ORA-16820: fast-start failover observer is no longer observing this database & ORA-16819: fast-start failover observer not started

ORA-16820: fast-start failover observer is no longer observing this database

PROBLEM NOTE:

When I try to start the Observer from the Observer server, my configuration output shows that

ORA-16820: fast-start failover observer is no longer observing this database.

DGMGRL> show configuration verbose;

Configuration - DG_Bhuvan

  Protection Mode: MaxAvailability

  Databases:

    BHUVAN_A - Primary database

      Error: ORA-16820: fast-start failover observer is no longer observing this database

    BHUVAN_B - (*) Physical standby database

      Error: ORA-16820: fast-start failover observer is no longer observing this database

  (*) Fast-Start Failover target

  Properties:

    FastStartFailoverThreshold      = '30'

    OperationTimeout                = '30'

    FastStartFailoverLagLimit       = '30'

    CommunicationTimeout            = '180'

    FastStartFailoverAutoReinstate  = 'TRUE'

    FastStartFailoverPmyShutdown    = 'TRUE'

    BystandersFollowRoleChange      = 'ALL'

Fast-Start Failover: ENABLED

  Threshold:        30 seconds

  Target:           BHUVAN_B

  Observer:         bhuoraobs001

  Lag Limit:        30 seconds (not in use)

  Shutdown Primary: TRUE

  Auto-reinstate:   TRUE

Configuration Status:

ERROR

DGMGRL>

-- VIEWING CONFIGURATION DETAILS FOR PRIMARY DB ON DG

DGMGRL> show database verbose 'BHUVAN_A';

Database - BHUVAN_A

  Role:            PRIMARY

  Intended State:  TRANSPORT-ON

  Instance(s):

    BHUVAN_1

    BHUVAN_2

  Database Error(s):

    ORA-16820: fast-start failover observer is no longer observing this database

  Properties:

    DGConnectIdentifier             = 'BHUVAN_A_DG'

    ObserverConnectIdentifier       = ''

....

  (*) - Please check specific instance for the property value

Database Status:

ERROR

-- VIEWING CONFIGURATION DETAILS FOR STANDBY DB ON DG

DGMGRL> show database verbose 'BHUVAN_B';

Database - BHUVAN_B

  Role:            PHYSICAL STANDBY

  Intended State:  APPLY-ON

  Transport Lag:   0 seconds

  Apply Lag:       0 seconds

  Real Time Query: OFF

  Instance(s):

    BHUVAN_1

    BHUVAN_2 (apply instance)

  Database Error(s):

    ORA-16820: fast-start failover observer is no longer observing this database

  Properties:

    DGConnectIdentifier             = 'BHUVAN_B_DG'

    ObserverConnectIdentifier       = ''

....

  (*) - Please check specific instance for the property value

Database Status:

ERROR

SOLUTION:

After doing a lot of research we found that “DGConnectIdentifier" should be used when you try to connect from primary & standby database to start the observer respectively

Ex:

  DGConnectIdentifier             = 'BHUVAN_A_DG' – PRIMARY DB Configuration

  DGConnectIdentifier             = 'BHUVAN_B_DG' – STANDBY DB Configuration

STARTING OBSERVER IN BACKGROUND MODE

dgmgrl -logfile $HOME/observer.log sys/oracle@bhuvan_a "start observer" &

BHUVAN_A_DG =

(DESCRIPTION =

  (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=node1-vip)(PORT=1521))

  (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=node2-vip)(PORT=1521))

  (CONNECT_DATA=(SERVER=DEDICATED)(SERVICE_NAME= BHUVAN_A))

)

BHUVAN_B_DG =

(DESCRIPTION =

  (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST= node1-vip)(PORT=1521))

  (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST= node2-vip)(PORT=1521))

  (CONNECT_DATA=(SERVER=DEDICATED)(SERVICE_NAME= BHUVAN_B ))

)

Other wise your observer will come down automatically

DGMGRL> show configuration verbose;

Configuration - DG_Bhuvan

  Protection Mode: MaxAvailability

  Databases:

    BHUVAN_A - Primary database

    BHUVAN_B - (*) Physical standby database

  (*) Fast-Start Failover target

  Properties:

    FastStartFailoverThreshold      = '30'

    OperationTimeout                = '30'

    FastStartFailoverLagLimit       = '30'

    CommunicationTimeout            = '180'

    FastStartFailoverAutoReinstate  = 'TRUE'

    FastStartFailoverPmyShutdown    = 'TRUE'

    BystandersFollowRoleChange      = 'ALL'

Fast-Start Failover: ENABLED

  Threshold:        30 seconds

  Target:           BHUVAN _B

  Observer:         bhuoraobs001

  Lag Limit:        30 seconds (not in use)

  Shutdown Primary: TRUE

  Auto-reinstate:   TRUE

Configuration Status:

SUCCESS

DGMGRL>

ORA-16819: fast-start failover observer not started

ACTION: you have not started the Observer, so you have to start the observer

dgmgrl -logfile $HOME/observer.log sys/oracle@bhuvan_a "start observer" &