---
title: How to use createGoldImage For Cloning in 19c
description: Oracle recommends not using clone.pl script because it has been deprecated. Michael Dinh explains how to us creategoldimage to clone Oracle Homes.
---

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# [How to use createGoldImage For Cloning in 19c](https://www.pythian.com/blog/how-to-use-creategoldimage-for-cloning-in-19c)

 Written by [Michael Dinh](https://www.pythian.com/blog/author/michael-dinh) | Oct 31, 2019 4:00:00 AM

According to the Oracle Database Upgrade Guide, the traditional `clone.pl` script has been officially deprecated. The modern standard for cloning Oracle software involves using the `-createGoldImage` flag within the installer and then deploying that image to the target location.

## 1. Cloning the Oracle Database Home (DB)

In this scenario, we are creating a gold image from an existing 19c Database Home and preparing it for a new destination.

**Environment Details:**

- **Source:** `/u01/app/oracle/product/19.0.0/dbhome_1`
- **Target:** `/u01/app/oracle/product/19.0.0/dbhome_2`

### Creating the Gold Image

First, ensure the target directory exists and is empty. Then, run the `runInstaller` with the `-createGoldImage` flag.

```
[oracle@ol7-19-rac1 ~]$ ls -l /u01/app/oracle/product/19.0.0/dbhome_2/ total 0  [oracle@ol7-19-rac1 ~]$ $ORACLE_HOME/runInstaller -createGoldImage -destinationLocation /u01/app/oracle/product/19.0.0/dbhome_2 -silent Launching Oracle Database Setup Wizard...  [oracle@ol7-19-rac1 ~]$ ls -l /u01/app/oracle/product/19.0.0/dbhome_2/ total 3069584 -rw-r--r--. 1 oracle oinstall 3143250100 Oct 29 13:09 db_home_2019-10-29_12-59-52PM.zip 
```

### Extracting the Software

Once the `.zip` file is created, navigate to the target directory and unzip the contents to complete the software deployment phase.

```
[oracle@ol7-19-rac1 dbhome_2]$ unzip -qo db_home_2019-10-29_12-59-52PM.zip [oracle@ol7-19-rac1 dbhome_2]$ ls -ld * drwxr-xr-x. 2 oracle oinstall 102 Oct  2 00:06 addnode drwxr-xr-x. 3 oracle oinstall  20 Oct  2 00:35 admin ... -rwxr-x---. 1 oracle oinstall 1783 Mar  8  2017 runInstaller 
```

## 2. Cloning the Grid Infrastructure Home (GI)

Cloning a Grid Infrastructure home follows a similar logic but utilizes the `gridSetup.sh` script.

**Environment Details:**

- **Source:** `/u01/app/19.0.0/grid`
- **Target:** `/u01/app/19.0.0/grid5`

### Preparing the Target and Permissions

Before generating the image, create the target directory and ensure permissions are correctly set for the `oracle` user.

```
[root@ol7-19-rac1 ~]# mkdir -p /u01/app/19.0.0/grid5 [root@ol7-19-rac1 ~]# chmod 775 /u01/app/19.0.0/grid5 [root@ol7-19-rac1 ~]# chown oracle:oinstall /u01/app/19.0.0/grid5 
```

### Generating the GI Gold Image

Run the `gridSetup.sh` script from the source home. Note that you may need to adjust permissions on specific log directories (like `ol7-19-rac1` or `procwatcher`) if the installer encounters access issues during the image creation.

```
[oracle@ol7-19-rac1 ~]$ echo $ORACLE_HOME /u01/app/19.0.0/grid  [oracle@ol7-19-rac1 ~]$ $ORACLE_HOME/gridSetup.sh -creategoldimage -destinationlocation /u01/app/19.0.0/grid5 -silent Launching Oracle Grid Infrastructure Setup Wizard... Successfully Setup Software.  Gold Image location: /u01/app/19.0.0/grid5/grid_home_2019-10-29_04-36-47PM.zip 
```

## Summary of Changes

Using `createGoldImage` is now the mandatory replacement for the deprecated `clone.pl`. This method encapsulates the current state of the Oracle Home—including patches and configurations—into a single distributable archive, making mass deployments much more consistent.

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