1. Database Backup and Recovery User's Guide
  2. Starting and Configuring RMAN and Flashback Database
  3. Configuring the RMAN Environment

5 Configuring the RMAN Environment

This chapter explains the most basic tasks involved in configuring RMAN. This chapter contains the following topics:

See Also:

5.1 About Configuring the Environment for RMAN Backups

RMAN provides sensible defaults for most parameters required to perform basic backup and recovery. You can modify the value of default parameters or override these values for a particular session.

When implementing an RMAN-based backup strategy, you can use RMAN more effectively if you understand the most common configurations.

To simplify ongoing use of RMAN, you can set several persistent configuration settings for each target database. These settings control many aspects of RMAN behavior. For example, you can configure the backup retention policy, default destinations for backups, default backup device type, and so on. You can use the SHOW and CONFIGURE commands to view and change RMAN configurations.

This section explains what an RMAN configuration is and how you can use the CONFIGURE command to change RMAN default behavior for your backup and recovery environment. This section also introduces the major settings available to you and their more common values.

Note:

If you plan to back up to tape, refer to Configuring RMAN to Make Backups to a Media Manager.

See Also:

Oracle Database Backup and Recovery Reference for CONFIGURE syntax

5.1.1 Showing and Clearing Persistent RMAN Configurations

You can use the SHOW command to display the current value of RMAN configured settings for the target database. You can also view whether these commands are currently set to their default values.

To view or change your CONFIGURE command settings:

  1. Start RMAN and connect to a target database and a recovery catalog (if used).
  2. Run the RMAN SHOW command.

    For example, run SHOW ALL as shown in the following example (sample output included). The output includes both parameters that you have changed and those that are set to the default. The configuration is displayed as the series of RMAN commands required to re-create the configuration. You can save the output in a text file and use this command file to re-create the configuration on the same or a different database. 

    SHOW ALL;

RMAN configuration parameters for database with db_unique_name PROD1 are:
CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY TO RECOVERY WINDOW OF 3 DAYS;
CONFIGURE BACKUP OPTIMIZATION ON;
CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO DISK; # default
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP ON; # default
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE SBT_TAPE TO '%F'; # default
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '%F'; # default
CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE 'SBT_TAPE' PARALLELISM 2 BACKUP TYPE TO COMPRESSED BACKUPSET;
CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE DISK PARALLELISM 1 BACKUP TYPE TO BACKUPSET; # default
CONFIGURE DATAFILE BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE SBT_TAPE TO 1; # default
CONFIGURE DATAFILE BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO 1; # default
CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE SBT_TAPE TO 1; # default
CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO 1; # default
CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE 'SBT_TAPE' PARMS 'ENV=(OB_DEVICE=tape1)';
CONFIGURE MAXSETSIZE TO UNLIMITED; # default
CONFIGURE ENCRYPTION FOR DATABASE OFF; # default
CONFIGURE ENCRYPTION ALGORITHM 'AES128'; # default
CONFIGURE COMPRESSION ALGORITHM 'BASIC' AS OF RELEASE 'DEFAULT' OPTIMIZE FOR LOAD TRUE ; # default
CONFIGURE RMAN OUTPUT TO KEEP FOR 7 DAYS; # default
CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG DELETION POLICY TO NONE; # default
CONFIGURE SNAPSHOT CONTROLFILE NAME TO '/disk1/oracle/dbs/snapcf_ev.f'; # default

    You can also use the SHOW command with the name of a particular configuration. For example, you can view the retention policy and default device type as follows: 

    SHOW RETENTION POLICY;
SHOW DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE;
  3. Optionally, use the CONFIGURE ... CLEAR command to return any configuration to its default value, as shown in the following examples:
    CONFIGURE BACKUP OPTIMIZATION CLEAR;
CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY CLEAR;
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK CLEAR;

See Also:

Oracle Database Backup and Recovery Reference for SHOW syntax

5.1.2 Configuring the Default Device for Backups: Disk or SBT

Backups for which no destination device type is specified are directed to the configured default device. RMAN is preconfigured to use disk as the default device type. No additional configuration is necessary.

You may need to change the default device type from disk to tape, or change it back from tape to disk. Table 5-1 shows the commands that configure the default device.

Table 5-1 Commands to Configure the Default Device Type

Command Explanation

CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO DISK

Specifies that backups go to disk by default.

If a recovery area is enabled, then the backup location defaults to the fast recovery area. Otherwise, the backup location defaults to an operating system-specific directory on disk.

When backing up to disk, the logical block size of the database file must be an even multiple of the physical block size of the destination device. For example, a device of type DISK with a block size of 2 kilobytes can only be used as a destination for backups of database files with logical block sizes of 2 KB, 4 KB, 6 KB, and so on. Most disk drives have physical block sizes of 512 bytes, so this limitation rarely affects backup to disk drives. Nevertheless, you can encounter this limitation when backing up to a writable DVD or a device that has a larger physical block size.

CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO sbt

Specifies that backups go to tape by default.

"Configuring RMAN to Make Backups to a Media Manager" explains how to set up RMAN for use with a media manager. When RMAN can communicate with the media manager, you can configure RMAN to make backups to tape and specify SBT as the default device type.

You can always override the default device by using the DEVICE TYPE clause of the BACKUP command, as shown in the following examples: 

BACKUP DEVICE TYPE sbt DATABASE;
BACKUP DEVICE TYPE DISK DATABASE;

To change the configured default device type:

  1. Start RMAN and connect to a target database and a recovery catalog (if used).

  2. Run the SHOW ALL command to show the currently configured default device.

  3. Run the CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE command, specifying either TO DISK or TO sbt.

See Also:

Oracle Database Backup and Recovery Reference for more details on using the BACKUP command with the DEVICE TYPE clause

5.1.3 Configuring the Default Type for Backups: Backup Sets or Copies

The BACKUP command can create either backup sets or image copies. For disk, you can configure RMAN to create either backup sets or image copies as its default backup type with the CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE DISK BACKUP TYPE TO command.

Note:

Because RMAN can write an image copy only to disk, the backup type for tape can only be a backup set.

The default backup type for disk is an uncompressed backup set.

RMAN can create backup sets using binary compression. You can configure RMAN to use compressed backup sets by default on a device type by specifying the COMPRESSED option in the BACKUP TYPE TO ... BACKUPSET clause. To disable compression, use the CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE command with arguments specifying your other desired settings, but omit the COMPRESSED keyword.

To configure the default type of backup:

  1. Start RMAN and connect to a target database and a recovery catalog (if used).
  2. Configure backup sets or image copies as the default backup type.

    The following examples configure the backup type for disk backups to copies and backup sets:

    CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE DISK BACKUP TYPE TO COPY; # image copies
CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE DISK BACKUP TYPE TO BACKUPSET; # uncompressed

    The following examples configure compression for backup sets: 

    CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE DISK BACKUP TYPE TO COMPRESSED BACKUPSET;
CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE sbt BACKUP TYPE TO COMPRESSED BACKUPSET;

    See Also:

5.1.4 Configuring Channels

An RMAN channel is a connection to a database server session. RMAN uses channels to perform most tasks.

This section contains the following topics:

5.1.4.1 About Channel Configuration

Use the CONFIGURE CHANNEL command to configure options for disk or SBT channels. You can configure generic channel settings for a device type, that is, a template that is used for any channels created based on configured settings for that device.

Note:

This section explains configuration of disk channels. To learn how to configure channels for tape, see Configuring SBT Channels for Use with a Media Manager.

CONFIGURE CHANNEL takes the same options used to specify one-time options with the ALLOCATE CHANNEL command.

If you use CONFIGURE CHANNEL to specify generic channel settings for a device, any previous settings are discarded, even if the settings are not in conflict. For example, after the second CONFIGURE CHANNEL command, which specifies only the FORMAT for configured disk channels, the MAXPIECESIZE for the disk channel is returned to its default value: 

CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE DISK MAXPIECESIZE 2G;
CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE DISK FORMAT /tmp/%U;
5.1.4.2 Configuring Channels for Disk

By default, RMAN allocates one disk channel for all operations. You can specify different options for this channel, for example, a new default location for backups.

