How to Migrate Data from Oracle to MariaDB: 2 Methods

Oracle's enterprise-grade database management system is a stalwart in transactional data storage, while MariaDB is a robust, open-source alternative renowned for its cost-effectiveness and flexibility. Migrating from Oracle to MariaDB often arises from a need to reduce costs, embrace open-source solutions, or modernize database infrastructure.

This guide dives into the methods for Oracle to MariaDB migration, comparing automated and manual approaches. Learn how Estuary Flow simplifies this process with real-time Change Data Capture (CDC) for seamless data movement.

Why Migrate from Oracle to MariaDB? Key Benefits:

Understanding the key motivations behind migrating from Oracle to MariaDB can help you better evaluate how this move aligns with your business goals. Here are some compelling benefits to consider:

1. Cost Optimization
Oracle's licensing and support costs can strain budgets, especially for businesses with growing data volumes. As an open-source database, MariaDB eliminates these costs while maintaining high performance.

2. Database Modernization
MariaDB offers modern features, including distributed SQL, hybrid transactional/analytical processing (HTAP), and JSON and dynamic column types support, making it ideal for new-age applications.

3. Open Source and Community-Driven Development
MariaDB’s open-source nature fosters innovation, with a thriving community ensuring rapid feature enhancements and security updates.

2 Methods to Migrate Data from Oracle to MariaDB: Automated vs. Manual

Method 1: Using Estuary Flow for Oracle to MariaDB Automated Migration

Estuary Flow offers an automated, real-time solution using Change Data Capture (CDC), enabling seamless and efficient data migration. With features like schema evolution and incremental updates, Estuary Flow ensures accuracy, scalability, and minimal manual effort, making it the ideal choice for modern database migration. Here's how you can set up your migration with Estuary Flow.

Steps to Configure Estuary Flow:

Step 1: Configure Oracle Database as a Source

• Sign in to your Estuary Flow account to access the dashboard.

• Navigate to the Sources tab on the left panel and click on + NEW CAPTURE.
  
• In the Create Capture page, search for Oracle Database in the connectors field.

• There are two connector options: Oracle real-time and Oracle batch. Choose the one that suits your requirements.For this example, choose Oracle Real-Time connector and click the Capture button.

1. Fill in the required details such as:
   • Name: Provide a unique identifier for the capture.
   • Server Address: Input the Oracle database's host address (e.g., host:port).
   • User: Enter your Oracle database username.
   • Password: Provide the associated password for authentication.
     
2. Click NEXT and then SAVE AND PUBLISH to activate the source connector.

Estuary Flow will now capture data from your Oracle database into a Flow collection using Oracle LogMiner for real-time processing.

Step 2: Set Up MariaDB as the Destination

• On the dashboard, select the Destinations tab in the left-side menu and click on + NEW MATERIALIZATION.

• In the connectors field, type MariaDB and click the Materialization button.

• On the Create Materialization page, enter the details like Address, User, Password, and Database.
• Scroll to the Source Collections section and link your Oracle Flow collection. If the collection doesn’t appear automatically, manually add it using the Link Capture button.
• Click NEXT and then SAVE AND PUBLISH to complete the destination configuration.

Step 3: Verify Data Migration

• Compare record counts and key metrics between Oracle and MariaDB to confirm successful data migration.
• Run queries in MariaDB to verify the migrated data’s integrity and usability.

By following these steps, you can effortlessly transfer data from Oracle to MariaDB using Estuary Flow's automated real-time CDC capabilities. This method eliminates manual overhead while ensuring accuracy and scalability.

Transform your Oracle to MariaDB migration today! Register Now to get started with Estuary Flow

Advantages of Using Estuary Flow:

• Real-Time Updates: Sync data continuously during and after the migration.Keeps your MariaDB database up-to-date with the latest changes from Oracle, minimizing downtime and ensuring data consistency.
• Schema Evolution: Automatically adapts to changes in source database schema. Eliminates the need for manual adjustments, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring seamless compatibility.
• Ease of Use: Intuitive interface minimizes the learning curve. Both technical and non-technical users can easily set up and manage data migrations.

