Configuring auto backup for the control file and SPFILE

Besides the data files and archived redo log files, it's very important to take a backup of the control file and the SPFILE. Both these files are automatically backed up with the backup of data file #1, but won't when any other tablespace or file is backed up. Attainment of the control file backup is possible using the command BACKUP with the option CONTROLFILE. The default setting is OFF and we can see it using the SHOW command:

RMAN> SHOW CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP;
RMAN configuration parameters for database with db_unique_name ORCL12 are:CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP OFF; # default

We can see that an automatic backup for the control file isn't enabled. Auto backup of the control file is important because having it available makes the restore operation for a lost control file very easy. A simple command like RESTORE CONTROLFILE FROM AUTOBACKUP is enough for RMAN to automatically locate the correct backup of the control file and...