Re: backup disk format

Thanks Billy for this information (and all others too naturally).

I'm after the backup format because I'm thinking about producing a product that can open backup files from all the major database manufacturers, view their structure and report on that (sort of an integrity scanner if you like).

I've come to the conclusion that the native formats are going to be hard, but am wondering if the backup formats would be worth a look.

I'm going to try and do a binary dump of a backup, but if someone has already cracked it, it would save a lot of time.

Thanks.

Peter.

vslabs_at_onwe.co.za (Billy Verreynne) wrote:

>Peter Nunn <pnunn_at_pncomputing.net> wrote
>
>> I've been given the task of looking at the disk format (on Windows)
>> for oracle backups. We need this format to write a porting tool of
>> sorts.
>
>What you are indirectly asking for, is the internal Oracle format for
>all its binary files. And that you will not get, not matter the
>temperature in hell.
>
>You can not take an Oracle datafile from one platform and "port" it to
>another. Period.
>
>If that is not what you're after Peter, then we will need more
>details.
>
>The basics.
>
>Porting data from one Oracle platform to another. Oracle Export and
>Import. Or a dblink. Or replication.
>
>Porting data from Oracle to any other platform and/or database. CSV
>spool files (easily done with SQL*Plus). These files can be loaded
>using bcp for SQL-Server or SQL*Loader for Oracle. Alternatively using
>Oracle Transparent Gateways - which means you can push the data to
>SQL-Server/Informix/etc from Oracle via the Gateway.
>
>What I really would like to know is the business reason behind this
>request and what business benefits this will result in.
Received on Thu Aug 14 2003 - 04:55:57 CDT