Oracle provides three ways to manage a Data Guard environment:

1. SQL*Plus and SQL Statements

Using SQL*Plus and SQL commands to manage Data Guard environment.The following SQL statement initiates a switchover operation:

SQL> alter database commit to switchover to physical standby;

2. Data Guard Broker GUI Interface (Data Guard Manager)

Data Guard Manger is a GUI version of Data Guard broker interface that allows you to automate many of the tasks involved in configuring and monitoring a Data Guard environment.

3. Data Guard Broker Command-Line Interface (CLI)

It is an alternative interface to using the Data Guard Manger. It is useful if you want to use the broker from batch programs or scripts. You can perform most of the activities required to manage and monitor the Data Guard environment using the CLI.