]$ rman target /
RMAN> run{set until time='2016-09-27 15:06:05';restore pluggable database pdb2;
recover pluggable database pdb2 auxiliary destination '/home/oracle/';
alter pluggable database pdb2 open resetlogs;}
executing command: SET until clause
Starting restore at 2016-09-27 15:09:38
using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: SID=279 device type=DISK
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting datafile backup set restore
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) to restore from backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00012 to /u01/app/oracle/oradata/pdb2/system01.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00013 to /u01/app/oracle/oradata/pdb2/sysaux01.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00014 to /u01/app/oracle/oradata/pdb2/users01.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: reading from backup piece
/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/3D69FAB014BF7D48E0532A40CE0A8038/backupset/2016_09_27/o1_mf_nnndf_TAG20160927T101919_cynkyhtd_.bkp
channel ORA_DISK_1: piece
handle=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/3D69FAB014BF7D48E0532A40CE0A8038/backupset/2016_09_27/o1_mf_nnndf_TAG20160927T101919_cynkyhtd_.b
kp tag=TAG20160927T101919
channel ORA_DISK_1: restored backup piece 1
channel ORA_DISK_1: restore complete, elapsed time: 00:00:15
Finished restore at 2016-09-27 15:09:55
Starting recover at 2016-09-27 15:09:55
current log archived
using channel ORA_DISK_1
RMAN-05026: WARNING: presuming following set of tablespaces applies to specified Point-in-Time
List of tablespaces expected to have UNDO segments
Tablespace SYSTEM
Tablespace UNDOTBS1
Creating automatic instance, with SID='gkon'
initialization parameters used for automatic instance:
db_name=CDB1
db_unique_name=gkon_pitr_pdb2_CDB1
compatible=12.1.0.2.0
db_block_size=8192
db_files=200
diagnostic_dest=/u01/app/oracle
_system_trig_enabled=FALSE
sga_target=752M
processes=200
db_create_file_dest=/home/oracle/
log_archive_dest_1='location=/home/oracle/'
enable_pluggable_database=true
_clone_one_pdb_recovery=true
#No auxiliary parameter file used
starting up automatic instance CDB1
Oracle instance started
Total System Global Area 788529152 bytes
Fixed Size 2929352 bytes
Variable Size 218107192 bytes
Database Buffers 562036736 bytes
Redo Buffers 5455872 bytes
Automatic instance created
contents of Memory Script:
{
# set requested point in time
set until time "2016-09-27 15:06:05";
# restore the controlfile
restore clone controlfile;
# mount the controlfile
sql clone 'alter database mount clone database';
}
executing Memory Script
executing command: SET until clause
Starting restore at 2016-09-27 15:10:10
allocated channel: ORA_AUX_DISK_1
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: SID=165 device type=DISK
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: starting datafile backup set restore
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restoring control file
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: reading from backup piece /u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/autobackup/2016_09_27/o1_mf_s_923661139_cynspmom_.bkp
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/autobackup/2016_09_27/o1_mf_s_923661139_cynspmom_.bkp
tag=TAG20160927T123219
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restored backup piece 1
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restore complete, elapsed time: 00:00:01
output file name=/home/oracle/CDB1/controlfile/o1_mf_cyo2ymfv_.ctl
Finished restore at 2016-09-27 15:10:12
sql statement: alter database mount clone database
contents of Memory Script:
{
# set requested point in time
set until time "2016-09-27 15:06:05";
# switch to valid datafilecopies
switch clone datafile 12 to datafilecopy
"/u01/app/oracle/oradata/pdb2/system01.dbf";
switch clone datafile 13 to datafilecopy
"/u01/app/oracle/oradata/pdb2/sysaux01.dbf";
switch clone datafile 14 to datafilecopy
"/u01/app/oracle/oradata/pdb2/users01.dbf";
# set destinations for recovery set and auxiliary set datafiles
set newname for clone datafile 1 to new;
set newname for clone datafile 4 to new;
set newname for clone datafile 3 to new;
set newname for clone datafile 6 to new;
# restore the tablespaces in the recovery set and the auxiliary set
restore clone datafile 1, 4, 3, 6;
switch clone datafile all;
