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Master Notes
May 26, 2015
Overview of Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA)
Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) is a Java based GUI tool which is very useful to create, configure and drop databases. From 10g R2, this has been enhanced to manage the Automatic Storage Management (ASM) instance.
Starting DBCA
1. Log on to your computer as a member of the administrative group that is authorized to install Oracle software and create and run the database.
2. To launch DBCA on a Windows operating system, click Start and then select Programs, Oracle - home_name, Configuration and Migration Tools, and then Database Configuration Assistant.
To launch the DBCA on UNIX, or as another method on a Windows operating system, enter the following command at a system prompt:
The dbca utility is typically located in ORACLE_HOME/bin.
3. The Welcome window appears.
Click Next to continue. The DBCA Operations window appears.
Options in DBCA
Database Creation
This is the most commonly used option. Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) is the preferred way to create a database, because it is a more automated approach, and your database is ready to use when DBCA completes. Furthermore, creating or deleting a database with DBCA automatically takes cares of the Oracle Restart configuration that was introduced with 11gR2.
To create a database using DBCA:
Step1 - Start DBCA as described in "Starting DBCA".
In the Operations window, select Create a Database and click Next to start the guided workflow for creating a database. The workflow requests your input in the following windows:
Step 2 - Database Templates -- Select the type of database to create (General / Transactional /Data Warehouse).
Step 3 - Database Identification -- Setting the Global Database Name and the SID.
Step 4 - Management Options -- Option to Register with Grid Control / Configure Database Control.
Step 5 - Database Credentials -- Setting Passwords for the Administrative accounts.
Step 6 - Database File Locations -- Specifying the type of storage for the database (Location from Templates / Common location for all Datafiles/ Use OMF)
Step 7 - Recovery Configuration -- Specifying Archive mode and Flash Recovery Location
Step 8 - Database Content -- Specify the option to create sample schemas and post creation scripts (if any)
Step 9 - Initialization Parameters -- Specify/Modify the Database initalization parameters (Memory / characterset / Sizing /Connection mode)
Step 10 - Database Storage -- Option to review the storage structure and make changes if required.
Step 11 - Creation Options -- option to create Database/ Template / Generate Database Scripts
More detailed information in Documentation
Oracle® Database 2 Day DBA 11g Release 2 (11.2)
Part Number E10897-09
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/server.112/e10897/install.htm#BABCABGJ
Oracle By Example (OBE)
http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/db/11g/r2/2day_dba/install/install.htm
Database Options Configuration
You can use DBCA to change the configuration of an existing database. For example, you can:
- Register the database with Grid Control
- Configure Database Control alert notification via e-mail
- Enable daily disk backups to the recovery area
- Change default security settings
- Change server mode from dedicated to shared, or the reverse
- Add database options that were not previously configured (for example, Oracle Label Security or Oracle OLAP)
Database Deletion
You can also use DBCA to delete a database. When DBCA deletes a database, it shuts down the database instance and then deletes all database files. On the Windows platform, it also deletes associated Windows services.
Template Management
DBCA templates are XML files that contain information required to create a database. Templates are used in DBCA to create new databases and duplicate existing databases. The information in templates includes database options, initialization parameters, and storage attributes (for data files, tablespaces, control files, and online redo log files).
Templates can be used just like scripts, but they are more powerful than scripts because you have the option of duplicating a database. Duplication saves time because you copy the files of an existing database, referred to as a seed database, to the correct locations.
Templates are stored in the following directory:
Advantages of Using Templates
- Time saving. If you use a template, then you do not have to define the database.
- Easy duplication. By creating a template containing your database settings, you can easily create a duplicate database without specifying parameters twice.
- Easy editing. You can quickly change database options from the template settings.
- Easy sharing. Templates can be copied from one computer to another.
Types of Templates
Templates are divided into the following types:
- Seed templates
Containing both the structure and the physical data files of an existing database - Nonseed templates
Containing only the characteristics of the database to be created
Part Number E10897-09
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/server.112/e10897/install.htm#BABEGFCG
ASM Configuration
ASM instances were managed by DBCA till 11.1. From 11.2 onwards, the ASM instance management will be performed by ASMCA tool.
This option is used to create and manage the ASM instance. This also helps in creating the Server Parameter file and password files of the ASM instance.
Note that since 11gR2, ASM is included in the Grid Infrastructure which requires its own Oracle Home.
Oracle By Example -- Install ASM single instance in the same home
DBCA Modes
Interactive mode
Interactive mode provides a graphical interface and guided workflow for creating and configuring a database. Please refer to Database creation section.
Silent Mode
The following example creates a database by passing command-line arguments to DBCA:
dbca -silent -createDatabase -templateName General_Purpose.dbc -gdbname ora11g -sid ora11g -responseFile NO_VALUE -characterSet AL32UTF8 -memoryPercentage 30 -emConfiguration LOCAL
Enter SYSTEM user password:
password
Enter SYS user password:
password
Copying database files
1% complete
3% complete
...
To ensure a complete silent operation, you can redirect stdout to a file. In this case, however, you must supply passwords for the administrative accounts in command-line arguments or the response file.