Example 5-1 Configuring a Nondefault Backup Location

This example configures RMAN to write disk backups to the /disk1 directory and specifies a nondefault format for the relative file name. 

CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE DISK FORMAT '/disk1/ora_df%t_s%s_s%p';

RMAN automatically replaces the format specifier %t with a four byte time stamp, %s with the backup set number, and %p with the backup piece number.

Note:

When you configure an explicit format for disk channels, RMAN does not create backups by default in the fast recovery area. In this case, you lose the disk space management capabilities of the fast recovery area.

Example 5-2 Configuring an ASM Disk Location

This example demonstrates how to configure an ASM disk location.

CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE DISK FORMAT '+dgroup1';

See Also:

Backing Up Database Files with RMAN to learn how to make backups

5.1.4.3 Configuring Parallel Channels for Disk and SBT Devices

The number of channels available for a device type when you run a command determines whether RMAN reads or writes in parallel. As a rule, the number of channels used in executing a command should match the number of devices accessed.

For tape backups, allocate one channel for each tape drive. For disk backups, allocate one channel for each physical disk, unless you can optimize the backup for your disk subsystem architecture with multiple channels. Failing to allocate the right number of channels adversely affects RMAN performance during I/O operations.

You can configure channel parallelism settings, binary compression for backup sets, and other options for an SBT device with CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE sbt. You set the configuration for the device type independently of the channel configuration.

Example 5-3 Configuring Parallelism for an SBT Device

This example changes the SBT device (sample output included) so that RMAN can back up to a media manager using two tape drives in parallel. Each configured SBT channel backs up approximately half the total data.

RMAN> CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE sbt PARALLELISM 2;

old RMAN configuration parameters:
CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE 'SBT_TAPE' BACKUP TYPE TO COMPRESSED BACKUPSET PARALLELISM 1;
new RMAN configuration parameters:
CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE 'SBT_TAPE' PARALLELISM 2 BACKUP TYPE TO COMPRESSED BACKUPSET;
new RMAN configuration parameters are successfully stored

Example 5-4 Configuring the Backup Type for an SBT Device

This example changes the default backup type for the SBT device to an uncompressed backup set (sample output included).

The CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE commands used in this example only affect parallelism and backup type and do not affect the values of settings not specified. In Example 5-3, the default backup type of compressed backup set was not changed by changing the parallelism setting. In this example, the ability to use multiple tape drives in parallel is not affected by changing the default backup type. 

RMAN> CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE sbt BACKUP TYPE TO BACKUPSET;
old RMAN configuration parameters:
CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE 'SBT_TAPE' PARALLELISM 2 BACKUP TYPE TO COMPRESSED BACKUPSET;
new RMAN configuration parameters:
CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE 'SBT_TAPE' BACKUP TYPE TO BACKUPSET PARALLELISM 2;
new RMAN configuration parameters are successfully stored

See Also:

5.1.4.4 Manually Overriding Configured Channels

If you manually allocate a channel during a job, then RMAN disregards any configured channel settings.

To manually override configured channels:

  • Assume that the default device type is SBT. Run the following command to override the default configuration.

    RUN 
{
  ALLOCATE CHANNEL c1 DEVICE TYPE DISK;
  BACKUP TABLESPACE users;
}

    In this case, RMAN uses only the disk channel that you manually allocated within the RUN command, overriding any defaults set by using CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE, CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE, or CONFIGURE CHANNEL settings.

See Also:

5.1.5 Configuring Control File and Server Parameter File Autobackups

You can configure RMAN to automatically back up the control file and server parameter file. The autobackup occurs whenever a backup record is added.

If the database runs in ARCHIVELOG mode, then an autobackup is also taken whenever the database structure metadata in the control file changes. A control file autobackup enables RMAN to recover the database even if the current control file, recovery catalog, and server parameter file are lost.

Because the file name for the autobackup follows a well-known format, RMAN can search for it without access to a repository and then restore the server parameter file. After you have started the instance with the restored server parameter file, RMAN can restore the control file from an autobackup. After you mount the control file, the RMAN repository is available, and RMAN can restore the data files and find the archived redo logs.

To enable the autobackup feature:

CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP ON;

To disable the autobackup feature:

CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP OFF;

By default, control file autobackups are turned on for CDBs and standalone databases that have the COMPATIBLE initialization parameter set to 12.2 or higher.

See Also:

5.1.5.1 Configuring the Control File Autobackup Format

By default, the format of the autobackup file for all configured devices is the substitution variable %F in the FORMAT clause.

The %F variable format translates into c-IIIIIIIIII-YYYYMMDD-QQ, with the placeholders defined as follows:

  • IIIIIIIIII stands for the DBID.

  • YYYYMMDD is a time stamp of the day the backup is generated.

  • QQ is the hexadecimal sequence that starts with 00 and has a maximum of FF.

To change the default format for the autobackup file:

  • Use the following command, where deviceSpecifier is any valid device type, and 'string' must contain the substitution variable %F (and no other substitution variables) and is a valid handle for the specified device: 

    CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT 
  FOR DEVICE TYPE deviceSpecifier TO 'string';

    For example, you can run the following command to specify a nondefault file name for the control file autobackup. In the file name, ? stands for ORACLE_HOME. 

    CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT 
  FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '?/oradata/cf_%F';

    The following example configures the autobackup to write to an Automatic Storage Management disk group:

    CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT 
  FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '+dgroup1/%F';

Note:

The valid formats for control file autobackups are: %D, %I, %M, %Y, %F, %T, %d, and %n. If you use formats other than these, you may not be able to restore the control file autobackup.

To clear control file autobackup formats for a device:

  • , Use the following commands:

    CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK CLEAR;
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE sbt CLEAR;

If you have set up a fast recovery area for the database, then you can direct control file autobackups to the fast recovery area by clearing the control file autobackup format for disk.

Note:

All files in the fast recovery area are maintained by Oracle Database and associated file names are maintained in the Oracle Managed Files (OMF) format.

5.1.5.2 Overriding the Configured Control File Autobackup Format

The SET CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT command, which you can specify either within a RUN command or at the RMAN prompt, overrides the configured autobackup format in the current session only.

The order of precedence is:

  1. SET CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT (within a RUN block)
  2. SET CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT (at RMAN prompt)
  3. CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT

The following example shows how the two forms of SET CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT interact: 

SET CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO 'controlfile_%F';
BACKUP AS COPY DATABASE;
RUN
{ 
  SET CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '/tmp/%F.bck'; 
  BACKUP AS BACKUPSET 
    DEVICE TYPE DISK 
    DATABASE;
}

The first SET CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT controls the name of the control file autobackup until the RMAN client exits, overriding any configured control file autobackup format. The SET CONTROFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT in the RUN block overrides the SET CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT outside the RUN block for the duration of the RUN block.

5.2 Configuring RMAN to Make Backups to a Media Manager

On most platforms, to back up to and restore from sequential media such as tape you must integrate a media management software with your Oracle database. You can use Oracle Secure Backup, which supports both database and file system backups to tape, as your media manager.

Note:

You can also use a third-party media manager. This section describes the generic steps for configuring RMAN for use with a third-party media manager. The actual steps depend on the media management product that you install and the platform on which you run the database. If you opt to use RMAN with a media manager other than Oracle Secure Backup, then you must obtain all product-specific information from the vendor.

To configure RMAN for use with a media manager:

  1. Ensure that the prerequisites for using a media manager are met as described in "Prerequisites for Using a Media Manager with RMAN"
  2. Determine the location of the media management library used to communicate with the sequential media as described in "Determining the Location of the Media Management Library"
  3. Configure the media management software as described in "Configuring Media Management Software for RMAN Backups"
  4. Check if RMAN can create backups using the media manager as described in "Testing Whether the Media Manager Library Is Integrated Correctly"
  5. Configure an RMAN channel that can be used as a default for all tape backups as described in "Configuring SBT Channels for Use with a Media Manager"

    See Also:

5.2.1 Prerequisites for Using a Media Manager with RMAN

Before you can begin using RMAN with a third-party media manager, you must install the media manager and ensure that RMAN can communicate with it. Refer to the media management vendor's software documentation for instructions.

