Are cold backups necessary?

I do hot backups of an Oracle 7.1.x database at least once per day, all tablespaces (one at a time) and control files. It runs in archivelog mode all the time.

The hot backups (to a separate disk partition) get copied to tape(s), along with the archive log files.

I have a cold backup from when the database was initially loaded with data and I know enough to backup the control file if ever I add another data file.

I have tested restoring the database from the hot backup only and it worked flawlessly. I even had an opportunity to try this when the database was corrupted by (someone else's software) doing a 'shutdown abort' (notice that I am not identifying my place of employment!).

My question is: are there any scenario's where I will only be able to restore from a cold backup? (Let's assume that the tape copies of the hot backup files are readable).

I can do cold backups once a week if there is a real technical reason, but it would be better to keep the system up 168 hours a week.

Thanks,

Bill Hutchison Received on Thu Mar 14 1996 - 00:00:00 CET