Oracle Backup & Recovery Techniques - Oracle 10g Database Administration Concepts and Implementation Made Simple - page 261

Step 1: Shut down the database

Connect to SQL as SYSDBA and then use the SHUTDOWN
statement with NORMAL, IMMEDIATE or

TRANSACTIONAL clause.

C:\> sqlplus /nolog

SQL>connect / as sysdba

SQL> SHUTDOWN NORMAL;

Remember that if there is any single user connected with the
database and you have used the NORMAL clause with the
SHUTDOWN statement then database will never shutdown
unless the user closes the session.

Step 2: Backup all the data files

Once the database gets completely shutdown backup all the data
files associated with the database at the operating system level or
in other worlds using operating system commands e.g. copy in
Windows and cp in case of Unix.

Step 3: Backup Parameter File, Redo Log Files and Archived
Redo Log Files

Backup all these files too using operating system command. It's
highly recommended and provides greater fault tolerance in case
of database failures.

Step 4: Startup Oracle Database with MOUNT option

Start the oracle instance and mount the database but don't open.

C:\>sqlplus /nolog