Configuring and Backing Up Oracle Databases Using RMAN - OCP: Oracle Database 12c Administrator Certified Professional - page 116

The Fast Recovery Area
The Oracle Fast Recovery Area was introduced in Oracle Database 10 g as the central
repository for all files related to Oracle backup and recovery. In this section, we will discuss
the Fast Recovery Area. First, we will provide a quick overview of what the FRA is gener-
ally used for. Then you'll learn about configuring the FRA for your Oracle Database.
Introducing the FRA
The FRA is the principal store for all Oracle Database backup and recovery-related
files. The FRA can be stored on disk or within an ASM instance. It cannot be stored on
tape, but files backed up in the FRA can be backed up to tape via the RMAN BACKUP
RECOVERY AREA command.
The FRA stores the following types of Oracle Database files:
Backup Set Pieces Files related to RMAN backups
Archive Log Backups Files related to backups of online redo logs
Database Archive Logs Archived redo logs that are not backed-up archived redo logs
Control-File Autobackups Backups of the control file made by RMAN
Image Copies Backup of data files made by RMAN that are exact copies of the data files
of the database
Database Online Redo Logs Online redo logs of the Oracle Database
Database Control Files Control files of the Oracle Database
Flashback Logs Flashback logs of the database
The FRA supports RMAN's backup and retention policies by automatically removing
files when they are no longer needed and when FRA space is required (obsolete RMAN
backups to non-FRA locations will not be removed by RMAN automatically).
Configuring the FRA
Configuring the FRA is easy. First, you create the base directory of the FRA from the OS,
and then you set the following parameters in any database that will use the FRA:
■ DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST
■ DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE
The DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST parameter defines the FRA base directory location. This
is the only directory you will need to create when configuring the FRA. You will need
to make sure that this directory is owned by the owner of the Oracle executable so that
Oracle can create other subdirectories beneath it.
The DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST_SIZE parameter defines the total amount of space this
database instance is allowed to consume in the FRA. This is a logical limit, which can be
greater than or less than the actual physical limit of space on that device. For example, you
may have a file system with 500GB of space available on it. However, you may want to