1 Introduction to the Multitenant Architecture

Become familiar with the Oracle Multitenant option.

This chapter contains the following topics:

About the Multitenant Architecture

The multitenant architecture enables an Oracle database to function as a multitenant container database (CDB).

A CDB includes zero, one, or many customer-created pluggable databases (PDBs). A PDB is a portable collection of schemas, schema objects, and nonschema objects that appears to an Oracle Net client as a non-CDB. All Oracle databases before Oracle Database 12c were non-CDBs.

About Containers in a CDB

A container is logical collection of data or metadata within the multitenant architecture.

The following figure represents possible containers in a CDB.

Every CDB has the following containers:

  • Exactly one CDB root container (also called simply the root)

    The CDB root is a collection of schemas, schema objects, and nonschema objects to which all PDBs belong (see "Overview of Containers in a CDB"). The root stores Oracle-supplied metadata and common users. An example of metadata is the source code for Oracle-supplied PL/SQL packages (see "Data Dictionary Architecture in a CDB"). A common user is a database user known in every container (see "Common Users in a CDB"). The root container is named CDB$ROOT.

  • Exactly one system container

    The system container includes the root CDB and all PDBs in the CDB. Thus, the system container is the logical container for the CDB itself.

  • Zero or more application containers

    An application container consists of exactly one application root, and the PDBs plugged in to this root. Whereas the system container contains the CDB root and all the PDBs within the CDB, an application container includes only the PDBs plugged into the application root. An application root belongs to the CDB root and no other container.

  • Zero or more user-created PDBs

    A PDB contains the data and code required for a specific set of features (see "PDBs"). For example, a PDB can support a specific application, such as a human resources or sales application. No PDBs exist at creation of the CDB. You add PDBs based on your business requirements.

    A PDB belongs to exactly zero or one application container. If a PDB belongs to an application container, then it is an application PDB. For example, the cust1_pdb and cust2_pdb application PDBs might belong to the saas_sales_ac application container, in which case they belong to no other application containers. An application seed is an optional application PDB that acts as a user-created PDB template, enabling you to create new application PDBs rapidly.

  • Exactly one seed PDB

    The seed PDB is a system-supplied template that the CDB can use to create new PDBs. The seed PDB is named PDB$SEED. You cannot add or modify objects in PDB$SEED.

Example 1-1 CDB with No Application Containers

This example shows a simple CDB with five containers: the system container (the entire CDB), the CDB root, the PDB seed (PDB$SEED), and two PDBs. Each PDB has its own dedicated application. A different PDB administrator manages each PDB. A common user exists across a CDB with a single identity. In this example, common user SYS can manage the root and every PDB. At the physical level, this CDB has a database instance and database files, just as a non-CDB does.

Figure 1-2 CDB with No Application Containers

Description of Figure 1-2 follows
Description of "Figure 1-2 CDB with No Application Containers"

Example 1-2 CDB with an Application Container

In this variation, the CDB contains an application container named saas_sales_ac. Within the application container, the application PDB cust1_pdb supports an application for one customer, and the application PDB cust2_pdb supports an application for a different customer. The CDB also contains a PDB named hrpdb, which supports an HR application, but does not belong to an application container.

Figure 1-3 CDB with an Application Container

Description of Figure 1-3 follows
Description of "Figure 1-3 CDB with an Application Container"

In this example, multiple DBAs manage the CDB environment:

  • A CDB administrator manages the CDB itself.

  • An application container administrator manages the saas_sales_ac container, including application installation and upgrades.

  • An application PDB administrator manages the two PDBs in the saas_sales_ac container: cust1_pdb and cust2_pdb.

  • A PDB administrator manages hrpdb.

About User Interfaces for the Multitenant Architecture

You can use the same administration tools for both CDBs and non-CDBs.

Table 1-1 Tools in a Multitenant Environment

Interface Description See Also

SQL*Plus and SQL Developer for command-line access

SQL*Plus is an interactive and batch query tool that is installed with Oracle Database.

SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference

Oracle Enterprise Manager Cloud Control (Cloud Control)

Cloud Control is an Oracle Database administration tool that provides a graphical user interface (GUI). Cloud Control supports Oracle Database 12c targets, including PDBs, CDBs, and non-CDBs.

"Administering CDBs and PDBs with Cloud Control"

Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Express (EM Express)

EM Express is a web-based management product built into the Oracle database. EM Express enables you to provision and manage PDBs, including the following operations:

  • Creating and dropping PDBs

  • Plugging in and unplugging and PDBs

  • Cloning PDBs

  • Setting resource limits for PDBs

Oracle Database Performance Tuning Guide to learn more about using EM Express for managing CDBs and PDBs

Oracle Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA)

DBCA enables you to create and duplicate CDBs, and create, clone, plug in, and unplug PDBs.

Oracle Database Performance Tuning Guide and Oracle Database Administrator’s Guide for more information about DBCA

See Also:

Oracle Database Concepts for more information about tools for database administrators

Benefits of the Multitenant Architecture

The multitenant architecture solves several problems posed by the traditional non-CDB architecture.

This section contains the following topics:

Challenges for a Non-CDB Architecture

Large enterprises may use hundreds or thousands of databases. Often these databases run on different platforms on multiple physical servers.

Because of improvements in hardware technology, especially the increase in the number of CPUs, servers can handle heavier workloads than before. A database may use only a fraction of the server hardware capacity. This approach wastes both hardware and human resources.

For example, 100 servers may have one database each, with each database using 10% of hardware resources and 10% of an administrator's time. A team of DBAs must manage the SGA, database files, accounts, security, and so on of each database separately, while system administrators must maintain 100 different computers.

To show the problem in reduced scale, Figure 1-4 depicts 11 databases, each with its own application and server. A head DBA oversees a team of four DBAs, each of whom is responsible for two or three databases.

Figure 1-4 Database Environment Before Database Consolidation

Description of Figure 1-4 follows
Description of "Figure 1-4 Database Environment Before Database Consolidation"

Typical responses include:

  • Use virtual machines (VMs).

    In this model, you replicate the operating infrastructure of the physical server—operating system and database—in a virtual machine. VMs are agile, but use technical resources inefficiently, and require individual management. Virtual sprawl, which is just as expensive to manage, replaces the existing physical sprawl.

  • Place multiple databases on each server.

    Separate databases eliminate operating system replication, but do not share background processes, system and process memory, or Oracle metadata. The databases require individual management.

  • Separate the data logically into schemas or virtual private databases (VPDs).

    This technique uses technical resources efficiently. You can manage multiple schemas or VPDs as one. However, this model is less agile than its alternatives, requiring more effort to manage, secure, and transport. Also, the logical model typically requires extensive application changes, which discourages adoption.

Benefits of the Multitenant Architecture for Database Consolidation

Database consolidation is the process of consolidating data from multiple databases into one database on one computer. The Oracle Multitenant option enables you to consolidate data and code without altering existing schemas or applications.

The PDB/non-CDB compatibility guarantee means that a PDB behaves the same as a non-CDB as seen from a client connecting with Oracle Net. The installation scheme for an application definition (for example, tables and PL/SQL packages) that runs against a non-CDB runs the same against a PDB and produces the same result. Also, the run-time behavior of client code that connects to the PDB containing the application definition is identical to the behavior of client code that connected to the non-CDB containing this application definition.

Operations that act on an entire non-CDB act in the same way on an entire CDB, for example, when using Oracle Data Guard and database backup and recovery. Thus, the users, administrators, and developers of a non-CDB have substantially the same experience after the database has been consolidated.

The following graphic depicts the databases in Figure 1-4 after consolidation onto one computer. The DBA team is reduced from five to three, with one CDB administrator managing the CDB while two PDB administrators split management of the PDBs.

Starting in Oracle Database 12c Release 2 (12.2), you can create an application container that contains application PDBs. This approach enables you to create and manage an application within this container. Most benefits that apply to consolidation into a CDB also apply to consolidation within an application container.

