Here is a quick tip on how to unplug Documentum from an old database and plug it to a new Oracle database.

Changing the tnsnames.ora configuration file

First of all, if your new database is located on another server, you will have to modify your tnsnames.ora file accordingly. You will have to change :

• the global name, used by Documentum to identify the correct connection string and the listener ;
• the host name, using server or dns name ;
• the database connection port ;
• the service name.

Generating the dbpasswd.txt file

You will have to generate the dbpasswd.txt file to encrypt the database user password. To do it :

• adding your password as plain text in the dbpasswd.txt file (located in “${DOCUMENTUM}/dba/config/<docbase name>/”) ;
• go into your ${DM_HOME}/bin directory ;
• using the ./dm_encrypt_password, encrypt your password in the dbpasswd.txt file (i.e. “./dm_encrypt_password -keyname <Documentum key file, like CSaek> -docbase <docbase name> -rdbms -encrypt”, the script will ask you for password).

Changing the server.ini properties file

Finally, you will have to change the db_xxx in your server.ini to indicate which database connection Documentum have to use to connect to.

When it’s done, just start your docbase. It must start without error.