Comments on: Oracle ASM 11g: Does the ASMCMD cp Command Really Work?

By: Axel Posada

Axel Posada — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:34:40 +0000

What Types of Files Does ASM Support?

This chapter describes how to administer files when you use the Automatic Storage Management (ASM) storage option…

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B28359_01/server.111/b31107/asmfiles.htm

Regards,
Axel.

By: Alex Gorbachev

Alex Gorbachev — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:31:40 +0000

Axel, thanks for emphasizing that. I noticed it - It seems I can’t put any file to ASM. It’s probably documented somewhere. The rest of the blog is focused on supported file types.

By: Axel Posada

Axel Posada — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:52:30 +0000

ASM only support native Oracle Files: Datafiles, Online Logs, Control Files, RMAN backups, block change tracking files, exports, Flashback Logs, Archive Logs, etc. ASM does not support other types of files (Oracle makes a header verification. If the files does not match with an Oracle File, the copy process doesn’t work). Sorry, my english.

By: Log Buffer #92: a Carnival of the Vanities for DBAs

Log Buffer #92: a Carnival of the Vanities for DBAs — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:44:06 +0000

[…] into Oracle stuff, our Alex Gorbachev also pointed out something that doesn’t quite work: the ASMCMD cp command in ASM 11g. He sure gives it a try, but finally concludes: “I couldn’t make the cp command […]

By: Alex Gorbachev

Alex Gorbachev — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:33:54 +0000

Thanks Dan.

By: Dan Norris

Dan Norris — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:09:12 +0000

I know that this feature is important and it seems that others have also experienced the same behavior (so it isn’t something “wrong” with what you did). I’m hoping to get to test this myself as well. In the meantime, I’ve confirmed that ASM development is investigating and hopefully we’ll hear something from them (here) soon.

By: Alex Gorbachev

Alex Gorbachev — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:53:15 +0000

Christian, My DB was but I was working on the backup copy (except one last case - was just too lazy). XDB has to have database open because it implements FTP protocol inside the database (if I can put it this way... Marco will correct me if I'm wrong). I'm pretty sure that Oracle doesn't automagically put datafiles into backup mode. It should have nothing to do with ASM copy. I tested it with database instance down and cp works for datafile only still. It also works for datafile when DB is up:

RMAN> catalog start with '+dg2';

using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
searching for all files that match the pattern +dg2

List of Files Unknown to the Database
=====================================
File Name: +dg2/spfiledb11g.ora
File Name: +dg2/controlfile1
File Name: +dg2/users.dbf.backup

Do you really want to catalog the above files (enter YES or NO)? yes
cataloging files...
cataloging done

List of Cataloged Files
=======================
File Name: +dg2/users.dbf.backup

List of Files Which Where Not Cataloged
=======================================
File Name: +dg2/spfiledb11g.ora
  RMAN-07517: Reason: The file header is corrupted
File Name: +dg2/controlfile1
  RMAN-07517: Reason: The file header is corrupted

spfile seems to be copied fine as well:

SQL> create pfile='/tmp/pfile' from spfile='+dg2/spfiledb11g.ora';

File created.

Let's test with md5 checksum:

SQL> alter database backup controlfile to '/tmp/ctl.bkp';

Database altered.

...

ASMCMD> cp /tmp/ctl.bkp +dg2/ctl.bkp
source /tmp/ctl.bkp
target +dg2/ctl.bkp
copying file(s)...
file, +DG2/ctl.bkp, copy committed.

ASMCMD> cp +dg2/ctl.bkp /tmp/ctl.bkp2
source +dg2/ctl.bkp
target /tmp/tl.bkp2
copying file(s)...
file, /tmp/tl.bkp2, copy committed.

...

[oracle@lh8 ~]$ md5sum /tmp/*bkp*
f3bbed641957af225b6d94b5cbf9158d  /tmp/ctl.bkp
0615ba7790313e717a9cb396df56cc7e  /tmp/ctl.bkp2

So cp definitely doesn't work for controlfiles. It seems to work for datafiles and spfiles at least. However, my trust to the ASMCMD cp command is hurt.

By: Luca

Luca — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:30:53 +0000

I have tested cp using a DG with 1MB AU size.

By: cristiancudizio

cristiancudizio — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 07:55:34 +0000

Really i’ve not yet testet ASM 11g new cp command, but i can say that i’ve made test similar to your first test about a copy on a non-oracle file on ASM with XDB FTP with 10g and i’ve got same result. Oracle check the header of the file and allows only copy of Oracle files on ASM.
My question is: your database was MOUNTED?, OPENED? On my test XDB FTP works only with database OPEN and i’ve tested with backup files o archived log files. I think that it does not work with CONTROL FILE because it is opened and locked by the instance. With datafiles may be that ORacle put them automatically on backup mode?

Regards,
Cristian

By: Dan Norris

Dan Norris — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:44:46 +0000

Definitely something to discuss with the (Oracle, and other) gurus next week at Collaborate. I haven’t tried it myself, but agree that this is one of the most anticipated new features in ASMCMD, possibly ASM in general. For it to be so highly anticipated and not function as expected is certainly disappointing.

See you next week!