9 Setting up Oracle Exadata Storage Snapshots

• Before You Begin With Exadata Snapshots
  Understand the optimal use-case before you begin with Exadata Snapshots.
• Overview of Exadata Snapshots
  
• Prerequisites for Exadata Snapshot Databases
  Before creating Exadata snapshot databases, check that your environment meets these requirements.
• Sparse Disk Sizing and Allocation Methodology
  To create Exadata Snapshots, you must have sparse grid disks created with an Oracle ASM disk group created based on those disks.
• Refresh Considerations, or Lifecycle of Exadata Snapshots
  Refresh cycles can influence how you use and create Exadata Snapshots.
• Using an Oracle Data Guard Standby Database as the Test Master
  If the test master is a complete database that needs to be refreshed regularly, Oracle recommends creating the test master database as an Oracle Data Guard physical standby dedicated to this purpose.
• Managing Exadata Snapshots
  To create and manage Exadata Snapshots, you need to perform these procedures:
• Managing Sparse Griddisks
  You can resize, recreate, or monitor the activity of sparse griddisks.
• Monitoring Exadata Snapshots Using Database Statistics and Wait Events