It is possible to export 400 GB DB. Our group did 600 GB export during the conversion project and imported back again into the database.


All you need is many disks under different controllers with a stripe size of 1MB. For example, if you have 48 disks (each size is 8 GB) , then form 8 disks group so that you get 6 disk groups. The stripe size per disk could be 1 MB. These are the target devices for storing your export dump files.

Enable Large file system on the backup file system. If not possible, use filesize parameter in the export.

Now Look your tablespaces (datafiles). Create 16 parameter files that can be used for the export. Choose the tables while forming the group in such way that READ contention will not occur.
Fire 16 exports thru shell scripts using 16 parameters files. Each dump file goes to different target devices, then it get compressed.

We do not do this exercise daily.
The best option is either BMC SQL*BACKTRACK or RMAN.

Good Luck.
Tamil