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May 4th

Question and Answer

Connor McDonald

Thanks for the question, Ann.

Asked: June 05, 2017 - 4:45 pm UTC

Last updated: June 06, 2017 - 2:12 am UTC

Version: 12.1.0.2

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You Asked

I am trying to minimize downtime for the move of a physical standby server to a new location across country and was hoping to set up an x86, 12.1.0.2 Virtual server and storage at the receiving location as another standby database and then just physically move the SPARC server opening those same dataafiles on my SPARC server after it is reconnected. Can I do that? I was hoping if all was the same except SPARC vs x86 I could do it. If not I guess I can save all the production SPARC archive log files generated during the move but if the move takes longer than expected that could also be a pain.

and Connor said...

I dont think you can because Sparc is big endian, and x86 is little endian.

SQL> select * from V$TRANSPORTABLE_PLATFORM order by 3,1;

PLATFORM_ID PLATFORM_NAME                                                                                         ENDIAN_FORMAT
----------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
          1 Solaris[tm] OE (32-bit)                                                                               Big
          2 Solaris[tm] OE (64-bit)                                                                               Big
          3 HP-UX (64-bit)                                                                                        Big
          4 HP-UX IA (64-bit)                                                                                     Big
          6 AIX-Based Systems (64-bit)                                                                            Big
          9 IBM zSeries Based Linux                                                                               Big
         16 Apple Mac OS                                                                                          Big
         18 IBM Power Based Linux                                                                                 Big
          5 HP Tru64 UNIX                                                                                         Little
          7 Microsoft Windows IA (32-bit)                                                                         Little
          8 Microsoft Windows IA (64-bit)                                                                         Little
         10 Linux IA (32-bit)                                                                                     Little
         11 Linux IA (64-bit)                                                                                     Little
         12 Microsoft Windows x86 64-bit                                                                          Little
         13 Linux x86 64-bit                                                                                      Little
         15 HP Open VMS                                                                                           Little
         17 Solaris Operating System (x86)                                                                        Little
         19 HP IA Open VMS                                                                                        Little
         20 Solaris Operating System (x86-64)                                                                     Little
         21 Apple Mac OS (x86-64)                                                                                 Little


Hence to run an x86 version you need to convert all of the datafiles...which is probably a bigger exercise than transferring archive logs anyway. If its just a one-off, perhaps look at renting the smallest sparc box you can find, its job just being to roll the archives forward whilst the real server makes its journey.

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