Backup Oracle database using rman

Backup an Oracle database using RMAN

1. Connect to RMAN

Open a terminal or command prompt and connect to RMAN as a user with the necessary privileges:

rman target /

2. Perform a Full Database Backup

At the RMAN prompt, run:

BACKUP DATABASE;

3. (Optional) Backup Archive Logs

To include archived redo logs in your backup:

BACKUP DATABASE PLUS ARCHIVELOG;

4. (Optional) Specify Backup Location

To specify a different backup location:

BACKUP DATABASE FORMAT '/backup/yourdb_%U.bkp';

5. (Optional) Backup Control File Separately

BACKUP CURRENT CONTROLFILE;

Note:

Make sure your database is in ARCHIVELOG mode for point-in-time recovery.

Schedule regular backups as per your organization’s policy.

Example 

RMAN> backup database ;

Starting backup at 21-MAY-25

allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1

channel ORA_DISK_1: SID=42 device type=DISK

channel ORA_DISK_1: starting full datafile backup set

channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set

input datafile file number=00001 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/system01.dbf

input datafile file number=00003 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/sysaux01.dbf

input datafile file number=00004 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/undotbs01.dbf

input datafile file number=00007 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/users01.dbf

channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 21-MAY-25

channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 21-MAY-25

piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/DB1/backupset/2025_05_21/o1_mf_nnndf_TAG20250521T121502_n2vjy7y0_.bkp tag=TAG20250521T121502 comment=NONE

channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:45

channel ORA_DISK_1: starting full datafile backup set

channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set

input datafile file number=00010 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/pdb/sysaux01.dbf

input datafile file number=00009 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/pdb/system01.dbf

input datafile file number=00011 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/pdb/undotbs01.dbf

input datafile file number=00012 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/pdb/users01.dbf

channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 21-MAY-25

channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 21-MAY-25

piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/DB1/2FACECCE69615207E0630400040AB366/backupset/2025_05_21/o1_mf_nnndf_TAG20250521T121502_n2vjzns9_.bkp tag=TAG20250521T121502 comment=NONE

channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:25

channel ORA_DISK_1: starting full datafile backup set

channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set

input datafile file number=00017 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/demo1/sysaux01.dbf

input datafile file number=00016 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/demo1/system01.dbf

input datafile file number=00018 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/demo1/undotbs01.dbf

channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 21-MAY-25

channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 21-MAY-25

piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/DB1/33E6395D57264163E0630400040A2C41/backupset/2025_05_21/o1_mf_nnndf_TAG20250521T121502_n2vk0g8j_.bkp tag=TAG20250521T121502 comment=NONE

channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:25

channel ORA_DISK_1: starting full datafile backup set

channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backup set

input datafile file number=00006 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/pdbseed/sysaux01.dbf

input datafile file number=00005 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/pdbseed/system01.dbf

input datafile file number=00008 name=/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/pdbseed/undotbs01.dbf

channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 21-MAY-25

channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 21-MAY-25

piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/DB1/2FAC79D13BBE3BB3E0630400040A98FA/backupset/2025_05_21/o1_mf_nnndf_TAG20250521T121502_n2vk17nv_.bkp tag=TAG20250521T121502 comment=NONE

channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:25

Finished backup at 21-MAY-25

Starting Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 21-MAY-25

piece handle=/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/DB1/autobackup/2025_05_21/o1_mf_s_1201695424_n2vk22pc_.bkp comment=NONE

Finished Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 21-MAY-25

RMAN>

How to configure the size of Fast Recovery Area (FRA) in Oracle database ?

Configure the size of FRA 

 

SQL>

SQL>

SQL> show parameter db_recovery

NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------

db_recovery_file_dest                string      /u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_

                                                 area

db_recovery_file_dest_size           big integer 12732M

SQL>

SQL>

SQL> alter system set db_recovery_file_dest_size=12G scope=both ;

System altered.

