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 🙂
#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..