Bao Ngoc

Oracle® Database
Backup and Recovery User's Guide
11g Release 2 (11.2)
E10642-04

October 2010
A guide to backup and recovery of Oracle databases,
including RMAN backup and recovery, RMAN data transfer,
Oracle Flashback Technology, and user-managed backup and
recovery


Oracle Database Backup and Recovery User's Guide, 11g Release 2 (11.2)
E10642-04
Copyright © 2003, 2010, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Primary Author: Lance Ashdown
Contributors: Katherine Weill, Tammy Bednar, Anand Beldalker, Timothy Chien, Mark Dilman, Raymond
Guzman, Stephan Haisley, Wei Hu, Alex Hwang, Ashok Joshi, Vasudha Krishnaswamy, J. William Lee,
Valarie Moore, Muthu Olagappan, Vsevolod Panteleenko, Francisco Sanchez, Vinay Srihari, Margaret
Susairaj, Mike Stewart, Steven Wertheimer, Wanli Yang, Rob Zijlstra
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Contents
Preface ............................................................................................................................................................... xix
What's New in Backup and Recovery? ........................................................................................ xxiii
Part I
1

Overview of Backup and Recovery

Introduction to Backup and Recovery

Purpose of Backup and Recovery.......................................................................................................... 1-1
Data Protection ................................................................................................................................... 1-2
Data Preservation ............................................................................................................................... 1-3
Data Transfer ...................................................................................................................................... 1-3
Oracle Backup and Recovery Solutions............................................................................................... 1-3
Oracle Flashback Technology ................................................................................................................ 1-5
Logical Flashback Features ............................................................................................................... 1-5
Flashback Database............................................................................................................................ 1-7
Data Recovery Advisor............................................................................................................................ 1-7
Backup and Recovery Documentation Roadmap .............................................................................. 1-8
Recovery Manager Documentation Roadmap............................................................................ 1-10
User-Managed Backup and Recovery Documentation Roadmap ........................................... 1-10

2

Getting Started with RMAN
Overview of the RMAN Environment ................................................................................................. 2-1
Starting RMAN and Connecting to a Database ................................................................................. 2-2
Showing the Default RMAN Configuration ...................................................................................... 2-3
Backing Up a Database............................................................................................................................ 2-4
Backing Up a Database in ARCHIVELOG Mode.......................................................................... 2-4
Backing Up a Database in NOARCHIVELOG Mode ................................................................... 2-5
Typical Backup Options .................................................................................................................... 2-5
Making Incremental Backups........................................................................................................... 2-6
Validating Database Files and Backups .......................................................................................... 2-7
Scripting RMAN Operations ............................................................................................................ 2-8
Reporting on RMAN Operations .......................................................................................................... 2-9
Listing Backups .................................................................................................................................. 2-9
Reporting on Database Files and Backups .................................................................................. 2-10
Maintaining RMAN Backups ............................................................................................................. 2-10

iii


Cross-checking Backups.................................................................................................................
Deleting Obsolete Backups ............................................................................................................
Diagnosing and Repairing Failures with Data Recovery Advisor ..............................................
Listing Failures and Determining Repair Options .....................................................................
Repairing Failures ...........................................................................................................................
Rewinding a Database with Flashback Database...........................................................................
Restoring and Recovering Database Files ........................................................................................
Preparing to Restore and Recover Database Files......................................................................
Recovering the Whole Database ...................................................................................................
Recovering Tablespaces .................................................................................................................
Recovering Individual Data Blocks ..............................................................................................

Part II

2-10
2-11
2-11
2-11
2-13
2-13
2-14
2-14
2-15
2-15
2-16

Starting and Configuring RMAN and Flashback Database

3 Recovery Manager Architecture
About the RMAN Environment ............................................................................................................
RMAN Command-Line Client...............................................................................................................
RMAN Channels ......................................................................................................................................
Channels and Devices .......................................................................................................................
Automatic and Manual Channels....................................................................................................
RMAN Repository....................................................................................................................................
Media Management .................................................................................................................................
RMAN Interaction with a Media Manager ....................................................................................
Oracle Secure Backup ........................................................................................................................
Backup Solutions Program ...............................................................................................................
Fast Recovery Area ...................................................................................................................................
RMAN in a Data Guard Environment .................................................................................................
RMAN Configuration in a Data Guard Environment ..................................................................
RMAN File Management in a Data Guard Environment ............................................................

