Oracle Database 23ai Is Here – Time to Sharpen Multitenant Skills

Last week Oracle announced the release of Oracle Database 23ai with many significant enhancements. It is available in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure but according to Release Schedule of Current Database Releases (Doc ID 742060.1) other platforms are following soon.

One important thing about Oracle Database 23ai is that it only supports the multitenant architecture. Once you upgrade beyond Oracle Database 19c, you must also convert your database to a pluggable database.

To give you the best possible starting point for the multitenant migration, our team has prepared two webinars about the multitenant architecture. Actually, we planned on just one. Still, we have so many things to share that we decided to make two webinars. When product managers get a chance to talk, they talk a lot!

Move to Oracle Database 23ai – Everything you need to know about Oracle Multitenant

Part 1

May 16, 14:00 CEST, 2024

  • Multitenant architecure
    • Introduction
    • Consolidation strategies
    • Benefits
  • Creation of container database
    • Recommendations
    • Parameters
  • Migration methods
    • Best practices
    • Data Guard
    • RAC
    • Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)
    • What to remember after migration
    • Rollback and fallback
    • Customer case

Part 2

June 27, 14:00 CEST, 2024

  • Operations
    • Cloning
    • Connecting
    • Running scripts
    • Resource Manager
    • Tips and tricks
    • Recommendations
    • Customer case
  • Patching
    • Entire CDB
    • Individual PDB
    • Recommendations
    • Datapatch
  • Upgrading
    • CDB upgrades
    • PDB upgrades (unplug-plug)
    • Replay upgrade
    • Best practices
    • Downgrade
    • Customer case

Sign Up

You can sign up here. My team (Mike, Rodrigo, Roy and Alex) will be there and answer all your questions. I promise we won’t end the webinar until there are no more questions.

If you miss the webinar, you can watch a recording later on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out.

Even if you already use Oracle Database on multitenant architecture, I guarantee there are still new things to learn.

As always: All tech, no marketing!

It’s a Wrap – OUGN 2024

I just finished my presentation at OUGN 2024 conference in Oslo, Norway. Once again, it was held at the Rebel, which is an awesome location. Two intense days full of learning experiences.

It’s my second time at the conference, it I must give it my strongest recommedation. If you’re in Northen Europe, it’s an easy flight to Oslo and you really get great value for it.

The Slides

Introduction to Multitenant Architecture

What is multitenant? How does it differ from the non-CDB architecture. How can I move from non-CDB to a pluggable database? I answered all those questions and much more.

You should flip through the slides if you want an overview of the multitenant architecture.

Move to Oracle Database 23ai

This session and the slides help you prepare for the next long-term support release of Oracle Database.

More Multitenant

If you need to know more about multitenant, be sure to join our two webinars coming up in May and June.

Thanks

Thanks to the board of OUGN and the organizers for pulling yet another successful conference. Thanks to the sponsors making it all possible and to everyone who attended my sessions or the conference in general.

Impressions

The Dolerean

Beautiful sunset during the approach to Copenhagen Airport.

Show Me Your Upgrade Runbook and Let’s See What You Can Remove

Recently, I talked to a customer about upgrading Oracle Database. I was showing how you can get the most out of AutoUpgrade. The customer showed me their runbook, and together, we found several redundant tasks. AutoUpgrade already handled many of the checks and tasks.

Leave a comment and show me the tasks in your runbook. Let’s see if we can find something to remove.

What Did We Find At the Customer?

Before Upgrade

  • Purging recycle bin The customer actively used the recycle bin and manually purged it before upgrading. However, AutoUpgrade has a check on the recycle bin. From the prechecks log file:
    2024-04-17 10:15:51.775 INFO Running check PURGE_RECYCLEBIN [DB12] - CheckTrigger.call#96 
       EXECUTE IMMEDIATE 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM sys.recyclebin$'
    
    And purges it – if needed – during prefixups. From the prefixups log file:
    2024-04-17 10:15:44.972 INFO Running fixup [PURGE_RECYCLEBIN][DB12][PLSQL][PURGE DBA_RECYCLEBIN
    2024-04-17 10:15:44.972 INFO [EB5A67] [PURGE DBA_RECYCLEBIN
    2024-04-17 10:15:44.976 INFO [EB5A67] Executing SQL [/* [EB5A67]  */PURGE DBA_RECYCLEBIN
    2024-04-17 10:15:45.316 INFO # PURGE_RECYCLEBIN - Check.runFix#292 
    2024-04-17 10:15:45.317 INFO Finished fixup [PURGE_RECYCLEBIN][DB12][SUCCESSFUL] - FixUpTrigger.executeFixUp#231 
    

