Oracle DBA

The interview questions around Oracle 19c Data Guard should probe deeply into architecture-level decision making, high availability strategy, disaster recovery automation, and real-time performance tuning. Below is a curated list of strategic and technically challenging interview questions appropriate for such a senior-level profile:

Architecture & Design-Level Questions

1. Explain the internal architecture of Oracle Data Guard in 19c. How has it evolved from previous versions?
2. What are the key differences between Physical Standby and Logical Standby databases? In which scenarios would you choose one over the other?
3. How would you design a multi-region DR solution using Oracle 19c Data Guard for a business-critical application with near-zero downtime SLA?
4. Can you describe the role of the Data Guard Broker in large enterprise environments? What are the advantages and limitations?

Configuration & Implementation

5. Walk me through the steps to set up Oracle 19c Active Data Guard with real-time query.
6. How do you handle redo transport services in complex Data Guard topologies?
7. What are the best practices you follow for network configuration and security in a Data Guard setup?
8. Describe the use of Far Sync in Oracle 19c. When and why would you deploy it?

Monitoring, Troubleshooting & Performance Tuning

9. How do you monitor log apply lag and transport lag in a real-time Data Guard configuration?
10. Have you ever faced an issue where log apply was significantly delayed? How did you identify and resolve the root cause?
11. Explain the use of Real-Time Apply in Data Guard. What performance tuning measures can enhance its efficiency?
12. Which views and diagnostic tools do you rely on for Data Guard performance monitoring in 19c?

Disaster Recovery & High Availability

13. Describe a real incident where you had to perform a switchover or failover. What challenges did you face and how did you mitigate risk?
14. How do you plan and execute DR drills in a production environment with minimal impact?
15. What are your strategies for automatic failover using Fast-Start Failover (FSFO)? What parameters and thresholds do you fine-tune?

Advanced & Value-Add Capabilities

16. Explain how you integrate Oracle Data Guard with OEM, Ansible, or custom scripts for automation and orchestration.
17. What considerations must be made for Data Guard with container databases (CDB/PDB) in 19c?
18. How does Data Guard interplay with other HA solutions like Oracle RAC and GoldenGate in your enterprise architecture?
19. Can you discuss the implications of using snapshot standby databases in a CI/CD pipeline?
20. What KPIs do you define for measuring the health and efficiency of a Data Guard environment?

Bonus Strategic Questions

• How do you justify the cost-benefit of Oracle Data Guard versus third-party DR solutions to stakeholders?
• What innovations or automation have you introduced in your Data Guard setup that led to measurable improvements in DR posture or RTO/RPO?