More details in Oracle Documentation
Oracle® Database Administrator's Guide 11g Release 2 (11.2)
Part Number E25494-02
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/server.112/e25494/create002.htm#ADMIN12538
Oracle® Database Administrator's Guide 11g Release 1 (11.1)
Part Number B28310-04
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/B28359_01/server.111/b28310/create002.htm#ADMIN12538
Debugging DBCA
To trace the DBCA, we need to perform the following.
1. Do a copy of the original dbca file in $ORACLE_HOME/bin. For example:
cp $ORACLE_HOME/bin/dbca $ORACLE_HOME/bin/dbca.ori
2. vi the dbca file in the $ORACLE_HOME/bin directory.
3. At the end of the file, look for the following line:
# Run DBCA
$JRE_DIR/bin/jre -DORACLE_HOME=$OH -DJDBC_PROTOCOL=thin -mx64m -classpath $CLASSPATH oracle.sysman.assistants.dbca.Dbca $ARGUMENTS
4. Add the following just before the -classpath in the '$JRE_DIR' line:
-DTRACING.ENABLED=true -DTRACING.LEVEL=2
5. At the end of the dbca file, the string should now look like this:
# Run DBCA
$JRE_DIR/bin/jre -DORACLE_HOME=$OH -DJDBC_PROTOCOL=thin -mx64m -DTRACING.ENABLED=true -DTRACING.LEVEL=2 -classpath $CLASSPATH oracle.sysman.assistants.dbca.Dbca $ARGUMENTS
6. To trace, run:
[opcbsol1]/u01/home/usupport> dbca > dbca.out &
The output will be written to the dbca.out file.
Note 188134.1 Tracing the Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA)
Note 859016.1 How does DBCA (Database Configuration Assistant) connect to the database?
New Features / Enhancements
The following are the Enhancements to DBCA in 11g.
- Support to configure new database options
- Automatic memory management option (Memory_Target)
- Oracle Data Mining option is made default
- ORACLE_BASE and Diagnostic Destination configuration
- Secure database configuration
- Switching a database from Database Control to Grid Control configuration
- Automatic Maintenance tasks
Detailed Explanation is available in Note 454631.1 - 11g DBCA New features / Enhancements
Additional Resources
Note 1615456.2: Troubleshooting Assistant: Get Assistance to Understand and Solve Oracle DBCA Issues
Note 91790.1 DBCA: Raw Device Support in Database Configuration Assistant
Note 856783.1 How to create a RAC database using DBCA generated scripts from templates
Note 1083339.1 DB 11.1: How to Set Automatic Memory Management Using DBCA [Video]
Note 1263965.1 How To Change Database Parameters Using A DBCA Silent Installation?
Note 454631.1 11g DBCA New features / Enhancements
Note 148676.1 DBCA Templates
Known Issues and Resolutions
Note 333467.1 Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) Errors with TNS-04404
Note 402479.1 NetCA and DBCA Fail To Launch Due to TNS-4414 Error
Note 404075.1 Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) reports ORA-12547 creating a new database on Linux
Note 1177483.1 DBCA Does Not Display ASM Disk Groups In 11.2
Note 388488.1 Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) is Failing With ORA-01034.
Note 727290.1 DBCA/DBUA APPEARS TO HANG AFTER CLICKING FINISH BUTTON
Note 395891.1 DBCA, NETCA and DBUA Fail With Error: "UnsatisfiedLinkError exception loading native library ..."
Note 1368851.1 Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) Shows ORA-1927 Error Creating JVM
Note 1340990.1 While Installing Oracle11.2.0.2: [Ins-20802] Oracle Database Configuration Assistant Failed (DBCA)
Note 747243.1 ORA-12560 - Database Creation Assistant (DBCA) Fails With TNS Error
Note 444811.1 ORA-09925 When Using DBCA Template
Note 374568.1 Trying To Create A Database From A Template With DBCA Generates Errors: ORA-1503, ORA-1130, ORA-1100
Note 749346.1 Database Creation Hangs Using Dbca On New Install On Hp-Ux Itanium
Note 1180356.1 Upgraded HP-UX and now DBCA not working correctly
Note 471765.1 Creating New DB Using DBCA After Apply A Patchset Fails With ORA-1092 While The Upgraded Database Works Fine
Note 387598.1 DBCA Cannot Find Template Files And Fails With ORA-19624, ORA-19870
Note 729774.1 ORA-12560 running DBCA on Windows 2008 AD Controller
Note 359067.1 Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError While Running DBUA/DBCA (Doc ID 359067.1)
Note 738462.1 DBCA gives an ORA-12523 after entering the password for SYS for the ASM instance (Doc ID 738462.1)
Note 433817.1 ORA-119, ORA-132 ORA-1078 Received From DBCA After Applying 10.2.0.3 Patchset (Doc ID 433817.1)
Note 1370537.1 Running DBCA On Solaris 10 Projects Can Receive "ORA-27102: out of memory" (Doc ID 1370537.1)
Note 1111629.1 Creating 11.2.0.1 Database With DBCA Generated Scripts Prompts For "Enter Value For 4:"
Note 603072.1 Installation Stops During Execution of "Oracle Database Configuration Assistant" with Error: "Cannot convert string <fontname> to type FontStruct"
Note 460695.1 DBCA Fails with "Exception In Thread "Main" Java.Lang.Noclassdeffounderror: oracle/sysman/oip/oipc/oipch/OipchKernelProperty"