Abstract: Techniques are provided for using a sparse file to create a hot archive of a pluggable database of a container database. In an embodiment and while a source pluggable database is in service, a source database server creates a clone of the source pluggable database. Also while the source pluggable database is in service, the source database server creates an archive of the source pluggable database that is based on the clone. Eventually, a need arises to consume the archive. A target database server (which may also be the source database server) creates a target pluggable database based on the archive.

Abstract: Techniques herein make and use a pluggable database archive file (AF). In an embodiment, a source database server of a source container database (SCD) inserts contents into an AF from a source pluggable database (SPD). The contents include data files from the SPD, a listing of the data files, rollback scripts, and a list of patches applied to the SPD. A target database server (TDS) of a target container database (TCD) creates a target pluggable database (TPD) based on the AF. If a patch on the list of patches does not exist in the TCD, the TDS executes the rollback scripts to adjust the TPD. In an embodiment, the TDS receives a request to access a block of a particular data file. The TDS detects, based on the listing of the data files, a position of the block within the AF. The TDS retrieves the block based on the position.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for creating a backup of a source pluggable database (SPD) of a source container database and porting the backup for recovery into a different target container database. In an embodiment, a source database server retrieves metadata that describes backups of the SPD. The source database server inserts, into a unplugged pluggable database of the SPD, the metadata that describes each of the backups. For example, unplugging the SPD may automatically create the unplugged pluggable database. Eventually, the unplugged pluggable database may be plugged into the target container database. A target database server transfers the metadata that describes each of the backups from the unplugged pluggable database and into the target container database. Based on at least one backup and the metadata that describes backups of the SPD, the target database server restores a target pluggable database within the target container database.

Abstract: Provided herein are workload management techniques that asynchronously configure pluggable databases within a compute cloud. In an embodiment, the compute cloud receives an administrative request that indicates configuration details for a pluggable database. The compute cloud generates a configuration descriptor that specifies an asynchronous job based on the configuration details of the request. The compute cloud accesses hosting metadata to detect at least one of: a) a current container database that already hosts the pluggable database, b) a target container database that will host the pluggable database, or c) a particular computer that hosts at least one of: the current container database, or the target container database. The compute cloud executes the asynchronous job to configure the pluggable database based on at least one of: the hosting metadata, or the configuration descriptor.

Abstract: Provided herein are data cloud administration techniques that achieve autonomy by using a rules engine that reacts to a database system event by autonomously submitting an asynchronous job to reconfigure a database. In an embodiment, a rules engine receives an event from a DBMS. Based on the event, the rules engine executes a rule to generate a request that indicates configuration details for a database. The rules engine sends the request to a request broker. The request broker dispatches an asynchronous job based on the request. The asynchronous job configures the database based on the configuration details. Thus, databases in a cloud, data grid, or data center may be administered autonomously (without human intervention) base on dynamic conditions that are foreseen and unforeseen.

Abstract: Techniques for common users and roles, and commonly-granted privileges and roles are described. In one approach, the DBMS of a container database allows for the creation of common roles and common users that are shared across the container database. Thus, when a common role or a common user is established, the common role or common user is propagated to each database of the container database. In another approach, the DBMS of a container database allows privileges and roles to be granted commonly or locally. When a privilege or role is granted commonly, the privilege applies in each of the databases of a container database. When a privilege or role is granted locally, the privilege applies only in the database to which the grantor of the privilege or role established a connection.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for using a sparse file to create a hot archive of a pluggable database of a container database. In an embodiment and while a source pluggable database is in service, a source database server creates a clone of the source pluggable database. Also while the source pluggable database is in service, the source database server creates an archive of the source pluggable database that is based on the clone. Eventually, a need arises to consume the archive. A target database server (which may also be the source database server) creates a target pluggable database based on the archive.

Abstract: Techniques herein make and use a pluggable database archive file (AF). In an embodiment, a source database server of a source container database (SCD) inserts contents into an AF from a source pluggable database (SPD). The contents include data files from the SPD, a listing of the data files, rollback scripts, and a list of patches applied to the SPD. A target database server (TDS) of a target container database (TCD) creates a target pluggable database (TPD) based on the AF. If a patch on the list of patches does not exist in the TCD, the TDS executes the rollback scripts to adjust the TPD. In an embodiment, the TDS receives a request to access a block of a particular data file. The TDS detects, based on the listing of the data files, a position of the block within the AF. The TDS retrieves the block based on the position.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for creating a backup of a source pluggable database (SPD) of a source container database and porting the backup for recovery into a different target container database. In an embodiment, a source database server retrieves metadata that describes backups of the SPD. The source database server inserts, into a unplugged pluggable database of the SPD, the metadata that describes each of the backups. For example, unplugging the SPD may automatically create the unplugged pluggable database. Eventually, the unplugged pluggable database may be plugged into the target container database. A target database server transfers the metadata that describes each of the backups from the unplugged pluggable database and into the target container database. Based on at least one backup and the metadata that describes backups of the SPD, the target database server restores a target pluggable database within the target container database.

Abstract: A container database stores redo records and logical timestamps for multiple pluggable databases. When it is detected that a first read-write instance of the pluggable database is opened and no other read-write instances of the pluggable database are open, offline range data associated with the pluggable database is updated. When it is detected that a second read-write instance of the pluggable database is closed, and the second read-write instance is the last open read-write instance, the offline range data associated with the pluggable database is updated. The pluggable database is restored to a logical timestamp associated with a restore request based on the offline range data.

