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Prerequisites

Multi-tenant databasesDue to the AWS RDS limitation where you cannot connect to the CDB and only being able to create local users, Streamkap does not support Oracle multi-tenant databases on AWS RDS.
Standby databasesAn Oracle database can be configured with either a physical or a logical standby database for recovery after a production failure. At this time, Streamkap does not support them.
  • Oracle 12c or above, Standard or Enterprise Edition
  • AWS RDS endpoint and port of the database
  • (single-tenant architecture): Database name
  • The Oracle database master user credentials or equivalent
  • An AWS console account with administrator access to the database

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Oracle Setup

For the Connector to ingest changes from your database it is dependent on Oracle’s redo logs and archive logs. It is important that these redo logs are large enough and the archive logs are retained for long enough to ensure all changes are captured.

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1. Grant Database Access

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2. Enable Archive Logs

When redo logs fill up, Oracle archives groups of them into archive logs. For Oracle on RDS, archiving is enabled when AWS automated backups is enabled.

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Enable AWS Automated Backups

Reboot requiredWhen automated backups are enabled, your RDS instance and database are taken offline and a backup is immediately created which can take some time.
  • Sign in to and open the Amazon RDS console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/rds/.
  • In the left-side navigation menu, choose Databases. The Databases page should appear.
  • Select the DB instance that you want to modify.
  • Click Modify. The Modify DB instance page should appear.
  • For Backup retention period, choose at least 1 or higher.
  • Click Continue.
  • Select Apply immediately.
  • On the confirmation page, click Modify DB instance to enable automated backups.
To check, you can connect to the database and run this query: 
SELECT NAME, LOG_MODE FROM V$DATABASE;
If the LOG_MODE is ARCHIVELOG then it is enabled. Or:
  • Sign into your AWS account.
  • Once signed in, navigate to the RDS dashboard by clicking on Services in the top left corner, Databases and then RDS or by typing RDS into the top left search box.
  • From the AWS RDS Dashboard, click on DB Instances or Databases in the left side menu.
  • Click on the DB identifier for the Oracle database you want Streamkap to use.
  • Click on the Maintenance & backups tab.
  • Under the Backups section, check Automated backups says “Enabled (N Days)”.

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Configure Log Retention

Archive logs should be retained for at least 24 hours. However, we recommend retaining them for longer, if possible. Too short a retention period and changes may not be captured and processed.
Retention periods and database storageArchive logs are retained on your database instance using up its storage capacity. It is important to make sure it has enough space, otherwise, performance issues and outages can occur.In general, the more tables (and columns) there are, the more capacity is required. For the Connector, additional capacity is essential because it depends on Oracle’s supplemental logging.Assuming your Oracle database has supplemental logging enabled already, to estimate storage capacity you can look at the last 1 hour of log storage usage and multiply that by archivelog retention hours. Here’s an example script for that:
SQL
SELECT
 SUM(BLOCKS * BLOCK_SIZE) bytes, -- usage
 SUM(BLOCKS * BLOCK_SIZE) * 24 estimated_bytes -- assuming 24 hours archivelog retention
  FROM V$ARCHIVED_LOG
 WHERE
  FIRST_TIME >= SYSDATE-(1/24) -- last hour
  AND
  DEST_ID=1;

-- Set log retention
EXECUTE rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.set_configuration('archivelog retention hours', 72);
COMMIT; -- The commit is required for the change to take effect.

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3. Enable LogMiner

For the Connector to query the redo and archive logs, it is dependent on the Oracle LogMiner utility. To enable that, supplemental logging must be enabled. 
EXECUTE rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.alter_supplemental_logging('ADD','ALL');
To confirm if supplemental logging has been enabled, run this query: 
SELECT NAME, SUPPLEMENTAL_LOG_DATA_MIN FROM V$DATABASE;
If the SUPPLEMENTAL_LOG_DATA_MIN is YES then it is enabled.

