Oracle Zero Downtime Migration - Migration Methods

Introduction

Oracle Zero Downtime Migration (ZDM) is the Oracle Maximum Availability Architecture (MAA)-recommended solution to migrate Oracle Databases to the Oracle Cloud. ZDM's inherent design keeps the migration process as straightforward as possible and ensures the most negligible impact on production workloads.

The Source Database to be migrated can be on-premises, deployed on Oracle Public Cloud Gen 1 or Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. The Target Database deployment can be in a Database Cloud Service on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (Oracle Cloud Infrastructure) Virtual Machine, Exadata Cloud Service, Exadata Cloud at Customer, or Autonomous Database.

ZDM automates the entire migration process, reducing the chance of human errors. ZDM leverages Oracle Database-integrated high availability (HA) technologies such as Oracle Data Guard and GoldenGate and follows all MAA best practices that ensure no significant downtime of production environments. Oracle ZDM supports both Physical and Logical Migration workflows.

Oracle Database versions supported - 11.2.0.4, 12.1.02, 12.2.0.1, 18c, 19c & 21c.

Migration Workflows

Physical Offline Migration

ZDM physical offline migration leverages Oracle Recovery Manager and migrates the database using a backup and restore methodology. Customers can use this method when migrating to Oracle Database Cloud Services Virtual Machines, Exadata Cloud Service, Exadata Cloud at Customer and Exadata Database Machine On-Premises.

Physical Online Migration

ZDM physical online migration leverages Oracle Recovery Manager and Oracle Data Guard. Customers should use this method when a highly available migration and minimizing any possible impact is a priority. Customers can use this method to migrate to Oracle Database Cloud Services Virtual Machines, Exadata Cloud Service, Exadata Cloud at Customer and Exadata Database Machine On-Premises.

Logical Offline Migration

ZDM logical offline migration with Data Pump and Backup Location offers customers a simple yet efficient method to migrate their databases to the Oracle Cloud. The backup location can be the Object Storage for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure migrations and NFS or the Recovery Appliance for Exadata Cloud at Customer.

Logical Online Migration

Customers can also leverage a designated backup location instead of using a direct Database Link between the source and the target database. Migration to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure-based databases will use the Object Store, whereas migrations to Exadata Cloud at Customer can choose between an external NFS filer or the Recovery Appliance as a backup location.

For more information on Oracle Zero Downtime Migration please visit ZDM's product website.