How to use rman to create a backup-based clone on a remote server

It has been a while since I needed to use this technique, since we rely on storage snapshot clones these days. Sometimes though, a good old-fashioned rman clone based on backups is the only way to solve a problem.
Since I always avoid working on the production server during cloning, most steps are done logged onto the auxiliary server.

The method I used is based on "Backup-Based Duplication Without a Target Database and Recovery Catalog Connection"
Here is what I did:

1. On the production server, backup of the source database using RMAN:

rman target / nocatalog backup database plus archivelog;

From this point and onwards, everything is done while logged onto the destination server.

2. Get the files from the source server:

ssh testserver cd /u05 mkdir bup cd bup scp -r prodserver:/u05/flash_recovery_area/PRODDB01/2018_11_16/* .

3. Prepare the auxiliar pfile. Note that the parameters I use exceeds the actual required parameters.
But since the auxiliary instance will replace an already existing database instance, which is already tuned and has the correct memory parameters, I choose to include them. Notice also the db_file_name_convert and log_file_name_convert parameters. They control where rman will place the files during the restore process.

cd $ORACLE_HOME/dbs vi inittest1.ora Add the following: *.db_name='test1' *.db_unique_name='test1' *.audit_file_dest='/u01/oracle/admin/test1/adump' *.audit_trail='DB' *.compatible='12.2.0' *.control_files='/u02/oradata/test1/control01.ctl','/u04/fra/test1/control02.ctl' *.db_block_size=8192 *.db_file_name_convert='proddb01','test1' *.log_file_name_convert='proddb01','test1' *.db_recovery_file_dest='/u05/flash_recovery_area/test1' *.db_recovery_file_dest_size=1000G *.diagnostic_dest='/u01/oracle' *.nls_language='NORWEGIAN' *.nls_territory='NORWAY' *.open_cursors=300 *.optimizer_adaptive_plans=FALSE *.optimizer_dynamic_sampling=0 *.optimizer_mode='ALL_ROWS' *.pga_aggregate_target=7222M *.processes=1500 *.remote_login_passwordfile='EXCLUSIVE' *.sga_target=21696M *.shared_pool_size=2624M *.streams_pool_size=256M *.undo_tablespace='UNDOTBS1' *.diagnostic_dest=/u01/oracle

4. I prefer using an spfile over a pfile. Therefore I take the time here to create an spfile:

sqlplus / as sysdba startup nomount pfile=inittest1.ora create spfile from pfile;

5. Startup the auxiliary instance in nomount-mode using the spfile:

shutdown abort startup nomount

6. Start the duplication process:

rman auxiliary / duplicate database to test1 backup location '/u05/fra/bup';

RMAN went through the normal restore, name switching and recovery phases. Finally, the database was opened with the resetlog option.