Using the multitenant architecture for database consolidation has the following benefits:

  • Cost reduction

    By consolidating hardware and database infrastructure to a single set of background processes, and efficiently sharing computational and memory resources, you reduce costs for hardware and maintenance. For example, 100 PDBs on a single server share one database instance.

  • Easier and more rapid movement of data and code

    By design, you can quickly plug a PDB into a CDB, unplug the PDB from the CDB, and then plug this PDB into a different CDB. You can also clone PDBs while they remain available. You can plug in a PDB with any character set and access it without character set conversion. If the character set of the CDB is AL32UTF8, then PDBs with different database character sets can exist in the same CDB.

  • Easier management and monitoring of the physical database

    The CDB administrator can manage the environment as an aggregate by executing a single operation, such as patching or performing an RMAN backup, for all hosted tenants and the CDB root. Backup strategies and disaster recovery are simplified.

  • Separation of data and code

    Although consolidated into a single physical database, PDBs mimic the behavior of non-CDBs. For example, if user error loses critical data, then a PDB administrator can use Oracle Flashback or point-in-time recovery to retrieve the lost data without affecting other PDBs.

  • Secure separation of administrative duties

    A common user can connect to any container on which it has sufficient privileges, whereas a local user is restricted to a specific PDB. Administrators can divide duties as follows:
    • An administrator uses a common account to manage a CDB or application container. Because a privilege is contained within the container in which it is granted, a local user on one PDB does not have privileges on other PDBs within the same CDB.

    • An administrator uses a local account to manage an individual PDB.

  • Ease of performance tuning

    It is easier to collect performance metrics for a single database than for multiple databases. It is easier to size one SGA than 100 SGAs.

  • Fewer database patches and upgrades

    It is easier to apply a patch to one database than to 100 databases, and to upgrade one database than to upgrade 100 databases.

Benefits of the Multitenant Architecture for Manageability

The multitenant architecture has benefits beyond database consolidation. These benefits derive from storing the data and metadata specific to a PDB in the PDB itself rather than storing all dictionary metadata in one place.

By storing its own dictionary metadata, a PDB becomes easier to manage as a distinct unit. This benefit occurs even when only one PDB resides in a CDB. Grouping PDBs into a separately managed application container increases manageability even further.

In a CDB, the data dictionary metadata is split between the root and the PDBs. Benefits of data dictionary separation include the following:

  • Easier upgrade of data and code

    For example, instead of upgrading a CDB from one database release to another, you can rapidly unplug a PDB from the existing CDB, and then plug it into a newly created CDB from a higher release.

  • Easier migration between servers

    To perform load balancing or to meet SLAs, you can migrate an application database from an on-premise data center to the cloud, or between two servers in the same environment.

  • Protection against data corruption within a PDB

    You can flash back a PDB to an SCN or PDB-specific restore point, without affecting other PDBs. This feature is analogous to the Flashback Database feature for a non-CDB.

  • Ability to install, administer, and upgrade application-specific data and metadata in a single place

    You can define a set of application-specific PDBs as a single component, called an application container. You can then define one or more applications within this container. Each application is a named, versioned set of common metadata and data shared within this application container.

    For example, each customer of a SaaS vendor could have its own application PDB. Each application PDB might have identically defined tables named sales_mlt, with different data in each PDB. The PDBs could share a data-linked common object named countries_olt, which has identical data in each PDB. As an application administrator, you could manage the master application definition so that every new customer gets a PDB with the same objects, and every change to existing schemas (for example, the addition of a new table, or a change in the definition of a table) applies to all PDBs that share the application definition.

  • Integration with Oracle Database Resource Manager

    In a multitenant environment, one concern is contention for system resources among the PDBs running on the same server. Another concern is limiting resource usage for more consistent, predictable performance. To address such resource contention, usage, and monitoring issues, use Oracle Database Resource Manager.

Path to Database Consolidation

For the duration of its existence, a database is either a CDB or a non-CDB.

You must define a database as a CDB at creation, and then create PDBs and application containers within this CDB. You cannot later transform a non-CDB into a CDB, or a CDB into a non-CDB.

