Incompatible database versions

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 69 views

Introduction

In this article, we will discuss the issue of RMAN-04006 on a standby database while duplicating from an active database. This error typically occurs when trying to duplicate a database from an active database to a standby database using Oracle's Recovery Manager (RMAN). We will explore the possible causes of this error and provide solutions to resolve it.

Understanding RMAN-04006

RMAN-04006 is an error message that indicates a problem with the RMAN duplicate command. This error can occur due to various reasons such as:

Incompatible database versions: The active and standby databases may be running different versions of Oracle, which can cause compatibility issues.
Different database configurations: The active and standby databases may have different configurations, such as different character sets or NLS parameters, which can cause issues during duplication.
Network connectivity issues: There may be network connectivity issues between the active and standby databases, which can prevent RMAN from duplicating the database.

Standby Database Configuration

In our scenario, we have a standby database with the same instance name as the active database, but with a different db_unique_name. This is a common configuration for a standby database, where the standby database is used for disaster recovery purposes.

Standby Database Configuration Details

Here are the details of our standby database configuration:

oracle@vsvmbiho02 PROD > admin $ cat tnsnames.ora
PROD =
  (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = vsvmbiho02)(PORT = 1521))
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVER = DEDICATED)
      (SERVICE_NAME = PROD)
    )
  )
oracle@vsvmbiho02 PROD > admin $ sqlplus / as sysdba
SQL*Plus: Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production on Fri Mar 10 14:30:00 2023
Version 19.3.0.0.0
SQL> show parameter db_unique_name
NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE

db_unique_name                       string      PROD

Duplicate Command

To duplicate the database from the active database to the standby database, we use the RMAN duplicate command. Here is the command we use:

RMAN> duplicate target database to prod_stby nofilenamecheck;

RMAN-04006 Error

When we run the duplicate command, we get the following error:

RMAN-04006: error from auxiliary database process: ORA-01033: ORACLE initialization or shutdown in progress

Possible Causes of RMAN-04006

There are several possible causes of RMAN-04006, including:

Incompatible database versions: The active and standby databases may be running different versions of Oracle, which can cause compatibility issues.
Different database configurations: The active and standby databases may have different configurations, such as different character sets or NLS parameters, which can cause issues during duplication.
Network connectivity issues: There may be network connectivity issues between the active and standby databases, which can prevent RMAN from duplicating the database.

Solutions to RMAN-04006

To resolve RMAN-04006, we can try the following solutions:

Check database versions: Ensure that the active and standby databases are running the same version of Oracle.
Check database configurations: Verify that the active and standby databases have the same configurations, such as character sets and NLS parameters.
Check network connectivity: Ensure that there are no network connectivity issues between the active and standby databases.
Use the auxiliary instance parameter: We can use the auxiliary instance parameter to specify the instance name of the standby database.
Use the service name parameter: We can use the service name parameter to specify the service name of the standby database.

Using the `auxiliary instance` Parameter

To use the auxiliary instance parameter, we can modify the duplicate command as follows:

RMAN> duplicate target database to prod_stby nofilenamecheck auxiliary instance prod_stby;

Using the `service name` Parameter

To use the service name parameter, we can modify the duplicate command as follows:

RMAN> duplicate target database to prod_stby nofilenamecheck service name prod_stby;

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed the issue of RMAN-04006 on a standby database while duplicating from an active database. We explored the possible causes of this error and provided solutions to resolve it. By checking database versions, configurations, and network connectivity, and using the auxiliary instance and service name parameters, we can resolve RMAN-04006 and successfully duplicate the database from the active database to the standby database.

Additional Tips and Considerations

Use the catalog command: We can use the catalog command to catalog the standby database and ensure that it is properly configured.
Use the validate command: We can use the validate command to validate the standby database and ensure that it is properly configured.
Use the duplicate command with the nofilenamecheck parameter: We can use the duplicate command with the nofilenamecheck parameter to prevent RMAN from checking the file names of the standby database.

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the issue of RMAN-04006 on a standby database while duplicating from an active database. We explored the possible causes of this error and provided solutions to resolve it. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to address some of the common questions related to RMAN-04006.

Q: What is RMAN-04006?

A: RMAN-04006 is an error message that indicates a problem with the RMAN duplicate command. This error can occur due to various reasons such as incompatible database versions, different database configurations, or network connectivity issues.

Q: What are the possible causes of RMAN-04006?

A: The possible causes of RMAN-04006 include:

Incompatible database versions: The active and standby databases may be running different versions of Oracle, which can cause compatibility issues.
Different database configurations: The active and standby databases may have different configurations, such as different character sets or NLS parameters, which can cause issues during duplication.
Network connectivity issues: There may be network connectivity issues between the active and standby databases, which can prevent RMAN from duplicating the database.

Q: How can I resolve RMAN-04006?

A: To resolve RMAN-04006, you can try the following solutions:

Check database versions: Ensure that the active and standby databases are running the same version of Oracle.
Check database configurations: Verify that the active and standby databases have the same configurations, such as character sets and NLS parameters.
Check network connectivity: Ensure that there are no network connectivity issues between the active and standby databases.
Use the auxiliary instance parameter: We can use the auxiliary instance parameter to specify the instance name of the standby database.
Use the service name parameter: We can use the service name parameter to specify the service name of the standby database.

Q: What is the `auxiliary instance` parameter?

A: The auxiliary instance parameter is used to specify the instance name of the standby database. This parameter is used in conjunction with the duplicate command to specify the instance name of the standby database.

Q: What is the `service name` parameter?

A: The service name parameter is used to specify the service name of the standby database. This parameter is used in conjunction with the duplicate command to specify the service name of the standby database.

Q: Can I use both the `auxiliary instance` and `service name` parameters?

A: Yes, you can use both the auxiliary instance and service name parameters together. However, you should ensure that the instance name and service name are correctly specified.

Q: What are some additional tips and considerations for resolving RMAN-04006?

A: Some additional tips and considerations for resolving RMAN-04006 include:

Use the catalog command: We can use the catalog command to catalog the standby database and ensure that it is properly configured.
Use the validate command: We can use the validate command to validate the standby database and ensure that it is properly configured.
Use the duplicate command with the nofilenamecheck parameter: We can use the duplicate command with the nofilenamecheck parameter to prevent RMAN from checking the file names of the standby database.

Conclusion

In this article, we provided a Q&A section to address some of the common questions related to RMAN-04006. We hope that this article has been helpful in resolving any issues you may have encountered while duplicating a database from an active database to a standby database.

Additional Resources

For more information on RMAN-04006 and how to resolve it, please refer to the following resources:

Oracle Documentation: RMAN Duplicate Command
Oracle Documentation: RMAN Catalog Command
Oracle Documentation: RMAN Validate Command