How do I make a backup of a PLSQL db? - plsql

How do I make a backup of a PLSQL db?

The question is do you really want to do it from PL/SQL?
Assuming you are using an oracle DB they have commands that will dump your DB into a file. It is dumped in such a way that the DB (tables and all) can be re-created from scratch (so you can re-create a secondary backup [not that I would recommend this way]).
Here is the FAQ
http://www.orafaq.com/wiki/Import_Export_FAQ

Your question requires some clarification.
Do you want to:
a) create a copy of the database for use somewhere else
b) create a backup of the database for backup and recoverability purposes
If you are looking to simply create a copy of the database somewhere else, then the use of the import and export utilities (imp and exp, or impdp and expdp in 10g) should be sufficient.
If you are looking to backup the database for recoverability purposes, then you should really be looking into the use of RMAN, which is Oracle's enterprise backup solution. Docs can be found here: RMAN Quick Start Guide

When I do physical backups I use RMAN, not PL/SQL, since it's THE tool for this kind of job. However, here's a link that maybe can help you. http://psst0101.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/move-a-tablespace/

EXP command will help do this job
Syntax:
EXP schema_user_name/schema_pwd file=file_name.dmp
you can even export (take back up) of individual db objects

Related

Clone Oracle Express Edition 11g R2

I have installed Oracle XE 11g R2 on my machine. I ran few scripts which does the setup by creating schemas, procedures for our application. Now I want to clone this database so that other people by using the cloned dbf file can see the base schema on their respective machine and work on their individual requirement on top of that.
Now it has 6 dbf files
CONTROL.DBF
SYSAUX.DBF
SYSTEM.DBF
TEMP.DBF
UNDO.DBF
USER.DBF
Can i just give them the files or I need to create server parameter file (SPFILE) or Control file. What about the REDO logs.
I have very little knowledge in Database administration. Please suggest. I understand that it is not Enterprise Edition so all things might not supported but assuming cloning process is similar for XE.
While it is possible to restore a database using the data files, I strongly suspect that is not what you're really after. If you're not an experienced DBA, the number of possible issues you'll encounter trying to restore a backup on a different machine and then creating an appropriate database instance are rather large.
More likely, what you really want to do is generate a full export of your database. The other people that need your application would then install Oracle and import the export that you generated.
The simplest possible approach would be at a command line to
exp / as sysdba full=y file=myDump.dmp
You would then send myDump.dmp to the other users who would import that into their own database
imp / as sysdba full=y file=myDump.dmp
This will only be a logical backup of your database. It will not include things like the parameters that the database has been set to use so other users may be configured to use more (or less) memory or to have a different file layout or even a slightly different version of Oracle. But it does not sound like you need that degree of cloning. If you have a large amount of data, using the DataPump version of the export and import utilities would be more efficient. My guess from the fact that you haven't even created a new tablespace is that you don't have enough data for this to be a concern.
For more information, consult the Oracle documentation on the export and import utilities.
Removing content as it is not valid here

Move a remote development database to local usage

I have been using a central MS SQL database located in the cloud to develop a web site project. I have recently found myself in situations, when I need to develop without the internet connection. I want to begin to use a locally available copy of the existing database, put it in App_Data folder.
What is the correct set of steps I need to undertake to get the project to work with local DB?
For example:
Detach a db from an existing SQL instance.
Copy to a development machine.
etc.
Moving a SQL-Server DB is not that hard. Look here for some methods to do it.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314546
I usually find the sp_detach + sp_attach method really easy.
I would create an empty shell database locally, then use one of the many schema comparison solutions available to make the local database look exactly like the cloud database.
Correct way is to create and regularly update your standalone copy of database using import/export. In particular MS SQL Server provides Import/Export Wizard tool for such purpose.
Make a backup
Copy backup file
Restore on your server
Restore/organise users

DBISAM database utility

I have a DBISAM database that I need to open and view and eventually migrate to SQL server, if not atleast a comma separated file. Does anyone know of a util to do that?
DBISAM ships with a free DBSYS utility that lets you view tables, write queries and export results.
The DBISAM guys sell an ODBC driver... Get it, and then you can really get to your data...
(I have used it a lot, and it works fine.)

Temporary in-memory database in SQLite

Is it possible somehow to create in-memory database in SQLite and then destroy it just by some query?
I need to do this for unit testing my db layer. So far I've only worked by creating normal SQLite db file and delete if after all tests, but doing it all in memory would be much better.
So is it possible to instanciate database only in memory without writing anything to disc?
I can't use just transactions, because I want to create whole new database.
Create it with the filename ":memory:": In-Memory Databases.
It'll cease to exist as soon as the connection to it is closed.
As an alternative to in memory databases, you can create a SQLite temporary database by using an empty string for the filename. It will be deleted when the connection is closed. The advantage over an in-memory database is your databases are not limited to available memory.
Alternatively, you can create your database in a temp file and let the operating system clean it up. This has the advantage of being accessible for inspection.
I'd suggest mounting a tmpfs filesystem somewhere (RAM only filesystem) and using that for your unit tests.
Instantiate DB files as normal then blow them away using rm - yet nothing has gone to disk.
(EDIT: Nice - somebody beat me to a correct answer ;) Leaving this here as another option regardless)
I suggest you using lmDisk toolkit.
It's a tool kit to mount a part of ram or image file as normal disk. you can copy your project (or just your db) there.
I've try it to process raw data and create a db for a game ai.

Backing and restoring SQL Server data to changed database structure

The scenario is this. I have a SQL Server database online that I am demoing an application. During development, I have added extra fields, modified field types, changed keys and added some new tables locally.
What's the best way for me to update the online database with the new structure and not lose the data? The database is a SQL Server 2005 one.
Download a trial of Red Gate SQL Compare, compare your two servers and you are done. If you do this often, it is well worth the $400, or get one of their bundles for a better bang for the buck.
And I do not work for Red Gate, just a happy customer!
Write update scripts to modify your live database structure to the new structure, as well as inserting any data which is required.
You may find it necessary to use temporary tables to do this.
It's probably best if you test this process on a test environment, before running the scripts on the live environment.
Depending on what exactly you've done you may be able to get away with alter statements, though from the sounds of it (removing keys and whatnot) you're doing some heavy lifting that may make that a less-than-ideal solution. You should probably look into creating a maintenance plan or, better yet, a SQL Server Integration Services project in Visual Studio. You should be able to migrate the data in the existing database to a new one using those tools.
This probably isn't of huge help retrospectively, but I always script all structural DB changes to my development database and then using a version number to determine the current version of the DB I can run the required scripts on the live DB, hence bringing it back in line at the same time as the new code is uploaded.
This also works for any content changes, for instance if the change in the underlying structure has an effect on the conent stored you can also write scripts to migrate the data accordingly.
Make a copy of the existing database to copy from.
Make another copy and alter it to your new schema. save DDL for reuse.
Write queries that copy data from #1 to #2. Save the queries for reuse.
Check the results.
Repeat until done.

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