SQL> show parameter db_recovery_file_dest_size;

NAME                                 TYPE        VALUE

------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------

db_recovery_file_dest_size           big integer 12G

SQL>

How to add a redo log member to an existing redo log group in an Oracle database | Redo log files Multiplexed

Add a redo log member to an existing redo log group in an Oracle database

SQL> select group#,status,member from v$logfile;

    GROUP# STATUS

---------- -------

MEMBER

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         3

/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/redo03.log

         2

/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/redo02.log

         1

/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/redo01.log

SQL>

SQL> select group#,members,archived,status from v$log;

    GROUP#    MEMBERS ARC STATUS

---------- ---------- --- ----------------

         1          1 NO  CURRENT

         2          1 YES INACTIVE

         3          1 YES INACTIVE

SQL>

SQL> alter database add logfile member '/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/redo01b.log' to group 1;

Database altered.

SQL> select member from v$logfile;

MEMBER

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/redo03.log

/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/redo02.log

/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/redo01.log

/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/redo01b.log

SQL> 

Best Practices & Notes

Always add members on different disks for redundancy.

The new log file must not exist already on disk.

All members of a group are written to simultaneously — they are identical.

Adding a member does not affect the database availability.

How to create pluggable database in oracle ?

 create pluggable database in oracle 

SQL> show con_name 

CON_NAME

------------------------------

CDB$ROOT

SQL> 

SQL> show pdbs

    CON_ID CON_NAME   OPEN MODE  RESTRICTED

---------- ------------------------------ ---------- ----------

2 PDB$SEED   READ ONLY  NO

3 PDB   READ WRITE NO

SQL> 

SQL> 

SQL> 

SQL> 

SQL> create pluggable database demo1 admin user demo1 identified by demo1

  2  file_name_convert=('/u01/app/oracle/oradata/DB1/pdbseed','/u01/app/oracle/oradata/demo1');   

Pluggable database created.

SQL> show pdbs

    CON_ID CON_NAME   OPEN MODE  RESTRICTED

---------- ------------------------------ ---------- ----------

2 PDB$SEED   READ ONLY  NO

3 PDB   READ WRITE NO

4 DEMO1   MOUNTED

SQL> alter pluggable database demo1 open read write;

Pluggable database altered.

SQL> show pdbs

    CON_ID CON_NAME   OPEN MODE  RESTRICTED

---------- ------------------------------ ---------- ----------

2 PDB$SEED   READ ONLY  NO

3 PDB   READ WRITE NO

4 DEMO1   READ WRITE NO

SQL> 

SQL> 

SQL>       

SQL> alter session set container=demo1;

Session altered.

SQL> show con_name 

CON_NAME

------------------------------

DEMO1

SQL> 

SQL> 

SQL> 

SQL> select name from v$pdbs;

NAME

--------------------

DEMO1

SQL> 

how to drop pluggable database in oracle ?

 Drop pluggable database in oracle

=> connect to the container database 

=> close the pluggable database 

=> unplug the pluggable database (optional)

=> drop the pluggable database 

    .if we are using the command without including datafiles , this only remove pdb not underline datafiles etc .

SQL> alter session set container =cdb$root;

Session altered.

SQL> show pdbs

    CON_ID CON_NAME   OPEN MODE  RESTRICTED

---------- ------------------------------ ---------- ----------

 2 PDB$SEED   READ ONLY  NO

 3 PDB   READ WRITE NO

 4 DEMO1   READ WRITE NO

SQL> 

SQL> alter pluggable database demo1 close immediate;

Pluggable database altered.

SQL> show pdbs

    CON_ID CON_NAME   OPEN MODE  RESTRICTED

---------- ------------------------------ ---------- ----------

 2 PDB$SEED   READ ONLY  NO

 3 PDB   READ WRITE NO

 4 DEMO1   MOUNTED

SQL> drop pluggable database demo1 including datafiles;

Pluggable database dropped.

SQL> show pdbs

    CON_ID CON_NAME   OPEN MODE  RESTRICTED

---------- ------------------------------ ---------- ----------

 2 PDB$SEED   READ ONLY  NO

 3 PDB   READ WRITE NO

SQL> 

How to check and list pluggable database in oracle ?

 

SQL> 

SQL> select name from v$pdbs;

NAME

--------------------

PDB$SEED

PDB

SQL> 

SQL> select pdb_name from cdb_pdbs;

PDB_NAME

--------------------

PDB

PDB$SEED

SQL> 

SQL> show pdbs

    CON_ID CON_NAME   OPEN MODE  RESTRICTED

---------- ------------------------------ ---------- ----------

2 PDB$SEED   READ ONLY  NO

3 PDB   READ WRITE NO

SQL> 

SQL>