This section contains the following topics:

Creation of a CDB

The CREATE DATABASE ... ENABLE PLUGGABLE DATABASE SQL statement creates a new CDB.

If you do not specify the ENABLE PLUGGABLE DATABASE clause, then the newly created database is a non-CDB. In this case, the non-CDB can never contain PDBs.

When you create a CDB, Oracle Database automatically creates a root container (CDB$ROOT) and a seed PDB (PDB$SEED). The following graphic shows a newly created CDB:

Example 1-3 Determining Whether a Database Is a CDB

The following simple query determines whether the database to which an administrative user is currently connected is a non-CDB, or a container in a CDB:

SQL> SELECT NAME, CDB, CON_ID FROM V$DATABASE;
 
NAME      CDB     CON_ID
--------- --- ----------
CDB1      YES          0

See Also:

Creation of a PDB

The CREATE PLUGGABLE DATABASE SQL statement creates a PDB.

The created PDB automatically includes a full data dictionary including metadata and internal links to system-supplied objects in the CDB root. You must define every PDB from a single root: either the CDB root or an application root.

Each PDB has a globally unique identifier (GUID). The PDB GUID is primarily used to generate names for directories that store the PDB's files, including both Oracle Managed Files directories and non-Oracle Managed Files directories.

This section contains the following topics:

Creation of a PDB by Cloning

One technique for creating a PDB is called cloning.

You can clone a PDB from PDB$SEED, an application seed, a remote or local PDB, or a non-CDB. This section contains the following topics:

Creation of a PDB from a Seed

You can use the CREATE PLUGGABLE DATABASE statement to create a PDB from a seed.

A seed is a PDB that serves as a template for creation of another PDB. Creating a PDB from a seed copies some or all of the contents of a PDB, and then assigns a new unique identifier.

A seed PDB is either of the following:

  • The PDB seed (PDB$SEED), which is a system-supplied template for creating PDBs

    Every CDB has exactly one PDB$SEED, which cannot be modified or dropped.

  • An application seed, which is a user-created PDB for a specified application root

    Within an application container, you can create an application seed using the CREATE PLUGGABLE DATABASE AS SEED statement, which you can then use to accelerate creation of new application PDBs.

Figure 1-7 Creation from PDB$SEED

Description of Figure 1-7 follows
Description of "Figure 1-7 Creation from PDB$SEED"

Example 1-4 Creation of a PDB from PDB$SEED

The following SQL statement creates a PDB named hrpdb from PDB$SEED using Oracle Managed Files:

CREATE PLUGGABLE DATABASE hrpdb
 ADMIN USER dba1 IDENTIFIED BY password;
Creation of a PDB by Cloning a PDB or a Non-CDB

To clone a PDB or non-CDB, use the CREATE PLUGGABLE DATABASE statement with the FROM clause.

In this technique, the source is either a non-CDB, or a PDB in a local or remote CDB. The target is the PDB copied from the source. The cloning operation copies the files associated with the source to a new location, and then assigns a new GUID to create the PDB.

This technique is useful for quickly creating PDBs for testing and development. For example, you might test a new or modified application on a cloned PDB before deploying the application in a production PDB. If a PDB is in local undo mode, then the source PDB can be open in read/write mode during the operation, referred to as hot cloning.

Note:

If you clone a PDB from a remote CDB, then you must use a database link.

If you run CREATE PLUGGABLE DATABASE statement in an application root, then the cloned PDB is created in the application container. In this case, the application name and version of the source PDB must be compatible with the application name and version of the application container.

The following graphic illustrates cloning a PDB when both source and target are in the same CDB.

Example 1-5 Cloning a PDB

The following SQL statement clones a PDB named salespdb from the plugged-in PDB named hrpdb:

CREATE PLUGGABLE DATABASE salespdb FROM hrpdb;

This section contains the following topics:

Snapshot Copy PDBs

A snapshot copy PDB is a PDB based on a storage-managed (not database-managed) snapshot. The PDB does not contain a complete copy of the source data files.