In general, you begin by installing and configuring the media management software on the target host or production network. Ensure that you can make non-RMAN backups of Hi operating system files on the target database host. This step makes later troubleshooting much easier by confirming that the basic integration of the media manager with the target host has been successful. Refer to your media management documentation to learn how to back up files to the media manager without using RMAN.

Then, obtain and install the third-party media management module for integration with the database server. This module contains the media management library that the Oracle database loads and uses when accessing the media manager. It is generally a third-party product that must be purchased separately. Contact your media management vendor for details.

5.2.2 Determining the Location of the Media Management Library

Before attempting to use RMAN with a media manager, determine the location of the media management library.

When allocating or configuring a channel for RMAN to use to communicate with a media manager, you must specify the SBT_LIBRARY parameter in an ALLOCATE CHANNEL or CONFIGURE CHANNEL command. The SBT_LIBRARY parameter specifies the path to the library.

When RMAN allocates channels to communicate with a media manager, it attempts to load the library indicated by the SBT_LIBRARY parameter. If you do not provide a value for the SBT_LIBRARY parameter in an allocated or preconfigured channel, then RMAN looks in a platform-specific and secured default location.

On Linux and UNIX, the SBT library is loaded from: 

/opt/oracle/extapi/[32,64]/{SBT}/{VENDOR}/{VERSION}/libobk.so

The SBT library file name extension name varies according to platform:

  • .so, .sl on HP-UX,

  • .a on AIX,

On Windows, the SBT library is loaded from:

%SYSTEM_DRIVE%\oracle\extapi\[32,64]\{SBT}\{VENDOR}\{VERSION}\orasbt.dll

If RMAN cannot use the secured default location or if you are using Oracle Database 11g or earlier, then RMAN loads the SBT library from the location designated by the environment variables PATH or LIBPATH.

In some cases, your organization may have security or regulatory compliance requirements that prohibit the use of environment variables PATH or LIBPATH to designate a library directory. To disable this behavior, set the PARMS string to SBT_SECURE=1.

Note:

The default media management library file is not part of the standard database installation. It is present only if you install third-party media management software.

See Also:

Your operating system-specific database documentation and the documentation supplied by your media vendor for instructions on how to achieve media manager integration on your platform

Example: Configuring the Media Management Library Location

The following example shows the channel syntax, where pathname is the absolute file name of the library: 

CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE sbt
  PARMS 'SBT_LIBRARY=pathname';

5.2.3 Configuring Media Management Software for RMAN Backups

After installing the media management software, perform the configuration required by your vendor so that the software can accept RMAN backups.

Depending on the type of media management software that you installed, you may have to define media pools, configure users and classes, and so on. Consult your media management vendor documentation for the appropriate RMAN settings. The PARMS parameter sends instructions to the media manager. If PARMS values are needed for the ALLOCATE CHANNEL or the CONFIGURE CHANNEL command, or if a FORMAT string is recommended for the BACKUP or CONFIGURE command, then refer to the vendor documentation for this information.

Example 5-5 PARMS Setting for Oracle Secure Backup

This example shows a PARMS setting for Oracle Secure Backup. This PARMS settings instructs the media manager to back up to a family of tapes called datafile_mf. The PARMS settings are always vendor-specific. 

CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE 'SBT_TAPE'
  PARMS 'ENV=(OB_MEDIA_FAMILY=datafile_mf)';

See Also:

5.2.4 Testing Whether the Media Manager Library Is Integrated Correctly

After you have confirmed that the database server can load the media management library, test to ensure that RMAN can back up to the media manager.

You can perform the following tasks:

5.2.4.1 Testing ALLOCATE CHANNEL on the Media Manager

The ALLOCATE CHANNEL command is used to perform a basic test of RMAN communication with the media manager.

To test channel allocation on the media manager:

  1. Start RMAN and connect to a target database and a recovery catalog (if used).
  2. Run the ALLOCATE CHANNEL command with the PARMS required by your media management software.

    The following RUN command shows sample vendor-specific PARMS settings: 

    RUN
{
  ALLOCATE CHANNEL c1 DEVICE TYPE sbt
    PARMS 'SBT_LIBRARY=/mydir/lib/libobk.so,
    ENV=(OB_DEVICE=drive1,OB_MEDIA_FAMILY=datafile_mf)';
}
  3. Examine the RMAN output.

    If you do not receive an error message, then the database successfully loaded the media management library. If you receive the ORA-27211 error, the media management library could not be loaded: 

    RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-00569: =============== ERROR MESSAGE STACK FOLLOWS ===============
RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-03009: failure of allocate command on c1 channel at 11/30/2007 13:57:18
ORA-19554: error allocating device, device type: SBT_TAPE, device name: 
ORA-27211: Failed to load Media Management Library
Additional information: 25

    In this case, check the media management installation to ensure that the library is correctly installed, and recheck the value for the SBT_LIBRARY parameter as described in Determining the Location of the Media Management Library.

    If the database cannot locate a media management library in the location specified by the SBT_LIBRARY parameter or the default location, then RMAN issues an ORA-27211 error and exits.

Whenever channel allocation fails, the database writes a trace file to the trace subdirectory in the Automatic Diagnostic Repository (ADR) home directory. The following shows sample output: 

SKGFQ OSD: Error in function sbtinit on line 2278
SKGFQ OSD: Look for SBT Trace messages in file /oracle/rdbms/log/sbtio.log
SBT Initialize failed for /oracle/lib/libobk.so

See Also:

Oracle Database Administrator’s Guide to learn how to use the Automatic Diagnostic Repository to monitor database operations

5.2.4.2 Testing Backup and Restore Operations on the Media Manager

After testing a channel allocation on the media manager, create and restore a test backup.

Use the BACKUP and RESTORE commands to perform backup and recovery operations on the media manager. If the backup and restore operations succeed, then you are ready to use the media manager with RMAN.

Possible reasons for failures include the following cases:

  • The backup hangs.

    A hanging backup usually indicates that the media manager is waiting to mount a tape. Check if there are any media manager jobs in tape mount request mode and fix the problem. Ensure that the steps in Configuring RMAN to Make Backups to a Media Manager are correctly done.

  • The backup fails with ORA-27211: Failed to load Media Management Library.

    This error indicates that the media management software is not correctly configured. Ensure that the steps in Configuring RMAN to Make Backups to a Media Manager are correctly done. Also, ensure that you have the PARMS and FORMAT strings required by your media management software.

See Also:

Testing the Media Management API and Troubleshooting RMAN Operations

Example 5-6 Backing Up the Server Parameter File to Tape

You can use the command in this example (substituting the channel settings required by your media management vendor) to test whether a backup can be created on the media manager. If your database does not use a server parameter file, then back up the current control file instead.

RUN
{
  ALLOCATE CHANNEL c1 DEVICE TYPE sbt
    PARMS 'SBT_LIBRARY=/mydir/lib/libobk.so,
    ENV=(OB_DEVICE=drive1,OB_MEDIA_FAMILY=datafile_mf)';
  BACKUP SPFILE;
  # If your database does not use a server parameter file, use:
  # BACKUP CURRENT CONTROLFILE;
}

Example 5-7 Restoring the Server Parameter File from Tape

This example restores the backup created in Example 5-6 to a temporary directory. If the backup to the media manager succeeds, then attempt to restore the server parameter file as an initialization parameter file. 

RUN
{
  ALLOCATE CHANNEL c1 DEVICE TYPE sbt
    PARMS 'SBT_LIBRARY=/mydir/lib/libobk.so,
    ENV=(OB_DEVICE=drive1,OB_MEDIA_FAMILY=datafile_mf)';
  RESTORE SPFILE TO PFILE '/tmp/test_restore.f';
  # If your database does not use a server parameter file, use:
  # RESTORE CURRENT CONTROLFILE TO '/tmp/test_restore.f';
}

5.2.5 Configuring SBT Channels for Use with a Media Manager

Configuring SBT channels creates a persistent setting that is the default used for backup and recovery operations with a media manager.

Note:

5.2.5.1 About Media Manager Backup Piece Names

A backup piece name is determined by the FORMAT string specified in the BACKUP command, CONFIGURE CHANNEL command, or ALLOCATECHANNEL command.

