For ZDM physical online migrations using direct data transfer , Oracle's Maximum Availability Architecture pattern uses RMAN's Restore From Service capability. Rather than first creating backup pieces in a staging location, transporting them, and then restoring them on the target, RMAN restores the target database directly across the network from the source service.
This design reduces intermediate storage requirements and simplifies the migration pipeline. Once the target database has been instantiated, ZDM automatically configures Oracle Data Guard and uses redo transport to maintain synchronization until the planned switchover. The combination of Restore From Service and Data Guard is the central technical pattern Oracle documents for physical online migration to Exadata Database Service on Oracle AI Database@Azure.
Although DUPLICATE ... FROM ACTIVE DATABASE is a legitimate RMAN cloning capability in other contexts, it is not the named method documented for this ZDM direct-data-transfer workflow. Compressed backup-set streaming and incremental image-copy pushing also imply different backup/staging mechanisms.
Therefore, Restore From Service is the MAA-aligned RMAN method represented by the scenario.
Study Guide reference: Migrate Oracle Databases to Oracle AI Database@Azure - MAA, ZDM Physical Online migration, RMAN direct data transfer and Restore From Service.