Step by Step Data Guard Setup for Oracle 10g

Steps:
1.) Make sure archive log mode is enabled on your database:
SQL> archive log list
Database log mode Archive Mode
Automatic archival Enabled
Archive destination /opt/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/archive
Oldest online log sequence 108
Next log sequence to archive 109
Current log sequence 109

SQL> select name, log_mode from v$database;

NAME LOG_MODE
--------- ------------
ORCL ARCHIVELOG

If archive log mode is not enabled. Please enable it using the following link.
How to enable archivelog mode in Oracle 11g database

2.) Enable force logging on the database, so that there is no problems with no logging operations in the future.

SQL> alter database force logging;

Database altered.

3.) Create password file, if you do not have one already.

[oracle@APP3 dbs]$ cd $ORACLE_HOME/dbs
[oracle@APP3 dbs]$ orapwd file=orapworcl password=oracle force=y
[oracle@APP3 dbs]$ ls -lrt orapworcl
-rw-r----- 1 oracle oinstall 1536 Sep 14 08:21 orapworcl

SQL> select * from v$pwfile_users;

USERNAME SYSDB SYSOP
------------------------------ ----- -----
SYS TRUE TRUE


4.) Create Standby Redo Logfiles on primary DB.

Current logfile:
SQL> col member a40
SQL> select a.group#,a.status,a.member,b.bytes/1024/1024 from v$logfile a,v$log b
2 where a.group#=b.group#;

GROUP# STATUS MEMBER B.BYTES/1024/1024
---------- ------- ---------------------------------------- -----------------
1 /opt/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/redo01.log 50
2 /opt/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/redo02.log 50

Add standby redo log groups:

SQL> alter database add standby logfile group 3 size 50M;

Database altered.

SQL> alter database add standby logfile group 4 size 50M;

Database altered.

SQL> select * from v$logfile;

GROUP# STATUS TYPE MEMBER IS_
---------- ------- ------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---
1 ONLINE /opt/app/oracle/oradata/ORCL/redo01.log NO
2 ONLINE /opt/app/oracle/oradata/ORCL/redo02.log NO
3 STANDBY /opt/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORCL/onlinelog/o1_mf_3_5bvzkzgs_.log YES
4 STANDBY /opt/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/ORCL/onlinelog/o1_mf_4_5bvzl8hf_.log YES

SQL> select * from v$standby_log;

GROUP# DBID THREAD# SEQUENCE# BYTES USED ARC STATUS FIRST_CHANGE# FIRST_TIM LAST_CHANGE# LAST_TIME
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 UNASSIGNED 0 0 52428800 512 YES UNASSIGNED 0 0
4 UNASSIGNED 0 0 52428800 512 YES UNASSIGNED 0 0

5.) Check parameter db_unique_name
SQL> show parameters unique

NAME TYPE VALUE
------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------
db_unique_name string orcl

6.) Add standby related entried to Primary database:
SQL> create pfile='/home/oracle/initprim.ora' from spfile;