The media manager considers the backup piece name as the name of the backup file, so every backup piece must have a unique name in the media management catalog. You can use the substitution variables in a FORMAT parameter to generate unique backup piece names. For example, %d specifies the name of the database, whereas %t specifies the backup time stamp. For most purposes, you can use %U, in which case RMAN automatically generates a unique file name. The backup piece name 12i1nk47_1_1 is an example. If you do not specify the FORMAT parameter, then RMAN automatically generates a unique file name with the %U substitution variable.

Your media manager may impose restrictions on file names and sizes. In this case, you may need more control over the naming of backup pieces so that they obey media manager restrictions. For example, some media managers only support a 14-character backup piece name, and some require special FORMAT strings. The unique names generated by the %U substitution variable do not exceed 14 characters.

Some media managers may have limits on the maximum size of files that they can back up or restore. You must ensure that RMAN does not produce backup sets larger than those limits. To limit backup piece sizes, use the parameter MAXPIECESIZE, which you can set in the CONFIGURE CHANNEL andALLOCATE CHANNEL commands.

See Also:

5.2.5.2 Configuring Automatic SBT Channels

The easiest technique for backing up to a media manager is to configure automatic SBT channels

As explained in "Configuring the Default Device for Backups: Disk or SBT", you can use a tape device as your default backup destination.

To configure channels for use with a media manager:

  1. Configure a generic SBT channel.

    In the configuration, enter all parameters that you tested in "Testing Backup and Restore Operations on the Media Manager". The following example configures vendor-specific channel parameters and sets the default device: 

    CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE sbt 
  PARMS 'ENV=(OB_RESOURCE_WAIT_TIME=1minute,OB_DEVICE=tape1)';
  2. Configure the default device type to SBT, as shown in the following command:
    CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO sbt;

    If you use multiple tape devices, then you must specify the channel parallelism as described in "Configuring Parallel Channels for Disk and SBT Devices". The following configuration enables you to back up to two tape drives in parallel: 

    CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE sbt PARALLELISM 2;

    Optionally, check your channel configuration by running the following command:

    SHOW CHANNEL FOR DEVICE TYPE sbt;
  3. Make a test backup to tape.

    The following command backs up the server parameter file to tape:

    BACKUP SPFILE;
  4. List your backups to ensure that the test backup went to the media manager:
    LIST BACKUP OF SPFILE;

5.3 Configuring RMAN to Make Backups to Recovery Appliance

RMAN commands can be used to back up target databases to Zero Data Loss Recovery Appliance (Recovery Appliance). Certain configuration steps are required to use the Recovery Appliance as a centralized repository for the target database backups.

To configure RMAN to create backups to Recovery Appliance:

  1. Ensure that the prerequisites described in "Prerequisites for Using Recovery Appliance" are met.

  2. Complete the steps listed in "Steps to Configure RMAN for Backups to Recovery Appliance".

See Also:

Zero Data Loss Recovery Appliance Protected Database Configuration Guide

5.3.1 Prerequisites for Using Recovery Appliance

Before you can use RMAN to back up a target database to Zero Data Loss Recovery Appliance (Recovery Appliance), you must install the Recovery Appliance backup module in the Oracle home of the target database.

The backup module can be installed in the default location or a user-specified location. Installing the Recovery Appliance backup module creates the shared library used to transfer backups to the Recovery Appliance and the Oracle wallet containing credentials used to authenticate the target database with Recovery Appliance.

See Also:

Zero Data Loss Recovery Appliance Protected Database Configuration Guide for information about installing the Recovery Appliance backup module

5.3.2 Steps to Configure RMAN for Backups to Recovery Appliance

RMAN configuration is required before you can back up Oracle databases to Zero Data Loss Recovery Appliance (Recovery Appliance).

  1. Determine the location of the Recovery Appliance backup module as described in "Determining the Location of the Recovery Appliance Backup Module".
  2. Specify Recovery Appliance configuration parameters that must be used by RMAN to create backups to Recovery Appliance as described in "Specifying Recovery Appliance Configuration Settings for RMAN Backups".
  3. Allocate one or more RMAN channels that will be used by RMAN to backup the database to Recovery Appliance.

    You must specify the SBT_LIBRARY and the ENV parameters while using Recovery Appliance. SBT_LIBRARY provides the location of the Recovery Appliance backup module and ENV provides the configuration parameters.

    Instead of allocating RMAN channels, you can also configure an RMAN SBT channel that will be used to back up to Recovery Appliance. In this case, the channel configuration is persistent and the settings are applicable until they are reset (using CONFIGURE command) or overridden for a particular operation using an ALLOCATE statement.

    See Also:

5.3.3 Determining the Location of the Recovery Appliance Backup Module

Before using RMAN to back up target databases to Zero Data Loss Recovery Appliance (Recovery Appliance), you need to determine the location of the Recovery Appliance backup module on the target database host. This location is used while configuring or allocating RMAN channels for Recovery Appliance.

The SBT_LIBRARY parameter in the CONFIGURE or ALLOCATE command specifies the location of the Recovery Appliance backup module. When RMAN attempts to back up to Recovery Appliance, it loads the shared library indicated by the SBT_LIBRARY parameter.

You can specify an absolute path name or a file name for the SBT_LIBRARY parameter. If you specify a file name, then RMAN searches for the file in an operating system-specific location. By default, the Recovery Appliance backup module is located in $ORACLE_HOME/lib/libra.so on UNIX/Linux and in %ORACLE_HOME\database\lib\libra.sso on Windows.

Example 5-8 Specifying the Recovery Appliance Backup Module Location During Channel Configuration

The following command configures an RMAN SBT channel by specifying the absolute path name of the Recovery Appliance backup module on Linux:

CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE sbt PARAMS 'SBT_LIBRARY=/u01/oracle/lib/libra.so';

5.3.4 Specifying Recovery Appliance Configuration Settings for RMAN Backups

The client configuration file, stored on the protected database, contains the configuration settings that are used by the Zero Data Loss Recovery Appliance (Recovery Appliance) backup module to communicate with the Recovery Appliance. This file is created automatically when the Recovery Appliance backup module is installed.

The client configuration file must contain the location of the Oracle wallet that stores credentials required to authenticate the target database with Recovery Appliance. Other optional settings may be included.

When using Recovery Appliance, you can include the client configuration settings in an RMAN command. Use the ENV parameter of the RMAN CONFIGURE CHANNEL or ALLOCATE CHANNEL command to directly specify client configuration parameters for Recovery Appliance.

See Also:

Zero Data Loss Recovery Appliance Protected Database Configuration Guide

Example 5-9 Specifying Recovery Appliance Client Configuration Settings

The following command specifies the Recovery Appliance client configuration settings directly as part of the CONFIGURE CHANNEL command: 

CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE 'SBT_TAPE' PARAMS 'SBT_LIBRARY= libra.so, 
ENV=(BA_WALLET=location=file:/home/oracle/product/12.1.0/dbhome_1/wallet credential_alias=ra-scan:1521/zdlra5:dedicated)';

In this example, ra-scan is the SCAN of the Recovery Appliance and zdlra5 is the service name of the Recovery Appliance metadata database.

5.4 Configuring the Fast Recovery Area

The fast recovery area feature enables you to set up a disk area where the database can create and manage a variety of files related to backup and recovery. Use of the fast recovery area is strongly recommended. Consider configuring a fast recovery area as a first step in implementing a backup strategy.

This section outlines the functions of the fast recovery area, identifies the files stored there, explains the rules for file management, and introduces the most important configuration options. This section contains the following topics:

See Also:

"Maintaining the Fast Recovery Area"

5.4.1 Overview of Files in the Fast Recovery Area

The fast recovery area can contain control files, online redo logs, archived redo logs, flashback logs, and RMAN backups.

Files in the recovery area are permanent or transient. Permanent files are active files used by the database instance. All files that are not permanent are transient. In general, Oracle Database eventually deletes transient files after they become obsolete under the backup retention policy or have been backed up to tape.

The fast recovery area is an Oracle Database managed space that can be used to hold RMAN disk backups, control file autobackups and archived redo log files. The files placed in this location are maintained by Oracle Database and the generated file names are maintained in Oracle Managed Files (OMF) format.