If the file system supports storage snapshots, then you can clone a PDB almost instantaneously by specifying the SNAPSHOT COPY clause. In this case, Oracle Database creates a storage-managed snapshot of the underlying file system, and then uses the storage snapshot to create PDB clones. The snapshot copy PDB contains sparse files.

Unlike a standard clone PDB, a snapshot copy PDB cannot be unplugged from the CDB root or application root. Also, if snapshot clones exist, then the source PDB that generated the clones cannot be dropped or unplugged.

Note:

"About Cloning a PDB" to learn how to clone a PDB using the SNAPSHOT COPY clause

Refreshable Clone PDBs

A refreshable clone PDB is a read-only clone that can periodically synchronize with its source PDB.

Depending on the value specified in the REFRESH MODE clause, synchronization occurs automatically or manually. For example, if hrpdb_re_clone is a clone of hrpdb, then every month you could manually refresh hrpdb_re_clone with changes from hrpdb. Alternatively, you could configure hrpdb to propagate changes to hrpdb_re_clone automatically every 24 hours.

You can switch the roles of a source PDB and its refreshable clone. This switchover can be useful for load balancing between CDBs, and when the source PDB suffers a failure.

Note:

"About Cloning a PDB" to learn how to clone a PDB using the REFRESH MODE clause

Creation of a PDB by Plugging In

You can create a PDB by plugging in an unplugged PDB, or plugging in a non-CDB as a PDB.

This section contains the following topics:

Creation of a PDB by Plugging In an Unplugged PDB

An unplugged PDB is a self-contained set of data files, and an XML metadata file that specifies the locations of the PDB files. To plug in an unplugged PDB, use the CREATE PLUGGABLE DATABASE statement with the USING clause.

When plugging in an unplugged PDB, you have the following options:

  • Specify the XML metadata file that describes the PDB and the files associated with the PDB.

  • Specify a PDB archive file, which is a compressed file that contains both the XML file and PDB data files. You can create a PDB by specifying the archive file, and thereby avoid copying the XML file and the data files separately.

The following graphic illustrates plugging in an unplugged PDB using the XML file.

Figure 1-9 Plugging In an Unplugged PDB

Description of Figure 1-9 follows
Description of "Figure 1-9 Plugging In an Unplugged PDB"

Example 1-6 Plugging In a PDB

The following SQL statement plugs in a PDB named salespdb based on the metadata stored in the named XML file, and specifies NOCOPY because the files of the unplugged PDB do not need to be moved to a new location:

CREATE PLUGGABLE DATABASE salespdb USING '/disk1/usr/salespdb.xml' NOCOPY;
Creation of a PDB from a Non-CDB

You can move a non-CDB into a PDB.

You can accomplish this task in the following ways:

  • Executing DBMS_PDB.DESCRIBE on a non-CDB in Oracle Database 12c

    You place a non-CDB in a transactionally consistent state, and then run the DBMS_PDB.DESCRIBE function to generate XML metadata about this database. While connected to the root in the CDB, you execute the CREATE PLUGGABLE DATABASE statement to create a PDB from the existing non-CDB. Finally, to convert the definitions in the PDB data dictionary to references to objects in CDB$ROOT, log in to the PDB and run the noncdb_to_pdb.sql script.

  • Using Oracle Data Pump with or without transportable tablespaces

    You can define a data set on a non-CDB using Oracle Data Pump. This non-CDB can be in the current or a previous Oracle Database release, for example, Oracle Database 10g. You create an empty PDB in an existing CDB, and then use Oracle Data Pump to import the data set into the PDB.

    A Full Transportable Export using Oracle Data Pump exports all objects and data necessary to create a complete copy of the database. Oracle Data Pump exports objects using direct path unload and external tables, and then imports objects using direct path INSERT and external tables. The Full Transportable dump file contains all objects in the database, not only table-related objects. Full Transportable Export is available starting in Oracle Database 11g Release 2 (11.2.0.3) for import into Oracle Database 12c and later.

  • Using Oracle GoldenGate replication

    You replicate the data from the non-CDB to a PDB. When the PDB becomes current with the non-CDB, you switch over to the PDB.

