Setting Up the Test System

After you have captured the SQL workload into a SQL tuning set on the production system, you can conduct SQL Performance Analyzer analysis on the same database where the workload was captured or on a different database. Because the analysis is resource-intensive, it is recommended that you capture the workload on a production database and transport it to a separate test database where the analysis can be performed. To do so, export the SQL tuning set from the production system and import it into a separate system where the system change will be tested.

There are many ways to create a test database. For example, you can use the DUPLICATE command of Recovery Manager (RMAN), Oracle Data Pump, or transportable tablespaces. Oracle recommends using RMAN because it can create the test database from pre-existing backups or from the active production datafiles. The production and test databases can reside on the same host or on different hosts.

You should configure the test database environment to match the database environment of the production system as closely as possible. In this way, SQL Performance Analyzer can more accurately forecast the effect of the system change on SQL performance.

After the test system is properly configured, export the SQL tuning set from the production system to a staging table, then import it from the staging table into the test system.