Re: RMAN backups while automatic archiving is disabled

On 9 Sep 2002 10:53:52 -0700, net_mall_at_yahoo.com (sree) wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Looks like it is possible to take RMAN backups while the archiveloging
>is disabled. We have an instance that starts with archiver ON. Then,
>we disable the archivelog using "alter system archive log stop".
>
>I was under the impression that I need to enable logging before I take
>RMAN Backups. But, RMAN didn't complain about Archive Logging is
>disabled. I don't get any error.
>
>Is this normal ?? I read from Rman manual that RMAN backups can't be
>taken unless archive log is enabled.
>
>Any comments??

Yep,

You are not the first, nor the last, to confuse archive log mode with the arciving process.

You *DO NOT* disable archive logging with "alter system archive log stop". You just stop the automatic process that physically carries out the archiving.

A database is put into noarchivelog mode (i.e. archive log is disabled) by mounting the database and issue the statement : "alter database noarchivelog".

Archive log must be enabled for you to take ONLINE backup of the database, with or without RMAN, as the manual states.

That is why RMAN does not complain; You did not disable archivelog, you just turned off the automatic process of archiving.

Disabling the automatic archiving process on a database in ARCHIVELOG mode will cause your database to hang at next log switch, since the log switch will not complete until the current redo log is archived, but there is no archiving process to carry it out => database hangs.

• Kenneth Koenraadt