After Upgrade

  • Execute catuppst.sql This script performs:

    … remaining upgrade actions that do not require that the database be open in UPGRADE mode

    AutoUpgrade handles this part for you. Here is an extract from the phase overview during upgrade:

    $ grep -B2 "catuppst"  dbupgrade/phase.log
    [phase 102] type is 1 with 1 Files
    
    @catuppst.sql
    
  • Recompiling objects The customer recompiled objects using utlrp.sql. This is usually not needed. By default, AutoUpgrade performs a recompilation in the postfixups phase unless you override the behavior with run_utlrp. Here is an extract from the autocompile log file found in the postfixups directory:

    13:12:42   6      select count(*) into cnt from sys.dba_objects
    13:12:42   7         where status = 'INVALID';
    13:12:42   8      IF cnt > 0 THEN
    13:12:42   9          :utlprp_name := '/u01/app/oracle/product/23.0.0.0/dbhome_2/rdbms/admin/utlprpom.sql 2';
    13:12:42  10          :utldtchk_name := '/u01/app/oracle/product/23.0.0.0/dbhome_2/rdbms/admin/utldtchk.sql';
    13:12:42  11      END IF;
    
  • Datapatch The customer executed Datapatch after a successful upgrade. The upgrade engine already does this as one of the very last phases. Here is an extract from upg_summary.log:

    Component                               Current         Full     Elapsed Time
    Name                                    Status          Version  HH:MM:SS
    
    ...
    Datapatch                                                        00:00:09
    
  • Gathering database statistics The customer already knew that AutoUpgrade gathers dictionary statistics and that they needed to gather fixed objects statistics after a while. But, they were gathering database statistics to refresh the statistics on their application schemas. Although this is a good idea in some cases, I would not recommend this. AutoUpgrade does not touch user data during a database upgrade, so if you had good statistics before the upgrade, they are also good after. The only case I can think of is upgrades from Oracle Database 11.2.0.4. Oracle Database introduced new histogram types in Oracle Database 12c, which could significantly benefit some databases.

    By the way, here is a handy trick to gather fixed objects statistics some time after the upgrade.

Conclusion

While working with this customer, we found several redundant items. Getting those items out of the runbook means less overall downtime – and a less complex upgrade. AutoUpgrade makes upgrading Oracle Database much easier.

Please leave a comment if there are tasks that AutoUpgrade should do for you.

Appendix

Further Reading

I Need Patch 35836860. Is It in 19.21.0?

The other day, someone asked:

I need the fix for bug 35836860 in my Oracle Database. I am planning to install the Release Update 19.21.0. How do I know if this Release Update includes the patch?

What is the easiest way to tell whether a Release Update contains a specific patch for Oracle Database?

How To

The easiest way to check for patch inclusion is ORAdiff.

I navigate to Included Fixes and Seach Fixes and input the bug number.

Finding patch inclusion information for a bug / patch in Oracle Database

Next, the report tells me that Release Update 19.22.0 includes this patch. All newer Release Update include this patch as well because Release Updates are always cumulative.

Finding patch inclusion information for a bug / patch in Oracle Database

I can even see that MRP 4 to 6 for 19.20.0 also includes this fix. For whatever strange reason, the MRPs for 19.21.0 do not include this fix. Here’s a video if you want to learn more about MRPs.

ORAdiff

Remember that ORAdiff is a free tool for anyone with an Oracle account.

If you need further tips on using ORAdiff, we have a playlist on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on anything.

Want More?

Since we are talking about patching Oracle Database, it might be good to refresh your knowledge with our webinar Oracle Database Release and Patching Strategy for 19c and 23ai.

Open the video on YouTube, and you can dive right into each individual chapter.

My Query Performs Horrible, Fix It!

Many years ago, I used to work as an operational DBA, and I remember colleagues asking the following:

My query runs very slow. The other day it all ran fine, but now it’s hanging. What’s going on? Fix it!

They might even start the occasional rant about relational doesn’t scale and all the other blah blah blah.

Sounds familiar? What if you could solve the problem by just running:

EXEC DBMS_SPM.ADD_VERIFIED_SQL_PLAN_BASELINE('<sql_id');

The query runs at warp speed again, and the users are happy.

In Oracle Database 19.22.0, that’s possible.

