BACKUP FILES

Specifies the visibility of backups in a Data Guard environment. By default, disk backups are visible only to the database with which the backups are associated. The association is determined by the DB_UNIQUE_NAME of the database.

FOR DEVICE TYPE device_specifier

Specifies the device type for which visibility of backups must be modified.

TO NOTACCESSIBLE

Makes disk backups created on the primary database or standby database available only to the database that created these backups.

TO ACCESSIBLE

Makes backups created on the primary database or standby database accessible to databases whose DB_UNIQUE_NAME is different from that on which the backups were created.

Specifies the compression algorithm for backup sets. This command overrides the current CONFIGURE COMPRESSION ALGORITHM setting for the current RMAN session.

You can configure the basic compression level, which does not require the Advanced Compression Option, by specifying BASIC for the algorithm_name.

If you have enabled the Advanced Compression Option, you can choose from the following compression levels:

• HIGH - Best suited for backups over slower networks where the limiting factor is network speed

• MEDIUM - Recommended for most environments. Good combination of compression ratios and speed

• LOW - Least impact on backup throughput and suited for environments where CPU resources are the limiting factor.

Note: The compression ratio generally increases from LOW to HIGH, with a trade-off of potentially consuming more CPU resources.

Because the performance of the various compression levels depends on the nature of the data in the database, network configuration, system resources and the type of computer system and its capabilities, universally applicable performance statistics are not available. When deciding which level is best, you must consider how balanced your system is regarding bandwidth into the CPU and the actual speed of the CPU. Oracle recommends that you run tests with the different compression levels on the data in your environment. Choose a compression level based on your environment, network traffic characteristics (workload), and data set. This is the only way to ensure that the backup set compression level can satisfy your organization's performance requirements and any applicable service level agreements.

Note: V$RMAN_COMPRESSION_ALGORITHM describes supported algorithms.

See Also: Oracle Database Reference entry for $RMAN_COMPRESSION_ALGORITHM.

Specifies whether Oracle performs pre-compression block processing when compressed backups have been requested. TRUE is the default and FALSE enables pre-compression processing. The default behavior is not to perform pre-compression block processing. Such processing can consume extra CPU resources, and is not needed for blocks that contain all originally loaded data, and have never been the subject of single-row inserts and deletes. Specifying FALSE uses additional CPU resources to perform pre-compression block processing which consists of internal block cleanups and defragmentation that can result in improved levels of binary compression.

See Also: Oracle Database Backup and Recovery User's Guide to learn more about this option.

Specifies the release version. The version number uses the release number format and may use as many as 5 numbers to fully qualify the release. For example, 10.2.0.3.0 and 11.2 are acceptable values. This option ensures compression algorithm stability across future releases.

Specifies one or more decryption passwords to be used when reading dual-mode or password-encrypted backups.

Password-encrypted backups require the correct password to be entered before they can be restored. When RMAN reads an encrypted backup piece, it tries each password in the list until it finds the correct one to decrypt this backup piece. RMAN signals an error if no specified keys work.

Note: If restoring from a group of backups created with different passwords, then specify all of the required passwords on the SET DECRYPTION command. RMAN automatically uses the correct password with each backup set.

See Also: "Encryption of Backup Sets"

DECRYPTION WALLET OPEN IDENTIFIED BY password

Specifies the password that must be used to open the password-based software keystore. Keystores are used while encrypting backup sets using transparent mode encryption.

If the database or tablespace uses Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and you have a password-based software keystore, then you must use the SET DECRYPTION WALLET OPEN IDENTIFIED BY command to open the keystore before you perform complete recovery, PITR, and database duplication.

When restoring backups that were created by using transparent encryption with a password-based software keystore, you must specify the password that is used to open the keystore. When duplicating a database that is configured to use transparent encryption with a password-based software keystore, the password that is required to open the keystore must be provided to the auxiliary instance by using this command.

The password specified is valid for the session in which the SET command is run. Therefore, even if the auxiliary instance is restarted during database duplication, the password required to open the keystore is available to the auxiliary instance.

