Oracle8(TM) Getting Started for Windows NT
Release 8.0.3
A54894-01

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12
Backing Up and Recovering Database Files

This chapter provides information on backing up and recovering your database.

Specific topics discussed are:

Selecting a Backup and Recovery Tool

Backing up and recovering your Oracle8 database is one of the most critical operations that a DBA performs. For this reason, it is extremely important that a DBA choose the correct tool for performing backup and recovery. The table below describes each available backup and recovery tool and makes recommendations on which tool to use with your Oracle8 database.

Tool   Tool and Description   Analysis of Tool   To Use this Tool, See...  

Oracle Enterprise Manager Backup Manager  

The Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Application Tools include a Backup Manager for backing up and recovering your Oracle8 database. The Backup Manager:

  • Enables users to perform database backups to disk and tape
  • Creates backup scripts guided by a backup wizard
  • Enables users to administer redo logs and online tablespace backups
  • Enables users to perform both hot and cold backups

The Backup Manager enables you to back up and recover your database through a graphical user interface (GUI). This GUI enables you to use either of the two backup subsystems:

  • Operating system backup
  • Recovery Manager (which uses the executable RMAN80.EXE as its underlying functionality)

 

Highly recommended for backing up and recovering your Oracle8 database because of capabilities and ease of use. Works in conjunction with Recovery Manager (RMAN80.EXE). Backing up to tape requires an optional media management layer (MML) from a third-party vendor.  

Oracle Enterprise Manager Administrator's Guide for instructions  

Recovery Manager (RMAN80.EXE) in command line mode  

Recovery Manager in command line mode is an Oracle8 tool that manages the process of backing up, restoring, and recovering files. Recovery Manager uses a special PL/SQL interface to the server for invoking backup functions. The user is unaware of this interface and instead interfaces only with a command line.  

Command line usage only. Must clearly understand the command line syntax described in Oracle8 Server Backup and Recovery before using. Backing up to tape requires an optional MML from a third-party vendor.  

Chapter 4, "Database Tools" for instructions on accessing this tool and Oracle8 Server Backup and Recovery for instructions on using this tool  

Third-party vendor products  

Third-party vendors such as Cheyenne and Legato provide tape backup software that works with Backup Manager and RMAN80.EXE.  

Can back up to tape. Contact your third-party vendors for additional information.  

Third-party vendor documentation  

NT Backup Manager and NT Recovery Manager (GUI tools)  

NT Backup Manager and NT Recovery Manager are Oracle tools that enable you to perform database backups to disk or tape.  

Can back up to 4mm tape. Can perform hot and cold backups. To perform a hot backup, you must first use OCOPY to copy the files to a staging area, and then use NT Backup Manager. This is the last release of this product on Oracle8.  

Online help included with these tools.  

OCOPY  

An Oracle executable that behaves like Windows NT's XCOPY command. OCOPY is needed when performing a hot backup manually (that is, backing up a tablespace that is in offline backup mode).  

Command line usage only. Can back up only to disk. Can only perform local backups.  

The sections "Backing Up Files with OCOPY" and "Recovering Files with OCOPY" in this chapter  

Backing Up Files with OCOPY

Use OCOPY for both hot and raw database file backups of the following file types:

File   Description  

File Allocation Table (FAT) or NT File System (NTFS) files  

File allocation table (FAT) or NT file system (NTFS) files you want to back up.  

Logical raw files  

A logical drive (accessed with the direct I/O) identified by the name:  

 

\\.\x:  

 

Where x: is a hard drive partition letter, floppy disk drive, or CD-ROM drive.  

Physical raw files  

A physical hard drive (accessed with direct I/O) identified by a device name of the form:  

 

\\.\physicaldriveN  

 

Where N is 0, 1, 2, and so on, representing each of the physical drives in the system.  

This table describes the two copy modes in which to use OCOPY:

Copy Mode   OCOPY is used to...  

Hard disk  

Copy hot files to a new name and location on a hard disk where you can use an archive utility to back them up.  

Multiple diskettes  

Back up large hot files directly to multiple diskettes.  

This table describes the syntax to use when backing up all file types to hard disk or multiple diskettes.

Copy Mode   File Type   Syntax  

Hard disk  

FAT or NTFS files  

C:\>OCOPY80 old_file new_file  

 

Logical raw  

C:\>OCOPY80 \\.\C: new_file  

 

Physical raw  

C:\>OCOPY80 \\.\physicaldriveN new_file  

Multiple diskettes  

FAT or NTFS files  

C:\>OCOPY80 /B hot_file a:  

 

Logical raw  

C:\>OCOPY80 /B \\.\C: a:  

 

Physical raw  

C:\>OCOPY80 /B \\.\physicaldriveN a:  

Where...  

Indicates the...  

old_file  

Name and location of the hot file you want to back up.  

new_file  

Name and location of the backup copy.  

C:  

Raw drive that holds a single RAW database file.  

physical drive  

Physical drive that holds a single RAW database file.  

N  

Number(s) representing each of the physical drives in the system.  

hot_file  

Path and filename of the hot file you want to back up.  

a:  

Diskette drive containing the diskette on which to save the backup copy. If the file is too large to fit on one diskette, OCOPY prompts you to insert new diskettes as needed. OCOPY catalogs the parts of the file automatically so that it can be reconstructed at a later time.  

/B  

Large files must be split over multiple diskettes.  

Note: Always use a fresh diskette for each OCOPY procedure; do not use OCOPY to back up a file onto a diskette that contains part or all of another file backed up using OCOPY.  

Recovering Files with OCOPY

The table below describes the syntax to use when recovering all file types from hard disk or multiple diskettes.

Restore From...   File Type to Restore   Syntax  

Hard Disk1  

FAT or NTFS files  

Use the Windows NT COPY command.  

 

Logical raw  

C:\> OCOPY80 new_file \\.\c:  

 

Physical raw  

C:\> OCOPY80 new_file \\.\physicaldriveN  

Multiple diskettes2  

FAT or NTFS files  

C:\> OCOPY80 /R a: restore_dir

Note: First insert the disk containing the initial part of the backed up file.  

 

Logical raw  

C:\> OCOPY80 /R a: \\.\c:  

 

Physical raw  

C:\> OCOPY80 /R a: \\.\physicaldriveN  

1 These are files originally backed up without the /B option.
2 These are files originally backed up with the /B option.
Where...   Indicates the...  

C:  

Raw drive, which holds a single RAW database file. If you use a different drive as your raw drive, substitute it for C:. OCOPY prompts you to insert diskettes as needed.  

new_file  

File name to which to restore the file.  

physicaldrive  

Physical drive that holds a single RAW database file.  

N  

Number(s) representing each of the physical drives in the system.  

/R  

Restore option.  

a:  

Drive containing the diskette with the backed up file.  

restore_dir  

Directory on the server in which to place the file. (The restored file has the same name as the original file.)  




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