What’s Going On

The procedure uses SQL Plan Management: the best solution to ensure plan stability.

It will:

  • Search all your SQL tuning sets, including automatic SQL tuning sets, AWR, and cursor cache to find other plans for that SQL.
  • Test each of the plans to find the best one.
  • Create a SQL plan baseline with the best plan.

During the next execution, the database will use the best plan.

Problem solved!

SQL Plan Management

I’m a huge fan of SQL Plan Management. It is one of the most underrated features in Oracle Database.

What is your biggest fear when you upgrade? Often, the answer is changing plans. SQL Plan Management effectively solves that problem, and we recommend it as part of our performance stability prescription.

Afterwords

In fact, I’ve never been a performance expert. When I was tasked with a performance issue, I knew it would take a lot of time.

Over time, I found a better way of solving these issues. I would turn my chair and look directly into the wrinkled eyes of Frank, my trusted grey-haired colleague.

Using my cutest little puppy face and soft voice, young me would ask for advice and smoothly hand over the task to him.

But not everyone has a Frank in your office, so DBMS_SPM.ADD_VERIFIED_SQL_PLAN_BASELINE is very useful.

Experience and grey hair rock!

Further Reading

Are Your Oracle Database Clients Ready for the next Database Upgrade?

Each new Oracle Database release changes the client/server communication protocol. A newer protocol supports new features, strengthens security, and so forth. Before upgrading your Oracle Database, you must ensure your clients can connect afterward. If not, your clients may face:

ORA-28040: No matching authentication procotol error
ORA-03134: Connections to this server version are no longer supported

Oracle lists the supported clients in the client/server interoperability support matrix (Doc ID 207303.1). Take a look – it is probably the most colorful MOS note.

For Oracle Database 23ai, your clients must be version:

  • 23ai
  • 21c
  • 19c

How do you know if your clients are ready for the next release?

A Solution

The view V$SESSION_CONNECT_INFO lists the client driver and version of connected sessions. You can join V$SESSION to get more details.

SELECT PROGRAM, CLIENT_DRIVER, CLIENT_VERSION 
FROM   GV$SESSION S, GV$SESSION_CONNECT_INFO CI 
WHERE  S.SID=CI.SID AND S.SERIAL#=CI.SERIAL# 

Here’s is an example of how that data might look like:

PROGRAM CLIENT_DRIVER CLIENT_VERSION
oracle SERVER 19.20.0.0.0
MyApp.exe ODPM.NET : 19.1.0.0.0 19.1.0.0.0
MyApp.exe ODPU.NET : 19.21.0.0.0 19.21.0.0.0
MyApp2.exe (null) 19.21.0.0.0
emagent jdbcthin 12.1.0.2.0
SQL Developer jdbcthin : 21.4.0.0.0 21.4.0.0.0
java jdbcoci : 19.22.0.0.0 19.22.0.0.0
sqlplus SQL*PLUS 19.22.0.0.0
  • If I want to upgrade to Oracle Database 23ai, it looks good except for the emagent with a 12.1.0.2 driver.
  • When client driver is SERVER it is the database itself making connections. In this case, the scheduler was running jobs. You can disregard those entries.
  • The entry with client driver (null) was a thick OCI client used by a C++ program.

The above query gives an overview of the situation right now. But we need to persist the data to check all clients over time. We can solve that with a scheduler job.

If you monitor your database for weeks or a month, you should know which clients connect to your Oracle Database.

A high-five to my friend Frank for helping with some sample connection data.

The Code

Here’s a piece of code that creates a schema, a few objects, and a scheduler job.

The scheduler runs the job every 5 minutes. The job finds new connections, notes the client’s driver, and stores that info in a table.

Run the following code as SYS AS SYSDBA:

--Create a schema
DROP USER ORA_CLIENT_CHECK CASCADE;
CREATE USER ORA_CLIENT_CHECK NO AUTHENTICATION;

--Required privileges
GRANT SELECT ON GV_$SESSION TO ORA_CLIENT_CHECK;
GRANT SELECT ON GV_$SESSION_CONNECT_INFO TO ORA_CLIENT_CHECK;
ALTER USER ORA_CLIENT_CHECK DEFAULT TABLESPACE USERS;
ALTER USER ORA_CLIENT_CHECK QUOTA UNLIMITED ON USERS;