"Table 5-2" describes the files in the recovery area, the classification of each file as permanent or temporary, and how database availability is affected.

Table 5-2 Files in the Fast Recovery Area

Files Type Database Behavior When Fast Recovery Area Is Inaccessible

Multiplexed copies of the current control file

Permanent

The instance fails if the database cannot write to a multiplexed copy of the control file stored in the fast recovery area. Failure occurs even if accessible multiplexed copies are located outside the recovery area.

See Also: "Configuring Control File Locations" to learn how to configure control files in the recovery area

Online redo log files

Permanent

Instance availability is not affected if a mirrored copy of the online redo log exists in an accessible location outside the fast recovery area. Otherwise, the instance fails.

See Also: "Configuring Online Redo Log Locations" to learn how to configure online redo logs in the recovery area

Archived redo log files

Transient

Instance availability is not affected if the log is archived to an accessible location outside the fast recovery area. Otherwise, the database eventually halts because it cannot archive the online redo logs.

See Also: "Configuring Archived Redo Log Locations" to learn how to configure archived redo logs in the recovery area

Foreign archived redo log files

Transient

Instance availability is not affected.

Note: Foreign archived redo logs are received by a logical standby database for a LogMiner session. Unlike a normal archived log, a foreign archived redo log is associated with a different DBID. For this reason, it cannot be backed up or restored on a logical standby database.

Image copies of data files and control files

Transient

Instance availability is not affected.

Backup pieces

Transient

Instance availability is not affected.

Flashback logs

Transient

Instance availability is not affected if guaranteed restore points are not defined. In this case, the database automatically disables Flashback Database, writes a message to the alert log, and continues with database processing. If guaranteed restore points are configured, the instance fails because of interdependencies on the flashback logs.

The Oracle Flashback Database feature, which provides a convenient alternative to database point-in-time recovery (DBPITR), generates flashback logs. These logs are transient files and must be stored in the fast recovery area. Unlike other transient files, flashback logs cannot be backed up to other media. If the fast recovery area has insufficient space to store flashback logs and meet other backup retention requirements, then the recovery area may delete flashback logs.

See Also: "Enabling Flashback Database" to learn how to enable flashback logging

If you are on a Windows platform, then you can use the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) with the Oracle VSS writer. In this case, the fast recovery area automates management of files that are backed up in a VSS snapshot and deletes them as needed.

See Also:

5.4.1.1 Fast Recovery Area with Oracle Managed Files and Automatic Storage Management

The fast recovery area can be used with Oracle Managed Files (OMF) and Automatic Storage Management (ASM)

Because the fast recovery area is built on top of OMF, it can be stored anywhere that Oracle Managed Files can. You can also use the recovery area with ASM.

Even if you choose not to set up the fast recovery area in ASM storage, you can still use Oracle Managed Files to manage your backup files in an ASM disk group. However, you lose a major benefit of the fast recovery area: the automatic deletion of files no longer needed to meet your recoverability goals as space is needed for more recent backups. Nevertheless, the other automatic features of OMF still function.

When your store backups, using OMF on top of ASM without using a fast recovery area is supported but discouraged. It is awkward to directly manipulate files under ASM.

5.4.1.2 How Oracle Manages Disk Space in the Fast Recovery Area

Space in the fast recovery area is balanced among backups and archived logs that must be kept according to the retention policy, and other files that may be subject to deletion.

Oracle Database does not delete eligible files from the fast recovery area until the space must be reclaimed for some other purpose. Files recently moved to tape are often still available on disk for use in recovery. The recovery area can thus serve as a cache for tape. When the fast recovery area is full, Oracle Database automatically deletes eligible files to reclaim space in the recovery area as needed.

See Also:

5.4.2 Enabling the Fast Recovery Area

You enable the fast recovery area by setting two initialization parameters. These parameters enable the fast recovery area with or without having to shut down and restart the database instance.

You set the size of the fast recovery area with the parameter DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE first, and then you set the physical location of the flash recovery files with the parameter DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST.

Table 5-3 discusses both the mandatory and optional parameters for enabling the fast recovery area.

In an Oracle Real Application Clusters (Oracle RAC) database, all instances must have the same values for these initialization parameters. The location must be on a cluster file system, ASM, or a shared directory.

Table 5-3 Initialization Parameters for the Fast Recovery Area

Initialization Parameter Required Description

DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE

Yes

Specifies the disk quota, which is maximum storage in bytes of data to be used by the recovery area for this database. You must set this parameter before DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST.

The DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE setting does not include the following kinds of disk overhead:

  • Block 0 or the operating system block header of each Oracle Database file is not included.

    Allow an extra 10% for this data when computing the actual disk usage required for the fast recovery area.

  • DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE does not indicate the real size occupied on disk when the underlying file system is mirrored, compressed, or affected by overhead not known to Oracle Database.

    For example, if the recovery area is on a two-way mirrored ASM disk group, each file of x bytes occupies 2x bytes on the ASM disk group. In this case, set DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE to no more than half the size of the disks for the ASM disk group. Likewise, when using a three-way mirrored ASM disk group, DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE must be no more than one third the size of the disks in the disk group, and so on.

DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST

Yes

Specifies the recovery area location, which can be a file system directory or ASM disk group, but not a raw disk. The location must be large enough for the disk quota.

DB_FLASHBACK_RETENTION_TARGET

No

Specifies the upper limit (in minutes) on how far back in time the database may be flashed back. This parameter is required only for Flashback Database.

This parameter indirectly determines how much flashback log data is kept in the recovery area. The size of flashback logs generated by the database can vary considerably depending on the database workload. If more blocks are affected by database updates during a given interval, then more disk space is used by the flashback log data generated for that interval.

See Also:

5.4.2.1 Considerations When Setting the Size of the Fast Recovery Area

The larger the fast recovery area is, the more useful it becomes. Ideally, the fast recovery area is large enough to contain the control files, online redo logs, archived redo logs, and flashback logs. It should be able to contain a copy of all data files in the database and the incremental backups used by your chosen backup strategy.

If providing this much space is impractical, then it is best to create an area large enough to keep a backup of the most important tablespaces and all the archived logs not yet on tape. At an absolute minimum, the fast recovery area must be large enough to contain the archived redo logs not yet on tape. If the recovery area has insufficient space to store new flashback logs and meet other backup retention requirements, then to make room, the recovery area may delete older flashback logs.

Formulas for estimating a useful fast recovery area size depend on whether:

  • Your database has a small or large number of data blocks that change frequently

  • You store backups only on disk, or on disk and tape

  • You use a redundancy-based backup retention policy, or a recovery window-based retention policy

  • You plan to use Flashback Database or a guaranteed restore point as alternatives to point-in-time recovery in response to logical errors

If you plan to enable flashback logging, then the volume of flashback log generation is approximately the same order of magnitude as redo log generation. For example, if you intend to set DB_FLASHBACK_RETENTION_TARGET to 24 hours, and if the database generates 20 gigabytes of redo in a day, then a general rule of thumb is to allow 20 GB to 30 GB of disk space for the flashback logs. The same rule applies to guaranteed restore points when flashback logging is enabled. For example, if the database generates 20 GB of redo every day, and if the guaranteed restore point is kept for a day, then plan to allocate 20 to 30 GB.

Suppose that you want to determine the size of a fast recovery area when the backup retention policy is set to REDUNDANCY 1 and you intend to follow Oracle's suggested strategy of using an incremental forever. In this example, you use the following formula to estimate the disk quota, where n is the interval in days between incremental updates and y is the delay in applying the foreign archived redo logs on a logical standby database: 

Disk Quota =
Size of a copy of database +
Size of an incremental backup +
Size of (n+1) days of archived redo logs +
Size of (y+1) days of foreign archived redo logs (for logical standby) +
Size of control file +
Size of an online redo log member * number of log groups +
Size of flashback logs (based on DB_FLASHBACK_RETENTION_TARGET value)
5.4.2.2 Considerations When Setting the Location of the Fast Recovery Area

Place the fast recovery area on a separate disk from the database area, where the database maintains active database files such as data files, control files, and online redo logs. Keeping the fast recovery area on the same disk as the database area exposes you to loss of both your live database files and backups if a media failure occurs.