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Resize Redo Logs

An Amazon RDS Oracle instance starts with four, online redo log files, 128MB each. That is too small; more log files are necessary, and the logs should be resized to at least 1024MB or more, especially for production databases. Before making any changes, run this query to check the current log sizes: 
SELECT GROUP#, BYTES/1024/1024 SIZE_MB, STATUS FROM V$LOG ORDER BY 1;
GROUP#SIZE_MBSTATUS
1128INACTIVE
2128CURRENT
3128INACTIVE
4128INACTIVE
Now let’s add 8 new, larger logs - that will eventually replace the smaller logs - and run the query from earlier to confirm they have been created. 
EXEC rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.add_logfile(bytes => 1073741824);
EXEC rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.add_logfile(bytes => 1073741824);
EXEC rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.add_logfile(bytes => 1073741824);
EXEC rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.add_logfile(bytes => 1073741824);
EXEC rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.add_logfile(bytes => 1073741824);
EXEC rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.add_logfile(bytes => 1073741824);
EXEC rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.add_logfile(bytes => 1073741824);
EXEC rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.add_logfile(bytes => 1073741824);

SELECT GROUP#, BYTES/1024/1024 SIZE_MB, STATUS FROM V$LOG ORDER BY 1;
GROUP#SIZE_MBSTATUS
1128INACTIVE
2128CURRENT
3128INACTIVE
4128INACTIVE
51024UNUSED
61024UNUSED
………
For all groups showing as INACTIVE, drop them and run the query from earlier to confirm they have been dropped: 
-- Replace {group_number} placeholder and execute the procedure as required
EXEC rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.drop_logfile(grp => {group_number});

SELECT GROUP#, BYTES/1024/1024 SIZE_MB, STATUS FROM V$LOG ORDER BY 1;
GROUP#SIZE_MBSTATUS
2128CURRENT
51024UNUSED
61024UNUSED
………
Now let’s switch the CURRENT log so we can drop it and run the query from earlier to confirm it has switched. 
EXEC rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.switch_logfile;

SELECT GROUP#, BYTES/1024/1024 SIZE_MB, STATUS FROM V$LOG ORDER BY 1;
GROUP#SIZE_MBSTATUS
2128ACTIVE
51024CURRENT
61024UNUSED
………
If the STATUS of the log we want to drop is still ACTIVE, we need to issue a checkpoint to make it INACTIVE. 
EXEC rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.checkpoint;
Finally, let’s drop the remaining log file and run the query from earlier to confirm we now have 8 larger logs. 
-- Replace {group_number} placeholder and execute the procedure as required
EXEC rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.drop_logfile(grp => {group_number});
GROUP#SIZE_MBSTATUS
51024CURRENT
61024UNUSED
………

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4. Create Database User

The script below creates a database user with privileges for the Connector. 
-- Replace {...} placeholders as needed
CREATE USER STREAMKAP_USER IDENTIFIED BY {password};

CREATE TABLESPACE STREAMKAP_LOGMINER_TBS DATAFILE SIZE 25M AUTOEXTEND ON MAXSIZE UNLIMITED;
ALTER USER STREAMKAP_USER DEFAULT TABLESPACE STREAMKAP_LOGMINER_TBS;
ALTER USER STREAMKAP_USER QUOTA UNLIMITED ON STREAMKAP_LOGMINER_TBS;

-- Grant permissions
GRANT CREATE SESSION TO STREAMKAP_USER;

-- Allows the Connector to use LogMiner
GRANT LOGMINING TO STREAMKAP_USER;

-- Flashback queries used for performing initial snapshots of the data
GRANT FLASHBACK ANY TABLE TO STREAMKAP_USER;
GRANT SELECT ANY TRANSACTION TO STREAMKAP_USER;

-- Required for schema history when performing initial snapshots
GRANT SELECT_CATALOG_ROLE TO STREAMKAP_USER;
GRANT EXECUTE_CATALOG_ROLE TO STREAMKAP_USER;

