Veritas NetBackup™ for Oracle Administrator's Guide

Last Published:
Product(s): NetBackup (8.1.1)
  1. Introduction
    1.  
      Providing feedback on Beta documentation
    2.  
      What's new about NetBackup for Oracle
    3.  
      About NetBackup for Oracle
    4.  
      NetBackup for Oracle features
    5.  
      NetBackup for Oracle terminology
    6.  
      NetBackup for Oracle operation using the Oracle Intelligent Policy
    7.  
      Logging the RMAN input and output on a client
    8.  
      NetBackup for Oracle operation using a script- or template-based policy
    9.  
      About Oracle RMAN
    10.  
      About the Oracle recovery catalog
  2. NetBackup for Oracle QuickStart
    1.  
      Installing NetBackup for Oracle
    2.  
      Registering Oracle database instances
    3.  
      Creating an Oracle database instance group
    4.  
      Creating an Oracle policy
  3. Installing NetBackup for Oracle
    1.  
      Verifying the operating system and platform compatibility
    2.  
      NetBackup server and client requirements
    3.  
      Requirements for using NetBackup for Oracle in a NetBackup cluster
    4.  
      About the license for NetBackup for Oracle
    5. 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)
  4. Oracle policy configuration
    1. Preparing for NetBackup for Oracle configuration
      1.  
        About Oracle policy configuration
      2. Permissions for NetBackup for Oracle log directories
        1.  
          Oracle Home User permissions when NetBackup SAN Client is used
      3.  
        NetBackup for Oracle backup policy types
      4.  
        Configuring the Maximum jobs per client for NetBackup for Oracle
    2. Instance management for an Oracle Intelligent Policy
      1.  
        About the NetBackup Discovery Service
      2.  
        Viewing the Oracle database instance repository
      3.  
        Manually adding an Oracle database instance to the repository
      4.  
        Registering an Oracle database instance
      5.  
        About Oracle database instance groups
      6.  
        Adding an instance to an instance group
      7.  
        Automatic Registration of an instance group
      8.  
        About instance actions
    3. About Oracle Intelligent Policies (OIP)
      1.  
        Creating 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 master server behavior
      7.  
        Instances and Databases tab
      8.  
        Backup Selections tab
      9.  
        Oracle tab
      10.  
        About using a NetBackup appliance share for Oracle backups (Copilot)
      11.  
        Configuring an OIP using a share on the NetBackup appliance (Copilot)
    4. About script- or template-based Oracle policies
      1.  
        Adding a new script- or template-based Oracle policy
      2.  
        About policy attributes
      3.  
        About backup schedules, templates, and scripts
      4.  
        About schedule properties
      5.  
        Script- or template-based policy - Storage and Retention
      6.  
        Adding clients to a policy
      7. About adding backup selections to an Oracle policy
        1.  
          Adding a template to the backup selections list in the NetBackup Administration Console
        2.  
          Adding a script to the backup selections list in the NetBackup Administration Console
      8. About configuring the run-time environment
        1.  
          About the Oracle RMAN environment
        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
      9. About creating templates and shell scripts
        1.  
          Starting the NetBackup Backup, Archive, and Restore interface
        2.  
          RMAN templates and shell scripts
        3.  
          Creating RMAN templates using the NetBackup for Oracle RMAN template generation wizard
        4.  
          Creating an RMAN script from a template
        5. 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
        6.  
          About storing templates
        7.  
          About storing shell scripts
    5.  
      Configuring the logon account for the NetBackup Client Service for NetBackup for Oracle
    6.  
      Testing configuration settings for NetBackup for Oracle
  5. 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 NetBackup for Oracle templates
      2.  
        Using bpdbsbora to run a backup template
      3.  
        Running the NetBackup for Oracle shell script
      4.  
        Running RMAN
    5.  
      Browsing backups using the bplist command
    6.  
      Managing expired backup images
    7. About NetBackup for Oracle restores
      1.  
        Starting the recovery wizard
      2.  
        Using the recovery wizard
      3.  
        Using bpdbsbora to run a recovery template
      4.  
        About an Oracle recovery shell script on the client
      5.  
        Running RMAN on the client
      6.  
        About Oracle multistream restore for proxy backup
      7. Redirecting a restore to a different client
        1.  
          Preparing the master 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 Microsoft Windows cluster environment
      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
    9.  
      Creating an instant recovery point from an Oracle Copilot image
    10.  
      Deleting an instant recovery point for Oracle Copilot instant recovery
    11.  
      Cleaning up the Copilot share after point in time restore of database
    12.  
      Single-step restore to ASM storage from a Copilot recovery point
    13.  
      About restoring from a data file copy to ASM storage using RMAN
  6. Guided Recovery
    1.  
      About OpsCenter Guided Recovery
    2.  
      Setting up for Guided Recovery cloning
    3.  
      Guided Recovery cloning pre-operation checks
    4.  
      Performing a Guided Recovery cloning operation
    5.  
      Select a Master Server dialog
    6.  
      Select Source Database panel
    7.  
      Select Control File Backup panel
    8.  
      Destination host and login panel
    9.  
      Destination Parameters panel
    10.  
      Selection summary panel
    11.  
      Pre-clone check panel
    12.  
      Job Details panel
    13.  
      Guided Recovery post-clone operations
    14. Troubleshooting Guided Recovery
      1.  
        Troubleshooting files for metadata collection operations at the time of the backup
      2.  
        Troubleshooting files for Guided Recovery validation operations
      3.  
        Troubleshooting files for Guided Recovery cloning operations
  7. 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 (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 from the Java or Windows interface
        2.  
          Performing a snapshot rollback restore using a script or RMAN command
        3.  
          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 templates and scripts
      4.  
        NetBackup for Oracle with Snapshot Client environment variables
    7. About Oracle support for Replication Director
      1.  
        Configuring an Oracle Intelligent Policy using Replication Director
      2.  
        Configuring a script- or template-based Oracle policy
  8. 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)
    5.  
      Enabling the debug logs manually (UNIX)
    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 the UNIX browser interface and wizards
    12.  
      Troubleshooting NetBackup for Oracle with Snapshot Client
    13.  
      Minimizing timeout failures on large database restores
    14.  
      Minimizing the loading and unloading of tapes for database backups
    15.  
      Delays in backup job transfer and completion
  9. Appendix A. Real Application Clusters
    1.  
      About Real Application Clusters
    2.  
      About virtual names and NetBackup for Oracle
    3.  
      About RAC archiving schemes
    4.  
      About backing up a database
    5.  
      Example of restoring a database
    6.  
      Troubleshooting database restores (UNIX and Windows)
    7.  
      About restoring archive logs
  10. Appendix B. Best practices for protecting Oracle RAC with NetBackup
    1.  
      Oracle RAC with NetBackup best practices
    2.  
      About using Templates and Oracle Intelligent Policy (OIP) with RAC
    3.  
      About NetBackup for Oracle operations
    4.  
      Example RAC configuration: Failover name exists and backup is not load balanced
    5.  
      Example RAC configuration: Failover name exists and backup is load balanced
    6.  
      Example RAC configuration: Failover name is not available and backup is not load balanced
    7.  
      Example RAC configuration: Failover name is not available, and backup is load balanced, one policy with custom script
    8.  
      Example RAC configuration: Failover name is not available and backup is load balanced, simple script with manual policy failover
    9.  
      Image catalog configuration for RAC
    10.  
      Configuring the appliance within a RAC environment
  11. Appendix C. Deduplication best practices
    1.  
      Optimizing and deduplicating stream-based and proxy copy Oracle backups
    2.  
      Configuring a stream-based Oracle backup
    3.  
      Example RMAN script for a stream-based backup
    4.  
      Editing the RMAN script and configuring NetBackup for Oracle for a proxy copy backup
    5.  
      Example RMAN script for a proxy copy backup
  12. Appendix D. 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
  13. Appendix E. 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
  14. Appendix F. 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 templates and shell scripts
      1.  
        Creating XML export templates using the NetBackup for Oracle wizard (UNIX)
      2.  
        Creating XML export templates using the NetBackup for Oracle wizard (Windows)
      3.  
        Creating an XML export script from a template
      4.  
        Creating XML export scripts manually
    4. Performing an XML export archive
      1.  
        Running NetBackup for Oracle XML export templates
      2.  
        Using bpdbsbora to run an XML export template
      3.  
        Running the NetBackup for Oracle XML export script on the client
      4.  
        Running bporaexp on the client as an Oracle user
      5.  
        Writing to a directory versus writing to a storage unit
      6.  
        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 the XML import wizard on the client
      2.  
        Using bpdbsbora to run an XML import template
      3.  
        Running an XML import script on the client
      4.  
        Running bporaimp on the client
      5.  
        About bporaimp parameters
      6. 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
  15. Appendix G. Register authorized locations
    1.  
      Registering authorized locations used by a NetBackup database script-based policy