Oracle recommends that DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST be set to a different value from DB_CREATE_FILE_DEST or any of the DB_CREATE_ONLINE_LOG_DEST_n initialization parameters. The database writes a warning to the alert log if DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST equals these parameters.

Multiple databases can have the same value for DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST, but one of the following must be true:

  • No two databases for which the DB_UNIQUE_NAME initialization parameters are specified have the same value for DB_UNIQUE_NAME.

  • For those databases where no DB_UNIQUE_NAME is provided, no two databases have the same value for DB_NAME.

When databases share a single recovery area in this way, the location should be large enough to hold the files for all databases. Add the values for DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE for the databases, then allow for overhead such as mirroring or compression.

5.4.2.3 Setting the Fast Recovery Area Location and Initial Size

Use database initialization parameters to set the location and size of the fast recovery area.

Table 5-3 lists the initialization parameters that you must set to enable the fast recovery area. This section explains how to specify a location for the recovery area and set its initial size.

To determine the optimum size for the fast recovery area and set the recovery area location:

  1. If you plan to use flashback logging or guaranteed restore points, then query V$ARCHIVED_LOG to determine how much redo the database generates in the time to which you intend to set DB_FLASHBACK_RETENTION_TARGET.
  2. Set the recovery area size.

    If you plan to use flashback logging or guaranteed restore points, then ensure that the size value obtained from Step 1 is incorporated into the setting. Set the DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE initialization parameter by any of the following means:

    • Shut down the database and set the DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE parameter in the initialization parameter file of the database, as shown in the following example: 

      DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE = 10G

    • Specify the parameter with the SQL statement ALTER SYSTEM SET when the database is open, as shown in the following examples: 

      ALTER SYSTEM SET 
  DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE = 10G 
  SCOPE=BOTH SID='*';

      Note:

      The DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE and DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST settings must be persistent across database startup and shutdown. If a server parameter file is used, then setting SCOPE=BOTH results in the settings being persistent. However, if a server parameter file is not used, then the changes made by the ALTER SYSTEM command are not persistent. You must also add these parameters to the initialization parameter file.

    • Use the Database Configuration Assistant to set the size.

  3. Set the recovery area location.

    Set the initialization parameters by any of the following means:

    • Set DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST in the parameter file of the database, as shown in the following example: 

      DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST = '/u01/oradata/rcv_area'

    • Specify DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST with the SQL statement ALTER SYSTEM SET when the database is open.

      The following example sets the fast recovery area to an Automatic Storage Management (ASM) disk group named disk1: 

      ALTER SYSTEM SET
  DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST = '+disk1' 
  SCOPE=BOTH SID='*';

      The following example sets the fast recovery area to the file system directory /disk1/fast_recovery_area: 

      ALTER SYSTEM SET 
  DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST = '/disk1/fast_recovery_area'
  SCOPE = BOTH SID = '*';

    • Use the Database Configuration Assistant to set the location.

    If you do not plan to use flashback logging, then open the database (if it is closed) and do not complete the rest of the steps in this procedure.

  4. If flashback logging is enabled, then run the database under a normal workload for the time period specified by DB_FLASHBACK_RETENTION_TARGET.

    In this way, the database can generate a representative sample of flashback logs.

  5. Query the V$FLASHBACK_DATABASE_LOG view as follows:
    SELECT ESTIMATED_FLASHBACK_SIZE 
FROM   V$FLASHBACK_DATABASE_LOG;

    The result is an estimate of the disk space needed to meet the current flashback retention target, based on the database workload since Flashback Database was enabled.

  6. If necessary, adjust the flashback log space requirement based on the actual size of flashback logs generated during the time period specified by DB_FLASHBACK_RETENTION_TARGET.

See Also:

"Managing Space for Flashback Logs in the Fast Recovery Area"

5.4.3 Disabling the Fast Recovery Area

You can use the ALTER SYSTEM command to disable the fast recovery area.

If you have enabled Flashback Database or use the fast recovery area for archive logs, then take the appropriate steps from those that follow below. Otherwise, skip to Step 3:

  1. If Flashback Database is enabled, then disable it before you disable the fast recovery area.
    ALTER DATABASE FLASHBACK OFF;
  2. If you are using the fast recovery area for archive logs, then set the initialization parameter LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_n to use a non-fast recovery area location.

    For example, to change the fast recovery area for LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_1 to a non-fast recovery area location, use the command ALTER SYSTEM SET: 

    LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_1='LOCATION=USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST'
    ALTER SYSTEM SET LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_1='LOCATION=/ORACLE/DBS/';
  3. Disable the fast recovery area initialization parameter.
    ALTER SYSTEM SET DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST='';

5.4.4 Configuring Locations for Control Files and Redo Logs

Use initialization parameters to configure the default locations for control files and redo logs.

See Also:

5.4.4.1 Configuring Online Redo Log Locations

The initialization parameters that determine where online redo log files are created are DB_CREATE_ONLINE_LOG_DEST_n, DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST, and DB_CREATE_FILE_DEST.

The following SQL statements can create online redo logs in the fast recovery area:

The default size of an online log created in the fast recovery area is 100 megabytes. The log member file names are automatically generated by the database.

See Also:

Description of the LOGFILE clause of the CREATE DATABASE statement in Oracle Database SQL Language Reference for details of the effect of combinations of the initialization parameters on online redo log creation

5.4.4.2 Configuring Control File Locations

The initialization parameters CONTROL_FILES, DB_CREATE_ONLINE_LOG_DEST_n, DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST, and DB_CREATE_FILE_DEST all interact to determine the location where the database control files are created.

If the database creates an Oracle managed control file, and if the database uses a server parameter file, then the database sets the CONTROL_FILES initialization parameter in the server parameter file. If the database uses a client-side initialization parameter file, then you must set the CONTROL_FILES initialization parameter manually in the initialization parameter file.

See Also:

The "Semantics" section of the description of CREATE CONTROLFILE in Oracle Database SQL Language Reference for a full description of how these parameters interact

5.4.4.3 Configuring Archived Redo Log Locations

Oracle recommends that you the use fast recovery area as an archiving location because the archived logs are automatically managed by the database.

The generated file names for the archived logs in the fast recovery area are for Oracle-managed files and are not determined by the parameter LOG_ARCHIVE_FORMAT. Whatever archiving scheme you choose, it is always advisable to create multiple copies of archived redo logs.

You have the following basic options for archiving redo logs, listed from most to least recommended:

  1. Enable archiving to the fast recovery area only and use disk mirroring to create the redundancy needed to protect the archived redo logs.

    If DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST is specified and no LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_n is specified, then LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_10 is implicitly set to the recovery area. You can override this behavior by setting LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_10 to an empty string.

  2. Enable archiving to the fast recovery area and set other LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_n initialization parameter to locations outside the fast recovery area.

    If a fast recovery area is configured, then you can add the fast recovery area as an archiving destination by setting any LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_n parameter to LOCATION=USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST.

  3. Set LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_n initialization parameters to archive only to non-fast recovery area locations.

If you use the fast recovery area, then you cannot use the LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST and LOG_ARCHIVE_DUPLEX_DEST initialization parameters. Using either of these parameters prevents you from starting the instance. Instead, set the LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_n parameters. After your database is using LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_n, you can configure a recovery area.

Note also that if you enable archiving but do not set any value for LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST, LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_n, or DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST, then the redo logs are archived to a default location that is platform-specific. For example, on Solaris the default is ?/dbs.

See Also:

Oracle Database Reference for details on the semantics of the LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_n parameters

5.4.5 Configuring RMAN File Creation in the Fast Recovery Area

Certain RMAN commands or implicit actions (such as control file autobackups) can create files in the fast recovery area.

This section explains how to control whether a command creates files in the fast recovery area or in another destination. The commands are:

  • BACKUP

    If you do not specify the FORMAT clause for disk backups, then RMAN creates backup pieces and image copies in the fast recovery area, with names in Oracle Managed Files (OMF) format. If a fast recovery area is enabled, and if you do specify FORMAT on BACKUP or a channel, then RMAN creates the backup in a platform-specific location rather than in the recovery area.