4

3-1
3-3
3-3
3-4
3-4
3-5
3-6
3-6
3-6
3-7

3-7
3-7
3-7
3-8

Starting and Interacting with the RMAN Client
Starting and Exiting RMAN................................................................................................................... 4-1
Specifying the Location of RMAN Output ......................................................................................... 4-2
Setting Globalization Support Environment Variables for RMAN............................................... 4-2
Entering RMAN Commands.................................................................................................................. 4-2
Entering RMAN Commands at the RMAN Prompt..................................................................... 4-3
Using Command Files with RMAN ................................................................................................ 4-3
Entering Comments in RMAN Command Files............................................................................ 4-4
Using Substitution Variables in Command Files .......................................................................... 4-4
Checking RMAN Syntax ................................................................................................................... 4-5
Making Database Connections with RMAN...................................................................................... 4-7
About RMAN Database Connections ............................................................................................. 4-7
Making RMAN Database Connections from the Operating System Command Line ............. 4-9
Making Database Connections from the RMAN Prompt ......................................................... 4-10
Connecting RMAN to an Auxiliary Database ............................................................................ 4-11
Making RMAN Database Connections Within Command Files ............................................. 4-11

iv


Diagnosing RMAN Connection Problems ..................................................................................
Using the RMAN Pipe Interface ........................................................................................................
Executing Multiple RMAN Commands in Succession Through a Pipe: Example................
Executing RMAN Commands in a Single Job Through a Pipe: Example...............................

5

4-12
4-12
4-13
4-14

Configuring the RMAN Environment
Configuring the Environment for RMAN Backups .......................................................................... 5-1
Showing and Clearing Persistent RMAN Configurations ........................................................... 5-2
Configuring the Default Device for Backups: Disk or SBT .......................................................... 5-3
Configuring the Default Type for Backups: Backup Sets or Copies........................................... 5-4
Configuring Channels ....................................................................................................................... 5-4
Configuring Control File and Server Parameter File Autobackups ........................................... 5-7
Configuring RMAN to Make Backups to a Media Manager........................................................... 5-8
Prerequisites for Using a Media Manager with RMAN ............................................................... 5-9
Determining the Location of the Media Management Library ................................................... 5-9
Configuring Media Management Software for RMAN Backups............................................. 5-10
Testing Whether the Media Manager Library Is Integrated Correctly ................................... 5-11
Configuring SBT Channels for Use with a Media Manager ..................................................... 5-13
Configuring the Fast Recovery Area.................................................................................................. 5-14
Overview of the Fast Recovery Area............................................................................................ 5-14
Enabling the Fast Recovery Area .................................................................................................. 5-16
Disabling the Fast Recovery Area................................................................................................. 5-20
Configuring Locations for Control Files and Redo Logs .......................................................... 5-20
Configuring RMAN File Creation in the Fast Recovery Area.................................................. 5-22
Configuring the Backup Retention Policy ....................................................................................... 5-22
Configuring a Redundancy-Based Retention Policy ................................................................. 5-22
Configuring a Recovery Window-Based Retention Policy ....................................................... 5-23
Disabling the Retention Policy ...................................................................................................... 5-23

Backup Optimization and the CONFIGURE command................................................................ 5-24
Overview of Backup Optimization............................................................................................... 5-24
Effect of Retention Policies on Backup Optimization for SBT Backups .................................. 5-25
Configuring Backup Optimization ............................................................................................... 5-27
Configuring an Archived Redo Log Deletion Policy ..................................................................... 5-27
About Archived Redo Log Deletion Policies .............................................................................. 5-27
Enabling an Archived Redo Log Deletion Policy....................................................................... 5-28
Configuring RMAN in a Data Guard Environment....................................................................... 5-29

6

Configuring the RMAN Environment: Advanced Topics
Configuring Advanced Channel Options ...........................................................................................
About Channel Control Options......................................................................................................
Configuring Specific Channel Parameters .....................................................................................
Configuring Advanced Backup Options .............................................................................................
Configuring the Maximum Size of Backup Sets ............................................................................
Configuring the Maximum Size of Backup Pieces ........................................................................
Configuring Backup Duplexing.......................................................................................................
Configuring Tablespaces for Exclusion from Whole Database Backups ...................................