--View contains a current list of clients connected
CREATE VIEW ORA_CLIENT_CHECK.CURRENT_SESSIONS AS (
SELECT DISTINCT S.MACHINE, S.OSUSER, S.PROGRAM, S.MODULE, CLIENT_DRIVER, CLIENT_VERSION FROM GV$SESSION S, GV$SESSION_CONNECT_INFO CI WHERE S.SID=CI.SID AND S.SERIAL#=CI.SERIAL# AND CI.CLIENT_DRIVER != 'SERVER');

--Create a table to hold the result
CREATE TABLE ORA_CLIENT_CHECK.CONNECTED_SESSIONS AS SELECT * FROM ORA_CLIENT_CHECK.CURRENT_SESSIONS WHERE 1=0;

--Create a scheduler job that runs every 5 minutes
BEGIN
   DBMS_SCHEDULER.create_job (
      job_name        => '"ORA_CLIENT_CHECK"."GET_NEW_CONNECTIONS"',
      job_type        => 'PLSQL_BLOCK',
      job_action      => 'BEGIN MERGE INTO ORA_CLIENT_CHECK.CONNECTED_SESSIONS OLD USING (SELECT * FROM ORA_CLIENT_CHECK.CURRENT_SESSIONS) NEW ON (OLD.MACHINE=NEW.MACHINE AND OLD.OSUSER=NEW.OSUSER AND OLD.PROGRAM=NEW.PROGRAM AND OLD.MODULE=NEW.MODULE AND OLD.CLIENT_DRIVER=NEW.CLIENT_DRIVER AND OLD.CLIENT_VERSION=NEW.CLIENT_VERSION) WHEN NOT MATCHED THEN INSERT (MACHINE, OSUSER, PROGRAM, MODULE, CLIENT_DRIVER, CLIENT_VERSION) VALUES(NEW.MACHINE, NEW.OSUSER, NEW.PROGRAM, NEW.MODULE, NEW.CLIENT_DRIVER, NEW.CLIENT_VERSION); COMMIT; END;',
      start_date      => SYSTIMESTAMP,
      repeat_interval => 'freq=minutely; interval=5; bysecond=0;',
      end_date        => NULL,
      enabled         => TRUE,
      comments        => 'Checks for new connections and store the client version/driver to table.');
END;
/

Query the table to find clients that you must upgrade:

SELECT * 
FROM   ORA_CLIENT_CHECK.CONNECTED_SESSIONS;

The Limitations

  • The code monitors a single database only.

  • If you use Active Data Guard, you must consider the users that connect to the standby only. You can use DML redirect to send the data back to the primary database.

  • If you have a job that connects very seldom or connects for a very short time only, there is a risk that the code won’t capture it.

Other Ideas

Unified Auditing captures much information, but the client driver and version is not part of it. If you can’t sample from V$SESSION_CONNECT_INFO, this could be a viable solution.

You can use the below query to find a unique list of sessions and the program they used to connect. Then, you connect each host and manually ensure that the client driver is up-to-date:

SELECT DISTINCT userhost, program, client_program_name 
FROM   unified_audit_trail;

Of course, this requires you to have configured Unified Auditing.

Real-World Database Upgrade and Migration 19c and 23c

Mike Dietrich and I are hosting two in-person workshops in Sweden and Denmark in early May. Yes, that’s right: It’s in-person.

Mike Dietrich and Daniel Overby Hansen will guide you through several different examples of upgrade, migration and consolidation techniques and strategies – shown with real world customer cases.

  • How to take full advantage of the new features and options in Oracle Database 19c and 23c
  • The smoothest and fully unattended migration to the CDB architecture
  • Real World Best Practices and Customer Cases
  • Performance Stability Prescription
  • What’s new, what’s coming (especially for DBAs) in Oracle Database 23c

Oracle Real-World Database Upgrade and Migration 19c and 23c with Mike Dietrich and Daniel Overby Hansen

Sweden

  • Oracle office, Solna
  • Tuesday 7 May 2024, 09:00 – 16:30
  • Sign up

Denmark

  • Oracle office, Hellerup
  • Wednesday 8 May 2024, 08:00 – 15:00
  • Sign up

Secure your seat as quickly as possible. Seats are limited!

Agenda

To whet your appetite, here is the agenda:

Agenda
Release Strategy with Oracle Database 23c
Oracle Database Patching – Welcome to the Jungle
Upgrade to Oracle Database 23c
Migration to the CDB architecture – smoothly and unattended
Data Pump: The universal tool, for ADB migrations and more
Cloud Migration Advisor
Performance Stability Prescription
Secret underscores
Insights into the Oracle Database Development process
Oracle Database 23c – What’s new, what’s coming

Remember our mantra: All tech, no marketing!