}
executing Memory Script
executing command: SET until clause
datafile 12 switched to datafile copy
input datafile copy RECID=7 STAMP=923670618 file name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/pdb2/system01.dbf
datafile 13 switched to datafile copy
input datafile copy RECID=8 STAMP=923670618 file name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/pdb2/sysaux01.dbf
datafile 14 switched to datafile copy
input datafile copy RECID=9 STAMP=923670618 file name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/pdb2/users01.dbf
executing command: SET NEWNAME
executing command: SET NEWNAME
executing command: SET NEWNAME
executing command: SET NEWNAME
Starting restore at 2016-09-27 15:10:17
using channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: starting datafile backup set restore
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) to restore from backup set
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00001 to /home/oracle/CDB1/datafile/o1_mf_system_%u_.dbf
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00004 to /home/oracle/CDB1/datafile/o1_mf_undotbs1_%u_.dbf
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00003 to /home/oracle/CDB1/datafile/o1_mf_sysaux_%u_.dbf
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restoring datafile 00006 to /home/oracle/CDB1/datafile/o1_mf_users_%u_.dbf
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: reading from backup piece
/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/backupset/2016_09_27/o1_mf_nnndf_TAG20160927T101919_cynkxps1_.bkp
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/backupset/2016_09_27/o1_mf_nnndf_TAG20160927T101919_cynkxps1_.bkp
tag=TAG20160927T101919
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restored backup piece 1
channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1: restore complete, elapsed time: 00:00:25
Finished restore at 2016-09-27 15:10:42
datafile 1 switched to datafile copy
input datafile copy RECID=14 STAMP=923670642 file name=/home/oracle/CDB1/datafile/o1_mf_system_cyo2yshr_.dbf
datafile 4 switched to datafile copy
input datafile copy RECID=15 STAMP=923670642 file name=/home/oracle/CDB1/datafile/o1_mf_undotbs1_cyo2ysjc_.dbf
datafile 3 switched to datafile copy
input datafile copy RECID=16 STAMP=923670642 file name=/home/oracle/CDB1/datafile/o1_mf_sysaux_cyo2ysj1_.dbf
datafile 6 switched to datafile copy
input datafile copy RECID=17 STAMP=923670642 file name=/home/oracle/CDB1/datafile/o1_mf_users_cyo2ysjr_.dbf
contents of Memory Script:
{
# set requested point in time
set until time "2016-09-27 15:06:05";
# online the datafiles restored or switched
sql clone "alter database datafile 1 online";
sql clone "alter database datafile 4 online";
sql clone "alter database datafile 3 online";
sql clone 'PDB2' "alter database datafile
12 online";
sql clone 'PDB2' "alter database datafile
13 online";
sql clone 'PDB2' "alter database datafile
14 online";
sql clone "alter database datafile 6 online";
# recover pdb
recover clone database tablespace "SYSTEM", "UNDOTBS1", "SYSAUX", "USERS" pluggable database
'PDB2' delete archivelog;
sql clone 'alter database open read only';
plsql <<>>;
plsql <<>>;
# shutdown clone before import
shutdown clone abort
plsql << 'PDB2');
end; >>>;
}
executing Memory Script
executing command: SET until clause
sql statement: alter database datafile 1 online
sql statement: alter database datafile 4 online
sql statement: alter database datafile 3 online
sql statement: alter database datafile 12 online
sql statement: alter database datafile 13 online
sql statement: alter database datafile 14 online
sql statement: alter database datafile 6 online
Starting recover at 2016-09-27 15:10:43
using channel ORA_AUX_DISK_1
starting media recovery
archived log for thread 1 with sequence 43 is already on disk as file
/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/archivelog/2016_09_27/o1_mf_1_43_cynm4w09_.arc
archived log for thread 1 with sequence 44 is already on disk as file
/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/archivelog/2016_09_27/o1_mf_1_44_cynmy3k9_.arc
archived log for thread 1 with sequence 45 is already on disk as file
/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/archivelog/2016_09_27/o1_mf_1_45_cynn3bds_.arc
archived log for thread 1 with sequence 46 is already on disk as file
