HP Storage Essentials V5.1 User Guide First Edition (T4283-96026, August 2006)

Database Maintenance and Management228
• Scheduled RMAN backup jobs do not run. If you change the database mode to no archive
during an RMAN backup, the RMAN backup will error out.
• If the database fails as a result of a corrupt data file, the database can only be restored to the
last export backup available. This requires recreating the database along with the import.
When you change the database to archive mode, you reset the logs SCN, set the archive
parameter in the database parameter file and enable the RMAN backup scheduler. Take a current
RMAN backup after switching to archive mode, as described in ”Performing an RMAN Hot
Backup” on page 230.
Architectural Overview of RMAN Backups
By default the management server does not backup the database automatically. If you enabled the
database archive mode and RMAN backup as described in ”Setting the Archive Mode” on
page 238, the management server backs up the Oracle instance for the management server every
three days and saves the backup for two weeks. The management server alternates the directories
in which it saves the backup. When the management server first performs a scheduled backup, the
backup is saved in %ORA_HOME%\rman\backup1. The next time the management server
performs a scheduled backup, it is saved %ORA_HOME%\rman\backup2. The management
server saves the backup in alternating directories (backup1 and backup2), so you always have a
copy of the last backup and the previous backup. To learn how to change the frequency of the
scheduled backups, see ”Scheduling RMAN Hot Backups of the Database” on page 230.
You can back up the database at any time by clicking the Backup Now button on the Database
tab. When you back up the database using this technique, the backup is saved only in
%ORA_HOME%\rman\current. To recover the database, contact customer support.
Let's assume you recently installed the management server and you have not done any backups.
You have schedule the backups to take place every three days. You performed a backup, and it is
stored in the backup1 folder. The next scheduled backup occurs on day 4 and it is saved in the
backup2 folder. If your database fails, you can restore the database from day 1 or day 4. Let's
assume you have a scheduled backup on day 7, which is saved to the backup1 folder. This
backup replaces the backup from day 1. The available backups are from day 4 and 7. Assume
Table 29 Backup Directories in
%ORA_HOME%\rman
Directory Contains
current The backup when the Database Server Backup
button was clicked.
log A log of when the backup was done.
backup1 Information from the automatic backup (alternating
day).
backup2 Information from the automatic backup (alternating
day).