Key Metrics:

• Supports migrations involving millions of rows with consistent throughput

Method 2: Manual Oracle to MariaDB Migration

Manual migration typically involves exporting data from Oracle and importing it into MariaDB using scripts or intermediary tools.

Steps:

1. Export Data from Oracle:
   • Use Oracle’s SQL*Plus or Data Pump to extract data into CSV or SQL files.

plaintext
expdp estuary_flow_user/password DIRECTORY=data_pump_dir DUMPFILE=oracle_data.dmp

2. Transform Data:
   • Convert Oracle’s SQL syntax and data types to MariaDB-compatible formats.
   • For example, convert NUMBER to DECIMAL and CLOB to TEXT.
     
3. Load Data into MariaDB:
   
   
   • Use MariaDB’s LOAD DATA INFILE or an equivalent method.

plaintext
LOAD DATA INFILE 'oracle_data.csv'
INTO TABLE target_table
FIELDS TERMINATED BY ',' ENCLOSED BY '"'
LINES TERMINATED BY '\n';

4. Recreate Constraints and Indexes:
   
   
   • Manually replicate primary keys, foreign keys, and indexes.

Challenges and Limitations of Manual Migration

• Time-Consuming: The entire process can take a long time, especially for large databases.
• Error-Prone: Manual conversion of data types, SQL syntax, and schema can lead to mismatches or data loss.
• No Real-Time Updates: Manual migration does not offer continuous data updates, which may lead to data inconsistencies.
• Scalability Issues: As data volumes increase, manual methods can struggle to scale effectively.
• Complex Data Transformations: Oracle and MariaDB have different SQL dialects and data types, necessitating extensive transformation.
• Downtime: Manual processes often require significant downtime for data consistency.
• Maintenance Overhead: Scripts must be updated to accommodate schema changes.

This step-by-step guide is suited for one-time migrations with smaller data volumes but may not be ideal for ongoing or real-time data integration. For complex migrations, consider using automated tools like Estuary Flow for a more efficient, scalable, and accurate solution.

Use Cases for Oracle to MariaDB Migration

1. Cost Reduction for Enterprise Applications:
   
   
   • Organizations moving away from high Oracle licensing fees can achieve significant cost savings with MariaDB.
     
2. Legacy Modernization:
   
   
   • Modernizing legacy systems by replacing Oracle with MariaDB for scalability and HTAP capabilities.
     
3. Cloud Adoption:
   
   
   • Migrating on-premise Oracle databases to cloud-native MariaDB for elasticity and reduced operational overhead.
     
4. SaaS Platform Development:
   
   
   • Startups adopting MariaDB for SaaS applications due to its flexibility and open-source benefits.

Conclusion

Migrating from Oracle to MariaDB can unlock significant advantages in cost, scalability, and modernization. While manual migration is viable for small, one-time projects, automated solutions like Estuary Flow excel in reducing complexity, ensuring accuracy, and enabling real-time data movement. With robust features like schema evolution and incremental updates, Estuary Flow is the go-to choice for efficient Oracle to MariaDB migrations.

Ready to start your Oracle to MariaDB migration? Register Now and get started with Estuary Flow today, or Contact Us for a personalized consultation.

FAQs

1. How long does it take to migrate from Oracle to MariaDB?
The time depends on the data volume. Estuary Flow accelerates migration by processing millions of rows in real time.

2. Does Estuary Flow handle Oracle and MariaDB schema differences?
Yes, Flow’s schema evolution feature automatically adapts schema changes from Oracle to MariaDB.

3. What if I need continuous data replication post-migration?
Estuary Flow supports ongoing real-time synchronization between Oracle and MariaDB.

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