ECHO {OFF | ON}

Controls whether RMAN commands appear in the message log. When reading commands from a command file, RMAN automatically echoes them to the message log. When reading commands from standard input, by default RMAN does not echo these commands to the message log. To force RMAN to echo the commands, run the SET ECHO ON command before running your command file. Run SET ECHO OFF to disable echoing to the command log.

The command is useful when stdin and stdout have been redirected. For example, in UNIX you can redirect RMAN's input and output in this manner:

% rman TARGET / < in_file > out_file

By including SET ECHO ON in the in_file, you enable the commands contained in in_file to be visible in out_file.

ENCRYPTION

Specifies encryption-related options that apply to BACKUP commands that create backup sets for the duration of the RMAN session.

See Also: "Encryption of Backup Sets"

Specifies the algorithm used during this RMAN session. Overrides the configured default encryption algorithm specified by CONFIGURE ALGORITHM. Possible values are listed in V$RMAN_ENCRYPTION_ALGORITHMS.

Specifies whether to employ a user-specified password in backup encryption according to the following rules:

• Omit IDENTIFIED BY password clause to specify transparent-mode encrypted backups.

• Use IDENTIFIED BY password ONLY to specify password-mode encrypted backups.

• Use IDENTIFIED BY password without ONLY to specify dual-mode encrypted backups.

Create a password that is secure. See Oracle Database Security Guide for more information.

If the password is not surrounded by quotes, then it is translated internally into upper case. Thus, the following clauses are all synonyms for IDENTIFIED BY "PASSWORD":

• IDENTIFIED BY password

• IDENTIFIED BY Password

• IDENTIFIED BY pAsSwOrD

Caution: Keystore-based encryption is more secure than password-based encryption because no passwords are involved. Use password-based encryption only when absolutely necessary because your backups must be transportable.

See Also: "Encryption of Backup Sets" for details on the different encryption modes

   {OFF | ON}

Specifies whether to encrypt backup sets. If ON, then the default is to encrypt backup sets. If OFF, then the default is not to encrypt backup sets.

This option overrides settings made with the CONFIGURE ENCRYPTION FOR command. If no data files are configured for encryption, then you must explicitly use ON to encrypt required data files.

If FOR ALL TABLESPACES is not specified, then this setting controls encryption of backups for tablespaces where CONFIGURE ENCRYPTION FOR TABLESPACE tablespace_name has not been used to control encryption behavior.

   FOR ALL TABLESPACES

Controls encryption for all tablespaces, overriding any CONFIGURE ENCRYPTION FOR TABLESPACE tablespace_name setting.

PASSPHRASE OFF

Deletes the passphrase that was set during backup or restore operations involving TDE-encrypted tablespaces from the memory.

It is recommended that you set the passphrase off after you perform a backup or restore of TDE-encrypted tablespaces.

PASSPHRASE ON IDENTIFIED BY

Specifies the passphrase used to wrap the master key when creating or restoring backups of TDE-encrypted tablespaces.

PREPLUGIN CONTAINER

Sets the container for RMAN operations that use preplugin backups to pdb_name. A CDB may contain preplugin metadata for multiple PDBs. While using preplugin backups, use this command to specify the PDB for which the specified operation must be performed. The operations include listing preplugin backups, changing the status of preplugin backups, cataloging preplugin archived redo log files, restoring preplugin backups, and recovering preplugin backups.

Use the CLEAR option to clear the current setting for preplugin container.

Overrides the LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_1 initialization parameter in the target database when forming names for restored archived redo log files during subsequent RESTORE and RECOVER commands. RMAN restores the logs to the destination specified in 'log_archive_dest'.

You can use this command to stage archived redo log files to different locations while restoring a database. RMAN knows where to find the newly restored archived redo log files; it does not require them to be in the destination specified by LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST_1. For example, if you specify a different destination from the one in the parameter file and restore archived log backups, subsequent restore and recovery operations detect this new location.

Use this parameter to restore archived redo log files that are not on disk. RMAN always looks for logs on disk first before restoring them from backups.

BACKUP COPIES integer

Specifies the number of copies of each backup piece that the channels create: 1, 2, 3, or 4 (see Example 3-58).

