Oracle9i Recovery Manager User's Guide -- Contents

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Preface

What's New in Recovery Manager?

Part I Getting Started with Recovery Manager

Part II Recovery Manager Architecture and Concepts

4 Recovery Manager Architecture

Overview of RMAN Architecture

About the RMAN Environment

RMAN Session Architecture

Storage of RMAN Metadata

RMAN Command Interface

RMAN PL/SQL Packages

How RMAN Compiles and Executes Commands

Types of RMAN Commands

User Execution of RMAN Commands

RMAN Pipe Interface

RMAN Job Scripts in Oracle Enterprise Manager

RMAN Repository

Storage of the RMAN Repository in the Recovery Catalog

Storage of the RMAN Repository Exclusively in the Control File

Media Management

Backup and Restore Operations with a Media Manager

Proxy Copy

Media Manager Testing

Backup Solutions Program

5 RMAN Concepts I: Channels, Backups, and Copies

RMAN Automatic and Manual Channel Allocation

About RMAN Channels

Automatic and Manual Channel Allocation

Automatic Channel Device Configuration

Automatic Channel Default Device Types

Automatic Channel Naming Conventions

Automatic Channel Generic Configurations

Automatic Channel Specific Configurations

Clearing Automatic Channel Settings

Parallelization for Manually Allocated Channels

Channel Control Options for Manual and Automatic Channels

Hardware Multiplexing by the Media Manager

Backup Sets

About Backup Sets

About Proxy Copies

Storage of Backup Sets

Backup Set Compression

Backups of Archived Logs

Multiplexed Backup Sets

Duplexed Backup Sets

Parallelization of Backups

Backups of Backup Sets

Backup Options: Naming, Sizing, and Speed

Filenames for Backup Pieces

Size of Backup Pieces

Number and Size of Backup Sets: Basic Algorithm

Number and Size of Backup Sets: Advanced Algorithm

I/O Read Rate of Backups

Backup Types

About Backup Types

Full Backups

Incremental Backups

Types of Files That RMAN Can Back Up

Backup Errors

Control File and Server Parameter File Autobackups

Backup Retention Policies

About Backup Retention Policies

Recovery Window

Backup Redundancy

Batch Deletes of Obsolete Backups and Copies

Backups Exempt from the Retention Policy

Backup Optimization

Backup Optimization Algorithm

Requirements for Enabling and Disabling Backup Optimization

Effect of Retention Policies on Backup Optimization

Restartable Backups

Image Copies

RMAN Image Copies

User-Managed Image Copies

Tags for Backups and Image Copies

Long-Term RMAN Copies

Tests and Integrity Checks for Backups

About Tests and Integrity Checks

Detection of Physical Block Corruption

Detection of Logical Block Corruption

Detection of Fractured Blocks During Open Backups

Test Backups Using RMAN

6 RMAN Concepts II: Restore, Recovery, and Duplication

Restoring Files with RMAN

About the RESTORE command

Mechanics of Restore Operations

File Selection in Restore Operations

Restore Optimization

Automatic Location of Backups When Restoring in Real Application Clusters

Datafile Media Recovery with RMAN

RMAN Media Recovery: Basic Steps

Mechanics of Recovery: Incremental Backups and Redo Logs

Incomplete Recovery

Tablespace Point-in-Time Recovery

Disaster Recovery with a Control File Autobackup

Block Media Recovery with RMAN

About Block Media Recovery

When Block Media Recovery Should Be Used

Block Media Recovery When Redo Is Missing

Database Duplication with RMAN

Standby Database Creation with RMAN

7 RMAN Concepts III: Maintenance

RMAN Reporting Functionality

LIST Command Output

REPORT Command Output

SHOW Command Output

PRINT SCRIPT Command Output

Crosschecks of RMAN Backups and Copies

Deletion of RMAN Backups and Copies

About RMAN Deletions

Summary of RMAN Deletion Methods

Removal of Backups and Copies with the DELETE Command

Behavior of DELETE Command When the Repository and Media Do Not Correspond

Removal of Backups and Copies with the BACKUP ... DELETE INPUT Command

Allocation of Multiple Channels for RMAN Maintenance Commands

Changes to Availability of RMAN Backups and Copies

Changes to Retention Status of RMAN Backups and Copies

Part III Performing Backup and Recovery with Recovery Manager

