Dataguard: Recovering lost broker configuration files: Clear Old Configuration & Add New One

I had a working datagard configuration between 1 primary and 2 physical standby systems. Today I noticed my dataguard configuration files were missing from all servers (Primary/Standby).

DGMGRL> show configuration;
ORA-16532: Data Guard broker configuration does not exist
Configuration details cannot be determined by DGMGRL

Although my dataguard primary-standby were working with existing init values any switchover /failover thru Dataguard single command won’t be possible until broker configuration is in place.

At Both Primary and Secondary :  Set values for parameters fal_server, fal_client,  log_archive_config,
dg_broker_start, log_archive_dest_n

sys@ PRIMARY> show parameter fal
NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE
------------------------------------ ----------- ---------------------------
fal_client                           string      primary
fal_server                           string      secondary

sys@ SECONDARY> show parameter fal;
NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE
———————————— ———– ——————————
fal_client                           string      secondary
fal_server                           string      primary

sys@ PRIMARY/Secondary> alter system set fal_client=”;
System altered.

sys@ PRIMARY/Secondary> alter system set fal_server=”;
System altered.

sys@ PRIMARY/Secondary> alter system set log_archive_dest_2=”;
System altered.

sys@ PRIMARY/SECONDARY> show parameter log_archive_config;
NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE
———————————— ———– ——————————
log_archive_config                   string      dg_config=(secondary,primary)

sys@ PRIMARY/SECONDARY> alter system set log_archive_config=” scope=both;

System altered.
sys@ PRIMARY/SECONDARY> show parameter log_archive_config;
NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE
———————————— ———– ——————————
log_archive_config                   string

sys@ PRIMARY/SECONDARY> show parameter dg_broker_start
NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE
———————————— ———– ——————————
dg_broker_start                      boolean     FALSE

At this point I see there were no archives shipped/ applied at Standby Database

PRIMARY> archive log list;
Database log mode              Archive Mode
Automatic archival             Enabled
Archive destination            C:\app\patilsa\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\oradata\primary
Oldest online log sequence     338
Next log sequence to archive   340
Current log sequence           340

Waited for 10 minutes .. No Archive files shipped from Primary to Standby

sys@ SECONDARY> archive log list;
Database log mode              Archive Mode
Automatic archival             Enabled
Archive destination            USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST
Oldest online log sequence     323
Next log sequence to archive   0
Current log sequence           328

Create a Dataguard Config

Enable Dataguard broker at both systems

sys@ SECONDARY> select instance_name,status from v$instance;
INSTANCE_NAME    STATUS
—————- ————
secondary        MOUNTED

sys@ PRIMARY> select instance_name,status from v$instance;
INSTANCE_NAME    STATUS
—————- ————
primary          OPEN

sys@ PRIMARY> ALTER SYSTEM SET dg_broker_start=TRUE SCOPE=spfile ;
System altered.

sys@ PRIMARY>  show parameter dg_broker
NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE
———————————— ———– ——————————
dg_broker_config_file1               string      C:\APP\PATILSA\PRODUCT\11.2.0\DBHOME_1\DATABASE\DR1PRIMARY.DAT
dg_broker_config_file2               string      C:\APP\PATILSA\PRODUCT\11.2.0\DBHOME_1\DATABASE\DR2PRIMARY.DAT
dg_broker_start                      boolean     TRUE

sys@ SECONDARY> show parameter dg_broker
NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE
———————————— ———– ——————————
dg_broker_config_file1               string      C:\APP\PATILSA\PRODUCT\11.2.0\DBHOME_1\DATABASE\DR1SECONDARY.DAT
dg_broker_config_file2               string      C:\APP\PATILSA\PRODUCT\11.2.0\DBHOME_1\DATABASE\DR2SECONDARY.DAT
dg_broker_start                      boolean     TRUE

DGMGRL> show configuration;
ORA-16532: Data Guard broker configuration does not exist

Configuration details cannot be determined by DGMGRL

DGMGRL> CREATE CONFIGURATION ‘sample’ AS PRIMARY DATABASE IS ‘primary’ CONNECT I
DENTIFIER IS primary;
Configuration “sample” created with primary database “primary”

DGMGRL> show configuration;

Configuration – sample

Protection Mode: MaxPerformance
Databases:
primary – Primary database

Fast-Start Failover: DISABLED

Configuration Status:
DISABLED

DGMGRL> ADD DATABASE ‘secondary’ AS CONNECT IDENTIFIER IS secondary MAINTAINED AS PHYSICAL;
Database “secondary” added
DGMGRL> show configuration;
Configuration – sample
Protection Mode: MaxPerformance
Databases:
primary   – Primary database
secondary – Physical standby database
Fast-Start Failover: DISABLED
Configuration Status:
DISABLED

DGMGRL> enable configuration;
Enabled

DGMGRL> show configuration;
Configuration – sample
Protection Mode: MaxPerformance
Databases:
primary   – Primary database
secondary – Physical standby database
Fast-Start Failover: DISABLED
Configuration Status:
SUCCESS

DGMGRL> switchover to secondary;
Performing switchover NOW, please wait…
New primary database “secondary” is opening…
Operation requires shutdown of instance “primary” on database “primary”
Shutting down instance “primary”…
ORA-01109: database not open
Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.
Operation requires startup of instance “primary” on database “primary”
Starting instance “primary”…
ORACLE instance started.
Database mounted.
Switchover succeeded, new primary is “secondary”

sys@ SECONDARY> archive log list;
Database log mode              Archive Mode
Automatic archival             Enabled
Archive destination            USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST
Oldest online log sequence     367
Next log sequence to archive   369
Current log sequence           369

sys@ PRIMARY> archive log list;
Database log mode              Archive Mode
Automatic archival             Enabled
Archive destination            C:\app\patilsa\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\oradata\primary
Oldest online log sequence     368
Next log sequence to archive   0
Current log sequence           369

Difference between init files :    INITprimary.ORA

Difference between init files :  INITsecondary.ORA