NetBackup™ for Oracle Administrator's Guide

Last Published:
Product(s): NetBackup (10.1.1)
  1. Introduction
    1.  
      About NetBackup for Oracle
    2.  
      NetBackup for Oracle features
    3.  
      NetBackup for Oracle terminology
    4.  
      NetBackup for Oracle operation using the Oracle Intelligent Policy
    5.  
      Logging the RMAN input and output on a client
    6.  
      NetBackup for Oracle operation using a script-based policy
    7.  
      About Oracle RMAN
    8.  
      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.  
      License for NetBackup for Oracle
    5.  
      About accurate licensing for Oracle
    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)
  4. Oracle policy configuration
    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. Instance management for an Oracle Intelligent Policy (OIP)
      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 (Oracle Copilot)
      11.  
        Configuring an OIP using a share on the NetBackup appliance (Oracle Copilot)
      12. 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
    4. About script-based Oracle policies
      1.  
        Adding a new script-based Oracle policy
      2.  
        About policy attributes
      3.  
        About schedule properties
      4.  
        Script-based policy - Storage and Retention
      5.  
        Adding clients to a policy
      6. About adding backup selections to an Oracle policy
        1.  
          Adding a script to the backup selections list in the NetBackup Administration Console
      7. 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
      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
    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 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 an 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 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.  
      Creating an instant access mount from an Oracle Copilot universal share image
    12.  
      Cleaning up the Oracle Copilot share after point in time restore of database
    13.  
      Single-step restore to ASM storage from an Oracle Copilot recovery point
    14.  
      About restoring from a data file copy to ASM storage using RMAN
  6. 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.  
        Configuring a script-based Oracle policy
  7. 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 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.  
        Replicating the images to the WORM storage server in Flex Appliance
    6.  
      Uninstalling the NetBackup Dedupe Direct for Oracle plug-in
  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 NetBackup for Oracle with Snapshot Client
    12.  
      Minimizing timeout failures on large database restores
    13.  
      Minimizing the loading and unloading of tapes for database backups
    14.  
      Enabling the debug logs manually for NetBackup Dedupe Direct for Oracle plug-in
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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
      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
  13. Appendix E. Register authorized locations
    1.  
      Registering authorized locations used by a NetBackup database script-based policy

NetBackup for Oracle operation using the Oracle Intelligent Policy

The Oracle Intelligent Policy feature lets you create a policy that specifies one or more Oracle instances to be backed up. You manage instances in an instance repository available on the NetBackup Administration Console. The instance repository contains all discovered and manually created Oracle instances in the NetBackup environment. Instance management lets you add, change, delete, and register instances with a set of credentials.

See Instance management for an Oracle Intelligent Policy (OIP).

To create an Oracle Intelligent Policy, you can use the Policy Configuration Wizard or the Policies utility. The Policy Configuration Wizard is easier to use because it guides you through the setup process by automatically choosing the best values for most configurations. But the wizard does not present all policy configuration options (for example, calendar-based scheduling). After you create a policy, you can use the Policies utility to configure the options that are not part of the wizard.

Policy creation includes assigning instances to the policy. The Oracle Intelligent Policy does not require you to know how RMAN functions or how to use scripts. The feature is instance-based and not scripting based.

See Creating an Oracle Intelligent Policy (OIP).

NetBackup for Oracle includes a library of functions that enable RMAN to use NetBackup. On UNIX, NetBackup uses the RMAN SBT_LIBRARY parameter to link the RMAN server software with the media management API library that NetBackup for Oracle installs. On Windows, the NetBackup for Oracle library is located in c:\Windows\system32.

See Installing NetBackup for Oracle.

When you back up Oracle database instances, each resultant backup set contains at least one backup piece from the target database. You must give each backup piece a unique name. Several substitution variables are available to aid in generating unique names. The policy utility provides a set of default file name formats for the backup pieces. NetBackup considers the backup piece name as the file being backed up, so this name must be unique in the catalog.

To override any of the default file name formats, select Specify backup file name formats. You can change the formats for the various backup file names for data files, archived redo logs, the control file, and the Fast Recovery Area (FRA). Ensure that the format that is specified for all RMAN backup piece names ends with _%t to guarantee that each backup piece has a unique name in the catalog. NetBackup uses this timestamp as part of its search criteria for catalog images. Without this timestamp, performance may degrade as the NetBackup catalog grows.

For a backup, the following items apply:

  • The rman command starts the requested operation on the databases.

  • When the process requires media to store backup data, RMAN issues a backup request to start a user-directed backup.

  • The NetBackup media server connects to NetBackup for Oracle on the client. NetBackup for Oracle on the client sends the database data to the NetBackup media server which saves the data to secondary storage. A restore operation works in essentially the same manner except that RMAN issues a restore request. Then NetBackup retrieves the data from secondary storage and sends it to NetBackup for Oracle on the client.

  • RMAN supports parallel operations, so that a single rman command can start more than one backup, or restore on the NetBackup system.

  • The status for an RMAN operation is stored in the RMAN catalog or in the database control file. This same status appears in the output of the RMAN command that is used to run the backup or restore. This status is the only status that a database administrator must check to verify that a backup or restore has been successful.

  • You can see the RMAN script and RMAN output in the details of the controlling job (bphdb) in the Activity Monitor.

  • NetBackup also logs status, but only for its own part of the operation. The database administrator cannot use the NetBackup status to determine whether rman was successful. Errors can occur in rman that do not affect NetBackup and are not recorded in its logs.

More Information

NetBackup for Oracle operation using a script-based policy