Step‑by‑Step Guide: Upgrading to Oracle Database 19c with Plug‑In/Unplug and Transportable Export/Import

Part 1 – Insert a non‑CDB into a CDB

After upgrading the upgr database from 11.2.0.4 to 19.3 (still a non‑CDB), the tutorial shows how to plug it into a 19.3 container database CDB2 as a PDB.

Step 1 – Set the source database to read‑only mode

Step 2 – Generate a description file for the source PDB

Step 3 – Close the source database

Step 4 – Verify compatibility in the target CDB

An anonymous PL/SQL block checks whether CDB2 meets the insertion conditions. The result shows compatibility.

Step 5 – Plug the source PDB into the target CDB

The description file is used in CDB2 to create a new PDB named pdb1.

Step 6 – Convert the non‑CDB to a PDB

Running the conversion script on pdb1 takes 20‑30 minutes.

Step 7 – Open the new PDB and test the connection

After opening pdb1 and saving its state, the PDB can be connected and used.

Part 2 – Full Transportable Export/Import

This experiment moves the users tablespace from an 11.2.0.4 database FTEX into a new PDB pdb2 in the 19.3 CDB CDB2 using the Full Transportable Export/Import feature.

Step 1 – Create a new PDB in the target CDB

Step 2 – Open the new PDB, create a directory object, grant access, and create a DB link to the source

The PDB is opened, a directory is created, and a database link to FTEX is defined.

Step 3 – Set the source tablespace to read‑only and copy data files

Step 4 – Import the tablespace with Data Pump

The import runs for several minutes and reports 25 non‑critical errors.

Step 5 – Restore the source tablespace to read‑write and shut down the source DB

Step 6 – Connect to the new PDB and verify the data

Part 3 – Plug a 12c PDB into a 19c CDB

The final experiment demonstrates unplugging a PDB pdb3 from a 12.2.0.1 CDB CDB1 and plugging it into the 19.3 CDB CDB2, upgrading it in the process.

Step 1 – Open the source PDB in the 12c CDB

Step 2 – Run preupgrade.jar and unplug the PDB

The preupgrade.jar tool prepares the PDB for unplug.

Step 3 – Delete the unplugged PDB from the source CDB

Step 4 – Run a compatibility check script before plugging

The script reports “NO”; the main cause is version incompatibility.

Step 5 – Convert the PDB to the target version

A conversion creates a new PDB pdb3 compatible with the 19c CDB.

Step 6 – Upgrade the PDB (20‑40 minutes)

The upgrade runs for about 20‑40 minutes; detailed parameters are in the Oracle documentation.

Step 7 – Clean up invalid objects and run post‑upgrade scripts

After the cleanup, the upgraded PDB is verified to be operational.