This article covers the conversion of a pre-existing Oracle 11g single instance database into a two node RAC. The following assumptions are made for this procedure to execute correctly:
1. Oracle 11g GRID has been installed on both RAC nodes.
2. Oracle 11g RDBMS has been installed on both RAC nodes.
3. Oracle 11g single instance database has been copied to RAC node 1 and operates correctly as a single instance database.

1. Logon to node 1 of your Oracle RAC server as the RDBMS owner.

2. Copy the file $ORACLE_HOME/assistants/rconfig/sampleXMLs/ConvertToRAC_AdminManaged.xml

[oracle@mylinux1 dbhome_1]$ cp $ORACLE_HOME/assistants/rconfig/sampleXMLs/ConvertToRAC_AdminManaged.xml orcl.xml
[oracle@mylinux1 dbhome_1]$

2. The sample XML file gives detailed instruction on how to edit the file for your specific use. In this example edit the following lines:

SourceDBHome = Single instance Oracle Home directory
TargetDBHome = RAC instance Oracle Home, this could be the same as the single instance Oracle Home directory
SourceDBInfo SID= SID of the Source database.
Password = SYS password
Node name= node1 name, normally this is the machine name.
Node name= node2 name, normally this is the machine name.
InstancePrefix = prefix of your RAC database, normally this is equal to the SID of your source database.
SharedStorage type=”ASM” or “OCFS”

3. Ensure that the single instance database is up and running.

[oracle@mylinux1 dbhome_1]$ ps -ef|grep smon
oracle 18508 1 0 02:12 ? 00:00:00 ora_smon_orcl
oracle 26774 7777 0 02:46 pts/1 00:00:00 grep smon
[oracle@mylinux1 dbhome_1]$

4. Execute the rconfig command and pass your edited xml file to it.
[oracle@mylinux1 bin]$ ./rconfig ./orcl.xml
Converting Database “orcl” to Cluster Database. Target Oracle Home: /u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1. Database Role: PRIMARY.
Setting Data Files and Control Files
Adding Database Instances
Adding Redo Logs
Enabling threads for all Database Instances
Setting TEMP tablespace
Adding UNDO tablespaces
Adding Trace files
Setting Flash Recovery Area
Updating Oratab
Creating Password file(s)
Configuring Listeners
Configuring related CRS resources
Starting Cluster Database
< ?xml version=”1.0″ ?>

Operation Succeeded

/u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1

[oracle@mylinux1 bin]$>

5. Now the database can be confirmed in rac mode on both nodes.

[oracle@mylinux1 bin]$ ps -ef|grep smon
oracle 16544 1 0 03:04 ? 00:00:00 ora_smon_orcl1
oracle 21072 7777 0 03:07 pts/1 00:00:00 grep smon
[oracle@mylinux1 bin]$

[root@mylinux2 ~]# ps -ef|grep smon
oracle 27298 1 0 03:03 ? 00:00:00 ora_smon_orcl2
root 29474 23387 0 03:07 pts/4 00:00:00 grep smon
[root@mylinux2 ~]#

This completes configuration of single instance to Oracle 11g RAC.

Larry J. Catt, OCP
oracle@allcompute.com
www.allcompute.com