You can setup a physical standby by the following steps.
(if not using OEM)
1. Create a backup copy of the primary database datafiles
2. Create a standby control file.
a. shut down the primary database
b. mount the primary database
c. SQL> ALTER DATABASE CREATE STANDBY CONTROLFILE AS '/home/oracle/stdbyctl01.ctl';
3. Prepare your initSID.ora file
a. Copy the primary database parameter file to the standby database.
b. SQL> CREATE PFILE='/tmp/initSID.ora' FROM SPFILE;
c.Set up the initialization parameters on the physical standby

Example:
DB_NAME=chicago
DB_UNIQUE_NAME=boston
LOG_ARCHIVE_CONFIG='DG_CONFIG=(chicago,boston)'
CONTROL_FILES='/arch1/boston/control1.ctl', '/arch2/boston/control2.ctl'
DB_FILE_NAME_CONVERT='chicago','boston'
LOG_FILE_NAME_CONVERT=
'/arch1/chicago/','/arch1/boston/','/arch2/chicago/','/arch2/boston/'
LOG_ARCHIVE_FORMAT=log%t_%s_%r.arc
LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_1=
'LOCATION=/arch1/boston/
VALID_FOR=(ALL_LOGFILES,ALL_ROLES)
DB_UNIQUE_NAME=boston'
LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_2=
'SERVICE=chicago LGWR ASYNC
VALID_FOR=(ONLINE_LOGFILES,PRIMARY_ROLE)
DB_UNIQUE_NAME=chicago'
LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_STATE_1=ENABLE
LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_STATE_2=ENABLE
REMOTE_LOGIN_PASSWORDFILE=EXCLUSIVE
STANDBY_FILE_MANAGEMENT=AUTO
FAL_SERVER=chicago
FAL_CLIENT=boston

4. Copy files from primary to standby system.(from above)
a. backup datafiles
b. standby control file
c. initSID for standby
5.Set up Environment to support the standby
a. create a password file
b. configure listeners for the primary and standby databases
c. start/stop the listeners
d. create Oracle Net service names (tnsnames.ora)
e. Create spfile from the standby initSID.ora file
6. Start the physical standby
a. startup mount
7. Start Redo Apply
SQL> ALTER DATABASE RECOVER MANAGED STANDBY DATABASE DISCONNECT FROM SESSION;
6. Test the archive logs are being copied over.


Those are the basics. Based on what I read from your typed response, you are doing more than you really should. Do nto be so concerned about network as if you were on a RAC system. Remember, Dataguard is designed to run on 10 Mbps ethernet and 16 Mbps Token Ring (the old days!) When you do establish your standby, make sure to keep your archive logs at 10M if you are switching ~10 min or more for small apps, 100M for archive logs switching ~10 min apart, but don't go higher than 500M because packet size on the network.

Let me know if you have additional questions.

LS

"640KB ought to be enough for anybody." - Bill Gates, 1981

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