We have had a process of copying "cold" database files between different Oracle instances for several years using the create controlfile technique.

The process has worked fine until we just now upgraded from Oracle 8.1.7 to 9.2. Now, when we run the modified output of our last "alter database backup controlfile to trace" command, we get an error. Oracle 9.2 has added the statement "RECOVER DATABASE USING BACKUP CONTROLFILE", and we get a different error without it. It is looking for an undo log. We then have to guess the log it needs, answer the prompt, and then it will complete.

This error did not happen in previous Oracle versions. We even have switched the log files before shutting down the source instance, but still the same error.

Here is a typical session. Any suggestions?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Connected to an idle instance.

SQL> STARTUP NOMOUNT

CREATE CONTROLFILE SET DATABASE "padm" RESETLOGS ARCHIVELOG
MAXLOGFILES 5
MAXLOGMEMBERS 3
MAXDATAFILES 100
MAXINSTANCES 1
MAXLOGHISTORY 226
LOGFILE
GROUP 1 (
'/usr2/r1/padm/padmredo01a.log',
'/usr2/r2/padm/padmredo01b.log'
) SIZE 25M,
GROUP 2 (
'/usr2/r1/padm/padmredo02a.log',
'/usr2/r2/padm/padmredo02b.log'
) SIZE 25M,
GROUP 3 (
'/usr2/r1/padm/padmredo03a.log',
'/usr2/r2/padm/padmredo03b.log'
) SIZE 25M,
GROUP 4 (
'/usr2/r1/padm/padmredo04a.log',
'/usr2/r2/padm/padmredo04b.log'
) SIZE 25M
DATAFILE
'/usr2/r1/padm/padmsystem01.dbf',
'/usr2/r1/padm/padmundotbs01.dbf',
'/usr2/r2/padm/padmdata11.dbf',
'/usr2/r1/padm/padmindx11.dbf',
'/usr2/r2/padm/padmusers01.dbf'
CHARACTER SET WE8ISO8859P1;
ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area 2098694704 bytes
Fixed Size 743984 bytes
Variable Size 2063597568 bytes
Database Buffers 33554432 bytes
Redo Buffers 798720 bytes

Control file created.

SQL> RECOVER DATABASE USING BACKUP CONTROLFILE
ORA-00279: change 3834698 generated at 05/01/2003 22:04:19 needed for thread 1
ORA-00289: suggestion : /usr2/r7/padm/arch/padmarch_1_73.arc
ORA-00280: change 3834698 for thread 1 is in sequence #73

Specify log: {=suggested | filename | AUTO | CANCEL}
/usr2/r1/padm/padmredo04a.log
Log applied.
Media recovery complete.
SQL> ALTER DATABASE OPEN RESETLOGS;

Database altered.

SQL> ALTER TABLESPACE TEMP ADD TEMPFILE '/usr2/r1/padm/padmtemp01.dbf'
SIZE 104857600 REUSE AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 655360 MAXSIZE 32767M;
2
Tablespace altered.

SQL> select * from dual;

D
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X