• Pradip
• 04 Dec, 2025
• 0 Comments
• 3 Mins Read

Transportable Tablespaces Migration

Transportable Tablespaces Migration: Fastest Way to Move Databases

When it comes to migrating large Oracle databases with minimal downtime, DBAs often struggle with long export/import times and high system load. Traditional migrations work, but they are slow — especially when moving multi-terabyte databases.

This is where Oracle Transportable Tablespaces (TTS) becomes a game-changer.

Transportable Tablespaces let you move only the metadata, while the actual data files are physically copied, making it one of the fastest migration techniques in Oracle Database.

Whether you’re migrating to a new server, consolidating workloads, or performing platform refreshes, TTS drastically reduces downtime and effort.

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What Are Transportable Tablespaces?

Transportable Tablespaces (TTS) is an Oracle feature that allows you to:

• Move tablespaces across databases quickly

• Transfer only metadata using export/import

• Reuse the same physical datafiles

• Avoid full data unload/load

• Reduce downtime from hours to minutes

It works for both non-CDB and PDB databases, and it’s widely used in migrations, upgrades, and cloud moves.

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Why TTS Is the Fastest Migration Method

Traditional migration (expdp/impdp) exports every row and imports it again — slow for large DBs.

TTS, on the other hand:

• Copies datafiles directly (very fast using cp/rsync)

• Exports/imports only metadata

• Avoids row-level export

• Supports incremental backup-based transfer (XTTS)

• Minimizes application downtime

This makes it ideal for databases with huge volumes of static or historical data.

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When Should You Use TTS?

Use Transportable Tablespaces when:

• Migrating large databases between servers

• Moving to Oracle Cloud (OCI)

• Upgrading hardware or storage

• Consolidating databases into a new CDB

• Refreshing environments (DEV/TEST from PROD)

• Performing cross-platform migrations (using XTTS)

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Prerequisites

Before starting a TTS migration:

• Source and target DB must be same or higher version.

• Endianness must match (or use RMAN conversion).

• Tablespaces must be self-contained.

• Tablespaces must be in READ ONLY mode during final copy.

• Sufficient space on target system.

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Step-by-Step Transportable Tablespaces Migration

Step 1: Identify Self-Contained Tablespaces

Check for violations:

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Step 2: Make Tablespaces READ ONLY

 

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Step 3: Export Metadata Using Data Pump

This exports only metadata, not data.

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Step 4: Copy Datafiles to Target Server

Use cp/scp/rsync:

Or use RMAN CONVERT if cross-platform:

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Step 5: Import Metadata on Target

Oracle will plug the tablespaces into the target database.

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Step 6: Make Tablespaces READ WRITE

Migration is complete!

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Performance Tip: Use XTTS for Near-Zero Downtime

Cross-Platform Transportable Tablespaces (XTTS) uses incremental RMAN backups to sync changes while the source DB is online.

This gives:

• Near-zero downtime

• Faster final cutover

• Platform migration flexibility (Linux → Solaris, AIX → Linux, etc.)

XTTS is the preferred method for enterprise-level migrations.

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Common Use Cases in Real Projects

At Learnomate Technologies, we see DBAs using TTS for:

✔ Refreshing massive QA/DEV instances
✔ Migrating on-prem databases to OCI
✔ Platform-to-platform migrations
✔ Splitting large databases into modular TTS chunks
✔ Storage-level migrations (file system → ASM)

Because TTS avoids full import/export, migrations become predictable and fast.

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Advantages of Transportable Tablespaces

Speed

Datafiles are directly copied, making the process significantly faster.

Low Downtime

Only the READ ONLY phase causes application freeze.

Flexibility

Supports non-CDB, CDB, and cross-platform.

Efficient

Ideal for multi-terabyte databases.

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Limitations

• Tablespaces must be self-contained

• Cannot migrate SYSTEM, SYSAUX, UNDO, TEMP

• Needs downtime during final sync

• May require endian conversion

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Final Thoughts

Transportable Tablespaces is one of the fastest and most efficient ways to migrate large Oracle databases with minimal downtime.

If you’re dealing with multi-terabyte systems, cloud onboarding, or platform refreshes, TTS (and XTTS) will save you hours—sometimes days—during migrations.

Learnomate Technologies recommends using TTS whenever speed and efficiency matter the most in database transitions.

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