I hope to see you at our workshops.

A Different Day at the Office

Yesterday, I had quite a different day at the office. Instead of typing on the keyboard, I spent the day loading a truck bound for Ukraine with humanitarian aid.

I had a fantastic day with the volunteers at Bevar Ukraine and colleagues from Oracle. We loaded a truck with:

  • 50 kW diesel generator
  • Medical supplies
  • Hospital beds
  • Clothes
  • Other necessities

Loading a truck at Bevar Ukraine with humanitarian aid

Bevar Ukraine

What is Bevar Ukraine?

Bevar Ukraine is an independent Danish humanitarian non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide humanitarian aid in Ukraine and to support refugees. The organization works to combat poverty and strengthen civil society. Bevar Ukraine supports the UN’s global goals for sustainable development.

It is run by volunteers who spend much time and effort helping the victims in Ukraine.

I am glad I could spend a day with these wonderful people and help them in their mission. It was touching to listen to their stories. Thank you, Bevar Ukraine!

I encourage you to donate to their organization and help those in need.

Oracle Volunteering

As an employee of Oracle, I can spend my work time on voluntary work. We call this Oracle Volunteering:

Oracle Volunteers lead and participate in virtual and in-person projects with hundreds of nonprofits and public institutions year-round. They support students and educators, protect nature and wildlife, and strengthen communities by helping people in need.

Every year, I can spend a whole week on voluntary work. I feel proud of my employer when they take action and help make the world a better place. Thank you, Oracle!

Reflections

I am grateful to live in a peaceful part of the world. But I feel for those less fortunate. We could do much more together if we all made friends.

In my previous job, I worked together with many Ukrainians. They were all young and eager to sharpen their skills in software development. They worked hard to make a good living for themselves and Ukraine.

Now, much of that is lost due to the unjust occupation and war. Perhaps some of my former colleagues are now dead because they defended their country. How tragic…

Stop the war and free Ukraine!

Does Data Pump Export Advanced Data Optimization Policies and Heat Maps?

During our recent webinar on cross-platform migration, an attendee asked a good question:

Does Data Pump in a Full Transportable Export/Import move ADO policies and heat map information?

Let’s find out.

What Is It?

ADO means Advanced Data Optimization and is a feature that:

… automate the compression and movement of data between different tiers of storage within the database.

ADO uses heat maps that :

… provides data access tracking at the segment-level and data modification tracking at the segment and row level.

In other words,

  • You might have slower and faster storage.
  • You define ADO policies on tables and indexes (including partitions and subpartitions).
  • The policies define in which storage the database stores the rows.
  • The heat maps tell which objects you access.
  • Based on heat maps, a job automatically moves rows between storage depending on the use and/or compress it.

What Happens in Data Pump

There are three pieces of essential information:

  1. ADO policies. Defined on objects and governs how the database should store data.
  2. Heat map information. The database records your usage of the data and stores the information in heat maps. Later on, the database uses the heat maps to determine what to do with your data.
  3. ILM settings. Tells the database how to perform the ILM (Information Lifecycle Management) maintenance. For example, you can define the parallel degree that the database uses during maintenance or the number of concurrent maintenance jobs.

You can find a test case at the end of the blog post. I’m using test data and queries from oracle-base.com.

ADO Policies

Data Pump transfers the ADO policies in all modes:

  • Full transportable
  • Full
  • Schema
  • Tablespace
  • Table

You can verify it:

SELECT   policy_name,
         object_owner,
         object_name,
         object_type,
         inherited_from,
         enabled,
         deleted
FROM     dba_ilmobjects
ORDER BY 1;

Heat Map Information

Data Pump does not transfer any heat map information. I didn’t find any way to move the heat map information to the new database.

ILM Settings

Data Pump does not transfer ILM settings – not even in full modes. You must manually move the settings.

  • You can find the current ILM settings:

    SELECT * FROM DBA_ILMPARAMETERS;
    
  • And change the settings in the target database:

    EXEC DBMS_ILM_ADMIN.CUSTOMIZE_ILM(DBMS_ILM_ADMIN.DEG_PARALLEL , 4);
    
    • You must translate the name of the setting to the corresponding PL/SQL constant. You change the setting DEGREE OF PARALLELISM by using DBMS_ILM_ADMIN.DEG_PARALLEL.
  • The documentation holds a complete list of ILM settings.

Appendix

Further Reading

Test Data

I am using our Hands-On lab that you can use on Oracle LiveLabs. Again, thanks to oracle-base.com for test data and queries.

CONN / AS SYSDBA
--Turn on heat map tracking
ALTER SYSTEM SET HEAT_MAP=ON SCOPE=BOTH;

--Customize ILM settings
BEGIN
  DBMS_ILM_ADMIN.CUSTOMIZE_ILM(DBMS_ILM_ADMIN.RETENTION_TIME, 42);
  DBMS_ILM_ADMIN.CUSTOMIZE_ILM(DBMS_ILM_ADMIN.JOBLIMIT, 42);
  DBMS_ILM_ADMIN.CUSTOMIZE_ILM(DBMS_ILM_ADMIN.ABS_JOBLIMIT, 42);
  DBMS_ILM_ADMIN.CUSTOMIZE_ILM(DBMS_ILM_ADMIN.DEG_PARALLEL , 4);
END;
/
SELECT * FROM DBA_ILMPARAMETERS;

--Create tablespaces for ILM policy
CREATE TABLESPACE FAST_STORAGE_TS DATAFILE SIZE 1M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 1M;
CREATE TABLESPACE MEDIUM_STORAGE_TS DATAFILE SIZE 1M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 1M;
CREATE TABLESPACE SLOW_STORAGE_TS DATAFILE SIZE 1M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 1M;
CREATE USER TEST IDENTIFIED BY TEST QUOTA UNLIMITED ON USERS;
GRANT CREATE SESSION, CREATE TABLE TO TEST;
ALTER USER TEST QUOTA UNLIMITED ON FAST_STORAGE_TS;
ALTER USER TEST QUOTA UNLIMITED ON MEDIUM_STORAGE_TS;
ALTER USER TEST QUOTA UNLIMITED ON SLOW_STORAGE_TS;

CONN TEST/TEST

--Create table where we can track usage
CREATE TABLE t1 (
  id          NUMBER,
  description VARCHAR2(50),
  CONSTRAINT t1_pk PRIMARY KEY (id)
);
INSERT INTO t1
SELECT level,
       'Description for ' || level
FROM   dual
CONNECT BY level <= 10;
COMMIT;

--Generate "usage"
SELECT *
FROM   t1;
SELECT *
FROM   t1
WHERE  id = 1;

--Create table for ILM policy
CREATE TABLE invoices (
  invoice_no    NUMBER NOT NULL,
  invoice_date  DATE   NOT NULL,
  comments      VARCHAR2(500)
)
PARTITION BY RANGE (invoice_date)
(
  PARTITION invoices_2016_q1 VALUES LESS THAN (TO_DATE('01/04/2016', 'DD/MM/YYYY')) TABLESPACE slow_storage_ts,
  PARTITION invoices_2016_q2 VALUES LESS THAN (TO_DATE('01/07/2016', 'DD/MM/YYYY')) TABLESPACE slow_storage_ts,
  PARTITION invoices_2016_q3 VALUES LESS THAN (TO_DATE('01/09/2016', 'DD/MM/YYYY')) TABLESPACE medium_storage_ts
    ILM ADD POLICY TIER TO slow_storage_ts READ ONLY SEGMENT AFTER 6 MONTHS OF NO ACCESS,
  PARTITION invoices_2016_q4 VALUES LESS THAN (TO_DATE('01/01/2017', 'DD/MM/YYYY')) TABLESPACE medium_storage_ts
    ILM ADD POLICY TIER TO slow_storage_ts READ ONLY SEGMENT AFTER 6 MONTHS OF NO ACCESS,
  PARTITION invoices_2017_q1 VALUES LESS THAN (TO_DATE('01/04/2017', 'DD/MM/YYYY')) TABLESPACE fast_storage_ts
    ILM ADD POLICY TIER TO medium_storage_ts READ ONLY SEGMENT AFTER 3 MONTHS OF NO ACCESS,
  PARTITION invoices_2017_q2 VALUES LESS THAN (TO_DATE('01/07/2017', 'DD/MM/YYYY')) TABLESPACE fast_storage_ts
    ILM ADD POLICY TIER TO medium_storage_ts READ ONLY SEGMENT AFTER 3 MONTHS OF NO ACCESS
)
ILM ADD POLICY ROW STORE COMPRESS BASIC SEGMENT AFTER 3 MONTHS OF NO ACCESS;