RMAN can duplex backups to either disk or tape but cannot duplex backups to tape and disk simultaneously. When backing up to tape, ensure that the number of copies does not exceed the number of available tape devices. Also, if BACKUP COPIES is greater than 1, then the BACKUP_TAPE_IO_SLAVES initialization parameter must be enabled on the target database.

The SET BACKUP COPIES command affects all BACKUP commands in the RUN block issued after SET BACKUP COPIES (but not before) and is in effect until explicitly disabled or changed. The SET BACKUP COPIES command affects only BACKUP commands, but does not apply to the BACKUP AS COPY command.

The SET BACKUP COPIES command affects all channels allocated in the session. The order of precedence is as follows, with settings higher on the list overriding settings lower on the list:

1. BACKUP COPIES

2. SET BACKUP COPIES

3. CONFIGURE ... BACKUP COPIES

The names of the backup pieces are dependent on the FORMAT clause in the BACKUP command. You can specify up to four FORMAT strings. RMAN uses the second, third, and fourth values only when BACKUP COPIES, SET BACKUP COPIES, or CONFIGURE ... BACKUP COPIES is in effect. When choosing which format to use for each backup piece, RMAN uses the first format value for copy 1, the second format value for copy 2, and so on. If the number of format values exceeds the number of copies, then the extra formats are not used. If the number of format values is less than the number of copies, RMAN reuses the format values, starting with the first one.

Note: BACKUP COPIES option is not valid when files are created in fast recovery area. Backups to the fast recovery area cannot be duplexed.

Note: Control file autobackups on disk are a special case and are never duplexed: RMAN always writes one and only copy.

Sets a limit on the number of previously undetected block corruptions that the database permits in a specified data file or group of data files. The default limit is zero, meaning that RMAN tolerates no corrupt blocks.

The SET MAXCORRUPT command specifies the total number of physical and logical corruptions permitted in a data file during a backup job. If the sum of physical and logical corruptions detected for a data file is no more than its MAXCORRUPT setting, then the BACKUP command completes. If more than MAXCORRUPT corrupt blocks exist, then RMAN terminates without creating output files.

Whether or not the MAXCORRUPT limit is exceeded, RMAN populates the V$DATABASE_BLOCK_CORRUPTION view with any corrupt block ranges that it finds. However, a backup or restore job is terminated after MAXCORRUPT+1 corrupt blocks are found, so in this case RMAN only records MAXCORRUPT+1 corruptions. Any block corruptions beyond the point at which the backup job terminated are not recorded.

Note: If you specify CHECK LOGICAL, then the MAXCORRUPT limit applies to the sum of logical and physical corruptions detected. Otherwise, MAXCORRUPT only applies to the number of physical block corruptions.

See Also: datafileSpec

Sets new default names for all data files and temp files in the specified database that have not been named with the SET NEWNAME FOR TABLESPACE, SET NEWNAME FOR TEMPFILE or SET NEWNAME FOR DATAFILE command.

This command enables you to change the names for multiple files in the database and provides a quick alternative to naming each file individually (see Example 2-87). This command does not set names for temp files.

When issuing SET NEWNAME FOR DATABASE, you must specify at least one of the following substitution variables to avoid name collisions: %b, %f, and %U. See the semantic entry for TO 'filename' for descriptions of the possible substitution variables.

The new names are used for all subsequent DUPLICATE, RESTORE, SWITCH commands that affect the files in the database and when using the RMAN TSPITR utility. If you do not issue this command before the restore operation, then RMAN restores the files to their default locations.

You do not have to issue the SET NEWNAME commands in any particular order. For example, assume that you run the following series of commands:

SET NEWNAME FOR DATABASE TO '/oradata1/%b';
SET NEWNAME FOR TABLESPACE users TO '/oradata2/%U';
SET NEWNAME FOR DATAFILE 1 TO '+data';

The preceding series of commands is equivalent to the following differently ordered series of commands:

SET NEWNAME FOR DATAFILE 1 TO '+data;
SET NEWNAME FOR DATABASE TO '/oradata1/%b';
SET NEWNAME FOR TABLESPACE users TO '/oradata2/%U';

Note: The SET NEWNAME command supports ASM disk groups.

