External Database-related Prerequisite Tasks

Before you enable and use Database Management for External Databases, you must complete the prerequisite tasks listed in the following table.

The External Database service is an Oracle Cloud Infrastructure service, which enables you to connect to an Oracle Database that is located outside of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

Task Description More Information
Install Management Agents The Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Management Agent service enables the communication and data collection between Database Management and an External Database.

You must install a Management Agent on a host that has a connection to the External Database. Database Management will use the Management Agent for operations such as collecting data and metrics from the External Database.

Note that for single instance databases, a Management Agent 201215.1850 or later is required and for RAC databases, a Management Agent 210403.1349 or later is required. A Management Agent 210403.1349 or later is required for External Databases to use AWR Explorer.

For information on how to install Management Agents, see Install Management Agents.

If you encounter issues when installing the Management Agent, see Errors Encountered When Enabling Database Management for External Databases for the likely cause and solution.

Register the Oracle Database with the External Database service You must ensure that you register the Oracle Database by creating a resource or handle in the External Database service. This handle functions as a representation of the Oracle Database located outside of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. For information on how to create an External Database handle, see Create a Handle for an External Database.
Grant the privileges required to monitor and manage the External Database and save the database user password in a secret You must grant the database user the privileges required to monitor and manage the External Database in Database Management. You can use the available SQL scripts to create a new database user with the required set of privileges to monitor the External Database or to perform advanced diagnostics and administrative tasks.

Use the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Vault service to save the database user password in a secret with an encryption key. The Vault service is a managed service that enables you to centrally manage the encryption keys that protect your data and the secret credentials that you use to securely access resources. Note that if you change the database user password, then you must also update the secret with the new password by creating a new version of the secret and updating the contents.

Configure Gradual Password Rollover

For Oracle Databases 19c and later, it's recommended that you define a gradual password rollover time, which allows you to connect to the database using both the old and new passwords during the gradual rollover time period. Since both the old and new passwords are valid for some time, downtime is minimized. Using a gradual password rollover, you can avoid any disruptions in the use of Database Management features for your databases.

For information on the required database user privileges, see Database User Privileges Required for Database Management.

For information on the SQL script to create a monitoring user with the privileges required to monitor the External Database, see Creating the Oracle Database Monitoring Credentials for Database Management (Doc ID 2857604.1) in My Oracle Support.

For information on the SQL script to create a user with the privileges required to perform advanced diagnostics and administrative tasks, see Creating the Oracle Database Management Advanced Diagnostics User and Administration User (Doc ID 2978493.1) in My Oracle Support.

For information on the Vault service, its concepts, and how to create vaults, keys, and secrets, see Vault.

For information on the Gradual Password Rollover feature, see Managing Gradual Database Password Rollover for Applications in Oracle Database Security Guide.

Connect the Oracle Database to the External Database handle After creating an External Database handle, you must connect the Oracle Database that you want to monitor and manage using Database Management to the handle.

Note that you can use TCPS protocol to securely create a connection to the Oracle Database and monitor and manage it.

For information on how to connect an Oracle Database to an External Database handle, see Create a Connection to an External Database.