Cloning is the process of creating an identical copy of an already existing Oracle Applications system. Cloning is a regular part of an Apps DBA's responsibilities, so you're probably already familiar with the latest Rapid Clone utility and its predecessor, adclone.pl, the original AD Clone Utility. If you've used those tools in the past, you likely also know that overall cloning process requires some user intervention for things like the APPS password and so on.
A customer recently asked whether the following cloning process can be fully automated, so that no user intervention is required at all:
- Shut down the PROD environment for both the application server and database tier
- Do an offline preclone of both tiers
- Copy both tiers to another server (the sandbox environment)
- Restart the PROD environment
- Do an offline postclone of both tiers for the sandbox environment
- Start the sandbox environment
The management pack automates the cloning of both Release 11i (11.5.10 with ATG RUP4) as well as Release 12 environments. You go through a step-by-step interview process to configure the clone routine once, and then you can reuse the cloning routine as many times as you wish. In addition, the cloning routing can send out a notification if it failed.
Very slick. If you've had a chance to try this, I'd be interested in hearing about your experiences with this new feature.
References
- Application Management Pack for Oracle E-Business Suite Now Available
- Cloning Oracle Applications Release 11i with Rapid Clone (Metalink Note 230672.1)
- Cloning Oracle Applications Release 12 with Rapid Clone (Metalink Note 406982.1)
Comments (6)
Hi, John,
The out-of-the-box cloning capabilities of the Apps Management Pack use the standard Rapid Clone utility. Rapid Clone itself requires the E-Business Suite environment be brought down before the extraction process (the process that grabs data from the Source system) begins.
The Application Management Pack affords enough flexibility and
customization options that you can hook your own steps into the cloning
process. If customers have their own cloning tools or scripts that support hot cloning, those can be hooked into a customized process and automated by the Application Management pack.
Regards,
Steven
Posted by Steven Chan | April 5, 2007 12:02 PM
Posted on April 5, 2007 12:02
Hi Steven,
While this feature certainly is cool in principle, if it really requires a shutdown of the production instance, I question its practical value. I can't see incurring the downtime just so I can avoid a couple of manual intervention steps.
Or are steps 1) and 4) part of the customers' requirements, not a limitation the Apps Management Pack feature? If the management pack can handle fully automated "hot" cloning, then I might be pestering my manager to find room in the budget for Apps Management Pack licenses. :)
Posted by John Piwowar | April 5, 2007 1:33 PM
Posted on April 5, 2007 13:33
Hi Steven
I dont see a formal document talking about cloning when ASM is involved for DB Tier. Can you point me to any metalink doc available.
Thanks
Suresh
Posted by suresh | May 21, 2007 2:10 PM
Posted on May 21, 2007 14:10
Hi, Suresh,
I know that the cloning-related documentation for RAC/ASM for Release 12 environments is still being worked on right now. I'm trying to get confirmation of our plans for 11i documentation, too. I'll post pointers to that information when I get my hands on it.
Regards,
Steven
Posted by Steven Chan | May 25, 2007 2:34 PM
Posted on May 25, 2007 14:34
Hi Steven,
.
I tried out cloning possibilities through OAM on R12 as well as on 11i and have to admit that at this moment solution is unsteady.
I was not able to clone R12 since custom s_tools_oh , s_at and s_weboh_oh is not supported. Only manual way with parse file works for R12. As far as I know RUP4 will address this issue.
Besides that there are problems with file permissions in stage area and problems with automatic responses (for example see Note:412044.1 for tracking bugs 5741411 and 6044708)
I am really looking forward to try out Apps Management Pack with roll-up patch 2.0.1 since idea of cloning automation out of box is quite good.
.
Would appreciate if You share more info about others experience with cloning 11i and R12 through OEM.
.
Br
Uldis
Posted by Uldis Augulis | November 29, 2007 3:48 AM
Posted on November 29, 2007 03:48
Hi, Uldis,
I don't have a lot of visibility into customers' experiences with OEM, but I'd be happy to pass your feedback on to that team. If you have specific Service Request numbers that have more details about the issues you've noted, I can pass those along, too.
Regards,
Steven
Posted by Steven Chan | November 29, 2007 12:28 PM
Posted on November 29, 2007 12:28