See Also: formatSpec to learn about substitution variables that are valid in SET NEWNAME FOR DATABASE

NEWNAME FOR DATABASE ROOT

In a CDB, sets new default names for data files and temp files only in the root. Connect to the root as described in "Connecting to CDBs and PDBs".

NEWNAME FOR PLUGGABLE DATABASE pdb_name

In a CDB, sets new default names for data files and temp files only in the specified PDBs. Connect to the root as described in "Connecting to CDBs and PDBs".

Sets the default name for the specified data file.

This command enables you to specify the names of each data file individually (see Example 2-88). The new names are used for all subsequent DUPLICATE, RESTORE, SWITCH commands that affect the files in the database and when using the RMAN TSPITR utility.

If you run SET NEWNAME FOR DATAFILE and then restore a data file to a new location, then you can run SWITCH to rename the file in the control file to the NEWNAME. If you do not run SWITCH, then RMAN records the restored file as a data file copy in the RMAN repository.

Note: The SET NEWNAME command supports ASM disk groups.

See Also: datafileSpec

Sets new default names for all the files in the specified tablespace that have not been named with the SET NEWNAME FOR DATAFILE command.

This command enables you to change the names for multiple files in the duplicate tablespace and provides an alternative to naming each file of the tablespace individually (see Example 2-88).

When issuing SET NEWNAME FOR TABLESPACE, you must specify at least a first three of the following substitution variables to avoid name collisions: %b, %f, and %U. See the semantic entry for TO 'filename' for descriptions of the possible substitution variables.

The new names are used for all subsequent DUPLICATE, RESTORE or SWITCH commands that affect the files in the tablespace. If you do not issue this command before the restore operation, then RMAN restores the files to their default locations.

Note: The SET NEWNAME command supports ASM disk groups.

See Also: formatSpec to learn about substitution variables that are valid in SET NEWNAME FOR DATABASE

NEWNAME FOR TABLESPACE pdb-name:tablespace_name

The name of the tablespace in a CDB. Multiple databases can have tablespaces with the same name. A qualifier before the name uniquely identifies the tablespace. pdb-name is the name of a PDB.

Sets the new temp file name for a subsequent SWITCH command that renames the specified temp file to the specified name.

Note: The SET NEWNAME command supports ASM disk groups.

See Also: tempfileSpec

   TO 'filename'

Specifies a user-defined file name or ASM disk group for the restored data file or temp file.

When issuing SET NEWNAME FOR DATABASE or SET NEWNAME FOR TABLESPACE, you must specify substitution variables within filename to avoid name collisions. Specify at least a first three of the following substitution variables (the %I and %N variables are optional):

• %b

  Specifies the file name without the fully qualified directory path. For example, the data file name /oradata/prod/financial.dbf is transformed to financial.dbf. This variable enables you to preserve the names of the data files while you move them to different directory. During backup, you can use it for creating image copies. You cannot use this variable for OMF data files or backup sets.

• %f

  Specifies the absolute file number of the data file for which the new name is generated. For example, if data file 2 is duplicated, then %f generates the value 2.

• %U

  Specifies a system-generated unique file name. The name is in the following format: data-D-%d_id-%I_TS-%N_FNO-%f. The %d variable specifies the database name. For example, a possible name might be data-D-prod_id-22398754_TS-users_FNO-7.

• %I

  Specifies the DBID.

• %N

  Specifies the tablespace name.

Note: Use of other substitution variables defined in formatSpec is undefined: some yield an error, while others result in zero values and are not supported.

If you set the NEWNAME to an ASM disk group for a data file and run RESTORE, then RMAN restores the file to the disk group. If you specify a file name for a temp file, then it is the new name of the temp file after the database is recovered and opened.

   TO NEW

Creates an Oracle-managed file in the directory specified by the DB_CREATE_FILE_DEST initialization parameter.

For example, SET NEWNAME FOR TABLESPACE users TO NEW sets OMF names for the data files of the users tablespace to be created in the DB_CREATE_FILE_DEST location (see Example 2-89).

