Tape Retrieval

Backups are stored on tape as complete backup sets, not virtual backups, so tape backups are usable by RMAN without mediation by the Recovery Appliance. You can restore backups from tape in the following ways:

Retrieval by Recovery Appliance

This is the simplest way to restore an SBT backup created by Recovery Appliance. RMAN requests the restore from Recovery Appliance, without needing to be aware that this particular backup has been moved to tape. Recovery Appliance recognizes that the requested backup set is located on tape, open an SBT session to restore the backup from the media manager, and transfer the data over the network to the protected database host.
Retrieval by protected database

Because the SBT backups exist in a client-compatible format, RMAN can restore the backups from tape directly to any host, without involving Recovery Appliance. In this case, RMAN must first catalog the backup pieces before it can restore them from tape, and the Oracle Secure Backup library must be installed on the protected database host.