Chapter 5. Understanding RMAN and Simple Backups

A data center running with numerous databases is not uncommon these days. As the database becomes voluminous, it also raises the complexity of the infrastructure managing it. I am reminded of a popular adage here which says, "the bigger they are, the harder they fall". Therefore, there is a higher probability that a data center dealing with considerable databases that are crucial for business, may also become prone to failure and error. This would have an adverse impact on the business as well.

It would be naïve to deny the probability of a failure with such complex databases. Therefore, as the custodians of databases, what DBAs can do is to try and minimize the loss of data. This can be accomplished through an effective strategy that enables us to secure a backup of these databases that can be accessed in case of systemic failures. However, it is also rightly said that any strategy is only as good as the tool that implements it. In this chapter...