Can you have more than 1 PDB with Standard Edition 2 (SE2)?

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)?

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.

Can you have more than 1 PDB with Standard Edition 2 (SE2)?

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.

Can you have more than 1 PDB with Standard Edition 2 (SE2)?

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

–Mike

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