Test Case

###############
# FULL EXPORT #
###############

export ORAENV_ASK=NO
export ORACLE_SID=UP19
. oraenv
export ORAENV_ASK=YES
rm /tmp/expdat.dmp
sql / as sysdba<<EOF
   create or replace directory expdir as '/tmp';
EOF
expdp system/oracle full=y directory=expdir job_name=fullexp

export ORAENV_ASK=NO
export ORACLE_SID=CDB2
. oraenv
export ORAENV_ASK=YES
sql / as sysdba<<EOF
    startup
    alter pluggable database pdb1 close immediate;
    drop pluggable database pdb1 including datafiles;
    create pluggable database pdb1 admin user admin identified by admin;
    alter pluggable database all open;
    alter session set container=pdb1;
    create tablespace users DATAFILE SIZE 1M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 1M;
    CREATE TABLESPACE fast_storage_ts DATAFILE SIZE 1M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 1M;
    CREATE TABLESPACE medium_storage_ts DATAFILE SIZE 1M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 1M;
    CREATE TABLESPACE slow_storage_ts DATAFILE SIZE 1M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 1M;
    create or replace directory expdir as '/tmp';
EOF

impdp system/oracle@pdb1 directory=expdir

sql / as sysdba<<EOF
    alter session set container=pdb1;
    select * from DBA_ILMPARAMETERS;
    SELECT policy_name,
       object_owner,
       object_name,
       object_type,
       inherited_from,
       enabled,
       deleted
    FROM   dba_ilmobjects
    ORDER BY 1;
    SELECT track_time,
        owner,
        object_name,
        segment_write,
        full_scan,
        lookup_scan
    FROM   dba_heat_map_seg_histogram
    ORDER BY 1, 2, 3;
EOF

#################
# SCHEMA EXPORT #
#################

export ORAENV_ASK=NO
export ORACLE_SID=UP19
. oraenv
export ORAENV_ASK=YES
rm /tmp/expdat.dmp
sql / as sysdba<<EOF
   create or replace directory expdir as '/tmp';
EOF
expdp system/oracle schemas=test directory=expdir job_name=schemaexp

export ORAENV_ASK=NO
export ORACLE_SID=CDB2
. oraenv
export ORAENV_ASK=YES
sql / as sysdba<<EOF
    startup
    alter pluggable database pdb1 close immediate;
    drop pluggable database pdb1 including datafiles;
    create pluggable database pdb1 admin user admin identified by admin;
    alter pluggable database all open;
    alter session set container=pdb1;
    create tablespace users DATAFILE SIZE 1M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 1M;
    CREATE TABLESPACE fast_storage_ts DATAFILE SIZE 1M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 1M;
    CREATE TABLESPACE medium_storage_ts DATAFILE SIZE 1M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 1M;
    CREATE TABLESPACE slow_storage_ts DATAFILE SIZE 1M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 1M;
    create or replace directory expdir as '/tmp';
EOF

impdp system/oracle@pdb1 directory=expdir

sql / as sysdba<<EOF
    alter session set container=pdb1;
    select * from DBA_ILMPARAMETERS;
    SELECT policy_name,
       object_owner,
       object_name,
       object_type,
       inherited_from,
       enabled,
       deleted
    FROM   dba_ilmobjects
    ORDER BY 1;
    SELECT track_time,
        owner,
        object_name,
        segment_write,
        full_scan,
        lookup_scan
    FROM   dba_heat_map_seg_histogram
    ORDER BY 1, 2, 3;
EOF

################
# TABLE EXPORT #
################

export ORAENV_ASK=NO
export ORACLE_SID=UP19
. oraenv
export ORAENV_ASK=YES
rm /tmp/expdat.dmp
sql / as sysdba<<EOF
   create or replace directory expdir as '/tmp';
EOF
expdp system/oracle tables=test.t1,test.invoices directory=expdir job_name=tabexp