-- Connector creates a table for explicitly managing the flushing of internal log buffers (LGWR)
GRANT CREATE TABLE TO STREAMKAP_USER;

GRANT CREATE SEQUENCE TO STREAMKAP_USER;

-- Read-only privileges on system tables containing redo, archive log and current transaction state
EXECUTE rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.grant_sys_object('V_$DATABASE','STREAMKAP_USER','SELECT');
EXECUTE rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.grant_sys_object('V_$LOG','STREAMKAP_USER','SELECT');
EXECUTE rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.grant_sys_object('V_$LOG_HISTORY','STREAMKAP_USER','SELECT');
EXECUTE rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.grant_sys_object('V_$LOGMNR_LOGS','STREAMKAP_USER','SELECT');
EXECUTE rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.grant_sys_object('V_$LOGMNR_CONTENTS','STREAMKAP_USER','SELECT');
EXECUTE rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.grant_sys_object('V_$LOGMNR_PARAMETERS','STREAMKAP_USER','SELECT');
EXECUTE rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.grant_sys_object('V_$LOGFILE','STREAMKAP_USER','SELECT');
EXECUTE rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.grant_sys_object('V_$ARCHIVED_LOG','STREAMKAP_USER','SELECT');
EXECUTE rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.grant_sys_object('V_$ARCHIVE_DEST_STATUS','STREAMKAP_USER','SELECT');
EXECUTE rdsadmin.rdsadmin_util.grant_sys_object('V_$TRANSACTION','STREAMKAP_USER','SELECT');

-- Grant the Streamkap user permission to read each schema and table you wish to sync
GRANT SELECT ON {schema}.{table} TO STREAMKAP_USER;
-- Alternatively, you can grant access to all
-- GRANT SELECT ANY TABLE TO STREAMKAP_USER;

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5. Enable Snapshots

To backfill your data, the Connector needs to be able to perform Snapshots (See Snapshots & Backfilling for more information). To enable this process, a table must be created for the Connector to use.
Please create the signal table with the name STREAMKAP_SIGNAL. It will not be recognised if given another name.
-- Create the table
CREATE TABLE STREAMKAP_USER.STREAMKAP_SIGNAL (
  id VARCHAR2(255) PRIMARY KEY,
  type VARCHAR2(32) NOT NULL,
  data VARCHAR2(2000) NULL
);

-- Grant necessary privileges on the table to the user
GRANT SELECT, UPDATE, INSERT, DELETE ON STREAMKAP_USER.STREAMKAP_SIGNAL TO STREAMKAP_USER;

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6. Heartbeats

Connectors use “offsets”—like bookmarks—to track their position in the database’s log or change stream. When no changes occur for long periods, these offsets may become outdated, and the Connector might lose its place or stop capturing changes. Heartbeats ensure the Connector stays active and continues capturing changes. There are two layers of heartbeat protection:

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Layer 1: Connector heartbeats (enabled by default)

The Connector periodically emits heartbeat messages to an internal topic, even when no actual data changes are detected. This keeps offsets fresh and prevents staleness. No configuration is necessary for this layer; it is automatically enabled. We recommend keeping this layer enabled for all deployments.
Why we recommend configuring Layer 2While Layer 2 is crucial for low-traffic or intermittent databases, we recommend configuring it for all deployments. It provides additional resilience and helps prevent issues during periods of inactivity.
You can configure regular updates to a dedicated heartbeat table in the source database. This simulates activity, ensuring change events are generated consistently, maintaining log progress and providing additional resilience. How this layer is configured depends on the connection type (if supported by the Source):
  • Read-write connections (when Read only is No during Streamkap Setup): The Connector updates the heartbeat table directly.
  • Read-only connections (when Read only is Yes during Streamkap Setup): A scheduled job on the primary database updates the heartbeat table, and these changes replicate to the read replica for the Connector to consume.
This layer requires you to set up a heartbeat table—and for read-only connections, a scheduled job (e.g., pg_cron for PostgreSQL, event_scheduler for MySQL)—on your source database.
For read-write connections (when Read only is No during Streamkap Setup), the Connector writes to the heartbeat table directly.
-- Replace {...} placeholders as needed
ALTER SESSION SET CONTAINER={PDB};