Abstract: Embodiments incrementally refresh a clone of a source PDB while the source PDB accepts write operations. Specifically, refreshing the PDB clone incorporates changes made to the source PDB since a refresh reference time stamp, which marks the time at which the PDB clone was created or, if the PDB clone has been previously refreshed, the time at which the PDB clone was last refreshed. A PDB clone is incrementally refreshed by incorporating, into the PDB clone data, those source data blocks that have changed since the refresh reference time stamp. Recovery is performed on the PDB clone, once the blocks are copied, to apply any changes made to the source PDB while the blocks were being copied, which recovery makes the PDB clone files consistent. This recovery is based on redo entries recorded for the source PDB during the time it took to copy the blocks to the PDB clone.

Abstract: Embodiments create a clone of a PDB while the PDB accepts write operations. While the PDB remains in read-write mode, the DBMS copies the data of the PDB and sends the data to a destination location. The DBMS performs data recovery on the PDB clone based on redo entries that record changes made to the source PDB while the DBMS copied the source PDB files. This data recovery makes all changes, to the PDB clone, that occurred to the source PDB during the copy operation. The redo information, on which the data recovery is based, is foreign to the PDB clone since the redo entries were recorded for a different PDB. In order to apply foreign redo information to perform recovery on the PDB clone, a DBMS managing the PDB clone maintains mapping information that maps PDB source reference information to corresponding information for the PDB clone.

Abstract: A pluggable database (PDB) that is encoded using a particular character set (differing character set) may be plugged into a container database (CDB) and queried, even when the CDB in which the particular PDB resides is encoded using a different character set. The DBMS records what character set is used to encode the PDB. Any predicate that may prune results from a PDB that is encoded in a differing character set is converted to the differing character set as needed, such that the predicate may be applied within the PDB to prune results. At times, cross-container views will require data from a PDB that is encoded using a differing character set. The data returned from a recursive query over the PDB is converted to being encoded using the character set of the root database of the CDB.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a migration instruction that effectuates the migration of a pluggable database from a source database server instance to a destination database server instance. Upon receiving the migration instruction, the migrating pluggable database is opened at the destination instance. Connections are terminated at the source instance at a rate that is determined based on statistics maintained for one or more of: the migrating pluggable database, the source instance, the destination instance, a container database, etc. Furthermore, once the migration instruction is received, a certain amount of time is provided before the source instance flushes the dirty buffers for the migrating pluggable database from the buffer cache of the source instance. The delay in flushing dirty buffers from buffer cache allows the source instance to provide data blocks, of the migrating pluggable database, directly to the destination database server instance from the cache.

Abstract: In an approach, a database management system is configured in a manner that allows all pluggable databases within a cluster to be treated, from the perspective of a user, as though stored on a single container database, even when the pluggable databases are distributed across a plurality of container databases. When a command is received by a database server that is to be executed on all or a subset of the pluggable databases within the cluster, the database inspects mapping information replicated on all container databases within the cluster by a cluster synchronization server to determine which container databases store pluggable databases implicated by the command. The command is then forwarded to the database servers responsible for the determined container databases for execution. As a result, the commands issued by the user can be agnostic in regard to the actual location of the pluggable databases within the cluster.

Abstract: Embodiments minimize downtime involved in moving a PDB between CDBs by allowing read-write access to the PDB through most of the moving operation, and by transparently forwarding connection requests, for the PDB, from the source CDB to the destination CDB. The files of a source PDB are copied from a source CDB to a destination CDB, during which the source PDB may be in read-write mode. The source PDB is then closed to write operations so that changes to the source PDB cease. Another round of recovery is performed on the PDB clone, which applies all changes that have been performed on the source PDB during the copy operation and the PDB clone is opened for read and write operations. Forwarding information is registered with the source location, which information is used to automatically forward connection requests, received at the source location for the moved PDB, to the destination location.

Abstract: A container database stores redo records and logical timestamps for multiple pluggable databases. When it is detected that a first read-write instance of the pluggable database is opened and no other read-write instances of the pluggable database are open, offline range data associated with the pluggable database is updated. When it is detected that a second read-write instance of the pluggable database is closed, and the second read-write instance is the last open read-write instance, the offline range data associated with the pluggable database is updated. The pluggable database is restored to a logical timestamp associated with a restore request based on the offline range data.

Abstract: A pluggable database is transported between a source DBMS and a destination DBMS, in a way that minimizes downtime of the pluggable database. While a copy of the pluggable database is being made at the destination DBMS, transactions continue to execute against the pluggable database at the source DBMS and change the pluggable database. Eventually, the transactions terminate or cease executing. Redo records generated for the transactions are applied to the copy of the pluggable database at the source DBMS. Undo records generated for at least some of the transactions may be stored in a separate undo log and transported to the destination DBMS. The transported pluggable database is synchronized at a destination DBMS in a “pluggable-ready state”, where it may be plugged into the destination container DBMS.

Abstract: A container database may contain multiple database dictionaries, each database dictionary defining a pluggable database. When database sessions are established on a container DBMS, each database session is given access to a pluggable database by establishing the respective database dictionary of the pluggable database as the database dictionary for that database session. Database commands issued through database session can only access the database objects defined in the database dictionary established for the database session.

Abstract: Techniques for common users and roles, and commonly-granted privileges and roles are described. In one approach, the DBMS of a container database allows for the creation of common roles and common users that are shared across the container database. Thus, when a common role or a common user is established, the common role or common user is propagated to each database of the container database. In another approach, the DBMS of a container database allows privileges and roles to be granted commonly or locally. When a privilege or role is granted commonly, the privilege applies in each of the databases of a container database. When a privilege or role is granted locally, the privilege applies only in the database to which the grantor of the privilege or role established a connection.