How do I resolve the error "The snapshot requires a target option group with the following options: [Timezone]" when copying an Amazon RDS for Oracle snapshot?

Short description

When you copy or restore an Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS) for Oracle DB snapshot across AWS Regions, you receive the following error:

The snapshot requires a target option group with the following options: [Timezone]
(Service: AmazonRDS; Status Code: 400; Error Code: InvalidParameterValue)

This error occurs because the source RDS for Oracle DB instance uses an option group with the Timezone option. DB option groups are specific to the AWS Region that they are created in, and you can't use an option group from one AWS Region in another AWS Region. When you copy a snapshot to a different Region, you must specify a target option group in the destination Region that includes the same Timezone option.

Note: This error can also occur with other persistent options such as TDE (Transparent Data Encryption) and OLS (Oracle Label Security).

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Resolution

The resolution depends on whether you are using the Amazon RDS console or CLI to copy the snapshot, or AWS Backup.

Method 1: Copy the snapshot using the Amazon RDS console or AWS CLI (Recommended)

Step 1: Create an option group in the destination Region

1. Open the Amazon RDS console and select the destination Region.
2. In the navigation pane, choose Option groups.
3. Choose Create group.
4. Enter a Name and Description for the option group.
5. For Engine, select the same Oracle engine as your source DB instance (for example, oracle-ee).
6. For Major engine version, select the same version as your source DB instance.
7. Choose Create.

Step 2: Add the Timezone option to the new option group

1. Select the option group that you created in Step 1.
2. Choose Add option.
3. For Option name, select TIMEZONE.
4. For Apply immediately, select Yes.
5. Choose Add option.

Note: The Timezone option is permanent and persistent. You can't remove the option from an option group after you add it, and you can't remove the option group from a DB instance after you add it. For more information, see Oracle time zone.

Step 3: Copy the snapshot and specify the target option group

Using the console:

1. Open the Amazon RDS console and select the source Region.
2. In the navigation pane, choose Snapshots.
3. Select the snapshot that you want to copy.
4. Choose Actions, then Copy snapshot.
5. For Destination Region, select the destination Region.
6. For Target option group, select the option group that you created in Steps 1-2.
7. Enter a New DB snapshot identifier.
8. Choose Copy snapshot.

Using the AWS CLI:

aws rds copy-db-snapshot \
    --source-db-snapshot-identifier arn:aws:rds:<source-region>:<account-id>:snapshot:<snapshot-name> \
    --target-db-snapshot-identifier <target-snapshot-name> \
    --option-group-name <target-option-group-name> \
    --region <destination-region>

If the snapshot is encrypted, include the --kms-key-id parameter with a KMS key valid in the destination Region:

aws rds copy-db-snapshot \
    --source-db-snapshot-identifier arn:aws:rds:<source-region>:<account-id>:snapshot:<snapshot-name> \
    --target-db-snapshot-identifier <target-snapshot-name> \
    --kms-key-id <destination-region-kms-key> \
    --option-group-name <target-option-group-name> \
    --region <destination-region>

For more information, see Copying a DB snapshot and Considerations for option groups.

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Method 2: If you are using AWS Backup

AWS Backup does not currently support specifying a target option group when creating a copy job. This is a known limitation documented in the AWS Backup troubleshooting guide:

"AWS Backup does not currently pass on the TDE option group when a copy job is created. If you intend to use this option group for copy job creation, you must use the Amazon RDS console or Amazon RDS API instead of AWS Backup tools."

This limitation applies to all persistent option groups, including Timezone, TDE, and OLS.

Workaround options:

• Option A: Use the RDS native API or console to perform cross-region snapshot copies as described in Method 1. You can automate this using AWS Lambda with the CopyDBSnapshot API.

• Option B: Use RDS cross-region automated backups as an alternative disaster recovery strategy. RDS automated backups handle replication natively without requiring manual snapshot copies or option group specification. For more information, see Replicating automated backups to another AWS Region.

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Related information

• Oracle time zone
• Working with option groups
• Copying a DB snapshot
• Considerations for option groups
• AWS Backup troubleshooting
• Replicating automated backups to another AWS Region
• Copying an option group

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In collaboration with Elvi Cuko