The following figure illustrates running the DBMS_PDB.DESCRIBE function on a non-CDB, and then creating a PDB using the non-CDB files.

Figure 1-10 Creating a PDB from a Non-CDB

Description of Figure 1-10 follows
Description of "Figure 1-10 Creating a PDB from a Non-CDB"

See Also:

Creation of a PDB by Relocating

To relocate a PDB from one CDB to another, use the CREATE PLUGGABLE DATABASE statement with the FROM clause and RELOCATE keyword.

This technique has the following advantages:

  • The relocation occurs with minimal downtime.

  • The technique keeps the PDB being relocated open in read/write mode during the relocation, and then brings the PDB online in its new location.

You must create a database link at the target CDB, which is the CDB that will contain the relocated PDB. Also, the source PDB must use local undo data.

The following graphic depicts a PDB relocation.

Example 1-7 PDB Relocation

The following statement, which is issued at a target CDB, relocates hrpdb from the source CDB to the target CDB:

CREATE PLUGGABLE DATABASE hrpdb FROM hrpdb@lnk_to_source RELOCATE;
Creation of a PDB as a Proxy PDB

A proxy PDB provides access to different PDB, called the referenced PDB, in a remote CDB.

Proxy PDBs enable you to aggregate data from multiple sources. A SQL statement submitted for execution in a proxy PDB executes within the referenced PDB.

A typical use case is a proxy PDB that references an application root replica. If multiple CDBs have the same application definition (for example, same tables and PL/SQL packages), then you can create a proxy PDB in the application container of the master application root. The referenced PDB for the proxy PDB is the application root in a different CDB. By running installation scripts in the master root, the application roots in the other CDBs become replicas of the master application root.

To create a proxy PDB, use the CREATE PLUGGABLE DATABASE statement with the FROM clause, which must specify a database link to the referenced PDB in the remote CDB, and the AS PROXY clause.

Note:

If you plug a proxy PDB directly into CDB$ROOT, then you must have created the proxy in CDB$ROOT. A proxy of an application PDB must both be plugged in to an application root.

The following graphic shows the creation of a proxy PDB that references a PDB in a remote CDB.

Figure 1-12 Creating a Proxy PDB

Description of Figure 1-12 follows
Description of "Figure 1-12 Creating a Proxy PDB"

Example 1-8 Creation of a Proxy PDB

This example creates a proxy PDB named pdb1. The referenced PDB is specified using a database link.

CREATE PLUGGABLE DATABASE pdb1 AS PROXY FROM pdb1@pdb1_link;

Multitenant Environment Documentation Roadmap

This topic lists the most important topics for understanding and using CDBs, and includes cross-references to the appropriate documentation.

Table 1-2 Road map for the Multitenant Architecture Documentation

Category Topic Documentation

Concepts

Overview of CDBs and PDBs

"Overview of the Multitenant Architecture"

Administration

Creating and configuring a CDB

"Creating and Configuring a CDB"

Administration

Managing a CDB

"Administering a CDB"

Administration

Creating and configuring PDBs

"Creating and Removing PDBs and Application Containers"

Administration

Managing PDBs

"Administering PDBs"

Administration

Creating and removing application containers

"Creating and Removing Application Containers"

Administration

Administering application containers

"Administering Application Containers"

Performance

Troubleshooting PDBs

Oracle Database Performance Tuning Guide

Monitoring

Viewing information about CDBs and PDBs

"Monitoring CDBs and PDBs"

Backup and Recovery

Performing backup and recovery in a CDB

Oracle Database Backup and Recovery User’s Guide

Security

Managing common users, roles, and privileges in a CDB

Oracle Database Security Guide

Miscellaneous

All other tasks relating to managing a CDB or PDB, including Oracle RAC, resource management, data transfer, and so on

This guide is the primary task-oriented intermediate and advanced documentation for managing CDBs. This guide also contains See Also links to books that cover different CDB topics. For example, Oracle Database Utilities explains concepts and tasks specific to PDBs when using Oracle Data Pump.