Re: RMAN question

Ryan Gaffuri wrote:

> When deciding whether to use a database catalog to store your RMAN
> processes or using the control file, what should be taken into
> account?
>
> When is it better to use just a control file to backup your catalog? I
> would assume you would do this because its simpler, but are there any
> other reasons for it?

Hi Ryan,

Pay attention to what Volker is saying elsewhere. He's got it just about spot on.

There is no functional reason why (in 9i) you need to run with a catalog.

You don't lose out on any functionality whatsoever if you run without a catalog, except that you can't store scripts. But the 9i syntax means that scripts are less needed than they might have been. And in any case, you can store scripts as text files and execute them within RMAN with the '@' syntax you probably know about from SQL*Plus.

If your backup needs are complex (eg, many databases, each with different recovery strategies; a need to store backups for 7 years for audit purposes and that sort of thing) then the catalog is indeed your friend. But for most practical purposes, you don't need one. It's another database to maintain and to backup. Possibly another license, too.

Regards
HJR Received on Thu Oct 02 2003 - 15:30:35 CDT