Re: DBA Question: What are all my backup options?

In article <bdiehl-1607950022250001_at_ivyland03.voicenet.com>, bdiehl_at_omni.voicenet.com (Brian Diehl) wrote:

> Mary,
>
> If the amount of archive logs are a problem you can do additional full
> backups on the database. You only need the archives since the last full
> backup.
>
> If you shutdown the database once a week and backup all the oracle
> datafiles, then you can delete previous archive files. Of course, this
> only works if you can shutdown the database.
>
> Archive log is the best backup method! It will save you headaches as a
> DBA. You get the minimum data loss and the fastest recovery time. You
> can try export/import backup method. This allows you to backup only the
> tables or users you want to. However, depending on the size of your data,
> recovery can be long.
>
> bdiehl_at_omni.voicenet.com
> Brian Diehl
> Database Administrator
> Morrisville, PA

Brian,

Technically, you only need the archive logs since the last HOT backup. However, to cover your a$$, I would recommend keeping the archive logs for the last two weeks. We do a cold backup on Friday nights, and hot backups each night.

I keep two weeks of hot backups online in an optical jukebox, and five weeks on tape. I have been burned by not one, not two, not three, not four bad tapes, but fourteen bad tapes (firmware bug)!

The additional tape cost will be more than compensated for by the first recovery effort that succeeds.

I agree with your comment about archive logging. It is CRITICAL in most of today's environments for data recoverability.

Matt... Received on Thu Jul 20 1995 - 00:00:00 CEST