SnapSync Failing with RMAN-03009, ORA-15113 (KBA1840)

Troubleshooting

An initial or incremental SnapSync operation may fail with the following messages:

released channel: DLPX_CHANNEL_0 
released channel: DLPX_CHANNEL_1 
RMAN-00571: =========================================================== 
RMAN-00569: =============== ERROR MESSAGE STACK FOLLOWS =============== 
RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-03009: failure of backup command on DLPX_CHANNEL_1 channel at 03/22/2019 10:55:23 
ORA-15113: alias name 'CONTROLFILE' refers to a directory 
ORA-15113: alias name 'CONTROLFILE' refers to a directory 
ORA-15113: alias name 'CONTROLFILE' refers to a directory 
ORA-15113: alias name 'CONTROLFILE' refers to a directory 
ORA-15113: alias name 'CONTROLFILE' refers to a directory 
ORA-15113: alias name 'CONTROLFILE' refers to a directory 
ORA-15113: alias name 'CONTROLFILE' refers to a directory 

In addition to the RMAN messages returned in the Delphix interface from the SnapSync operation, RMAN show all can be collected to review the current RMAN configuration. Example:

RMAN> show all
using target database control file instead of recovery catalog 
RMAN configuration parameters for database with db_unique_name EXAMPLE are: 
CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY TO RECOVERY WINDOW OF 8 DAYS; 
CONFIGURE BACKUP OPTIMIZATION ON; 
CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO 'SBT_TYPE'; 
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP ON; 
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '%F'; 
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE 'SBT_TYPE ' TO 'cf.%d.%F'; 
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE SBT_TYPE TO '%F'; # default 
CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE DISK PARALLELISM 1 BACKUP TYPE TO BACKUPSET; 
CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE 'SBT_TYPE' PARALLELISM 8 BACKUP TYPE TO BACKUPSET; 
CONFIGURE DATAFILE BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO 1; 
CONFIGURE DATAFILE BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE SBT_TYPE TO 1; # default 
CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO 1; 
CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE SBT_TYPE TO 1; # default 
CONFIGURE MAXSETSIZE TO UNLIMITED; 
CONFIGURE ENCRYPTION FOR DATABASE OFF; 
CONFIGURE ENCRYPTION ALGORITHM 'AES128'; 
CONFIGURE COMPRESSION ALGORITHM 'BASIC' AS OF RELEASE 'DEFAULT' OPTIMIZE FOR LOAD TRUE; 
CONFIGURE RMAN OUTPUT TO KEEP FOR 7 DAYS; 
CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG DELETION POLICY TO NONE; 
CONFIGURE SNAPSHOT CONTROLFILE NAME TO '+DATA/EXAMPLE/CONTROLFILE/';

Resolution

Oracle defines ORA-05113 as follows:

ORA-15113: alias name 'string' refers to a directory
Cause: The name specified referred to a directory in the alias directory and not a valid alias entry.
Action: Check the alias name and retry.

This suggests an incorrect configuration parameter in the database in question. Oracle documents a similar issue in Oracle Support Document 1302857.1 (Rman Duplicate From Active Database To ASM Failed With ORA-1503, ORA-200, ORA-202, ORA-17502 and ORA-15113). 

This may also be an ASM configuration concern, in which case the documentation at 

https://docs.oracle.com/database/121/OSTMG/GUID-7AE5B8CA-B563-4864-A934-4C170A9590F5.htm#OSTMG10065

Directs you in the configuration of ASM aliases.  The following CONTROLFILE configuration alias appears in the RMAN output cited above referring to a directory which is incorrect:

CONFIGURE SNAPSHOT CONTROLFILE NAME TO '+DATA/EXAMPLE/CONTROLFILE/';

As the message indicates, the CONTROLFILE alias cannot point to a directory. 

To resolve this behavior, the alias configuration should be altered so as to not refer to a directory.  Once this action is taken, the subsequent SnapSync operation should be successful. For Example:

CONFIGURE SNAPSHOT CONTROLFILE NAME TO '+DATA/EXAMPLE/CONTROLFILE/snap_controlfile.ctl';

Applicable Delphix Versions 

This article applies to the following versions of the Delphix Engine: