RE: restoring from backup when db is open

>> I've always heard that this is not possible but I have to
>> ask because it's our last resort.

Ouch! :-(

>> Is there any way to
>> restore a db from a backup taken when the db was open? The
>> backup in question is an os copy to tape.
Maybe, but it's a huge matter of luck I'm afraid.

1. Make sure you shut down and copy somewhere safe, the current database. At least you have something to work with as there is every chance what follows will not work.
2. Make another safe copy, if you can.
3. Restore the "cold" backup taken while the database was open. The chances are, the copy took place while blocks were being updated. A successful restore is not a high probability.
4. Try to open the database. If it opens, check and check again that what you have is valid. I'd probably also run a DBV on the database just to get a little extra feel good factor!
5. If it won't open or you find corruptions, hopefully you can fix it, if not, I think you may be "stuffed". :-(

There might be some hidden parameters that you might be allowed to use, I don't know, to get you back and running. Best chat with Oracle Support on that matter though. They might also have some (expensive?) tools to extract the data from the wreckage if all goes badly.

I wish you good luck.

Cheers,
Norm.

Norman Dunbar
Contract Senior Oracle DBA
Capgemini Database Team (EA)
Internal : 7 28 2051
External : 0113 231 2051

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