11G OCM Create an Archival Backup

Reference

This information is taken from pp.394-397 of OCP Oracle Database 11g New Features for Administrators Exam Guide (exam 1Z0-050) .

Prerequisites

RMAN catalogue is needed both for backup and restore of a database from an archival backup.

Overview

“The database switches the redo logs so it can archive the current online redo log. RMAN needs the current redo information to make the database consistent upon a database restoration.” (p.396)

“RMAN backs up all the datafiles, archived redo logs, the control file, and the server parameter file.” (p.396)

“RMAN backs up only those archived redo logs necessary to recover the database to a consistent state.” (p.396)

Important Keywords

KEEP

To keep a backup for a full year:

KEEP UNTIL TIME 'sysdate + 365'

To keep a backup forever:

KEEP FOREVER

RESTORE POINT

“If you specify the optional restore point clause, the database will create a restore point that captures the SCN at the time RMAN backup completes.” (p.396)

“The control file autobackup stores the restore point so RMAN can utilize it when you restore the control file.” (p.396)

RESTORE POINT fy2011

Sample Commands

Create an Archival Backup

BACKUP DATABASE
  FORMAT '/backup/%U.bkp'
  TAG 'yearly'
  KEEP FOREVER
  RESTORE POINT fy2011;

Change a Regular Backup to an Archival One

CHANGE BACKUP
  TAG 'yearly'
  KEEP FOREVER;

Change Archival Backup to Regular One

CHANGE COPY OF DATABASE CONTROLFILE NOKEEP;

Resoring an Archival Backup

CONNECT TARGET SYS/pw@target
CONNECT CATALOG RMAN/pw@rmancat
CONNECT AUXILIARY /
LIST RESTORE POINT ALL;
DUPLICATE DATABASE
  TO newdb
  UNTIL RESTORE POINT fy2011
  DB_FILE_CONVERT=
    '+DATA/TARGET','+DATA/NEWDB'
  PFILE='/u01/app/oracle/product/11.1.0/dbs/pfilenewdb.ora';

Demonstration

I have created an archival backup on the EXAMPLE database on BANKSTOWN :

RMAN> backup database
2> format "/u01/app/oracle/backup/example/%U.bkp"
3> keep forever
4> restore point "initial_backup"
5> ;

Starting backup at 12-JAN-12
current log archived

using channel ORA_DISK_1
backup will never be obsolete
archived logs required to recover from this backup will be backed up
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting full datafile backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
input datafile file number=00001 name=+DATA/example/datafile/system.275.772293495
input datafile file number=00002 name=+DATA/example/datafile/sysaux.273.772293497
input datafile file number=00005 name=+DATA/example/datafile/example.258.772293901
input datafile file number=00006 name=+DATA/example/datafile/encrypted_ts.264.772374221
input datafile file number=00003 name=+DATA/example/datafile/undotbs1.272.772293497
input datafile file number=00004 name=+DATA/example/datafile/users.271.772293497
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 12-JAN-12
channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 12-JAN-12
piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/backup/example/04n0j11i_1_1.bkp tag=TAG20120112T124639 comment=NONE
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:04:20


current log archived
using channel ORA_DISK_1
backup will never be obsolete
archived logs required to recover from this backup will be backed up
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting archived log backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying archived log(s) in backup set
input archived log thread=1 sequence=8 RECID=7 STAMP=772375865
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 12-JAN-12
channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 12-JAN-12
piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/backup/example/05n0j19r_1_1.bkp tag=TAG20120112T124639 comment=NONE
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:01

using channel ORA_DISK_1
backup will never be obsolete
archived logs required to recover from this backup will be backed up
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting full datafile backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
including current SPFILE in backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 12-JAN-12
channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 12-JAN-12
piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/backup/example/06n0j19s_1_1.bkp tag=TAG20120112T124639 comment=NONE
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:01

using channel ORA_DISK_1
backup will never be obsolete
archived logs required to recover from this backup will be backed up
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting full datafile backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set
including current control file in backup set
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 12-JAN-12
channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 12-JAN-12
piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/backup/example/07n0j19t_1_1.bkp tag=TAG20120112T124639 comment=NONE
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:03
Finished backup at 12-JAN-12

RMAN> list restore point all;

starting full resync of recovery catalog
full resync complete
SCN              RSP Time  Type       Time      Name
---------------- --------- ---------- --------- ----
620161                                12-JAN-12 initial_backup