Re: Oracle: how to demonstrate successful restore?

JEDIDIAH wrote:
> On 2006-01-28, Mladen Gogala <gogala_at_sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> > On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 21:46:23 +0100, Frank van Bortel wrote:
> >
> >> But you will be surprised how few companies actually
> >> test their DR plan...
> >
> > It's a business decision. What surprises me is how few people
> > actually verify their backups. Here is it all it takes:
> > RMAN> restore database validate;
> >
> > Starting restore at 27-JAN-06
> > allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
> > channel ORA_DISK_1: sid=64 devtype=DISK
> >
> > channel ORA_DISK_1: starting validation of datafile backupset
> > channel ORA_DISK_1: reading from backup piece /oradata/back/back_01h9uj59_1_1.bkp
> > channel ORA_DISK_1: restored backup piece 1
> > piece handle=/oradata/back/back_01h9uj59_1_1.bkp tag=TAG20060127T232632
> > channel ORA_DISK_1: validation complete, elapsed time: 00:01:06
> > Finished restore at 27-JAN-06
> >
> > My database wasn't actually restored, only the backup was validated.
>
> You trust Oracle far too much. The backup isn't validated until that
> database is running again and the users applications are successfuly using it.
> There's nothing like actually doing something to prove that it can be done.

The backup is validated. What is needed is the _restore_ to be validated. And clarity on whether we are talking about validating procedures or actual restores.

Validating the backup shows that you have something that could be used in a restore. Even better is using the backup to restore to an off-production environment. There's always going to be some difference between what you can test and reality, the amount of difference is directly related to cost, that's where service level agreements and management decision making come into play.

I think we've all seen questionable management decisions. Technical advisors need to be sure they have input to make these decisions more reasonable.

jg

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