export ORAENV_ASK=NO
export ORACLE_SID=CDB2
. oraenv
export ORAENV_ASK=YES
sql / as sysdba<<EOF
    startup
    alter pluggable database pdb1 close immediate;
    drop pluggable database pdb1 including datafiles;
    create pluggable database pdb1 admin user admin identified by admin;
    alter pluggable database all open;
    alter session set container=pdb1;
    create tablespace users DATAFILE SIZE 1M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 1M;
    CREATE TABLESPACE fast_storage_ts DATAFILE SIZE 1M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 1M;
    CREATE TABLESPACE medium_storage_ts DATAFILE SIZE 1M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 1M;
    CREATE TABLESPACE slow_storage_ts DATAFILE SIZE 1M AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 1M;
    create or replace directory expdir as '/tmp';
    CREATE USER TEST IDENTIFIED BY TEST QUOTA UNLIMITED ON USERS;
    GRANT CREATE SESSION, CREATE TABLE TO TEST;
    ALTER USER TEST QUOTA UNLIMITED ON FAST_STORAGE_TS;
    ALTER USER TEST QUOTA UNLIMITED ON MEDIUM_STORAGE_TS;
    ALTER USER TEST QUOTA UNLIMITED ON SLOW_STORAGE_TS;
EOF

impdp system/oracle@pdb1 directory=expdir

sql / as sysdba<<EOF
    alter session set container=pdb1;
    select * from DBA_ILMPARAMETERS;
    SELECT policy_name,
       object_owner,
       object_name,
       object_type,
       inherited_from,
       enabled,
       deleted
    FROM   dba_ilmobjects
    ORDER BY 1;
    SELECT track_time,
        owner,
        object_name,
        segment_write,
        full_scan,
        lookup_scan
    FROM   dba_heat_map_seg_histogram
    ORDER BY 1, 2, 3;
EOF

How to Detect and Repair Corruption in Your Oracle Database

Over time, corruptions can sneak into your Oracle Database. Such corruptions may surface at the most inconvenient times, like upgrades, migrations, or PDB conversions. Here is a quick way of checking your Oracle Database and increasing your chance of success.

Oracle Database Dictionary Check

The documentation states:

DBMS_DICTIONARY_CHECK is a read-only and lightweight PL/SQL package procedure that helps you identify Oracle Database dictionary inconsistencies that are manifested in unexpected entries in the Oracle Database dictionary tables or invalid references between dictionary tables. Oracle Database dictionary inconsistencies can cause process failures and, in some cases, instance crash.

How to Execute a Dictionary Check

  • First, the database must be on Oracle Database 19.22.0 or higher.
  • Start the check:
    set serverout on
    exec dbms_dictionary_check.full;
    
  • The database spools to the console and a trace file:
    dbms_dictionary_check on 02-MAR-2024 13:31:56
    ----------------------------------------------
    Catalog Version 19.0.0.0.0 (1900000000)
    db_name: UP19
    Is CDB?: NO
    Trace File:
    /u01/app/oracle/diag/rdbms/up19/UP19/trace/UP19_ora_3343_DICTCHECK.trc
    
                                    Catalog       Fixed
    Procedure Name                  Version    Vs Release    Timestamp      Result
    --------------------------- ... ---------- -- ---------- -------------- ------
    .- OIDOnObjCol		       ... 1900000000 <=  *All Rel* 03/02 13:31:56 PASS
    .- LobNotInObj		       ... 1900000000 <=  *All Rel* 03/02 13:31:56 PASS
    .- SourceNotInObj	       ... 1900000000 <=  *All Rel* 03/02 13:31:56 PASS
    
    ...
    
    .- LobSeg                   ... 1900000000 <=  *All Rel* 03/02 13:31:56 PASS
    ---------------------------------------
    02-MAR-2024 13:31:56  Elapsed: 0 secs
    ---------------------------------------
    Found 0 potential problem(s) and 0 warning(s)
    Trace File:
    /u01/app/oracle/diag/rdbms/up19/UP19/trace/UP19_ora_3343_DICTCHECK.trc
    
    PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
    
    • In this case, all checks pass.
  • If there are any warnings or errors, you can find a detailed description of the check in the documentation.
  • In multitenant, you run the check in the root container and all PDBs. The PDBs are most important.
  • In Oracle Database 23ai, the full check even has a fix mode which can correct certain known issues.

Words of Advice

  • Run the check in due time before a major maintenance operation. Although many checks have a fix option, you sometimes need to engage with Oracle Support. This can take time, so don’t do it the day before an important upgrade.

  • AutoUpgrade makes your life easier. Of course, it can run the dictionary check for you. Add the following to your config file:

    <prefix>.run_dictionary_health=full
    

    During the pre-upgrade analysis, AutoUpgrade executes the dictionary check and stores the full report in the precheck folder in the AutoUpgrade log directory.

The Artist Formerly Known As

If you think: This does sound very similar to health check or hcheck.sql, then you are on to something. Oracle moved the health check code into the database. No need to separately download the script; it’s always there.

Weed out those corruptions!