Move controlfile Oracle 12c

I've done this several times now and can confirm it's pretty straight forward. You can move and/or rename the controlfiles using this method. This is easy, but it does require some quick downtime. Here are the steps to move and rename the database controlfiles.

• Query your current controlfile locations.
• Alter your system to update to the new names/locations.
• Shutdown the database.
• Move/rename the controlfiles on the server.
• Startup the database.
• Verify the new names and locations.
• Update your pfile from your spfile.
• Cleanup old location.

Query your current controlfile locations.

SQL> select name from v$controlfile;

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

/u01/oradata/orcl/ORCL/controlfile/o1_mf_dhngfcms_.ctl

/u02/oradata/orcl/ORCL/controlfile/o1_mf_dhngfcn5_.ctl

/u03/oradata/orcl/ORCL/controlfile/o1_mf_dhngfcng_.ctl

Alter your system to update to the new names/locations.

SQL> show parameter control_files

NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------

control_files                        string     

/u01/oradata/orcl/ORCL/controlfile/o1_mf_dhngfcms_.ctl, /u02/oradata/orcl/ORCL/controlfile/o1_mf_dhngfcn5_.ctl, /u03/oradata/orcl/ORCL/controlfile/o1_mf_dhngfcng_.ctl

SQL> alter system set control_files='/oracle/u01/oradata/orcl/controlfile/control01.ctl', -

> '/oracle/u02/oradata/orcl/controlfile/control02.ctl', -

> '/oracle/u03/oradata/orcl/controlfile/control03.ctl' scope=spfile;

System altered.

Shutdown the database.

SQL> shutdown immediate;

Database closed.

Database dismounted.

ORACLE instance shut down.

SQL>

Move/rename the controlfiles on the server.

Create new directory locations.

$ cd /u01/oradata/orcl

$ mkdir controlfile

$ cd /u02/oradata/orcl

$ mkdir controlfile

$ cd /u03/oradata/orcl

$ mkdir controlfile

cd to the current location of the control files and move each one to new location, renaming in the process.

$ cd /u01/oradata/orcl/ORCL/controlfile/

$ mv o1_mf_dhngfcms_.ctl ../../controlfile/control01.ctl

$ cd /u02/oradata/orcl/ORCL/controlfile/

$ mv o1_mf_dhngfcn5_.ctl ../../controlfile/control02.ctl

$ cd /u03/oradata/orcl/ORCL/controlfile/

$ mv o1_mf_dhngfcng_.ctl ../../controlfile/control03.ctl

Startup the database.

SQL> startup

ORACLE instance started.

...

Database mounted.

Database opened.

Verify the new names and locations.

SQL> select name from v$controlfile;

NAME

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

/oracle/u01/oradata/orcl/controlfile/control01.ctl

/oracle/u02/oradata/orcl/controlfile/control02.ctl

/oracle/u03/oradata/orcl/controlfile/control03.ctl

SQL> show parameter control_files

NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------

control_files                        string      /oracle/u01/oradata/orcl/con

                                                 trolfile/control01.ctl, /oracl

                                                 e/u02/oradata/orcl/controlfi

                                                 le/control02.ctl, /oracle/u03/

                                                 oradata/orcl/controlfile/con

                                                 trol03.ctl

Update your pfile from your spfile.

SQL> create pfile from spfile;

File created.

Cleanup old location.

$ rmdir controlfile

$ cd .. 

$ rmdir ORCL

Backup your database!