If the original file is an Oracle-managed file or is on an ASM disk group, then RMAN attempts to delete the original file. If you specify TO NEW for a temp file, then RMAN creates the temp file in DB_CREATE_FILE_DEST when the database is opened.

See Also: Oracle Database Administrator’s Guide for information about Oracle-managed files

Specifies a restore point for a subsequent RESTORE or RECOVER command, with the SCN at which the restore point was created as the upper, inclusive limit. Because the limit is inclusive, RMAN selects only files that it can use to restore or recover up to and including the SCN corresponding to the restore point.

Note: You can only use SET TO RESTORE POINT when the database is mounted, because the defined restore points are recorded in the control file. For example, you cannot use SET TO RESTORE POINT to specify the target SCN for a RESTORE CONTROLFILE operation.

untilClause

Specifies an end time, SCN, or log sequence number for a subsequent RESTORE or RECOVER command.

See Also: untilClause

Specifies the path to the parameter file to use in starting the instance. You can use this parameter when customizing TSPITR with an automatic auxiliary instance or when cloning RMAN tablespaces with RMAN.

Note: The filename is on the host running the RMAN client.

COMMAND ID TO 'string'

Enters the specified string into the V$SESSION.CLIENT_INFO column of all channels. Use this information to determine which database server sessions correspond to which RMAN channels. The SET COMMAND ID command applies only to channels that are allocated.

The V$SESSION.CLIENT_INFO column contains information for each RMAN server session. The data appears in one of the following formats:

• id=string

• id=string, ch=channel_id

The first form appears in the RMAN target database connection. The second form appears in all allocated channels. When the current job is complete, the V$SESSION.CLIENT_INFO column is cleared.

See Also: Oracle Database Reference for more information about V$SESSION.CLIENT_INFO

Overrides the default file name format for the control file autobackup on the specified device type. You can use this command either in RUN or at the RMAN prompt. The order of precedence is as follows:

1. SET CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP executed within a RUN block

2. SET CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP executed at the RMAN prompt

3. CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT

The %F substitution variable is required to be in the new formatSpec. No other substitution variable is valid in a control file autobackup formatSpec.

See Also: formatSpec for the semantics of the %F substitution variable

DATABASE 'database_name'

Specifies the name of the database to copy (source database) when duplicating without a connection to the target database. Alternatively, you can use the DATABASE clause of the DUPLICATE command to specify the source database when you have chosen not to connect to the target database for the duplicate.

DBID integer

Specifies the DBID, which is a unique 32-bit identification number computed when the database is created.

RMAN displays the DBID upon connection to the target database. You can obtain the DBID by querying the V$DATABASE view or the RC_DATABASE and RC_DATABASE_INCARNATION recovery catalog views.

Run the SET DBID command only in the following specialized circumstances:

• You are not connected to a recovery catalog and want to restore the control file (see Example 3-59). The same restriction applies when you use the Data Recovery Advisor to restore a control file autobackup. CONFIGURE can locate an autobackup and restore it only if SET DBID is issued before ADVISE FAILURE.

• You want to restore the server parameter file (see Example 3-60).

• You are connected to the recovery catalog but not the target database and use the FOR DB_UNIQUE_NAME option on the CONFIGURE, LIST, REPORT, SHOW, or UNREGISTER commands.

• You are connected to the recovery catalog and want to restore the controlfile but the target database is not mounted and the database name is not unique in the recovery catalog.

• You are performing a DUPLICATE without a target connection but are not using the DBID subclause in the DUPLICATE command and the database name specified in SET DATABASE or DATABASE clause is not unique in the recovery catalog.

INCARNATION primaryKey

Specifies an orphan incarnation when duplicating without a target connection under the following conditions:

• You have not specified INCARNATION within the DATABASE clause of the DUPLICATE command.

• You want to duplicate to an incarnation not in the current incarnation path (orphan incarnation).

LONG integer

Sets the number of characters displayed for LONG columns. The maximum is 4000, the default is 80.

NUMWIDTH integer

Sets the number of characters displayed for NUMBER columns. The default is 10.