About Oracle Intelligent Policies (OIP)

The Oracle Intelligent Policy (OIP) feature is a method of Oracle policy backup based on Oracle database instances. This method precludes the need to create templates and scripts for your Oracle policies. The OIP feature has the following elements:

  • You can create a single policy to protect multiple Oracle database instances that are spread over multiple clients.

  • A discovery service discovers Oracle database instances throughout the NetBackup environment. The service polls the clients every five minutes and sends the discovered instances to an instance repository available to you on the NetBackup Administration Console. You manage instances and instance groups through the NetBackup Administration Console or the nboraadm command.

  • All instances that you want backed up must be registered with credentials. If multiple instances share the same credentials, you can create an instance group for the set of instances with common credentials.

  • Multiple instance groups can be created for different sets of instances with different credentials. You can create a default instance group for newly discovered instances to be automatically added to the group, ensuring that new instances are protected.

  • The database administrator can control all instances and instance group credentials using the nboraadm command on the NetBackup client, which provides improved security throughout the system.

  • You are not required to know RMAN or to write and use templates and RMAN scripts. Instead, this feature automatically generates the scripts at run-time.

  • The Job Details in the Activity Monitor lets you view the backup summary, database state, RMAN input, and RMAN output for the OIP. Also, the Activity Monitor includes a new Instances column that shows the instance that the associated policy has backed up.

  • Enhanced error codes enable faster identification, troubleshooting, and correction of problems. You can easily restart a failed job.

  • You no longer need to create an application backup schedule. You only need to create automatic backup schedules for the data movement, which simplifies how retention works on the backup pieces.

  • You can manually back up any number of instances or all the instances.

  • The OIP automatically selects parameter settings at run-time that enable optimal deduplication.

  • You can create a new archived log schedule that backs up the archived redo logs within intervals of minutes.

  • The Oracle Intelligent Policy can protect an Oracle database when the Oracle DBA places database backups in the share on a NetBackup appliance.

  • The OIP can create and maintain a full set of data file copies in the share on a NetBackup appliance. The Accelerator option is used to update the data file copies using only the changed blocks since the last full backup.

  • Oracle 12c has introduced container databases (CDB) and pluggable databases (PDB) and they can be protected using the OIP.

  • You can create bpstart_notify and bpend_notify scripts for an OIP. An OIP ignores the generic bpstart_notify and bpend_notify scripts and they do not work for a non-OIP.

Oracle DBAs can use the nboraadm command on the NetBackup client to manage instances, instance groups, and their credentials. This command is particularly useful in environments where the Oracle credentials are known only by the DBAs and not the NetBackup administrators.

The Oracle DBA can use the nboraadm command to start an immediate backup from the client if the NetBackup administrator has given the Oracle DBA proper permissions. The nboraadm command allows the Oracle DBA to immediately protect an Oracle database backup instead of waiting for the NetBackup schedule to protect the database backup. Use nboraadm command with the - immediate option to start a database backup.

You can select Oracle database instances and instance groups to be part of an Oracle backup policy. An Oracle backup policy can be created for the default instance group to ensure that all newly created instances are automatically protected. You can create an OIP in the following ways:

  • The Policy Configuration Wizard of the NetBackup Administration Console: The wizard guides you through the setup process by automatically choosing the best values for most configurations.

  • The Oracle Policy utility on the NetBackup Administration Console: The Oracle Policy utility is a set of five tabbed panels. The panels contain all the settings and parameters that are needed to create or change an OIP.

See About policy attributes.

See Instances and Databases tab.

See Backup Selections tab.

More Information

Creating an Oracle Intelligent Policy (OIP)

About using Templates and Oracle Intelligent Policy (OIP) with RAC

Instance management for an Oracle Intelligent Policy

About Oracle database instance groups