Please use the following documentation as a guide to identify and act on common Oracle LiveSource User Workflows. The following table of contents includes steps for how to convert a dSource into a LiveSource, provision from a LiveSource, sync a LiveSource, convert a LiveSource back to a dSource, and many other data procedures.

Converting to LiveSource from a dSource

To get a live feed to the source database data through the Delphix Engine, you must first link the database to the Delphix Engine to create a dSource. You can then convert the dSource into a LiveSource by following the steps outlined below:

1. In the left-hand panel, click the dSource. 
2. Click the Configuration tab.  
3. Click the Convert to LiveSource icon, as highlighted below. This launches the Convert to LiveSource wizard.
   

Convert to LiveSource, Section 1 of 6 in the LiveSource Wizard

1. Enter a DB Unique Name for the LiveSource.
2. Enter a Database SID for the LiveSource.
3. Click Next.
   

Convert to LiveSource, Section 2 of 6 in the LiveSource Wizard

Select the environment on which the LiveSource will be created:

1. Select an Environment User for the LiveSource instance.
2. Enter the Mount Point for the LiveSource instance.
3. Select Listeners as needed. If you enable Auto Select Listeners, the Delphix Engine will pick the first available listener from the environment.  
4. Click Next.

Convert to LiveSource, Section 3 of 6 in the LiveSource Wizard

The image below illustrates where a user is to configure virtual database (VDB) templates and DB configuration parameters.

1. Select VDB configuration templates for the LiveSource.
2. Enter additional DB configuration parameters for the LiveSource.
3. Click Next.

Convert to LiveSource, Section 4 of 6 in the LiveSource Wizard

1. The image below illustrates where you will enter the data age warning threshold for the LiveSource.
   If the data in LiveSource lags behind the source database by more than this threshold, the Delphix Engine will raise a fault and notify you.  
   
2. Click Next.

Convert to LiveSource, Section 5 of 6 in the LiveSource Wizard

1. As seen in the image below, you can enter the operations to be performed on initial conversion.  These operations are performed after the Delphix Engine has created the standby database for the LiveSource.

      

2. Click Next.

Convert to LiveSource, Section 6 of 6 in the LiveSource Wizard

1. As seen in the image below, review the configuration summary.
   
   
2. Click Covert to begin the conversion.

Setting up Log Transport between a dSource or Primary Database and a LiveSource or Standby Database

After adding a LiveSource instance, you must configure the log transport between the dSource or primary database and the LiveSource or standby database. For details on configuring a standby database, refer to the Oracle Data Guard Concepts and Administration guide.

At source/primary database

1. Configure the LOG_ARCHIVE_CONFIG parameter to enable the sending of redo logs to remote destinations and the receipt of remote redo logs (the LiveSource instance). For example:
   alter system set log_archive_config='DG_CONFIG=(sourcedb,livesource)' scope=both;
2. Configure the LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_n parameter to point the redo logs to the LiveSource instance. For example:
   alter system set log_archive_dest_2='SERVICE=livesource ASYNC VALID_FOR=(ONLINE_LOGFILE,PRIMARY_ROLE) DB_UNIQUE_NAME=livesource scope=both;
3. Set up tnsnames.ora in both source and target sites.
4. Create a passwd file for the LiveSource into the target site.
   
5. Configure the corresponding LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_STATE_n parameter to identify whether the log transport is enabled. For example:
   alter system set log_archive_dest_state_2='ENABLE' scope=both;
6. Configure the STANDBY_FILE_MANAGEMENT parameter to enable automatic standby file management. F or example:
   alter system set standby_file_management='AUTO' scope=both;

grant select on v_$managed_standby to <delphix DB username>;
create synonym <delphix DB username>.v$managed_standby for v_$managed_standby ;

At the Staging Environment  where the LiveSource standby database environment is running

1. Configure the FAL_SERVER parameter to point to the primary database for proper fetch archive log function. For example:

   ALTER system SET fal_server='service="(DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=sourcedb.dcenter.delphix.com)(PORT=1521))(CONNECT_DATA=(SERVICE_NAME=sourcedb)(SERVER=DEDICATED)))"';

2. If not already created, configure a password for Data Guard.

Removing a LiveSource

1. In the Datasets panel, click the LiveSource.
   
2. Click the Configuration tab.
3. In the upper right-hand corner of the  Configuration tab, click the Convert to dSource icon, as highlighted in the screenshot below:
   
4. Click Yes .
   

Taking a Snapshot on a LiveSource

To take a snapshot of a LiveSource:

1.   In the Datasets panel, select the LiveSource.
2. Click the Configuration tab.
3. In the upper right-hand corner, click the camera icon.  
   

LiveSource snapshots are instantaneous, Quick Provision snapshots. They do not require an RMAN backup of the source database

Provisioning from a LiveSource TimeFlow

Provisioning from a LiveSource TimeFlow is the same process as provisioning from a snapshot for dSource TimeFlow. The only difference is that you will select a LiveSource and a LiveSource snapshot.

Enabling, Disabling, and Detaching a LiveSource

A LiveSource is enabled the same way as a regular dSource.

1. Login to the Delphix Engine administrative GUI as delphix_admin or another user with administrative privileges.
2. Click Manage.
3. Select My Datasets.
4. Click the dSource you want to enable.
5. Click the Configuration tab.
6. Click or slide the slide bar from Disabled to Enabled.
7. Click Yes to confirm.

A LiveSource is disabled the same way as a regular dSource.

You can detach a LiveSource in the same way as detaching a regular dSource. Detaching a LiveSource will implicitly convert the LiveSource into a regular dSource. After a dSource is re-attached, you can convert it back to a LiveSource.   

Resyncing a LiveSource + Applying the Resync

Resync is a way to refresh the LiveSource to the current point in the linked source. Resync is a multi-phase operation comprised of the following:

Perform Resync

1. Click Manage.
2. Select My Datasets.
3. Select the Configuration tab.
4. Click the Start Resync Data icon, as highlighted in the image below. The LiveSource can stay up while the Resync is in progress.
   

Discarding Resync Data

Prerequisites

•   Resync is started and ready to apply

After Resync has finished, you can choose to not apply but rather discard the data that was brought over from the source database as part of Resync.

Procedure

To discard the data:

1. Click  Manage.
2. Select My Datasets.
3. Select the Configuration tab.

4. Click the Discard Resync Data icon, as highlighted in the image below:
   

   

Applying Resync Data

Prerequisites

• Resync started and ready to apply

Procedure

1. Click Manage.
2. Select My Datasets.
3. Select the Configuration tab.

4. Click Apply Resync Data, as shown below.
   

    

5. If the apply resync data process fails, first investigate and resolve the cause of failure, such as a full disk. Then follow the procedure to start resync.

Migrating a LiveSource

1. Click Manage.
2. Select My Datasets.
3. Select the Configuration tab.
4. Disable the dSource.
5. Click the Migrate icon, as seen below:

6. Update the environment, user, and repository, as illustrated in the image below: 

7.Enable the dSource.

Upgrading a LiveSource 

If the source database for the LiveSource has been upgraded, users would have to inform Delphix of the updated Oracle installation and the associated environment user for both the source database and the LiveSource. This can be done by following the steps below:

1. Click Manage.
2. Select My Datasets.
3. Select the Configuration tab.
4. Disable the LiveSource.
5. On the Configuration tab, click the upgrade icon, as shown below:

6. Specify the new installation and environment user for the Linked Source and the LiveSource, as illustrated in the image below.  

7. Enable the LiveSource.

Related Links

1. • Oracle LiveSources Overview