8 Configuring the Recovery Manager Environment

Configuring RMAN to Make Backups to a Media Manager

Prerequisites for Using a Media Manager with RMAN

How Oracle Interacts with the Media Manager

Integrating RMAN with the Media Manager: Basic Steps

Testing Whether the Media Manager Library Is Integrated Correctly

Configuring Automatic Channels for Use with a Media Manager

Configuring Automatic Channels

Configuring Automatic Channels: Overview

Changing the Default Device Type

Configuring Parallelism for Automatic Channels

Configuring a Generic Automatic Channel for a Device Type

Configuring a Specific Channel for a Device Type

Clearing Channel and Device Settings

Configuring the Control File and Server Parameter File Autobackup

Enabling and Disabling the Control File Autobackup

Configuring the Control File Autobackup Format

Configuring the Backup Retention Policy

Configuring the Retention Policy for a Recovery Window

Configuring the Retention Policy for Redundancy

Disabling the Retention Policy

Returning the Retention Policy to its Default Setting

Configuring the Maximum Size of Backup Sets

Configuring Backup Optimization

Configuring the Number of Backup Copies

Configuring Tablespaces for Exclusion from Whole Database Backups

Setting Globalization Support Environment Variables for RMAN

Setting NLS_DATE_FORMAT and NLS_LANG

Specifying the Database Character Set

Configuring the Snapshot Control File Location

Setting the Location of the Snapshot Control File to the Default Value

Setting the Location of the Snapshot Control File to a Nondefault Value

Setting Up RMAN for Use with a Shared Server

Setting Up a Recovery Catalog

9 Making Backups and Copies with Recovery Manager

Configuring and Allocating Channels for Use in Backup and Copy Jobs

Backing Up Database Files and Archived Logs with RMAN

About RMAN Backups

Making Consistent and Inconsistent Backups with RMAN

Making Whole Database Backups with RMAN

Backing Up Tablespaces with RMAN

Backing Up Datafiles and Datafile Copies with RMAN

Backing Up Control Files with RMAN

Backing Up Server Parameter Files with RMAN

Backing Up Archived Redo Logs with RMAN

Duplexing Backups

Duplexing Backups with CONFIGURE BACKUP COPIES

Duplexing Backups with BACKUP COPIES

Making Incremental Backups with RMAN

Making Split Mirror Backups with RMAN

Backing Up Files at a Standby Database Site with RMAN

About RMAN Backups of Standby Database Datafiles and Archived Logs

Restrictions and Usage Notes When Making RMAN Standby Database Backups

Interpreting the RC_ARCHIVED_LOG View

Determining When to Back Up Standby Database Archived Redo Logs

Backing Up a Standby Database with RMAN

Backing Up Backup Sets with RMAN

Restarting and Optimizing RMAN Backups

Backing Up Files Using Backup Optimization

Restarting a Backup After It Partially Completes

Performing a Backup Validation with RMAN

Copying Files with RMAN

Copying the Whole Database

Copying Selected Datafile Copies and Archived Redo Logs

Overriding the Control File Autobackup Format

RMAN Backup and Copy Examples

Specifying the Device Type on the BACKUP Command: Example

Skipping Tablespaces when Backing Up a Database: Example

Restarting a Backup: Example

Spreading a Backup Across Multiple Disk Drives: Example

Backing Up a Large Database to Multiple File Systems: Example

Specifying the Size of Backup Sets: Example

Limiting the Size of Backup Pieces: Example

Multiplexing Datafiles in a Backup: Example

Backing Up Archived Redo Logs in a Failover Scenario: Example

Backing Up Archived Logs Needed to Recover an Online Backup: Example

Backing Up and Deleting Multiple Copies of an Archived Redo Log: Example

Performing Differential Incremental Backups: Example

Performing Cumulative Incremental Backups: Example

Determining How Channels Distribute a Backup Workload: Example

Backing Up in NOARCHIVELOG Mode: Example

Backing Up in an Oracle Real Application Clusters Environment: Example

Cataloging Operating System Copies: Example

Keeping a Long-Term Backup: Example

Optimizing Backups: Examples

Handling Errors During Backups and Copies: Example

10 Restoring and Recovering with Recovery Manager

Restoring and Recovering with RMAN: Overview