-- Create the heartbeat table with id, text, and last_update fields
CREATE TABLE STREAMKAP_USER.STREAMKAP_HEARTBEAT (
    id NUMBER GENERATED BY DEFAULT ON NULL AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
    text VARCHAR2(4000),
    last_update TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
);

-- Grant permission to the Streamkap user
GRANT SELECT, UPDATE, INSERT, DELETE ON STREAMKAP_USER.STREAMKAP_HEARTBEAT TO STREAMKAP_USER;

-- Grant necessary privileges on the table to the common user
GRANT SELECT, UPDATE, INSERT, DELETE ON STREAMKAP_USER.STREAMKAP_HEARTBEAT TO C##STREAMKAP_USER;

-- Insert the first row into the heartbeat table
INSERT INTO STREAMKAP_USER.STREAMKAP_HEARTBEAT (text) VALUES ('test_heartbeat');

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Streamkap Setup

Follow these steps to configure your new connector:

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1. Create the Source

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2. Connection Settings

  • Name: Enter a name for your connector.
  • Hostname: Specify the database endpoint.
  • Port: Default is 1521.
  • Connect via SSH Tunnel: The Connector will connect to an SSH server in your network which has access to your database. This is necessary if the Connector cannot connect directly to your database.
  • Username (case sensitive): Username to access the database. By default, Streamkap scripts use STREAMKAP_USER.
  • Password: Password to access the database.
  • Database: The database name (single-tenant architecture).
  • Heartbeats:
    • Heartbeat Table Schema: Streamkap will use a table in this schema to manage heartbeats. Usually this is the same as the Signal Table Schema. See Heartbeats for setup instructions.

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3. Snapshot Settings

  • Signal Table Schema: Streamkap will use a collection in this schema to manage snapshots. See Enable Snapshots for more information.

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4. Advanced Parameters

  • Represent binary data as: Specifies how the data for binary columns should be interpreted. Your destination for this data can impact which option you choose. Default is bytes.
  • Capture Only Captured Databases DDL: Used to control whether the connector records schema structures from all databases defined in the server (the default) or only those databases for which you’ve explicitly configured the connector. Specify true to capture schema history only for the specific databases you’ve configured. This is particularly valuable when databases are large, to reduce the volume of DDL stored in the schema history topic. It also improves startup times when the connector restarts or recovers from failures. Default is false. See Schema History Optimization for details.
  • Capture Only Captured Tables DDL: Used to control whether the connector records the schema structure for all tables in the configured databases (the default) or only the tables whose changes the connector captures. Specify true to capture schema history only for the specific tables you’ve configured. This is particularly valuable when tables are large, to reduce the volume of DDL statements stored in the schema history topic. It also improves startup times when the connector restarts or recovers from failures. Default is false. See Schema History Optimization for details.
Click Next.

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5. Schema and Table Capture

  • Add Schemas/Tables: Specify the schema(s) and table(s) for capture.
    • You can bulk upload here. The format is a simple list of schemas and tables, with each entry on a new row. Save as a .csv file without a header.
CDC only captures base tables, not ViewsChange Data Capture reads Oracle redo logs via LogMiner, which only record changes to physical tables. Database Views are query-time computations with no physical storage—they don’t generate redo log entries.What you cannot capture: Views, materialized views (capture base tables instead), global temporary tables, external tables, or system tables (DBA_*, ALL_*, USER_*).Solution: Specify only the underlying base tables that feed your views. You can recreate the view logic in your destination or transformation layer.
Click Save.
Have questions? See the Oracle Source FAQ for answers to common questions about Oracle sources, AWS RDS specifics, troubleshooting, and best practices.