What is the primary requirement to set up Oracle Data Guard in Oracle Database@Azure?

Question breakdown

Tests

Understand Data Guard prerequisites in Oracle Database@Azure

Difficulty

Easy

Key idea: Data Guard needs a primary and a standby database that can reach each other over the network so redo can be shipped and applied.

How to reach the answer

1. Data Guard works by sending redo from a primary database to one or more standby databases.
2. That makes two database instances plus reliable connectivity between them the essential prerequisite.
3. Shared storage is a RAC concept, not a Data Guard one, and public IPs or NAT are neither required nor desirable.
4. Very old versions like 10g are not supported on Oracle Database@Azure, so C is the answer.

Each option

• AIncorrect. Oracle Database@Azure runs modern releases such as 19c and 23ai; 10g is neither required nor supported.
• BIncorrect. Data Guard keeps separate copies of the data at each site, so it does not rely on shared file storage.
• CCorrect. A primary and standby pair with network connectivity for redo transport is the core requirement.
• DIncorrect. Redo transport uses private networking such as peered VNets; public IPs and NAT are not prerequisites.

Common trap: Shared storage sounds like a high-availability requirement, but that belongs to RAC clustering, not to Data Guard replication.

In practice: For cross-region DR on Oracle Database@Azure, architects ensure the primary and standby VNets are connected and that routing and NSG rules allow the redo transport ports.

Remember: Data Guard requires two databases and private network connectivity between them, with no shared storage or public exposure.

Official documentation: Oracle Data Guard Concepts and Administration (19c)

Drafted with AI assistance and checked against the answer key.