Using RMAN with EMC Networker - Expiration Policy

[Marcelo Wotfe]

Hi,
My customer is implementing an oracle backup solution with EMC
Networker (ex Legato).
I've a question about Expiration. There are daily and monthly backups
with different expiration times.
I don't know if it's better control expiration with RMAN policy or
Networker policy.

According EMC NetWorker Module for Oracle, Release 4.5 Administration
Guide at page 50:

"NMO supports the Oracle retention policy with some restrictions,
since the
NetWorker server has its own browse and retention policies to specify
how long data
is available for recovery. NetWorker browse and retention policies are
based on a
user-defined time period. Since the Oracle retention policy is
independent from that
of the NetWorker server, and there is no mechanism to synchronize
these policies, the
NetWorker and Oracle policies could conflict."
...
"To avoid conflict problems, disable the Oracle retention policy (and
then use only the NetWorker server policy) with the following
command:configure retention policy to none"

But, at next page:

"To use the Oracle retention policy, set the NetWorker browse and
retention policies to
be long enough so that backups are kept on the backup volumes until
the Oracle
retention policy makes them obsolete."

Then, I'm in doubt about best option when using Networker.

We've another backup solution with TSM/TDPO and it's RMAN that
controls retention.

Tks,
Marcelo.

[DA Morgan]

Marcelo Wotfe wrote:
> Hi,
> My customer is implementing an oracle backup solution with EMC
> Networker (ex Legato).
> I've a question about Expiration. There are daily and monthly backups
> with different expiration times.
> I don't know if it's better control expiration with RMAN policy or
> Networker policy.

Given EMC's long standing lack of support for Oracle's customers
I would suggest you to use RMAN. My personal preference would be to
use EMC for non-Oracle servers and RMAN for anything Oracle.

EMC ... if you don't like this advice being given out then get your
support organization out of the finger-pointing business.
--
Daniel A. Morgan
Puget Sound Oracle Users Group
www.psoug.org