How to automate 11.2 RMAN duplicate process

[BeefStu]

Joy,
I had much success using the active clone feature, which was introduced. What this does is allow you clone your DB when it's in use instead of copying
it from a backup..

There are a few things you need to watch out for before you take this
approach.

1) Ensure you have all your objects in logging mode (nothing should be in
NO LOGGING). If transaction are applied against an object during the cloning
and the object is in NO LOGGING mode there will be no records of these
transactions in the .arc logs. Once the clone is complete, it will probably
be invalid because it was missing those transactions.

2) As mentioned above, the active clone uses .arc logs to apply against
your cloned DB to bring it up to date. If the the .arc logs are backed up and
removed than you will need to do a manual recovery on your DB.

Below is my code for active clone.

script on target system
==================


cat active_clone.ksh
===============

sqlplus ' / as sysdba ' < shutdown abort
startup nomount
exit
EOT

rman catalog=rman/rman@prod1 target=sys/sys@prod << EOT
connect auxiliary sys/isys1@dev
duplicate target database to dev from active database nofilenamecheck
pfile=/u01/app/oracle/product/11gR2/dbs/initdev.ora ;
exit
EOT

re-create temporary tablespace....
=========================


Do any post refresh steps
===================


About how to automate the clone I typically use point in time recovery
for my larger DB's

sqlplus ' / as sysdba ' < startup nomount pfile=/u01/app/oracle/product/11gR2/dbs/initdev.ora
exit
EOT

rman catalog=rman/rman@prod target=sys/sys@prod < connect auxiliary sys/sys

duplicate target database to dev nofilenamecheck
pfile=/u01/app/oracle/product/11gR2/dbs/initdev.ora
until time="TO_DATE('09/24/11,06:58:59','MM/DD/YY,HH24:MI:SS')";
exit
EOT

But I too am trying to find out what .arc files are needed so they can be
applied. I guess I can leave all the .arc files around to after the clone but
I do risk filling up my file system.. If you figure out how to do this please
repost.

Good luck with the active clone. I would kick it off during the lowest load time on your DB