Oracle Recovery Manager Features: BACKUP AS COPY

What is the advantage backup as copy feature in RMAN?

RMAN(Recovery Manager) utility creates backup in the form of backupsets or backup pieces by default.RMAN utility also allows other method which is similar to user managed hot backup. It can be acheived using 'BACKUP AS COPY' command.Using "Backup as Copy" RMAN creates backup in the form of image copies. However, we do not need to put the database in begin backup/end backup mode as in Conventional Hot Backup.

Syntax for Datafile Backup using Backup as copy:

RMAN> backup as copy datafile 1 format '/backup/data/datafile01.dbf' ;

Another advantage of this feature is that it allows to create image copy of control file.

 RMAN> backup as copy current controlfile format 'F:\CntrlFile_Bkp.ctl';  

How do we identify backups taken  as Image copies using RMAN?

Use "LIST COPY" Command. "LIST BACKUP" only gives a list of backup sets which were created using default RMAN backup Methos.

Syntax:

RMAN> LIST COPY;

ADOP Options: cleanup_mode

ADOP cleanup_mode

Run with adop cleanup phase.

Provides control over the extent of cleanup operations.

If no value is specified, cleanup is performed in standard mode, which does the same as quick mode but also drops obsolete code objects.

Values: quick/full

Purpose:

cleanup_mode=quick performs the minimum necessary cleanup to complete the online patching cycle. Use this mode if you want to start a new online patching cycle as soon as possible.

cleanup_mode=full performs all possible cleanup tasks for maximum recovery of space from unused database editions, objects and columns. Full cleanup is required after aborting an online patching cycle.

Usage:

adop phase=cleanup cleanup_mode=full

adop phase=cleanup cleanup_mode=quick