After you partition an existing table, the next task is to prepare the partition definitions for data migration and move the data. As a best practice, you should prepare partition definitions for data migration immediately before you move the data. You can prepare and move data over time as your work schedule and operating environment permit. Note the following:

  • Data belonging to partition definitions that have not been prepared for migration continues to reside in the initial composite partition and continues to be available for CRUD operations.
  • Data belonging to partition definitions that have been prepared for migration will be moved from the initial composite partition to the individual partitions. While the migration is being performed, all CREATE, UPDATE, and DELETE operations are suspended.

To prepare one or more partition definitions for data migration, you use the Database Administration Console to specify them as split-target. After you mark the partition definitions as split-target, you run the PROUTIL PARTITIONMANAGE SPLIT utility to move data from the initial composite partition to the split-target partitions. Once the migration is completed, the split-target partitions become regular partitions.

Note: During the process of preparing partitions for data migration and moving data, you can still add, modify, and delete new partitions, if required. You cannot, however, delete the partition definitions that are destined for data migration.

To prepare one or more partition definitions for data migration, follow these guidelines:

  • For list partitioning or subpartitioning that uses only list, you can mark whichever partition definitions you wish as split-target and perform the data migration for those partitions.
  • For range partitioning, the easiest thing to do is to mark all partition definitions as split-target and move them all at once. You can choose to mark some partition definitions as split-target and move them, but you must mark them in sequence starting from the lowest upper bound. Otherwise, you will get an error message when you attempt to move them.
  • For subpartitioning that includes range, the easiest thing to do is to mark all list-range partitions for a list column value as split-target and move them at once. You can move list-range partitions for as many or as few list column values as you want at a time.

Assume you have created a partition policy for an existing table using the Database Administration Console.

Follow these steps to prepare partition definitions for data migration:
  1. From the Storage Management section of the Database Administration Console, click Partition policies.
  2. Click Edit Details in the Action column of a partition policy to edit partition policy details.
  3. Double-click a partition policy detail you want to prepare for data migration, and then select the Split-target check box.
  4. Click Update to apply the change.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each additional partition policy detail that you want to prepare for data migration.
  6. Click Commit to save the partition policy details.