  • Control File Autobackup

    RMAN can create control file autobackups in the fast recovery area. Use the RMAN command CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK CLEAR to clear any configured format option for the control file autobackup location on disk. RMAN creates control file autobackups in the fast recovery area when no other destination is configured.

  • RESTORE ARCHIVELOG

    Explicitly or implicitly set a LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_n parameter to LOCATION=USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST. If you do not specify SET ARCHIVELOG DESTINATION to override this behavior, then RMAN restores archived redo log files to the fast recovery area.

  • RECOVER DATABASE or RECOVER TABLESPACE, RECOVER ... BLOCK, and FLASHBACK DATABASE

    These commands restore archived redo log files from backup for use during media recovery, as required by the command. RMAN restores any redo log files needed during these operations to the fast recovery area and deletes them after they are applied during media recovery.

    To direct the restored archived logs to the fast recovery area, set a LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_n parameter to LOCATION = USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST. Verify that you are not using SET ARCHIVELOG DESTINATION to direct restored logs to some other destination.

5.5 Configuring the Backup Retention Policy

The backup retention policy specifies which backups must be retained to meet your data recovery requirements.

This policy can be based on a recovery window or redundancy. Use the CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY command to specify the retention policy.

This section contains the following topics:

See Also:

5.5.1 Configuring a Redundancy-Based Retention Policy

The REDUNDANCY parameter of the CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY command specifies how many full or level 0 backups of each data file and control file that RMAN keeps. The default retention policy is REDUNDANCY 1.

If the number of full or level 0 backups for a specific data file or control file exceeds the REDUNDANCY setting, then RMAN considers the extra backups as obsolete. As you produce more backups, RMAN keeps track of which ones to retain and which are obsolete. RMAN retains all archived logs and incremental backups that are needed to recover the nonobsolete backups.

Assume that you make a full backup of data file 7 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. You now have four full backups of this data file. If REDUNDANCY is 2, then the Monday and Tuesday backups are obsolete. If you make another backup on Friday, then the Wednesday backup of data file 7 becomes obsolete.

Assume a different case in which REDUNDANCY is 1. You run a level 0 database backup at noon on Monday, a level 1 cumulative backup at noon on Tuesday and Wednesday, and a level 0 backup at noon on Thursday. Immediately after each daily backup you run the command DELETE OBSOLETE. The Wednesday DELETE command does not remove the Tuesday level 1 backup because this backup is not redundant: the Tuesday level 1 backup could be used to recover the Monday level 0 backup to a time between noon on Tuesday and noon on Wednesday. However, the DELETE command on Thursday removes the previous level 0 and level 1 backups.

Run the CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY command at the RMAN prompt, as in the following example: 

CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY TO REDUNDANCY 3;

See Also:

Deleting Obsolete RMAN Backups Based on Retention Policies

5.5.2 Configuring a Recovery Window-Based Retention Policy

The RECOVERY WINDOW parameter of the CONFIGURE command specifies the number of days between the current time and the earliest point of recoverability.

RMAN does not consider any full or level 0 incremental backup as obsolete if it falls within the recovery window. Additionally, RMAN retains all archived logs and level 1 incremental backups that are needed to recover to a random point within the window. Use the CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY command at the RMAN prompt to configure a recovery window-based retention policy.

The following example ensures that you can recover the database to any point within the last week:

CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY TO RECOVERY WINDOW OF 7 DAYS;

RMAN does not automatically delete backups rendered obsolete by the recovery window. Instead, RMAN shows them as OBSOLETE in the REPORT OBSOLETE output and in the OBSOLETE column of V$BACKUP_FILES. RMAN deletes obsolete files if you run the DELETE OBSOLETE command.

See Also:

Deleting Obsolete RMAN Backups Based on Retention Policies

5.5.3 Disabling the Retention Policy

When you disable the retention policy, RMAN does not consider any backup as obsolete.

To disable the retention policy, run this command:

CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY TO NONE;

Configuring the retention policy to NONE is different from clearing it. Clearing returns the default setting of REDUNDANCY 1, whereas NONE disables it.

If you disable the retention policy and run REPORT OBSOLETE or DELETE OBSOLETE commands without passing a retention policy option to the command, then RMAN issues an error because no retention policy exists to determine which backups are obsolete.

Caution:

If you are using a fast recovery area, then do not run your database with the retention policy disabled. If files are never considered obsolete, then a file can only be deleted from the fast recovery area if it has been backed up to some other disk location or to a tertiary storage device such as tape. This action is likely to use all of the space in your recovery area, which interferes with the normal operation of your database. See "How Oracle Manages Disk Space in the Fast Recovery Area"

5.6 Backup Optimization and the CONFIGURE command

Run the RMAN CONFIGURE command to enable and disable backup optimization. Backup optimization skips the backup of files in certain circumstances if the identical file or an identical version of the file has been backed up.

This section contains the following topics:

5.6.1 Overview of Backup Optimization

When you enable backup optimization, the BACKUP command skips backing up files when the identical file has been backed up to the specified device type.

Table 5-4 describes criteria that RMAN uses to determine whether a file is identical to a file that it already backed up.

Table 5-4 Criteria to Determine an Identical File

Type of File Criteria to Determine an Identical File

Data file

The data file must have the same DBID, checkpoint SCN, creation SCN, and RESETLOGS SCN and time as a data file in a backup. The data file must be offline-normal, read-only, or closed normally.

Archived log

Same DBID, thread, sequence number, and RESETLOGS SCN and time

Backup set

Same DBID, backup set record ID, and stamp

If RMAN determines that a file is identical and it has been backed up, then it is a candidate to be skipped. RMAN must do further checking to determine whether to skip the file, however, because both the retention policy and the backup duplexing feature are factors in the algorithm that determines whether RMAN has sufficient backups on the specified device type.

RMAN uses backup optimization when the following conditions are true:

  • The CONFIGURE BACKUP OPTIMIZATION ON command has been run to enable backup optimization.

  • You run BACKUP DATABASE, BACKUP ARCHIVELOG with ALL or LIKE options, or BACKUP BACKUPSET ALL, BACKUP RECOVERY AREA, BACKUP RECOVERY FILES, or BACKUP DATAFILECOPY.

    Note:

    When TO DESTINATION is used with BACKUP RECOVERY AREA or BACKUP RECOVERY FILES, RMAN only skips backups of files that have identical backups in the TO DESTINATION location that you provide.

  • Only one type of channel is allocated, do not mix disk and SBT channels in the same backup command.

Note:

In backup undo optimization, RMAN excludes undo changes (that are not needed for recovery of a backup) for transactions that have been committed. You can enable and disable backup optimization, but backup undo optimization is built-in behavior.

For example, assume that you have configured backup optimization. These commands back up to tape the database, all archived logs, and all backup sets:

BACKUP DEVICE TYPE sbt DATABASE PLUS ARCHIVELOG;
BACKUP DEVICE TYPE sbt BACKUPSET ALL;

If no backed-up file has changed since the last backup, then RMAN does not back up the files again. RMAN also does not signal an error if it skips all files specified in the command because the files have already been backed up.

You can override optimization at any time by specifying the FORCE option on the BACKUP command. For example, you can run: 

BACKUP DATABASE FORCE;
BACKUP ARCHIVELOG ALL FORCE;

See Also:

The CONFIGURE entry in Oracle Database Backup and Recovery Reference for a complete description of the backup optimization rules

5.6.2 Effect of Retention Policies on Backup Optimization for SBT Backups

Backup optimization is not always applied when backing up to SBT devices.

The exceptions to normal backup optimization behavior for recovery window-based and redundancy-based retention policies are described in the following sections.

Note:

Use caution when enabling backup optimization if you use a media manager with its own internal expiration policy. Run the CROSSCHECK command periodically to synchronize the RMAN repository with the media manager. Otherwise, RMAN may skip backups due to optimization without recognizing that the media manager has discarded backups stored on tape.

5.6.2.1 About Backup Optimization for SBT Backups with Recovery Window Retention Policy

Suppose that backup optimization is enabled, and a recovery window backup retention policy is in effect. In this case, when performing SBT backups RMAN always backs up data files whose most recent backup is older than the recovery window.