Generic Procedure for Media Recovery

Differences Among Restore and Recovery Scenarios

Performing Basic RMAN Media Recovery

About Basic Media Recovery

Preparing for Media Recovery

Performing Complete Restore and Recovery

Performing Incomplete Restore and Recovery

Restoring the Server Parameter File

Performing Recovery with a Backup Control File

Performing Recovery with a Backup Control File and a Recovery Catalog

Performing Recovery with a Backup Control File and No Recovery Catalog

Restoring Files to a New Location

Restoring Datafiles to a New Location

Restoring Control Files to a New Location

Restoring Archived Redo Logs to a New Location

Restoring the Database to a New Host

About Restoring a Database to a New Host

Specifying Filenames When Restoring to a New Host

Recovering an Oracle Real Application Clusters Database

Recovering Through a RESETLOGS Operation with RMAN

About Recovering Through a RESETLOGS Operation with RMAN

Requirements for Media Recovery Through a RESETLOGS operation

Recovering Through a RESETLOGS: Basic Steps

Recovering Through a RESETLOGS: Scenario

Performing Disaster Recovery

Recovering Datablocks with RMAN

Recovering Datablocks By Using All Available Backups

Recovering Datablocks Using Selected Backups

Recovering Blocks Listed in V$DATABASE_BLOCK_CORRUPTION

Validating the Restore of Backups and Copies

RMAN Restore and Recovery Examples

Restoring Datafile Copies to a New Host: Example

Restoring When Multiple Databases in the Catalog Share the Same Name: Example

Recovering a Backup Made Before a RESETLOGS: Example

Recovering a Database in NOARCHIVELOG Mode: Example

Recovering a Lost Datafile Without a Backup: Example

Transporting a Tablespace Backup to a Different Database with RMAN: Example

11 Performing RMAN Tablespace Point-in-Time Recovery

Introduction to RMAN TSPITR

Glossary of TSPITR Terminology

Planning for RMAN TSPITR

Performing TSPITR Without a Recovery Catalog

Understanding General Restrictions

Managing Data Relationships

Choosing a Naming Method for Files in the Auxiliary and Recovery Sets

Overview of Datafile Naming in RMAN TSPITR

Using SET NEWNAME to Name Files in the Auxiliary and Recovery Sets

Using Datafile Copies in the Auxiliary and Recovery Sets

Using Initialization Parameters to Name the Auxiliary Set Files

Preparing the Auxiliary Instance for RMAN TSPITR

Task 1: Create an Oracle Password File for the Auxiliary Instance

Task 2: Create a Parameter File for the Auxiliary Instance

Task 3: Ensure Oracle Net Connectivity to the Auxiliary Instance

Task 4: Start the Auxiliary Instance

Task 5: Start the Recovery Manager Command-Line Interface

Performing RMAN TSPITR

Preparing the Target Database for Use After RMAN TSPITR

Responding to Unsuccessful RMAN TSPITR

12 Duplicating a Database with Recovery Manager

Creating a Duplicate Database: Overview

How Recovery Manager Duplicates a Database

Database Duplication Options

Obeying Duplication Prerequisites and Restrictions

Generating Files for the Duplicate Database

Creating the Duplicate Control Files

Creating the Duplicate Online Redo Logs

Naming the Duplicate Datafiles

Preparing the Auxiliary Instance for Duplication: Basic Steps

Task 1: Create an Oracle Password File for the Auxiliary Instance

Task 2: Ensure Oracle Net Connectivity to the Auxiliary Instance

Task 3: Create an Initialization Parameter File for the Auxiliary Instance

Task 4: Start the Auxiliary Instance

Task 5: Mount or Open the Target Database

Task 6: Make Sure You Have the Necessary Backups and Archived Redo Logs

Task 7: Allocate Auxiliary Channels if Automatic Channels Are Not Configured

Creating a Duplicate Database on a Local or Remote Host

Duplicating a Database on a Remote Host with the Same Directory Structure

Duplicating a Database on a Remote Host with a Different Directory Structure

Creating a Duplicate Database on the Local Host

Database Duplication Examples

Setting New Filenames Manually: Example

Resynchronizing the Duplicate Database with the Target Database: Example

Creating a Non-Current Duplicate Database: Example

Duplication with a Client-Side Parameter File: Example

