You can back up online or offline Oracle RAC databases, log files, or Oracle datafiles and tablespaces. The system uses Oracle Recovery Manager (RMAN) for these backup operations.
If the database must be accessible and you have a small backup window, run a series of online backups for different database portions. You can run backups immediately or configure a schedule for the subclient.
Full Backups
Oracle full backups include the entire database and the control file. If the database is using Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and using file-based Oracle Wallet, the wallet files are automatically backed up as part of a full database backup.
A full backup is the most comprehensive backup and is the baseline for incremental backups. Full backups of online databases include the log files. An offline full backup is a cold backup for Oracle databases.
Incremental Backups
An Oracle incremental backup contains the changed data from the last full backup. Incremental backups use less media and resources than full backups.
A cumulative backup backs up all blocks changed after the most recent incremental level 0 backup.
What is Backed Up
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Oracle database files that include the datafiles and control files
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Archived redo logs
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Parameter files (SP file)
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Oracle Managed files
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Oracle Wallet files
What Is Not Backed Up
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Oracle application files that are associated with the Oracle installation.
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External files, for example, external tables.