/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/archivelog/2016_09_27/o1_mf_1_46_cynn3d80_.arc
archived log for thread 1 with sequence 47 is already on disk as file
/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/archivelog/2016_09_27/o1_mf_1_47_cynn6341_.arc
archived log for thread 1 with sequence 48 is already on disk as file
/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/archivelog/2016_09_27/o1_mf_1_48_cynrz3bw_.arc
archived log for thread 1 with sequence 49 is already on disk as file
/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/archivelog/2016_09_27/o1_mf_1_49_cyo2y39z_.arc
archived log file name=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/archivelog/2016_09_27/o1_mf_1_43_cynm4w09_.arc thread=1 sequence=43
archived log file name=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/archivelog/2016_09_27/o1_mf_1_44_cynmy3k9_.arc thread=1 sequence=44
archived log file name=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/archivelog/2016_09_27/o1_mf_1_45_cynn3bds_.arc thread=1 sequence=45
archived log file name=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/archivelog/2016_09_27/o1_mf_1_46_cynn3d80_.arc thread=1 sequence=46
archived log file name=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/archivelog/2016_09_27/o1_mf_1_47_cynn6341_.arc thread=1 sequence=47
archived log file name=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/archivelog/2016_09_27/o1_mf_1_48_cynrz3bw_.arc thread=1 sequence=48
archived log file name=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/CDB1/archivelog/2016_09_27/o1_mf_1_49_cyo2y39z_.arc thread=1 sequence=49
media recovery complete, elapsed time: 00:00:04
Finished recover at 2016-09-27 15:10:47
sql statement: alter database open read only
Oracle instance shut down
Removing automatic instance
Automatic instance removed
auxiliary instance file /home/oracle/CDB1/datafile/o1_mf_sysaux_cyo2ysj1_.dbf deleted
auxiliary instance file /home/oracle/CDB1/controlfile/o1_mf_cyo2ymfv_.ctl deleted
Finished recover at 2016-09-27 15:10:51
Statement processed
Now how is the state of affairs after the PDB PITR?
RMAN> exit
[oracle@uhesse ~]$ sqlplus sys/oracle_4U@pdb2 as sysdba
SQL*Plus: Release 12.1.0.2.0 Production on Tue Sep 27 15:19:45 2016
Copyright (c) 1982, 2014, Oracle. All rights reserved.
Connected to:
Oracle Database 12c Enterprise Edition Release 12.1.0.2.0 - 64bit Production
With the Partitioning, OLAP, Advanced Analytics and Real Application Testing options
SQL> select count(*) from scott.dept;
COUNT(*)
----------
4
SQL> select DB_INCARNATION#,PDB_INCARNATION#,INCARNATION_TIME from v$pdb_incarnation;
DB_INCARNATION# PDB_INCARNATION# INCARNATION_TIME
--------------- ---------------- -------------------
2 2 2016-09-27 15:06:29
2 0 2015-03-17 16:49:58
SQL> connect / as sysdba
Connected.
SQL> select sequence#,status from v$log;
SEQUENCE# STATUS
---------- ------------------------------------------------
49 INACTIVE
50 CURRENT
48 INACTIVE
SQL> select INCARNATION#,RESETLOGS_TIME from v$database_incarnation;
INCARNATION# RESETLOGS_TIME
------------ -------------------
1 2014-07-07 05:38:47
2 2015-03-17 16:49:58
The logical error inside pdb2 is undone! In spite of the RESETLOGS clause, the CDB stays in the same incarnation as before and the Online Logs are not initialized. The new view V$PDB_INCARNATION confirms the creation of a new incarnation for pdb2, though.
I took this from a live demonstration at my present Oracle Database 12c New Features class. It has been done with 12.1, where Flashback on the PDB layer is not available. Hope you find it useful 🙂
Pickleball spielen 
#1 von Hemant K Chitale am September 28, 2016 - 08:44
So, the PDB is restored in-situ — overwriting the current PDB datafiles without having to go to the auxiliary destination. For the root, do I see all the datafiles (including the USERS datafile) also being restored ? At the end the messages show only removal of the sysaux auxiliary ?
#2 von Uwe Hesse am September 28, 2016 - 10:06
Sharp eye, Hemant! Indeed – and to my surprise as well – the files from system, undo, undotbs and users of the root remain there, although the tempoary instance has been shutdown. Need to remove them manually.
#3 von suryabhamidipati am Juli 27, 2017 - 19:17
What happens if we don’t specify the auxiliary destination?
#4 von satya am Juli 14, 2019 - 14:34
Long live Uwe Hesse
This is really wonderful work..