13 Creating a Standby Database with Recovery Manager

Preparing a Standby Database with RMAN

About Standby Database Preparation Using RMAN

Creating the Standby Control File with RMAN

Making Image Copies of Standby Control Files

Naming the Standby Database Datafiles When Using RMAN

Naming the Standby Database Online Redo Logs When Using RMAN

Creating a Standby Database with RMAN: Overview

RMAN Standby Creation Without Recovery

RMAN Standby Creation with Recovery

Starting RMAN and the Standby Instance

Creating a Standby Database on a Remote Host with the Same Directory Structure

Creating the Standby Database Without Performing Recovery

Creating the Standby Database and Performing Recovery

Creating a Standby Database on a Remote Host with a Different Directory Structure

Naming Standby Database Files with DB_FILE_NAME_CONVERT

Naming Standby Database Files with SET NEWNAME Commands

Naming a Standby Database Files with CONFIGURE AUXNAME Commands

Creating a Standby Database on the Local Host

Creating a Standby Database with Image Copies

Creating a Standby Database with Image Copies: Overview

Creating the Standby Database When Copies and Datafiles Use the Same Names

Creating the Standby Database When Copies and Datafiles Use Different Names

Creating a Standby Database with Backups and Image Copies: Scenario

14 Tuning Recovery Manager

Tuning Recovery Manager: Overview

RMAN Tuning Concepts

Disk Buffer Allocation

Tape Buffer Allocation

Synchronous and Asynchronous I/O

Factors Affecting Backup Speed to Tape

Channel Tuning Options

Backup Tuning Options

Improving RMAN Backup Performance

Step 1: Adjust the RATE Parameter

Step 2: If Backing Up to Tape, Set BACKUP_TAPE_IO_SLAVES

Step 3: If You Use Synchronous Disk, Set DBWR_IO_SLAVES

Step 4: If You Fail to Allocate Shared Memory, Set LARGE_POOL_SIZE

Step 5: Adjust the Level of Multiplexing

Step 6: Determine Whether Files Are Empty or Contain Few Changes

Step 7: Use the BLKSIZE Parameter to Alter Tape Buffer Size

Step 8: Query V$ Views to Identify Bottlenecks

15 Recovery Manager Troubleshooting

Interpreting RMAN Message Output

Identifying Types of Message Output

Recognizing RMAN Error Message Stacks

Identifying Error Codes

Interpreting RMAN Error Stacks

Identifying RMAN Return Codes

Testing the Media Management API

Obtaining the sbttest Utility

Obtaining Online Documentation for the sbttest Utility

Using the sbttest Utility

Terminating an RMAN Command

Terminating the Session with ALTER SYSTEM

Terminating the Session at the Operating System Level

Terminating an RMAN Session That Is Hung in the Media Manager

Monitoring RMAN Through V$ Views

Correlating Server Sessions with RMAN Channels

Monitoring RMAN Job Progress

Monitoring RMAN Interaction with the Media Manager

Monitoring RMAN Job Performance

Determining Which Datafiles Require Recovery

RMAN Troubleshooting Scenarios

After Installation of Media Manager, RMAN Channel Allocation Fails: Scenario

Backup Job Is Hanging: Scenario

RMAN Fails to Start RPC Call: Scenario

Backup Fails with Invalid RECID Error: Scenario

Backup Fails Because of Control File Enqueue: Scenario

RMAN Fails to Delete All Archived Logs: Scenario

Backup Fails Because RMAN Cannot Locate an Archived Log: Scenario

RMAN Cannot Set Target Database Character Set: Scenario

RMAN Does Not Recognize Character Set Name: Scenario

RMAN Denies Logon to Target Database: Scenario

Database Duplication Fails Because of Missing Log: Scenario

Duplication Fails with Multiple RMAN-06023 Errors: Scenario

UNKNOWN Database Name Appears in Recovery Catalog: Scenario

Part IV Maintaining the Recovery Manager Repository

16 Managing the Recovery Manager Repository

Creating the Recovery Catalog

Configuring the Recovery Catalog Database

Creating the Recovery Catalog Owner

Creating the Recovery Catalog

Managing Target Database Records in the Recovery Catalog

Registering a Database in the Recovery Catalog

Unregistering a Target Database from the Recovery Catalog

Resetting a Database Incarnation in the Recovery Catalog

Resynchronizing the Recovery Catalog

About Resynchronization

Types of Records That Are Resynchronized

When Should You Resynchronize?

