You can use OAKCLI to create snapshot databases.
An Oracle snapshot database is created by taking a snapshot of the Oracle ASM Cluster File System (Oracle ACFS) where the source data files reside. The source database can be a single instance, Oracle RAC, or Oracle RAC One Node. Compared to other methods of creating copies of databases, snapshot databases require less time and storage space and involve no downtime of the source database. Additionally, you can create any database type and class from any other type and class. For example, you can create an Oracle RAC database from an Oracle RAC One Node database. Similarly, you can create a database that is different in size than the source database.
On Oracle Database Appliance, you can create snapshot databases from any Oracle Database instance stored on Oracle ACFS. Beginning with Oracle Database Appliance release 12.1.2.0.0, you can create snapshot databases with Oracle Database 11g release 2 (11.2.0.4) or later databases created or upgraded on the system.
Snapshot database candidates must meet the following requirements:
They must not be a standby or container database
They must not be running in read-only mode, or in restricted mode, or in online backup mode
They must be in ARCHIVELOG mode
They must have all defined data files available and online
They must not use centralized wallets with Transparent Data Encryption.
Also, ensure that the system clocks on the two Oracle Database Appliance nodes are synchronized before you create a snapshot database. If the clocks are significantly different, then the command can fail.
To create a snapshot database, use the command oakcli create snapshotdb. The following example creates a snapshot database named snapprod from the database named prod.
oakcli create snapshotdb -db snapprod -from prod
Caution:
Oracle Database Appliance does not support centralized wallets with Transparent Data Encryption. Recovery of encrypted data may fail in the snapshot database if the source database relies on an external, centralized wallet.