When we announced the 3-PDB-Support with Oracle Database 19c onward at OpenWorld 2019, I was very excited. According to the license documentation, this applies to Standard Edition 2 (SE2) as well. But does it work? Can you have more than 1 PDB with Standard Edition 2 (SE2)?

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The license documentation is pretty clear about 3 user-created PDBs:
Check with Oracle Database 19.5.0 SE2
It’s been a while since I installed SE2 instead of EE. But everything goes smoothly. You just need to select “Standard Edition 2” in the OUI. The image you download is the same. I use the 19.5.0 Gold Image I have on disk anyways.
When I create the database, I create it as a CUSTOM container database. In Oracle 19.5.0 from mid-October 2019, you can select only one PDB to be created – the option to select more than 1 is greyed out.
In addition, there is a difference between EE and SE2 when you configure database components: Many are greyed out, too. And of course, the change with SPATIAL and GRAPH does not get reflected here as we announced it in December 2019.
Here it is:
SQL*Plus: Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production on Thu Jan 23 21:33:09 2020 Version 19.5.0.0.0 Copyright (c) 1982, 2019, Oracle. All rights reserved. Connected to: Oracle Database 19c Standard Edition 2 Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production Version 19.5.0.0.0 SQL> show pdbs CON_ID CON_NAME OPEN MODE RESTRICTED ---------- ------------------------------ ---------- ---------- 2 PDB$SEED READ ONLY NO 3 PDB_HUGO1 READ WRITE NO
Creating more PDBs
The Installer didn’t allow me to create more than 1 PDB. But let me check if I can create more than 1 afterwards:
SQL> create pluggable database pdb2 admin user adm identified by adm file_name_convert=('pdbseed','pdb2'); Pluggable database created. SQL> show pdbs CON_ID CON_NAME OPEN MODE RESTRICTED ---------- ------------------------------ ---------- ---------- 2 PDB$SEED READ ONLY NO 3 PDB_HUGO1 READ WRITE NO 4 PDB2 MOUNTED SQL> alter pluggable database pdb2 open; Pluggable database altered. SQL> show pdbs CON_ID CON_NAME OPEN MODE RESTRICTED ---------- ------------------------------ ---------- ---------- 2 PDB$SEED READ ONLY NO 3 PDB_HUGO1 READ WRITE NO 4 PDB2 READ WRITE NO
Oh, this works. Already with Oracle 19.5.0. I didn’t expect this.
Then I’ll create a 3rd one.
SQL> create pluggable database PDB3 admin user adm identified by adm file_name_convert=('pdbseed','pdb3'); Pluggable database created. SQL> alter pluggable database pdb3 open; Pluggable database altered. SQL> show pdbs CON_ID CON_NAME OPEN MODE RESTRICTED ---------- ------------------------------ ---------- ---------- 2 PDB$SEED READ ONLY NO 3 PDB_HUGO1 READ WRITE NO 4 PDB2 READ WRITE NO 5 PDB3 READ WRITE NO
And afterwards, a 4th PDB.
SQL> create pluggable database pdb4 admin user adm identified by adm file_name_convert=('pdbseed','pdb4'); create pluggable database pdb4 admin user adm identified by adm file_name_convert=('pdbseed','pdb4') * ERROR at line 1: ORA-65010: maximum number of pluggable databases created
Wow! Honestly I didn’t expect it working so flawless with 19.5.0. already. That’s awesome!
Summary
You need to have Oracle 19.5.0 RU applied to your SE2 19c database environment. And from then on, you can create 3 PDBs by yourself. Pretty cool!
Further Information and Links
- 3 PDBs included since Oracle Database 19c
- Do we offer patched Gold Images for download already?
- Can you apply Bundle Patches to SE2?
- SE2 – Some questions, some answers
–Mike