Forcing a Full Resynchronization of the Recovery Catalog

Setting the CONTROLFILE_RECORD_KEEP_TIME Value

Managing RMAN Scripts Stored in the Recovery Catalog

About Recovery Catalog Stored Scripts

Storing Scripts in the Recovery Catalog

Executing Stored Scripts

Replacing Stored Scripts

Deleting Stored Scripts

Managing the Control File When You Use a Recovery Catalog

Backing Up and Recovering the Recovery Catalog

Backing Up the Recovery Catalog

Recovering the Recovery Catalog

Re-Creating the Recovery Catalog

Exporting the Recovery Catalog

Considerations When Moving Catalog Data

Exporting the Recovery Catalog

Importing the Recovery Catalog

Increasing Availability of the Recovery Catalog

Determining the Schema Version of the Recovery Catalog

Upgrading the Recovery Catalog

Checking the Current Recovery Catalog Version

Upgrading the Recovery Catalog Schema

Dropping the Recovery Catalog

Managing the RMAN Repository Without a Recovery Catalog

Understanding Catalog-Only Command Restrictions

Monitoring the Overwriting of Control File Records

Maintaining the Control File Repository

Backing Up and Restoring the Control File

17 Querying the RMAN Repository

About Querying the RMAN Metadata

Listing RMAN Backups, Copies, and Database Incarnations

About RMAN Lists

Listing Backups by Backup

Listing Backups by File

Listing Copies

Listing Backups in Summary Mode

Listing Backups and Copies with Restrictions

Listing Database Incarnations

Reporting on Backups, Copies, and Database Schema

About RMAN Reports

Reporting on Objects Needing a Backup

Reporting on Obsolete Backups and Copies

Reporting on Unrecoverable Backups and Copies

Reporting on the Database Schema

Showing RMAN Configuration Settings

Showing All RMAN Configuration Settings

Showing the RMAN Retention Policy Configuration Settings

Showing the Automatic Channel Configuration Settings

Showing the BACKUP Command Configuration Settings

Showing the Snapshot Control File Filename

Showing the Default Filenames Configured for Auxiliary Channels

Printing Scripts Stored in the Recovery Catalog

Displaying the Text of Stored Scripts with PRINT SCRIPT

Displaying the Text of Stored Scripts by Querying RC_STORED_SCRIPT_LINE

Listing Stored Scripts by Querying RC_STORED_SCRIPT

Querying the Recovery Catalog Views

About Queries to the Recovery Catalog Views

Querying Catalog Views for the Target DB_KEY or DBID Values

RMAN Repository Query Examples

Listing Objects with Restrictions: Example

Reporting Backups and Copies Not Needed for the Recovery Window: Example

Reporting Redundant Backups and Copies: Example

Generating Historical Reports of Database Schema: Example

Listing Database Incarnations: Example

18 Performing Maintenance with Recovery Manager

Crosschecking Backups and Copies

About RMAN Crosschecks

Crosschecking Specific Backups and Copies

Crosschecking Backups and Copies of Database Files

Deleting Backups and Copies

Deleting Specified Backups and Copies

Deleting Expired Backups and Copies

Deleting Obsolete Backups and Copies

Forcing the Deletion of Backups and Copies

Crosschecking and Deleting on Multiple RMAN Channels

About Allocating Multiple RMAN Channels for Maintenance Commands

How RMAN Crosschecks and Deletes on Multiple Channels

Crosschecking Disk and Tape Channels with One Command: Example

Crosschecking on Multiple Oracle Real Application Cluster Nodes: Example

Deleting on Disk and Tape Channels with One DELETE Command: Example

Releasing Multiple Channels: Example

Changing the Availability Status of a Backup or Copy Record

Marking a Backup or Copy as Unavailable

Marking a Backup or Copy as Available

Exempting a Backup or Copy from the Retention Policy

Cataloging Archived Logs and User-Managed Copies

About Cataloging Archived Logs and User-Managed Copies

When Should You Catalog a User-Managed Copy?

Cataloging a User-Managed Copy

Uncataloging RMAN Records

About Uncataloging RMAN Records

Removing Records for Files Deleted with Operating System Utilities

Removing Catalog Records with Status DELETED