Moving Oracle Datafiles and Log Files in Windows Server

Consolidating Oracle 19c Datafiles & Redo Logs onto a Single Drive

Contents

• 0 · Executive Summary
• 1 · Pre‑Start Requirements
• 2 · Inventory & Duplicate‑Name Audit
• 3 · Dry‑Run on a Test Tablespace
• 4 · Generate Rename Scripts
• 5 · Shutdown & Robocopy
• 6 · Update Controlfile Pointers
• 7 · Temp Tablespace Plan
• 8 · (Option) Moving Controlfiles
• 9 · Post‑Migration Checks
• 10 · Rollback Plan
• Appendix A · FAQ

0 · Executive Summary

We will shut down the Oracle instance, move every datafile and redo‑log file from drives D:, E: and G: to the new drive H: using ROBOCOPY /MOV, then update the controlfile pointers and reopen the database. A quick test with a disposable tablespace proves the commands before the real move.

1 · Pre‑Start Requirements

• ✔️ New drive ready: H: must have enough free space for all datafiles + redo logs + ≈10 % head‑room.
• ✔️ Label & ACLs: volume labelled (e.g. “ORADATA”) and Full Control granted to the Oracle OS user/group.
• ✔️ Test tablespace: create TEMP_TST with a 10 MB datafile on the old drive and relocate it first as a proof‑of‑concept.
• ✔️ Check duplicate filenames for both datafiles & redo logs; rename any clashes before the main run.
• ✔️ Control file strategy decided (stay or move – see § 8).

2 · Inventory & Duplicate‑Name Audit

List every file location:

SELECT file_name, tablespace_name, file_id, status
FROM   dba_data_files
ORDER  BY file_name;

SELECT member AS redo_file, group#
FROM   v$logfile
ORDER  BY group#, member;

Detect same basenames (case‑insensitive):

WITH f AS (
  SELECT file_name,
         LOWER(REGEXP_SUBSTR(file_name,'[^/\\]+$')) AS base
  FROM   dba_data_files
)
SELECT file_name,
       base,
       COUNT(*) OVER (PARTITION BY base) AS occurrences
FROM   f
WHERE  occurrences > 1
ORDER  BY base, file_name;

If duplicates appear, plan to give at least one of the files a unique name before relocation.

3 · Dry‑Run on a Disposable Tablespace

Create the test tablespace:

CREATE TABLESPACE temp_tst
DATAFILE 'D:\ORACLE\ORADATA\SKY\TEMP_TST01.DBF' SIZE 10M;

Offline, move, rename, bring online:

ALTER TABLESPACE temp_tst OFFLINE NORMAL;
HOST MOVE "D:\ORACLE\ORADATA\SKY\TEMP_TST01.DBF" "H:\ORADATA\TEMP_TST01.DBF"
ALTER TABLESPACE temp_tst
  RENAME DATAFILE 'D:\ORACLE\ORADATA\SKY\TEMP_TST01.DBF'
                 TO 'H:\ORADATA\TEMP_TST01.DBF';
ALTER TABLESPACE temp_tst ONLINE;

If successful, you may later drop it:

DROP TABLESPACE temp_tst INCLUDING CONTENTS AND DATAFILES;

4 · Generate Rename Scripts

Run while DB is OPEN, spool to a file:

-- Datafiles
SELECT 'ALTER DATABASE RENAME FILE '''||file_name||
       ''' TO ''H:\ORADATA\'||
       REGEXP_SUBSTR(file_name,'[^\\]+$')||''';'
FROM   dba_data_files
ORDER  BY file_id;

-- Redo log members
SELECT 'ALTER DATABASE RENAME FILE '''||member||
       ''' TO ''H:\ORADATA\'||
       REGEXP_SUBSTR(member,'[^\\]+$')||''';'
FROM   v$logfile
ORDER  BY group#, member;

These scripts will be executed later while the instance is mounted.

5 · Shutdown Oracle & Move Files

5.1 Stop services (Windows)

net stop OracleTNSListener
net stop OracleServiceSKY

5.2 Robocopy commands

ROBOCOPY "E:\ORACLE\ORADATA\SKY" "H:\ORADATA" "*.DBF" /MOV /MT:8 /J /R:1 /W:1 /ETA
ROBOCOPY "G:\ORADATA"           "H:\ORADATA" "*.DBF" /MOV /MT:8 /J /R:1 /W:1 /ETA
ROBOCOPY "D:\ORACLE\ORADATA\SKY" "H:\ORADATA" "*.*"  /MOV /MT:8 /J /R:1 /W:1 /ETA

Note: /MOV performs copy + delete and includes hidden/system files.

6 · Update Controlfile Pointers

1. Restart the instance but leave it in NOMOUNT:
   

   net start OracleServiceSKY

2. Mount the database:

   sqlplus / as sysdba
   STARTUP MOUNT;

3. Run the datafile and redo rename scripts generated in § 4.
4. Open the database:
   

   ALTER DATABASE OPEN;

5. Restart the listener:
   

   net start OracleTNSListener

6. Immediately back up the controlfile:
   

   ALTER DATABASE BACKUP CONTROLFILE TO
     'H:\ORADATA\CONTROL_POSTMOVE.CTL';

7 · Temp Tablespace Strategy (Simplest = Recreate)

CREATE TEMPORARY TABLESPACE temp_new
TEMPFILE 'H:\ORADATA\TEMP01.DBF' SIZE 1G AUTOEXTEND ON NEXT 100M;
ALTER DATABASE DEFAULT TEMPORARY TABLESPACE temp_new;
DROP TABLESPACE temp INCLUDING CONTENTS AND DATAFILES;
ALTER TABLESPACE temp_new RENAME TO temp;

8 · Optional – Moving Controlfiles to H:

1. Query current locations:
   

   SHOW PARAMETER control_files;

2. Copy one controlfile to the new drive as CONTROL01.CTL.
3. Edit the spfile:

   ALTER SYSTEM SET control_files='H:\ORADATA\CONTROL01.CTL' SCOPE=SPFILE;

4. Shutdown and restart to MOUNT, then OPEN.
5. Remove old copies after a fresh backup.

9 · Post‑Migration Checks

• All files on H:
  

  SELECT name FROM v$datafile UNION SELECT member FROM v$logfile;

• Temp online:
  

  SELECT tablespace_name,status
  FROM   dba_tablespaces
  WHERE  contents='TEMPORARY';

• Backup test: run RMAN BACKUP DATABASE PLUS ARCHIVELOG;
• ACL review: icacls H:\ORADATA shows no DENY entries.

10 · Rollback Plan (if needed)

1. Shutdown services again.
2. Robocopy files back to original drives (reverse of § 5).
3. Mount and execute the original rename scripts pointing to D:, E:, G:, then open the DB.

Appendix A · FAQ

• Does /J hurt? No—un‑buffered I/O speeds large file moves on SSDs.
• Can I move SYSTEM, UNDO, TEMP while DB open? SYSTEM & UNDO require MOUNT phase; others can be offline/online one‑by‑one.
• Can I multiplex redo again? Yes—ALTER DATABASE ADD LOGFILE MEMBER ...