For example, assume the following scenario:

  • Today is February 21.

  • The recovery window is 7 days.

  • The most recent backup of tablespace tools to tape is January 3.

  • Tablespace tools is read-only.

On February 21, when you issue a command to back up tablespace tools to tape, RMAN backs it up even though it did not change after the January 3 backup (because it is read-only). RMAN makes the backup because no backup of the tablespace exists within the 7-day recovery window.

This behavior enables the media manager to expire old tapes. Otherwise, the media manager is forced to keep the January 3 backup of tablespace TOOLS indefinitely. By making a more recent backup of tablespace tools on February 21, RMAN enables the media manager to expire the tape containing the January 3 backup.

5.6.2.2 About Backup Optimization for SBT Backups With Redundancy Retention Policy

Assume that you configure a retention policy for redundancy. In this case, RMAN only skips backups of offline or read-only data files to SBT when there are r + 1 backups of the files, where r is set in CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY TO REDUNDANCY r.

For example, assume that you enable backup optimization and set the following retention policy:

CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO sbt;
CONFIGURE BACKUP OPTIMIZATION ON;
CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY TO REDUNDANCY 2;

With these settings, RMAN only skips backups when three identical files are backed up. Also assume that you have never backed up the users tablespace, which is read/write, and that you perform the actions described in Table 5-5 over the course of the week.

Table 5-5 Effect of Redundancy Setting on Backup Optimization

Day Action Result Redundant Backup

Monday

Take users offline normal.

   

Tuesday

BACKUP DATABASE

The users tablespace is backed up.

 

Wednesday

BACKUP DATABASE

The users tablespace is backed up.

 

Thursday

BACKUP DATABASE

The users tablespace is backed up.

Tuesday backup

Friday

BACKUP DATABASE

The users tablespace is not backed up.

Tuesday backup

Saturday

BACKUP DATABASE

The users tablespace is not backed up.

Tuesday backup

Sunday

DELETE OBSOLETE

The Tuesday backup is deleted.

  

Monday

BACKUP DATABASE

The users tablespace is backed up.

Wednesday backup

The backups on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday back up the offline users tablespace to satisfy the condition that three backups must exist (one more than redundancy setting). The Friday and Saturday backups do not back up the users tablespace because of backup optimization. The Tuesday backup of users is obsolete beginning on Thursday.

On Sunday, you delete all obsolete backups, which removes the Tuesday backup of users. The Tuesday backup is obsolete because of the retention policy setting. The whole database backup on Monday then backs up the users tablespace to satisfy the condition that three backups must exist (one more than redundancy setting). In this way, you can recycle your tapes over time.

See Also:

"Backup Optimization and the CONFIGURE command"

5.6.3 Configuring Backup Optimization

By default, backup optimization is configured to OFF. You can use the SHOW BACKUP OPTIMIZATION command to view the current settings of backup optimization.

To configure backup optimization:

  1. Start RMAN and connect to a target database and a recovery catalog (if used).
  2. Run the SHOW BACKUP OPTIMIZATION command to determine whether optimization is currently enabled.

    For example, enter the following command:

    SHOW BACKUP OPTIMIZATION;

    Sample output for SHOW BACKUP OPTIMIZATION follows: 

    RMAN configuration parameters for database with db_unique_name PROD1 are:
CONFIGURE BACKUP OPTIMIZATION OFF;
  3. Enable backup optimization by running the following command:
    CONFIGURE BACKUP OPTIMIZATION ON;

See Also:

"Using Backup Optimization to Skip Files" for examples of how to optimize RMAN backups

5.7 Configuring an Archived Redo Log Deletion Policy

You can use RMAN to create a persistent configuration that governs when archived redo logs are eligible for deletion from disk.

This section contains the following topics:

5.7.1 About Archived Redo Log Deletion Policies

You can use the CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG DELETION POLICY command to specify when archived redo logs are eligible for deletion.

This deletion policy applies to all archiving destinations, including the fast recovery area.

Archived redo logs can be deleted automatically by the database or by user-initiated RMAN commands. Only logs in the fast recovery area can be deleted automatically by the database. For archived redo log files in the fast recovery area, the database retains them as long as possible and automatically deletes eligible logs when additional disk space is required. You can manually delete eligible logs from any location, whether inside or outside the fast recovery area, when you issue BACKUP ... DELETE INPUT or DELETE ARCHIVELOG commands.

5.7.1.1 When the Archived Redo Log Deletion Policy Is Disabled

By default, there is no archived redo log deletion policy and this is why the archive redo log policy is set to the NONE clause.

In this particular case, the fast recovery area considers archived redo log files in the recovery area as eligible for deletion if they have been backed up at least once to disk or SBT or the logs are obsolete according to the backup retention policy. The backup retention policy considers logs obsolete only if the logs are not needed by a guaranteed restore point and the logs are not needed by Oracle Flashback Database. Archived redo logs are needed by Flashback Database if the logs were created later than SYSDATE-'DB_FLASHBACK_RETENTION_TARGET'.

See Also:

5.7.1.2 When the Archived Redo Log Deletion Policy Is Enabled

You can use the CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG DELETION POLICY BACKED UP integer TIMES TO DEVICE TYPE command to enable an archived log deletion policy. This configuration specifies that archived logs are eligible for deletion only when the specified number of archived log backups exist on the specified device type.

If the deletion policy is configured with the BACKED UP integer TIMES clause, then a BACKUP ARCHIVELOG command copies the logs unless integer backups exist on the specified device type. If integer backups of the logs exist, then the BACKUP ARCHIVELOG command skips the logs. In this way, the archived log deletion policy functions as a default NOT BACKED UP integer TIMES clause on the BACKUP ARCHIVELOG command. You can override the deletion policy by specifying the FORCE option on the BACKUP command.

The archived log deletion policy also has options specific to a Data Guard environment. For example, if you specify the APPLIED ON STANDBY clause, then RMAN can delete logs after they have been applied at all mandatory remote destinations. If you specify SHIPPED TO STANDBY, then RMAN can delete logs when they have been transferred to all mandatory standby destinations.

See Also:

5.7.2 Enabling an Archived Redo Log Deletion Policy

By default the archived redo log deletion policy is set to NONE.

To enable an archived redo log deletion policy:

  1. Start RMAN and connect to a target database and a recovery catalog (if used).
  2. Run the CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG DELETION POLICY command with the desired options.

    The following example specifies that archived redo logs are eligible to be deleted from the fast recovery area and all local archiving destinations when logs have been backed up at least twice to tape:

    CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG DELETION POLICY
  TO BACKED UP 2 TIMES TO SBT;

See Also:

5.8 Configuring RMAN in a Data Guard Environment

If you use RMAN in a Data Guard environment, then you can use the CONFIGURE command to register and configure settings for the physical databases in this environment.

RMAN uses the DB_UNIQUE_NAME initialization parameter to distinguish one database from another. Thus, it is critical that you maintain the uniqueness of the DB_UNIQUE_NAME in the Data Guard environment.

RMAN must be connected to a recovery catalog when you create or alter a configuration for a database in the Data Guard environment. If you use the SET DBID command to set the DBID in the RMAN session, then you can configure a standby database even when RMAN is not connected as TARGET to a database in the Data Guard environment. You can even create a configuration for a standby database that has not yet been created.

You can use the following forms of the CONFIGURE command:

  • CONFIGURE DB_UNIQUE_NAME defines a connection to a physical standby database and implicitly registers the new database.

    New standby databases are also automatically registered when RMAN connects as TARGET to a standby database for the first time.

  • CONFIGURE FOR DB_UNIQUE_NAME configures settings for a database in the Data Guard environment.

    For example, you can configure channels, default devices, and so on for a specified database or for all databases in the environment. You can use SHOW ALL FOR DB_UNIQUE_NAME to show the configuration for a specific standby database or SHOW ALL FOR DB_UNIQUE_NAME ALL to show configurations for all known databases.

A Data Guard environment involves many considerations that are only relevant for Data Guard. For example, you can configure an archived redo log deletion policy based on whether archived logs are transferred to or applied on a standby database.

See Also: