RMAN 9i: Resetting/Clearing name for controlfile backup
Alexander Skwar
In RMAN of Oracle 9i, I made a mistake when I set the name for the
CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT. What do I have to do, to "CLEAR" that
value, so that I can start over again?
I tried:
RMAN> configure CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK CLEAR;
old RMAN configuration parameters:
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '/tmp/backup/cf%F?;';
RMAN configuration parameters are successfully reset to default value
RMAN> CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '/tmp/backup/%d,cf,%Y%M%D,%s_%t,%p_%c,%F';
old RMAN configuration parameters:
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '/tmp/backup/cf%F?;';
new RMAN configuration parameters:
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '/tmp/backup/%d,cf,%Y%M%D,%s_%t,%p_%c,%F';
new RMAN configuration parameters are successfully stored
RMAN> backup datafile 3;
Starting backup at 10-JUL-07
using channel ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting full datafile backupset
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backupset
input datafile fno=00003 name=/opt/apps/oracle/oradata/BNRTEST/cwmlite01.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 10-JUL-07
channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 10-JUL-07
piece handle=/tmp/backup/BNRTEST,data,20070710,30_627581829,1_1 comment=NONE
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:01
Finished backup at 10-JUL-07
Starting Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 10-JUL-07
piece handle=/tmp/backup/cfc-3007484779-20070710-05?; comment=NONE
Finished Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 10-JUL-07
As you can see, the control file was backed up to
"/tmp/backup/cfc-3007484779-20070710-05?;" which is not a name that I like.
The "?" is not really a question mark, but some "strange" value:
--($:~/Documents/Downloads/Unix/Oracle)-- ls -la /tmp/backup/cfc-3007484779-20070710-05*
-rw-r----- 1 oracle dba 2375680 Jul 10 16:17 /tmp/backup/cfc-3007484779-20070710-05�;
What do I have to do, so that RMAN accepts and uses the new value for
CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT?
Thanks a lot,
Alexander Skwar
sybrandb
>
> What do I have to do, so that RMAN accepts and uses the new value for
> CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT?
>
> Thanks a lot,
>
> Alexander Skwar
You have to set the autobackup format to something *sensible*, which
will actually get recognized by RMAN.
As there can be only one (1) autobackup controlfile backup set, all
the formats above don't make any sense.
The only modifier which is allowed in a controlfile autobackup is %F.
%F is the DBID followed by the date in YYYYMMDD format and a piece
number.
That said, stop trying to do the impossible, reread the documentation
to confirm my post and set it to /tmp/backup/%F.ctl
--
Sybrand Bakker
Senior Oracle DBA
Alexander Skwar
Uhm, is '/tmp/backup/%d,cf,%Y%M%D,%s_%t,%p_%c,%F' not sensible?
And what does CLEAR do? According to the doc, it should reset the
value to a default: "Specify CLEAR to return the format to the default %F".
Why does this not work?
Anyway, the naming is not the problem. You might want to skip to the
end of this post.
> As there can be only one (1) autobackup controlfile backup set, all
> the formats above don't make any sense.
Why not? They contain perfectly legal values - at least as far as
the documentation is concerned.
> The only modifier which is allowed in a controlfile autobackup is %F.
Uh? Why's that? The documentation states otherwise.
> %F is the DBID followed by the date in YYYYMMDD format and a piece
> number.
> That said, stop trying to do the impossible, reread the documentation
Hm. I just did. I read http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B10501_01/server.920/a96565/rcmsynta15.htm#79956
There, it says that a format_string is to be used. A format_string
must contain %F. According to the doc, it can also contain other
variables. According to http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B10501_01/server.920/a96565/rcmsynta9.htm#1015749,
it contain all the variables I used. Or do I misunderstand something?
The doc says:
,----[ Oracle9i Recovery Manager Reference, CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT ]
| Configures the default filename format for the control file autobackup
| on the specified device type. By default, the initial format is %F for
| all devices. Any default format string specified with CONFIGURE must
| include the %F substitution variable (see BACKUP).
`----
On the linked "BACKUP" documentation section, I find that all
the variables, like %s, %Y%M%D etc.pp. can be used - it doesn't
say, that they cannot be used.
> to confirm my post
Not confirmed, or at least not understood, as the documentation
states otherwise.
Anyway - even if does not make sense, why does it not work?
When I tried out what I read in the documentation, I also set
the FORMAT for the backup files to "non sensical" values.
I used %variables, which did not exist. Result: I got files,
which contained % in the filename (eg. a %I). Is the naming
for controlfiles really so different, as far as RMAN is concerned?
> and set it to /tmp/backup/%F.ctl
Doesn't work.
RMAN> CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '/tmp/backup/%F.ctl';
old RMAN configuration parameters:
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '/tmp/backup/cf%F?;';
old RMAN configuration parameters:
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '/tmp/backup/cf%F';
new RMAN configuration parameters:
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '/tmp/backup/%F.ctl';
new RMAN configuration parameters are successfully stored
RMAN> backup datafile 3;
Starting backup at 10-JUL-07
using channel ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting full datafile backupset
channel ORA_DISK_1: specifying datafile(s) in backupset
input datafile fno=00003 name=/opt/apps/oracle/oradata/BNRTEST/cwmlite01.dbf
channel ORA_DISK_1: starting piece 1 at 10-JUL-07
channel ORA_DISK_1: finished piece 1 at 10-JUL-07
piece handle=/tmp/backup/BNRTEST,data,20070710,34_627594508,1_1 comment=NONE
channel ORA_DISK_1: backup set complete, elapsed time: 00:00:01
Finished backup at 10-JUL-07
Starting Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 10-JUL-07
piece handle=/tmp/backup/cfc-3007484779-20070710-07?; comment=NONE
Finished Control File and SPFILE Autobackup at 10-JUL-07
I just did like you told me - I tried to set the name format to
'/tmp/backup/%F.ctl'. RMAN didn't use this value. Why? Or did I
forget to do something?
Confused,
Alexander Skwar
--
Everything you like is forbidden.
-- Axiom
Alexander Skwar
> · sybrandb <sybr...@gmail.com>:
>> to confirm my post
[...]
> Confused,
>
> Alexander Skwar
Just to clarify what I wrote: No, I do NOT think that I know Oracle
better than you do, Sybrand. It's just, that I don't understand what
you wrote and that what you wrote didn't help me.
That's why I'm cofused.
Alexander Skwar
--
Engineering: "How will this work?"
Science: "Why will this work?"
Management: "When will this work?"
Liberal Arts: "Do you want fries with that?"
Alexander Skwar
> As there can be only one (1) autobackup controlfile backup set, all
> the formats above don't make any sense.
Hm. But how can it come, that there are two (2) autobackup control file
formats set?
RMAN> SHOW ALL;
RMAN configuration parameters are:
CONFIGURE RETENTION POLICY TO RECOVERY WINDOW OF 60 DAYS;
CONFIGURE BACKUP OPTIMIZATION OFF; # default
CONFIGURE DEFAULT DEVICE TYPE TO DISK;
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP ON;
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '/tmp/backup/cf%F?;';
CONFIGURE CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO '/tmp/backup/%F';
CONFIGURE DEVICE TYPE DISK PARALLELISM 1; # default
CONFIGURE DATAFILE BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO 1; # default
CONFIGURE ARCHIVELOG BACKUP COPIES FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK TO 1; # default
CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE DISK FORMAT '/tmp/backup/%d,data,%Y%M%D,%s_%t,%p_%c' MAXPIECESIZE 1 G;
CONFIGURE MAXSETSIZE TO UNLIMITED; # default
CONFIGURE SNAPSHOT CONTROLFILE NAME TO '/opt/apps/oracle/product/9.2.04/dbs/snapcf_BNRTEST.f'; # default
> That said, stop trying to do the impossible, reread the documentation
> to confirm my post and set it to /tmp/backup/%F.ctl
As said, it's not possible to confirm your post :/
What am I doing wrong?
Thanks,
Alexander Skwar
Alexander Skwar
> That said, stop trying to do the impossible, reread the documentation
You know the documentation quite well, don't you? I now found out,
that I'm able to do
SET CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT
to set the filename to a name of my liking. Question still remains, why
the CONFIGURE command is broken.
Anyway. I found out, that %s, %t, %p and %c. Could you please tell me,
where the documentation of Oracle 9i says, that those variables cannot
be used?
TIA,
Alexander Skwar
Alexander Skwar
> That said, stop trying to do the impossible, reread the documentation
You know the documentation quite well, don't you? I now found out,
that I'm able to do
SET CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT
to set the filename to a name of my liking. Question still remains, why
the CONFIGURE command is broken.
Anyway. I found out, that I cannot use %s, %t, %p and %c. Could you
please tell me where the documentation of Oracle 9i says, that those
sybrandb
Think of it. Using %F in controlfile autobackup format strings is
mandatory.
Otherwise you would get rman-06492 controlfile autobackup format
"string" must specify a "string" format specifier
What is in %F? According to the documentation %F will give you:
the DBID
the date in YYYYMMDD format
a piece number
You *NEED* the DBID to recover the database when you aren't using a
RMAN catalogue AND you LOST your controlfile (which is your RMAN
catalogue in that case).
So including any other format modifiers is redundant. The %F modifier
generates an unique filename RMAN can use.
As for the configure command being broken. I don't know. In Oracle
9.2.0.8 for AIX it works.
I don't whether it has been broken, and I'm not going to check.
Alexander Skwar
> On Jul 12, 9:06 am, Alexander Skwar <alexan...@skwar.name> wrote:
>> sybrandb <sybra...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> > That said, stop trying to do the impossible, reread the documentation
>>
>> You know the documentation quite well, don't you? I now found out,
>> that I'm able to do
>>
>> SET CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT
>>
>> to set the filename to a name of my liking. Question still remains, why
>> the CONFIGURE command is broken.
>>
>> Anyway. I found out, that I cannot use %s, %t, %p and %c. Could you
>> please tell me where the documentation of Oracle 9i says, that those
>> variables cannot be used?
>>
>> TIA,
>>
>> Alexander Skwar
>
> Think of it. Using %F in controlfile autobackup format strings is
> mandatory.
I know, and that's perfectly fine.
> So including any other format modifiers is redundant.
Yep.
> As for the configure command being broken. I don't know. In Oracle
> 9.2.0.8 for AIX it works.
Fine. I just don't understand, why the configure command does
not work. Is it maybe, because the filename is supposed to contain
an "illegal" character (which I added by mistake and now don't
know how to remove)?
Could you maybe explain to me, what "configure CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP
FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK CLEAR;" is supposed to do? As far as I
can tell (which might be wrong), it doesn't do what it's supposed
to do according to documentation. (See my other posts for this.)
> I don't whether it has been broken, and I'm not going to check.
Thanks.
Alexander Skwar
ErikYkema
I see your confusion:
- CLEAR command not working as expected (checked in
http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B10501_01/server.920/a96566/rcmconc1.htm#467120)
- you got 2 autobackup sets while Sybrand considers one to be the
only right number.
I think it is time for you to open a Support Request at Metalink re.
this issue. I guess it needs some effort for reproducing it etc. and
it seems that no cdos readers are taking the invitation to reproduce
and study at this moment. Perhaps the docu needs tuning, perhaps a bug
due to using the funny character in the initial mask, perhaps just
some plain misunderstanding.
Good luck,
Erik Ykema
Alexander Skwar
> On Jul 12, 12:33 pm, Alexander Skwar <alexan...@skwar.name> wrote:
>> sybrandb <sybra...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> > On Jul 12, 9:06 am, Alexander Skwar <alexan...@skwar.name> wrote:
>> >> sybrandb <sybra...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Fine. I just don't understand, why the configure command does
>> not work. Is it maybe, because the filename is supposed to contain
>> an "illegal" character (which I added by mistake and now don't
>> know how to remove)?
>>
>> Could you maybe explain to me, what "configure CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP
>> FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK CLEAR;" is supposed to do? As far as I
>> can tell (which might be wrong), it doesn't do what it's supposed
>> to do according to documentation. (See my other posts for this.)
[...]
> I see your confusion:
> - CLEAR command not working as expected
Exactly. I refered to http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B10501_01/server.920/a96565/rcmsynta15.htm#1017407,
which states:
(CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK clear;)
| Specify CLEAR to return the format to the default %F.
But I guess I'm again not reading the documentation and am to dull
to understand it.
> (checked in
> http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B10501_01/server.920/a96566/rcmconc1.htm#467120)
> - you got 2 autobackup sets while Sybrand considers one to be the
> only right number.
I don't disagree with Sybrand that 1 is the correct number. Indeed,
I already asked how this can happen.
> I think it is time for you to open a Support Request at Metalink re.
> this issue.
Seems like, yes.
> I guess it needs some effort for reproducing it etc. and
> it seems that no cdos readers are taking the invitation to reproduce
> and study at this moment. Perhaps the docu needs tuning, perhaps a bug
> due to using the funny character in the initial mask, perhaps just
> some plain misunderstanding.
If I should guess, I'd bet it's the 2nd reason - the funny character
reason.
Thanks for your nice comments and your suggestion to bug metalink.
I appreciated it!
Alexander Skwar
--
In Boston, it is illegal to hold frog-jumping contests in nightclubs.
joel garry
wrote:
> · ErikYkema <erik.yk...@gmail.com>:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jul 12, 12:33 pm, Alexander Skwar <alexan...@skwar.name> wrote:
> >> sybrandb <sybra...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> > On Jul 12, 9:06 am, Alexander Skwar <alexan...@skwar.name> wrote:
> >> >> sybrandb <sybra...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Fine. I just don't understand, why the configure command does
> >> not work. Is it maybe, because the filename is supposed to contain
> >> an "illegal" character (which I added by mistake and now don't
> >> know how to remove)?
>
> >> Could you maybe explain to me, what "configure CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP
> >> FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK CLEAR;" is supposed to do? As far as I
> >> can tell (which might be wrong), it doesn't do what it's supposed
> >> to do according to documentation. (See my other posts for this.)
> [...]
> > I see your confusion:
> > - CLEAR command not working as expected
>
> which states:
>
> (CONTROLFILE AUTOBACKUP FORMAT FOR DEVICE TYPE DISK clear;)
> | Specify CLEAR to return the format to the default %F.
>
> But I guess I'm again not reading the documentation and am to dull
> to understand it.
>
> > (checked in
> > - you got 2 autobackup sets while Sybrand considers one to be the
> > only right number.
>
> I don't disagree with Sybrand that 1 is the correct number. Indeed,
> I already asked how this can happen.
>
> > I think it is time for you to open a Support Request at Metalink re.
> > this issue.
>
> Seems like, yes.
>
> > I guess it needs some effort for reproducing it etc. and
> > it seems that no cdos readers are taking the invitation to reproduce
> > and study at this moment. Perhaps the docu needs tuning, perhaps a bug
> > due to using the funny character in the initial mask, perhaps just
> > some plain misunderstanding.
>
> If I should guess, I'd bet it's the 2nd reason - the funny character
> reason.
>
> Thanks for your nice comments and your suggestion to bug metalink.
> I appreciated it!
>
> Alexander Skwar
> --
> In Boston, it is illegal to hold frog-jumping contests in nightclubs
They will perhaps tell you this is related to bugs 2981422 or 2152647.
jg
--
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