NetBackup™ for Oracle Administrator's Guide

Last Published:
Product(s): NetBackup (11.0)
  1. Introduction
    1.  
      About NetBackup for Oracle
    2.  
      NetBackup for Oracle features
  2. Installing NetBackup for Oracle
    1.  
      Planning the installation of NetBackup for Oracle
    2.  
      Verifying the operating system and platform compatibility
    3.  
      License for NetBackup for Oracle
    4.  
      NetBackup server and client requirements for NetBackup for Oracle
    5.  
      Requirements for using NetBackup for Oracle in a NetBackup cluster
    6. About linking Oracle RMAN with NetBackup for UNIX
      1.  
        Verifying environment variables and shutting down Oracle
      2. Linking Oracle RMAN with NetBackup on UNIX platforms
        1.  
          Manually linking AIX (64-bit)
        2.  
          Manually linking HP Itanium (64-bit)
        3.  
          Manually linking Linux x86 (64-bit)
        4.  
          Manually linking IBM pSeries or zSeries
        5.  
          Manually linking Solaris x86 (64-bit)
        6.  
          Manually linking Solaris SPARC (64-bit)
  3. Configuring RBAC for the Oracle administrator
    1.  
      RBAC roles for the Oracle administrator
  4. Managing Oracle discovery and databases
    1. About Oracle discovery
      1.  
        Viewing the Oracle repository
      2.  
        Configure discovery of Oracle clients
      3.  
        Manually discover databases
      4.  
        Manually discover pluggable databases
    2. Managing Oracle databases
      1.  
        View and edit Oracle database details
      2.  
        Associate an RMAN catalog with a database
      3.  
        Remove an RMAN catalog from a database
      4.  
        Activate or deactivate a database
      5.  
        Remove a database or pluggable database
      6.  
        Manually add a database
      7.  
        Manually add an Oracle instance
      8.  
        Edit Oracle instance details
      9.  
        Copy a RAC instance
      10.  
        Remove an Oracle instance
      11.  
        Load balance Oracle RAC instances
    3.  
      Managing RMAN catalogs
    4.  
      Manage a Data Guard
  5. Managing Oracle credentials
    1.  
      About Oracle credentials
    2.  
      Oracle credential types in the NetBackup Credential management
    3.  
      Add a credential for an Oracle database or RMAN catalog
    4.  
      View the credential name that is applied to an asset
    5.  
      Edit or delete a named credential
    6.  
      Register credentials for an Oracle database or RMAN catalog
    7.  
      Manually validate database credentials
    8.  
      Configure an Oracle Wallet with RAC within NetBackup
  6. Configuring Oracle policies
    1. Preparing for NetBackup for Oracle configuration
      1.  
        About Oracle policy configuration
      2.  
        Oracle Home User permissions when NetBackup SAN Client is used
      3.  
        Oracle backup policy types
      4.  
        Configuring the Maximum jobs per client
    2. About Oracle Intelligent Policies (OIP)
      1.  
        Create an Oracle Intelligent Policy (OIP)
      2.  
        Oracle database upgrade effect on Oracle Intelligent Policies
      3.  
        Configuring NetBackup for Oracle automatic backup schedules
      4.  
        About NetBackup for Oracle schedule properties using Oracle Intelligent Policy
      5.  
        Oracle Intelligent Policy - Storage and Retention
      6.  
        About Oracle Intelligent Policy primary server behavior
      7.  
        Instances and databases tab
      8.  
        Backup selections tab
      9.  
        Oracle tab
      10.  
        Create a Data Guard policy
      11.  
        Create bpstart_notify and bpend_notify scripts for an Oracle Intelligent Policy (OIP)
      12.  
        Logging the RMAN input and output on a client
    3. About script-based Oracle policies
      1.  
        Adding a new script-based Oracle policy
      2.  
        About policy attributes
      3.  
        Schedule properties for Oracle script-based policies
      4.  
        Script-based policy - Storage and Retention
      5.  
        Add clients to a policy
      6. About adding backup selections to an Oracle policy
        1.  
          Adding a script to the backup selections list
      7. About configuring the run-time environment
        1.  
          About the Oracle RMAN environment in NetBackup for Oracle
        2.  
          About the environment variables set by NetBackup for Oracle
        3.  
          About the RMAN SEND command variables
        4.  
          About the bp.conf file on UNIX systems
      8. About creating shell scripts
        1.  
          RMAN shell scripts
        2. About creating RMAN scripts manually
          1.  
            About the NetBackup for Oracle sample scripts
          2.  
            Using the NetBackup for Oracle sample scripts
          3.  
            About the set duplex command
        3.  
          About storing shell scripts
    4.  
      Configuring the logon account for the NetBackup Client Service for NetBackup for Oracle
    5.  
      Testing configuration settings for NetBackup for Oracle
  7. Performing backups and restores of Oracle
    1.  
      Overview of using NetBackup for Oracle
    2.  
      Maintaining the RMAN repository
    3.  
      Querying the RMAN repository
    4. About NetBackup for Oracle backups
      1.  
        Running the NetBackup for Oracle shell script
      2.  
        Running RMAN
    5.  
      Browsing backups using the bplist command
    6. Managing expired backup images
      1.  
        About preventing the direct expiration of backup images
    7. About NetBackup for Oracle restores
      1.  
        About the Oracle recovery shell script on the client
      2.  
        About catalog names with RAC and Data Guard aware intelligent policies
      3.  
        Running RMAN on the client
      4.  
        About Oracle multistream restore for proxy backup
      5. Redirecting a restore to a different client
        1.  
          Preparing the primary server for an alternate restore
        2.  
          About performing a redirected restore with RMAN
        3.  
          Example - Performing a redirected restore of Oracle
    8. Using NetBackup for Oracle in a Windows Server Failover Cluster (WSFC)
      1.  
        About backups of an Oracle clustered database on Windows
      2.  
        Bringing the database instance offline on Windows
      3.  
        Bringing the database instance online on Windows
      4.  
        User-directed backup or restore from the Windows client
  8. Oracle cloning
    1.  
      About cloning an Oracle database or a pluggable database
    2.  
      Create a custom RBAC role for Oracle cloning
    3.  
      Clone an Oracle database
    4.  
      Clone a pluggable database
    5.  
      Cloning a database from an Oracle Intelligent Policy (OIP) that is Data Guard aware
    6.  
      Additional functionality in NetBackup APIs
  9. NetBackup Copilot for Oracle
    1.  
      About Oracle Copilot
    2.  
      Configuring an OIP using a share on the NetBackup appliance (Oracle Copilot)
    3.  
      Creating an instant recovery point from an Oracle Copilot image (NetBackup Appliance share)
    4.  
      Deleting an instant recovery point for Oracle Copilot instant recovery
    5. Configuring an OIP using universal shares (Oracle Copilot)
      1.  
        Recommendations when you configure an Oracle Copilot with universal shares
      2.  
        Troubleshooting issues related to Oracle Copilot with universal shares
    6.  
      Managing an instant access mount from an Oracle Copilot universal share image
    7.  
      Cleaning up the Oracle Copilot share after point in time restore of database
    8.  
      Single-step restore to ASM storage from an Oracle Copilot recovery point or instant access mount
    9.  
      About restoring from a data file copy to ASM storage using RMAN
  10. Oracle Copilot with instant access
    1. Prerequisites when you configure an instant access Oracle database
      1.  
        Hardware configuration requirement of instant access
    2.  
      Things to consider before you configure an instant access mount point
    3.  
      Backing up an Oracle database using Oracle Copilot policy with a universal share
    4.  
      Configure an instant access mount
    5.  
      View the livemount details of an instant access mount
    6.  
      Configuring Auto Image Replication for Oracle instant access backups
    7.  
      Delete an instant access mount
    8.  
      NetBackup for Oracle terms
    9.  
      Frequently asked questions
  11. NetBackup for Oracle with Snapshot Client
    1. About NetBackup for Oracle with Snapshot Client
      1.  
        Proxy copy
      2.  
        NetBackup for Oracle stream-based operations
      3.  
        NetBackup for Oracle file-based operations
    2. How NetBackup for Oracle with Snapshot Client works
      1.  
        About the NetBackup for Oracle backup and restore operations
      2.  
        Database objects supported by advanced backup methods
      3.  
        About NetBackup multistreaming
      4.  
        RMAN multiple channels
      5.  
        Restoring data files to a new location
      6.  
        Redirecting a restore to a different client
      7.  
        Symbolic links and raw data files (UNIX)
      8.  
        Quick I/O data files (UNIX)
      9.  
        RMAN incremental backups
      10.  
        Proxy backup examples
    3. About configuring Snapshot Client with NetBackup for Oracle
      1.  
        Configuration requirements for snapshot backups with NetBackup for Oracle
      2.  
        Configuring a snapshot policy for NetBackup for Oracle
      3.  
        Configuring a snapshot policy using a share on the NetBackup appliance (Oracle Copilot)
    4. Restoring NetBackup for Oracle from a snapshot backup
      1.  
        About restoring individual files from a NetBackup for Oracle snapshot backup
      2. About NetBackup for Oracle restores of volumes and file systems using snapshot rollback
        1.  
          Performing a snapshot rollback restore using a script or RMAN command
        2.  
          Performing a NetBackup for Oracle point-in-time rollback restore from a SnapVault backup (UNIX)
    5. About configuring NetBackup for Oracle block-level incremental backups on UNIX
      1.  
        How BLI works with NetBackup for Oracle (UNIX)
      2.  
        About the Storage Checkpoint facility and NetBackup for Oracle
      3.  
        Configuration requirements for BLI backups with NetBackup for Oracle
      4. Configuring policies for BLI backups with NetBackup for Oracle
        1.  
          About the types of NetBackup for Oracle BLI backups
    6. About Snapshot Client effects
      1.  
        How Snapshot Client software affects backup types
      2.  
        How Snapshot Client software affects schedule properties
      3.  
        How Snapshot Client software affects scripts
      4.  
        Oracle with Snapshot Client environment variables
    7. About Oracle support for Replication Director
      1.  
        Configuring an Oracle Intelligent Policy using Replication Director
      2.  
        Configure a script-based Oracle policy
  12. NetBackup Dedupe Direct for Oracle
    1.  
      About NetBackup Dedupe Direct for Oracle plug-in
    2.  
      Verifying the operating system and platform compatibility
    3.  
      Before you install NetBackup Dedupe Direct for Oracle plug-in
    4.  
      Installing NetBackup Dedupe Direct for Oracle plug-in on the Oracle database server
    5. Using the NetBackup Dedupe Direct for Oracle plug-in
      1.  
        Configuring the NetBackup Dedupe Direct for Oracle plug-in
      2.  
        NetBackup Dedupe Direct for Oracle rman.cfg file parameters
      3.  
        Configuring External Certificate Authority (ECA)
      4.  
        ECA msdp_app.cfg file parameters
