Re: Backing up entire /u01 partition instead of dumping database?

Anders Misfeldt <ami_at_navigosystems.com> wrote in message news:<3BB06009.9EA4C4B7_at_navigosystems.com>...
> Hi!
>
> Is it possible to restore a database (and configurations) if you instead
> of hot/cold backup simply just backs up the entire /u01 partition?

In order to make a usuable, reliable backup of an Oracle rdbms you must choose either to make hot backup or a cold backup. If you shut Oracle down and backup all the OS level files that make up the database then that is a cold backup. If you just try to make an OS level copy of the database files while the database is running then that is NOT a reliable backup as activity in the rdbms will cause the files to be inconsistent with each other. Oracle provides a procedure you can follow to make a reliable backup with the OS running which is known as hot backup. Basically Oracle must be informed when each tablespace is being backed up at the OS level. An alternate method of backing up the database is provided with the Oracle rman utility.

There is an excellent chapter on backup and recovery in the DBA Administration manual, which provides enough information to allow a DBA to set up workable backup and recovery processes.

• Mark D Powell -- -