6-1
6-1
6-2
6-3
6-4
6-4
6-5
6-6

v


offline tablespaces, 28-4
read-only tablespaces, 28-9
tablespace, 28-6
verifying, 28-17
whole database, 28-3
user-managed recovery, 29-13
ADD DATAFILE operation, 30-4
complete, 29-7
incomplete, 29-13
interrupting, 29-6
scenarios, 30-1
user-managed restore operations, 29-2

V
V$ARCHIVED_LOG view, 5-19, 11-17, 18-16
listing all archived logs, 28-11
V$BACKUP view, 28-2
V$BACKUP_ASYNC_IO view, 22-12
V$BACKUP_DATAFILE view, 9-15, 12-16
V$BACKUP_FILES view, 5-23, 12-11, 12-15
V$BACKUP_PIECE view, 11-17, 12-16
V$BACKUP_REDOLOG view, 12-16
V$BACKUP_SET view, 12-16, 12-18
V$BACKUP_SPFILE view, 12-16
V$BACKUP_SYNC_IO view, 22-12
V$BLOCK_CHANGE_TRACKING view, 9-22
V$CONTROLFILE view, 9-9

V$DATABASE view, 11-18, 18-5, 18-18
V$DATABASE_BLOCK_CORRUPTION view, 1-5,
2-16, 16-3, 16-4, 19-1, 19-2, 19-3, 19-4, 19-5
V$DATABASE_INCARNATION view, 13-28
V$DATAFILE view, 17-5, 21-20, 28-1
listing files for backups, 28-1
V$DATAFILE_HEADER view, 11-2, 17-4
V$DIAG_INFO view, 2-16, 19-5
V$EVENT_NAME view, 23-8
V$FLASHBACK_DATABASE_LOG view, 5-19,
18-12, 18-18
V$FLASHBACK_DATABASE_STAT view, 7-11
V$INSTANCE view, 17-4
V$LOG_HISTORY view
listing all archived logs, 29-8
V$LOGFILE view, 21-20, 30-11, 30-12
V$PARAMETER view, 18-5
V$PROCESS view, 11-2, 23-7, 23-9
V$PROXY_ARCHIVEDLOG view, 8-9
V$PROXY_DATAFILE view, 8-9
V$RECOVER_FILE view, 17-5, 29-8
V$RECOVERY_AREA_USAGE view, 12-7
V$RECOVERY_FILE_DEST, 12-7
V$RECOVERY_FILE_DEST view, 12-7
V$RECOVERY_LOG view
listing logs needed for recovery, 29-8
V$RESTORE_POINT view, 18-5
V$RMAN_BACKUP_JOB_DETAILS view, 11-14
V$RMAN_BACKUP_SUBJOB_DETAILS
view, 11-14

V$RMAN_ENCRYPTION_ALGORITHMS
view, 6-8, 6-11, 22-6

V$RMAN_OUTPUT view, 11-18
V$RMAN_STATUS view, 23-1
V$SESSION view, 6-13, 11-2, 23-7, 23-9
V$SESSION_LONGOPS view, 22-10
V$SESSION_WAIT view, 23-7, 23-8
V$SGASTAT view, 22-14
V$SYSSTAT view, 7-12
V$TABLESPACE view, 17-5, 28-1
VALIDATE command, 15-3, 15-8, 16-4, 17-3
SECTION SIZE parameter, 16-5
VALIDATE HEADER option, RESTORE
command, 11-2
validation, RMAN, 15-8
backups, 2-8, 16-4, 16-6
database files, 2-7, 16-4
restore operations, 17-8
views, recovery catalog, 11-2, 11-16
virtual private catalogs, 3-5
dropping, 13-13
Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), 5-15, 9-16

W
wallet, 6-8
whole database backups
ARCHIVELOG mode, 28-3
inconsistent, 28-3
NOARCHIVELOG mode, 28-3

preparing for, 28-3
using RMAN, 9-7

Index-13


Index-14