Re: RMAN Recovery Question

On 14 Apr 2005 13:51:21 -0700, amerar_at_iwc.net wrote:

>
>So, what you are saying is that once recovery is complete, and you open
>up the database, Oracle will see from it's control file that further
>recovery is needed and will look to the online redo logs to finish the
>job?
>
>Arthur

Not exactly.
You need to differentiate between *complete* and *incomplete* recovery.
If you don't have the controlfiles, or the controlfiles are from a backup and/or you don't have the online redologs, *complete recovery* is *not* an option.
If you do have the above files, you can use *complete* recovery. With *complete recovery* Oracle will automatically use the online redologs, and recovery is *only* *complete* after it has used the online redologs. After succesful complete recovery you can open the database with *noresetlogs*.
However, if you don't have the controlfile and/or the online redologs you *MUST* use *incomplete* recovery.
Incomplete recovery can be (and likely must be) canceled at any moment. If you lost the online redolog you *MUST* cancel the incomplete recovery.
After incomplete recovery you *MUST* open the database with the *RESETLOGS* option.

It's all documented in the backup and recovery manual.

As you will likely loose data when you loose the online redologs, you should both mirror and multiplex them.
If you do that, your concern is not a real concern. If you don't do that, hopefully you will find a good lawyer when disaster strikes.

--
Sybrand Bakker, Senior Oracle DBA