Sample init.ora from Primary:
orcl.__db_cache_size=2097152000
orcl.__java_pool_size=16777216
orcl.__large_pool_size=16777216
orcl.__shared_pool_size=536870912
orcl.__streams_pool_size=0
*.audit_file_dest='/opt/app/oracle/admin/orcl/adump'
*.background_dump_dest='/opt/app/oracle/admin/orcl/bdump'
*.compatible='10.2.0.3.0'
*.control_files='/opt/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/control01.ctl','/opt/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/control02.ctl','/opt/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/control03.ctl'
*.core_dump_dest='/opt/app/oracle/admin/orcl/cdump'
*.db_block_size=8192
*.db_domain=''
*.db_file_multiblock_read_count=16
*.db_name='orcl'
*.db_recovery_file_dest='/opt/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area'
*.db_recovery_file_dest_size=2147483648
*.db_unique_name='orcl'
*.dispatchers='(PROTOCOL=TCP) (SERVICE=orclXDB)'
*.job_queue_processes=10
*.log_archive_dest_1='location=/opt/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/archive VALID_FOR=(ALL_LOGFILES,ALL_ROLES) DB_UNIQUE_NAME=orcl'
*.open_cursors=300
*.pga_aggregate_target=823132160
*.processes=500
*.remote_login_passwordfile='EXCLUSIVE'
*.sga_target=2684354560
*.undo_management='AUTO'
*.undo_tablespace='UNDOTBS1'
*.user_dump_dest='/opt/app/oracle/admin/orcl/udump'
db_unique_name=orcl
LOG_ARCHIVE_CONFIG='DG_CONFIG=(orcl,orcl1)'
*.LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_2='SERVICE=ORCL1 LGWR ASYNC VALID_FOR=(ONLINE_LOGFILES,PRIMARY_ROLE) DB_UNIQUE_NAME=orcl1'
LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_STATE_1=ENABLE
LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_STATE_2=ENABLE
LOG_ARCHIVE_FORMAT=%t_%s_%r.arc
LOG_ARCHIVE_MAX_PROCESSES=3
DB_FILE_NAME_CONVERT='/u01/oradata/orcl','/opt/app/oracle/oradata/orcl'
LOG_FILE_NAME_CONVERT='/u01/oradata/orcl/archive',/opt/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/archive','/u01/oradata/flash_recovery_area/orcl','/opt/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/orcl/onlinelog'
FAL_SERVER=orcl1
FAL_CLIENT=orcl

Copy the init.ora and make necessary changes to the file to be used at standby side. Changes like location of various files, FAL_SERVER, FAL_CLIENT etc.

Sample init.ora in Standby DB:
orcl.__db_cache_size=2097152000
orcl.__java_pool_size=16777216
orcl.__large_pool_size=16777216
orcl.__shared_pool_size=536870912
orcl.__streams_pool_size=0
*.audit_file_dest='/u01/oradata/orcl/adump'
*.background_dump_dest='/u01/oradata/orcl/bdump'
*.compatible='10.2.0.3.0'
*.control_files='/u01/oradata/orcl/control01.ctl','/u01/oradata/orcl/control02.ctl','/u01/oradata/orcl/control03.ctl'
*.core_dump_dest='/u01/oradata/orcl/cdump'
*.db_block_size=8192
*.db_domain=''
*.db_file_multiblock_read_count=16
*.db_name='orcl'
*.db_recovery_file_dest='/u01/oradata/flash_recovery_area/orcl'
*.db_recovery_file_dest_size=2147483648
*.db_unique_name='orcl1'
*.dispatchers='(PROTOCOL=TCP) (SERVICE=orclXDB)'
*.job_queue_processes=10
*.log_archive_dest_1='location=/u01/oradata/orcl/archive VALID_FOR=(ALL_LOGFILES,ALL_ROLES) DB_UNIQUE_NAME=orcl'
*.open_cursors=300
*.pga_aggregate_target=823132160
*.processes=500
*.remote_login_passwordfile='EXCLUSIVE'
*.sga_target=2684354560
*.undo_management='AUTO'
*.undo_tablespace='UNDOTBS1'
*.user_dump_dest='/u01/oradata/orcl/udump'
LOG_ARCHIVE_CONFIG='DG_CONFIG=(orcl,orcl1)'
*.LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_2='SERVICE=ORCL LGWR ASYNC VALID_FOR=(ONLINE_LOGFILES,PRIMARY_ROLE) DB_UNIQUE_NAME=orcl'
LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_STATE_1=ENABLE
LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_STATE_2=ENABLE
LOG_ARCHIVE_FORMAT=%t_%s_%r.arc
LOG_ARCHIVE_MAX_PROCESSES=3
DB_FILE_NAME_CONVERT='/opt/app/oracle/oradata/orcl','/u01/oradata/orcl'
LOG_FILE_NAME_CONVERT='/opt/app/oracle/oradata/orcl/archive','/u01/oradata/orcl/archive','/opt/app/oracle/flash_recovery_area/orcl/onlinelog','/u01/oradata/flash_recovery_area/orcl'
FAL_SERVER=orcl
FAL_CLIENT=orcl1

7.) Shutdown the primary database. Use the newly created pfile to startup nomount the database. Then create a spfile for the database. Mount the database and create a standby controlfile.
Shutdown the database and take a cold back of the database, all files including the redo log files. You can also create a standby DB from hot backup.