      5.  
        Configuring Oracle RAC
      6.  
        Disabling Oracle stream handler
      7.  
        Performing the RMAN backup directly to MSDP server
      8.  
        Performing the RMAN restore directly from the MSDP storage server
      9.  
        Creating an SLP to import the Oracle backups to NetBackup on Flex WORM
    6.  
      Uninstalling the NetBackup Dedupe Direct for Oracle plug-in
  13. Troubleshooting
    1.  
      About troubleshooting NetBackup for Oracle
    2.  
      About NetBackup for Oracle troubleshooting steps
    3.  
      NetBackup debug logs and reports
    4.  
      Enabling the debug logs manually (Windows) (NetBackup for Oracle)
    5.  
      Enabling the debug logs manually (UNIX) (NetBackup for Oracle)
    6.  
      About the NetBackup for Oracle log files
    7.  
      Setting the debug level on a Windows client
    8.  
      Setting the debug level on a UNIX client
    9.  
      About RMAN utility logs
    10. Troubleshooting RMAN backup or restore errors
      1.  
        Verifying the RMAN script on UNIX
      2.  
        Troubleshooting each stage of the backup or restore
    11.  
      Troubleshooting NetBackup for Oracle with Snapshot Client
    12.  
      Error: Unable to re-create online log
    13.  
      Minimizing time-out failures on large database restores
    14.  
      Minimizing the loading and unloading of tapes for database backups
    15.  
      Enabling the debug logs manually for NetBackup Dedupe Direct for Oracle plug-in
  14. Appendix A. Deduplication best practices
    1.  
      Optimizing and deduplicating stream-based and proxy copy Oracle backups
    2.  
      Oracle stream handler
    3.  
      Configuring a stream-based Oracle backup
    4.  
      Example RMAN script for a stream-based backup
    5.  
      Editing the RMAN script and configuring NetBackup for Oracle for a proxy copy backup
    6.  
      Example RMAN script for a proxy copy backup
  15. Appendix B. Snapshot Client support of SFRAC
    1.  
      About Snapshot Client support of SFRAC
    2.  
      NetBackup configuration for an SFRAC environment
    3.  
      Configuring the SFRAC environment for a backup operation
    4.  
      Performing a rollback restore in an SFRAC environment
    5.  
      Troubleshooting NetBackup in an SFRAC environment
  16. Appendix C. Script-based Block-Level Incremental (BLI) Backups without RMAN on UNIX and Linux systems
    1.  
      About script-based Block-Level Incremental (BLI) Backups without RMAN
    2.  
      About BLI backup and restore operations
    3. Verifying installation requirements for BLI backups without RMAN
      1.  
        File system and Storage Checkpoint space management
    4. Creating NetBackup policies for script-based BLI backup
      1.  
        Number of policies required for BLI backup
      2.  
        About BLI policy attributes
      3.  
        About the BLI client list
      4.  
        Backup selections list for BLI backups
      5.  
        About schedules for BLI backup policies
      6.  
        Example Oracle BLI backup policy
      7.  
        Setting the Maximum jobs per client global attribute
      8.  
        About BLI backup methods
      9. Creating notify scripts for BLI backups
        1.  
          Identify the POLICY_IN_CONTROL for BLI backups
        2.  
          Oracle environment variables for BLI scripts
        3.  
          About BLI notify scripts for other policies
        4.  
          Sample setup_bli_scripts session
    5. Performing backups and restores
      1.  
        About NetBackup for Oracle agent automatic backups
      2.  
        About NetBackup for Oracle manual backups
      3.  
        Backing up Quick I/O files
      4.  
        Restoring BLI backup images
      5.  
        About NetBackup backup and restore logs
    6. About troubleshooting backup or restore errors
      1.  
        Troubleshooting stages of backup and restore operations
      2.  
        NetBackup restore and backup status codes
      3.  
        Improving NetBackup backup performance
      4.  
        About BLI backup and database recovery
  17. Appendix D. XML Archiver
    1. NetBackup for Oracle XML export and XML import
      1.  
        NetBackup for Oracle XML export and import archiving features
      2.  
        XML export archive process
      3.  
        Sequence of operation: XML export archive
      4.  
        XML import restore process
      5.  
        Sequence of operation: XML import restore
    2.  
      About the environment variables set by a user in the XML export parameter file
    3. About XML export shell scripts
      1.  
        Creating XML export scripts manually
    4. Performing an XML export archive
      1.  
        Running the NetBackup for Oracle XML export script on the client
      2.  
        Running bporaexp on the client as an Oracle user
      3.  
        Writing to a directory versus writing to a storage unit
      4.  
        About bporaexp parameters
    5.  
      Browsing XML export archives using bporaimp parameters
    6.  
      Browsing XML export archives using bplist
    7. Restoring an XML export archive
      1.  
        Running an XML import script on the client
      2.  
        Running bporaimp on the client in NetBackup for Oracle
      3.  
        About bporaimp parameters
      4. About redirecting a restore of an XML export archive to a different client
        1.  
          Redirecting a restore of an XML export archive to a new client using bporaimp
        2.  
          Example - Using bporaimp for a redirected restore
    8. Troubleshooting XML export or XML import errors
      1.  
        Checking the logs to determine the source of an error
      2.  
        Troubleshooting each stage of the XML export or XML import
    9.  
      Additional XML export and import logs
  18. Appendix E. Register authorized locations
    1.  
      Registering authorized locations used by a NetBackup database script-based policy

