debate oracle backups - RMAN vs filesystem

[Rick Garland]

Hi all:

A debate, which is the preferred method for doing a hot oracle database backup. I have a new DBA who prefers RMAN, we (myself and other sysadms here) have been doing filesystem backups after interacting with SQL and placing tablespaces in BEGIN backup and END backup when complete. (and doing the alter switch logs, alter tablespaces, etc...)

My take is that it really doesn't matter. Never had a problem doing a restore or a refresh. Let the backup app keep track (Omni or Veritas).

[Alexander M. Ermes · Accepted solution]

Hi Rick.
Nice to have a guy, who knows something different. Why not giving it a test ?
Check, which backup saves most time and does not put too much load on the systems.
I am just testing the RMAN on some systems.
If you use the LSM packed with the Oracle database, this is only a light wersion.
You cannot write to remote tapes ( just a sample ). Some other features fo original LSM are also missing.
Just my 2 â ¬cts.
Rgds
Alexander M. Er

[Kurt Beyers.]

Rick,

I prefere the usage of RMAN as well. There are many features that could be usefull once and it is written by Oracle itself. So they know the best way to setup the online backup.

House made scripting works as well of course, but I find it more difficult to maintain.

best regards,

Kurt

[Eric Antunes]

Hi Rick,

RMAN is for more experienced DBA's since it have many funcionalities and options. For very large databases, it has the great advantage of doing incremental backups...

Regards,

Eric

[Rick Garland]

So far the votes are for RMAN. Anybody for the opposing party?

[Fred Ruffet]

I would be for RMAN too. I'm actually involved in such a debate at work.

Being an oracle tool, it has more features. For instance the incremental backups. Other point : it only saves blocks under highwatermark.

To give an argument for the other side :
Restores will need a DBA.

Regards,

Fred

[Rick Garland]

What about tools conflicts?

I remember many moons ago that Oracle's EBU did not play well with Veritas Netbackup.

Has this issue been resolved with RMAN and Veritas Netbackup?

[Thierry Poels_1]

hi,

I didn't like the Oracle Backup software in the beginning, but now RMAN has become a mature product with many advantages above filesystem backup: speed, smart recovery, easy DB cloning, removal of archived logs after n backups, ...
Integration with other backup software (Omniback, NetBackup, ...) makes it even easy to use.

my vote goes to RMAN

regards,
Thierry.

[Rick Garland]

OK, I am converted.

Many thanks!