SWITCH

Syntax

switch::=

Text description of switch

switchFile::=

Text description of switchFile

Purpose

To specify that a datafile copy is now the current datafile, that is, the datafile pointed to by the control file. A SWITCH is equivalent to using the PL/SQL ALTER DATABASE RENAME FILE statement: the names of the files in the RMAN repository are updated, but the database does not actually rename the files at the operating system level. Note that this command deletes the records for the datafile copy from the recovery catalog and updates the control file records to status DELETED.

Restrictions and Usage Notes

Execute the forms of SWITCH in the switch syntax diagram outside of a RUN block. Execute the forms of SWITCH in the switchFile syntax diagram within a RUN block.
If the control file is a restored backup control file, then SWITCH adds the datafile to the control file if it is not there already. You can only add datafiles through SWITCH that were created after the backup control file was created.

Keywords and Parameters

switch

Syntax Element Description

Syntax Element	Description
`DATABASE` `TO` `COPY`	Renames the datafiles and control files to use the filenames of image copies of these files. RMAN switches to the latest image copy of each file. After a database switch, RMAN considers the previous database files as datafile copies.
`DATAFILE` datafileSpec `TO COPY`	Specifies the datafile that you wish to rename. As with `DATABASE TO COPY`, specifies to switch this datafile to the latest image copy. After the switch, the control file no longer considers the specified file as current.
`TABLESPACE '``tablespace_name``' TO COPY`	Switches all datafiles within the tablespace, as with `SWITCH DATAFILE ... TO COPY`.

DATABASE TO COPY

Renames the datafiles and control files to use the filenames of image copies of these files. RMAN switches to the latest image copy of each file.

After a database switch, RMAN considers the previous database files as datafile copies.

DATAFILE datafileSpec
TO COPY

Specifies the datafile that you wish to rename. As with DATABASE TO COPY, specifies to switch this datafile to the latest image copy.

After the switch, the control file no longer considers the specified file as current.

TABLESPACE 'tablespace_name' TO COPY

Switches all datafiles within the tablespace, as with SWITCH DATAFILE ... TO COPY.

switchFile

Syntax Element Description

Syntax Element	Description
`DATAFILE` `datafileSpec TO` `DATAFILECOPY {'``filename``'` `\|` `TAG` `=` `'tag_name'` `}`	Specifies the datafile that you wish to rename. After the switch, the control file no longer considers the specified file as current. For example, this command points the control file from `tbs_1.f` to `cp1.f`: SWITCH DATAFILE '?/dbs/tbs_1.f' TO DATAFILECOPY '?/dbs/copies/cp1.f'; If you do not specify a `TO` option, then RMAN uses the filename specified on a prior `SET` `NEWNAME` command in the RUN block for this file number as the switch target. The filename or tag provided in the `TO DATAFILECOPY` clause specifies the input copy file for the switch, that is, the datafile copy that you wish to rename. Specify the file by filename or tag. For example, the following command sets `df2.copy` as the filename for datafile `2`: SWITCH DATAFILE 2 TO DATAFILECOPY '?/dbs/df2.copy'; Note that if you specify a tag and more than one copy uses this tag name, then RMAN uses the most current copy, that is, the one needing the least recovery. The following command switches datafile `3` to the most recently created datafile copy tagged `mondayPMcopy`: SWITCH DATAFILE 3 TO DATAFILECOPY TAG mondayPMcopy;
`DATAFILE` `ALL`	Specifies that all datafiles for which a `SET` `NEWNAME` `FOR` `DATAFILE` command has been issued in this job are switched to their new name.

DATAFILE datafileSpec TO DATAFILECOPY {'filename'
| TAG = 'tag_name' }

Specifies the datafile that you wish to rename. After the switch, the control file no longer considers the specified file as current. For example, this command points the control file from tbs_1.f to cp1.f:

SWITCH DATAFILE '?/dbs/tbs_1.f' TO DATAFILECOPY '?/dbs/copies/cp1.f';

If you do not specify a TO option, then RMAN uses the filename specified on a prior SET NEWNAME command in the RUN block for this file number as the switch target.

The filename or tag provided in the TO DATAFILECOPY clause specifies the input copy file for the switch, that is, the datafile copy that you wish to rename. Specify the file by filename or tag. For example, the following command sets df2.copy as the filename for datafile 2:

SWITCH DATAFILE 2 TO DATAFILECOPY '?/dbs/df2.copy';

Note that if you specify a tag and more than one copy uses this tag name, then RMAN uses the most current copy, that is, the one needing the least recovery.

The following command switches datafile 3 to the most recently created datafile copy tagged mondayPMcopy:

SWITCH DATAFILE 3 TO DATAFILECOPY TAG mondayPMcopy;

DATAFILE ALL

Specifies that all datafiles for which a SET NEWNAME FOR DATAFILE command has been issued in this job are switched to their new name.

Example

Switching Datafile Filenames After a Restore: Example

This example allocates one disk device and one tape device to allow RMAN to restore from disk and tape.

RUN
{  
  ALLOCATE CHANNEL dev1 DEVICE TYPE DISK;  
  ALLOCATE CHANNEL dev2 DEVICE TYPE sbt;  
  SQL "ALTER TABLESPACE tbs_1 OFFLINE IMMEDIATE";  
  SET NEWNAME FOR DATAFILE '/disk7/oracle/tbs11.f' 
    TO '/disk9/oracle/tbs11.f';  
  RESTORE TABLESPACE tbs_1; 
  SWITCH DATAFILE ALL;  
  RECOVER TABLESPACE tbs_1;  
  SQL "ALTER TABLESPACE tbs_1 ONLINE";  
}