Re: Backups

Tim, et.al,

We use rman on 8.0.6.3 databases. One of our duvelopers was trying to delete records from a table and her query deleted everything from the table. This caused the application to fail and a point-in_time recovery was nessessary. I was given a time of 11:00AM. I had recovered the database until 11:00AM and before opening the database with resetlogs, I asked if the time was correct. After several minutes of discussion with all concerned, it was decided that actually we needed to recovery until 9:00AM. I changed the until time in the restore script, restored the database until 9:00AM and recovered it and opened it resetlogs. I had no problem with this.

Ruth
----- Original Message -----
To: "Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L" <ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com> Sent: Friday, October 04, 2002 5:08 PM

The one situation where a cold backup can be considered necessary is following an OPEN RESETLOGS. If you have a "no data loss" requirement and you are in ARCHIVELOG mode, then there is a window following an OPEN RESETLOGS where, if the media crashes prior to completing a "hot" backup, you could be unrecoverable. File that one under "a bad day"...

It is not a hard-and-fast requirement however, as there is a fairly narrow set of circumstances (available since v7.3.3) where it is possible to recover using backups and archivelogs generated prior to an OPEN RESETLOGS and then continue the roll-forward using archivelogs generated after the RESETLOGS, but there several "gotchas" that can mess that up. It would be a gamble to rely on pulling that rabbit out of the hat...

If you ever find yourself entering the command ALTER DATABASE OPEN RESETLOGS on a database that you *really* care about (should be recognized by the same shallow-breathing sweaty-palm symptoms you get when you say, "...now, just hand the gun to me, slowly..."), then please get an immediate "cold" backup before opening the database to users. You may have to argue for it, but be sure to leave time for it when folks are asking, "When will the database be back?"

...other than that situation, there is no advantage of a "cold" backup over a "hot" backup; just my $0.02...

• Original Message ----- To: "Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L" <ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com> Sent: Friday, October 04, 2002 12:33 AM

> Cold backup is very good because I don't have to monitor database during
the
> cold backup, no objects will run out of space and I can enjoy a peaceful
time
> without any chance for my beeper to go off. You must admit that a cold
backup
> cannot guarantee you that. Unfortunately, my bosses somehow got the
curious idea
> that they have paid big bucks for all those HP 9000 to work and not to sit
idle. They
> even calculated a downtime cost per hour for each critical system and they
are extremely
> reluctant to have them down for extended periods of time (1.1 TB database
cannot be
> backed up in minutes, even with Asymmetrix). That is why they bought me a
toy called
> OPS and why there are policies and procedures about who and how gets
things in the
> production database. I would love to do cold backup every day from 8 PM
until 7 AM and
> during Sunday football games but it is not very likely that my wish will
come true.
> Starlight, starbright, first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I
might have
> the wish I wish tonight. That is my best chance to get cold backups every
day.
>
>
>
> On 2002.10.04 01:38 Jared Still wrote:
> >
> > OK, Gene, you asked for it. :)
> >
> > The context of your message suggests that a hot backup is
> > somehow more likely to be corrupted than a cold one.
> >
> > I hate to resurrect an old flame war, but...
> >
> > No, I take it back. I don't hate it a bit. ;)
> >
> > There aren't many occasions that call for a cold backup.
> >
> > I'm just curious what you believe a cold backup is buying
> > you that a hot backup won't deliver.
> >
> > Jared
> >
> > On Thursday 03 October 2002 14:54, Gene Sais wrote:
> > > wow, never a cold backup for any os,oracle, application upgrades? i
prefer
> > > to shutdown everything, backup the filesystems, let the vendor have
his
> > > way. if he screws up, its much easier to restore a complete
filesystem
> > > than a corrupted database. cold backups are a good thing. i sleep
good at
> > > nite :) soon, rman will be another backup method in my toolbox. but
when
> > > that happens, i can see hot backups going away but cold backups will
still
> > > be needed on occassion.
> > >
> > > >>> rgramolini_at_tax.state.vt.us 10/03/02 04:33PM >>>
> > >
> > > I don't do them either, 4.5 years here. Ruth
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > To: "Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L" <ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com>
> > > Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2002 4:17 PM
> > >
> > >
> > > I haven't done nor recommended a cold backup in 3 years since I've
been
> > > using Rman. Just not needed anymore.
> > >
> > > Tom Mercadante
> > > Oracle Certified Professional
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2002 3:14 PM
> > > To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
> > >
> > >
> > > I still prefer cold backups when performing full OS backups.
> > >
> > > >>> RROGERS_at_galottery.org 10/03/02 02:28PM >>>
> > >
> > > Lest we not forget the archivelogs also during this backup procedure.
> > > Ron
> > >
> > > >>> rgramolini_at_tax.state.vt.us 10/03/02 01:53PM >>>
> > >
> > > I forgot about alter tablespace begin backup; etc. I am spoiled, I use
> > > rman
> > > to do online backups. No problem with recovery!
> > > Ruth
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > To: "Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L" <ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com>
> > > Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2002 12:18 PM
> > >
> > >
> > > This doesn't sound right. Put the database in hot backup mode,
> > > backup (whether using cp to a staging point like the poster here
> > > is doing or straight to tape using dd or dump or some other utility),
> > > come out of hot backup mode. Why wouldn't you be able to recover?
> > >
> > > John P Weatherman
> > > Database Administrator
> > > Replacements Ltd.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2002 10:18 AM
> > > To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
> > >
> > >
> > > If you want to be able to use any OS backup for restore/recovery that
> > > database must be closed when you do the backup. If it is not, you
> > > won't be
> > > able to recover.
> > >
> > > Just a thot,
> > > Ruth
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > To: "Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L" <ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com>
> > > Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2002 9:08 AM
> > >
> > >
> > > Robyn,
> > > We used the DD method on pre 7.1 oracle with RAW devices. It worked
> > > fine except that it used a lot of tape dumping a raw device when only
> > > a
> > > small portion was used. Using a dd command to place a copy of the data
> > > on tape should not be a problem if a restoral is needed. The dd
> > > function
> > > is just another OS method of copying data to a tape. I don't know for
> > > sure but I think there might be some issues about transportability of
> > > the dd tape.
> > > Other users will know about the transportability issues.
> > > Ron
> > > ROR mª¿ªm
> > >
> > > >>> Robyn_at_iTeamTech.com 10/02/02 08:08PM >>>
> > >
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > I need some info about backups. I am working on a customer site, and
> > > have implemented both exports and hot backups. Both jobs copy to a
> > > separate mount point, and a job scripted by another individual then
> > > moves the files to tape.
> > >
> > > Here's the problem - he's using a dd command, primarily because it
> > > provides a succinct output he can email to non-technicals. The file
> > > system is built on a 12 disk A1000 array. We've provided him with a
> > > ufsdump script, but he's doesn't want to use it. Can the system be
> > > recovered from this tape? Has anyone ever relied on a dd for a daily
> > > backup method? The system is Oracle 9i on Solaris 8.
> > >
> > > Robyn
> > >
> > > --
> > > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
> > > --
> > > Author: Robyn Anderson Sands
> > > INET: Robyn_at_iTeamTech.com
> > >
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> > > Author: Mercadante, Thomas F
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> > >
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> --
> Mladen Gogala
> --
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>
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Author: Tim Gorman
  INET: Tim_at_SageLogix.com

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Author: Ruth Gramolini
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