SQL> shutdown immediate;
Database closed.
Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.

SQL> startup nomount pfile='/home/oracle/pfileorcl.ora'
ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area 2684354560 bytes
Fixed Size 2086352 bytes
Variable Size 570427952 bytes
Database Buffers 2097152000 bytes
Redo Buffers 14688256 bytes
SQL> create spfile from pfile='/home/oracle/pfileorcl.ora';

File created.
Meanwhile I also received the error:
create spfile from pfile='/home/oracle/pfileregdb.ora'
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-00600: internal error code, arguments: [kspsetpao1], [1753], [1700], [*],
[user_dump_dest], [33], [], []

Note: This error usually comes when the syntax of the pfile is wrong somewhere, please fix the pfile and try again. It worked for me.

SQL> shutdown immediate;
ORA-01507: database not mounted


ORACLE instance shut down.
SQL> startup
ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area 2684354560 bytes
Fixed Size 2086352 bytes
Variable Size 570427952 bytes
Database Buffers 2097152000 bytes
Redo Buffers 14688256 bytes
Database mounted.
Database opened.

8.) Shutdown the database again and take a cold backup of all files.

9.) Create standby control file.
SQL> startup mount
ORACLE instance started.
Total System Global Area 2684354560 bytes
Fixed Size 2086352 bytes
Variable Size 570427952 bytes
Database Buffers 2097152000 bytes
Redo Buffers 14688256 bytes
Database mounted.

--Then mount and create a standby controlfile.
SQL> alter database create standby controlfile as 'standby.ctl';
Database altered.

-- Open the primary read write.
SQL> alter database open;
Database altered.

10.) Transfer all the file from the cold backup from Primary to Standby server. Also copy the password file from primary to standby.
Also copy the standby controlfile created in step 9 and copy if with the right name and location on standby server.
I use SFTP for transferring the files.

11.) Add entries for the primary db and standby DB in both primary and standby servers. i.e. primary server should have its own (orcl) and standby server (orcl1) tns entry.

12.) Copy the pfile from step 6 for standby DB.
Now try to nomount the standby database with the new pfile.

[oracle@dbtest dbs]$ sqlplus / as sysdba

SQL*Plus: Release 10.2.0.1.0 - Production on Tue Sep 15 04:57:32 2009

Copyright (c) 1982, 2005, Oracle. All rights reserved.

Connected to an idle instance.

SQL> startup nomount pfile='/home/oracle/oracle/product/10.2.0/db_1/dbs/pfilestbregdb.ora';
ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area 1694498816 bytes
Fixed Size 1219784 bytes
Variable Size 402654008 bytes
Database Buffers 1275068416 bytes
Redo Buffers 15556608 bytes

13.) Create spfile from pfile.
SQL> create spfile from pfile='/home/oracle/oracle/product/10.2.0/db_1/dbs/pfilestbregdb.ora';

File created.

14.) Shutdown the DB and do a startup mount.
SQL>startup mount;

15.) Start REDO apply process:
SQL> alter database recover managed standby database disconnect from session;
OR
SQL> alter database recover managed standby database nodelay disconnect parallel 8;

16.) Verification.
SQL> SELECT PROCESS, STATUS, THREAD#, SEQUENCE#, BLOCK#, BLOCKS FROM V$MANAGED_STANDBY;

To check archive gap:
SELECT thread#, low_sequence#, high_sequence# from V$archive_gap;
for RAC
SELECT thread#, low_sequence#, high_sequence# from gv$archive_gap;

To stop redo apply:
alter database recover managed standby database cancel;

17.) Check alert log files and verify that you did not receive any error.

18.) Switch some logfiles on the Primary and check if the same are getting applied to the standby.
on Primary:
SQL> alter system switch logfile;

on standby:
SQL> SELECT PROCESS, STATUS, THREAD#, SEQUENCE#, BLOCK#, BLOCKS FROM V$MANAGED_STANDBY;

Thanks should be it, your Physical Standby DB should be working fine.