Oracle to Snowflake Migration: Steps, Challenges & Best Practices

Migrating data from Oracle to Snowflake can be a complex process if done manually, but with Estuary Flow, it becomes seamless and efficient. Estuary Flow’s real-time Change Data Capture (CDC) technology allows for smooth migration with minimal downtime. In this guide, we’ll walk through the step-by-step process for migrating data from Oracle to Snowflake using Estuary Flow.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Steps to Migrate Oracle to Snowflake Using Estuary Flow
   • Pre-requisites: What You Need
   • Step 1: Set Up Oracle as the Data Source
   • Step 2: Set Up Snowflake as the Destination
   • Step 3: Enable Real-Time Data Replication
   • Step 4: Data Validation and Integrity Check
   • Step 5: Finalize the Migration
3. Conclusion

Introduction

Migrating data from Oracle to Snowflake becomes simpler and more reliable with Estuary Flow, leveraging real-time CDC technology to keep data synchronized and minimize downtime. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on setting up Estuary Flow for a smooth Oracle-to-Snowflake migration.

Steps to Migrate Oracle to Snowflake Using Estuary Flow

Pre-requisites: What You Need

• Oracle Database (Version 11g+)
• Snowflake Account with target database, schema, and virtual warehouse
• Estuary Flow account

Step 1: Set Up Oracle as the Data Source

1. Log in to Estuary Flow
   
   Sign up or log in to Estuary Flow and navigate to the Dashboard.

2. Add a New Source
   
   Click on Sources > + New Capture, search for Oracle, and select the Real-time Oracle connector for continuous data sync.

3. Configure Oracle
   
   Enter details such as:

   • Capture Name (e.g., "OracleToSnowflake")
   • Server Address (host and port of your Oracle database)
   • Username and Password Click Next, then Save and Publish.

4. Test Connection
   
   Use Estuary Flow’s test feature to ensure the connection is working correctly.

Step 2: Set Up Snowflake as the Destination

1. Navigate to Destinations
   
   Go to Destinations and click + New Materialization.

2. Configure Snowflake
   
   Fill in Snowflake connection details:

   • Materialization Name (e.g., "OracleToSnowflakeSync")
   • Host URL (e.g., https://<account>.snowflakecomputing.com)
   • Database and Schema Authenticate with Snowflake user credentials or JWT.

3. Assign Source to Destination
   
   Link your Oracle source to the Snowflake destination and click Save and Publish.

Step 3: Enable Real-Time Data Replication

1. Activate Sync
   
   Estuary Flow’s real-time sync ensures updates in Oracle reflect immediately in Snowflake.

2. Monitor Data Flow
   
   Use Estuary Flow’s monitoring tools to track progress, row count, and potential errors.

Step 4: Data Validation and Integrity Check

• Automatic Schema Handling
  
  Schema changes in Oracle, like adding or removing columns, are automatically reflected in Snowflake.

• Data Integrity Validation
  
  Use Estuary Flow’s validation tools to ensure the data in Oracle and Snowflake matches.

Step 5: Finalize the Migration

1. Review Migration Status
   
   Upon completion, review the migration report for success rates and potential issues.

2. Ongoing Sync (Optional)
   
   If ongoing data sync is required, keep the real-time sync active; otherwise, stop it after migration.

Conclusion

Migrating from Oracle to Snowflake with Estuary Flow provides a seamless, efficient, and secure solution, thanks to its real-time CDC technology. Estuary Flow’s automated schema handling, data validation, and monitoring tools make the migration smooth and ensure data integrity, letting you focus on leveraging data in Snowflake effectively.

By following these steps, you can confidently migrate your Oracle database to Snowflake and unlock the full potential of your data.