Return
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Title
ORA-00205: error in identifying Control File, check alert log for more info -
Description
Oracle restore to another Oracle server fails with error "ORA-00205: error in identifying Control File, check alert log for more info"
Restoring a Control File from backup after loss of all current Control Files
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Cause
When a Control File is inaccessible, you can start the Instance, but not mount the database. If you attempt to mount the database when the Control File is unavailable, you get the following error message:ORA-00205: error in identifying Control File, check alert log for more infoYou cannot mount and open the database until the Control File is accessible. -
Resolution
The plug-in saves a copy of the snapshot of the Control File to the Control File Save Filename (Full Path) specified on the Add, or Edit, Oracle Database dialog box. You can copy the Control File from this location if you lose all current Control Files. If the snapshot is not available in the Control File Save Filename (Full Path), you can restore it from the backup by performing the following steps:1Use the plug-in to restore the Control File from the latest Control File backup.The plug-in restores it to the Control File Save Filename (Full Path). The restored file has a “.SAV” extension.2Connect to the database with SYSDBA privileges by using the SQL*Plus utility.SQLPLUS SYS AS SYSDBA3Shut down the database.4Rename and copy this restored file to the Control File name and location specified in the Oracle parameter file.5Mount the database.STARTUP MOUNT;6To recover the database to a point equivalent to the current SCN stored in the datafiles, perform the recovery by using the USING BACKUP CONTROLFILE command.More recovery is needed to recover the database to the point that equals the current SCN stored in the datafiles. For example, when restoring from an older backup, the Control File contains a different SCN from the current datafiles, so it does not know which log sequence is archived and which is not.For example:RECOVER DATABASE USING BACKUP CONTROLFILE;For more information on restoring a Backup Control File, see Restoring a Backup Control File to the Default Location in the Oracle Database Backup and Recovery Advanced User’s Guide.7After recovery is finished, open the database with the RESETLOGS option.