1 Backup and Recovery Overview

This chapter provides a general overview of backup and recovery concepts, the files in an Oracle database related to backup and recovery, and the tools available for making backups of your database, recovering from data loss or other error, and maintaining records of your backups.

This chapter includes the following topics:

• What is Backup and Recovery?

• Backup and Recovery: Basic Concepts

• The Database Recovery Process: Basic Concepts

• Forms of Data Recovery

• Backup and Recovery with RMAN

• Automatic Disk-Based Backup and Recovery: The Flash Recovery Area

• Oracle Flashback Technology: Alternatives to Point-in-Time Recovery

• Matching Failures to Backup and Recovery Techniques

• System Requirements for Backup and Recovery Methods

• Feature Comparison of Backup Methods