Managing expired backup images

NetBackup and Oracle each maintain a repository of RMAN-initiated backup image information. The retention setting in the Application Backup schedule for RMAN stream-based backups determines the NetBackup image retention. But for RMAN proxy backups and OIP backups, the retention setting on the Automatic Backup schedule determines retention of the NetBackup image.

To manage expired backup images from the NetBackup repository, access the Retention setting of the Application backup schedule. Specify the length of time before NetBackup expires a backup image.

You can also manage the expired backup images from the Oracle repository. This method sets the backup retention as an RMAN attribute, rather than a NetBackup attribute. RMAN deletes the obsolete but not the unexpired backups from NetBackup. The following items are also part of this process:

  • Set the NetBackup backup retention for Oracle backups to be either infinite or significantly longer than the RMAN retention.

  • Set the RMAN retention to the number or duration to keep the backup sets in the RMAN catalog. If no RMAN catalog exists, then use SQL to set an appropriate value for "control_file_record_keep_time". The minimum appropriate time is the catalog backup retention time plus the maximum time between catalog maintenance operations.

  • On a regular basis, run the RMAN delete obsolete command to expire obsolete images from the RMAN catalog, the control file, and from NetBackup.

  • If a cross-check of the catalog is required, perform the cross-check after RAMN deletes the obsolete backups.

  • Stagger the initiation of RMAN catalog maintenance functions. Staggering is done to limit the number of concurrent checks or deletion requests that RMAN makes of the NetBackup primary server.

  • Perform the RMAN catalog maintenance functions on a more frequent basis to limit the number of NetBackup catalog requests in a single session.

  • Ensure that the format that is specified for all RMAN backup piece names (except for autobackups of the control file) ends with _%t.

  • Ensure that the format that is specified for all RMAN backup piece names does not contain any space characters.

  • Avoid the creation of excessive, small backup pieces of database files or archive logs.

You can manually remove references to backup images from the Oracle RMAN repository. Use RMAN repository maintenance commands to remove references to backup files. You can use these commands to delete backup image information from both the Oracle RMAN repository and the NetBackup repository.

More information is available on the RMAN repository maintenance commands.

When a request is issued to delete a backup file from the RMAN repository, RMAN sends the request to NetBackup. The request tells NetBackup to delete the corresponding image from the NetBackup repository, regardless of the retention level.

More Information

Schedule properties for Oracle script-based policies

Maintaining the RMAN repository